OFFENSE: Right now, Clifford seems like he's 1 year away. I wish we could have seen Stevens, as I still think he's the key to 2019. I was listening to ESPN Radio yesterday, and a couple of guys said that if Stevens is really good this team is a Playoff team because all the tools are there. I agree. The OL will be fine, the WRs are young but uber talented, the TE's are among the best in the nation collectively, and the RBs look very, very good. Stevens... please heal and be what we think you can be!
DEFENSE: These guys are going to be good. Like, really good. Hansard being back and looking spry on the field really gives us a ton of talented (and BIG) depth in the middle at DT. 4 or 5 guys rotating that are starter caliber is huge. The DEs? Gross-Matos is going to be a beast this year and there are 5-6 guys who can step in at the other spot. These guys will live up to the Wild Dogs moniker this year.
The LBs? Cam Brown and Micah Parsons look the part. The OLBs are going to be really good, and I liked seeing Parsons in blitz mode... we will see more of that this season, and he will wreak havoc. MLB is a question mark, but in a good way. Johnson was the starter last year because he was the most savvy, the most disciplined. However, with Brooks getting another year and Smith in the mix that may not be enough to keep the position this year. Smith certainly looks the part, but MLB in the Big Ten is a huge ask for a true freshman. He may be a year of bulking up away.
The DBs? Yeah, they look fine... I'd say we've upgraded that unit from last year actually. And with the front 7 this year, they will probably be asked to do less. I say that because I expect more pressure on the opposing QBs and better run stopping as well.
OVERALL: I've said it all off-season and after today I'm more sure of it... We have the depth and the talent to beat any team out there if Stevens can be what we think he can be. If he's healthy and can read a defense, we will win the Big Ten. He's a 6'5" 235 Lbs. truck that can run very well, and if he can also make good passing decisions this offense will be lights out scary.
Stevens will not be the starting QB.
I really hope Stevens is healthy. He’s been patient and deserves a shot at the starting QB. However, I think it is going to be a dogfight and it is going to be very hard to keep Clifford off the field. I thought Clifford looked even better than last year when, I personally, thought he looked pretty good. I’m not rooting for either guy, I just want what’s best for the team to occur.
Stevens will be the starting QB and he will be good and we’ll win the big 10. I still believe we’ll go 12-2 with a bowl win but I don’t see us making the playoffs unless we go undefeated. The DE’ and DT’s are going to be nasty so that should open up for our LB’s to run all over the place and make some plays. This might be the best defense James Franklin has ever had and will be the best since 2011 but I guess 2012 was pretty good to lol. I don’t know Roam Clifford looked pretty dang good to me and he’s only going to get better and is it me or did his feet look better than what he gets credit for because he had some good runs yesterday. I didn’t like seeing the drops yesterday because that crap is like a spreading disease brother and is a VERY bad habit. I don’t care if it’s on offense, defense or special teams catch the dam football do not let the ball hit the ground..period. Not taking care of the the football is like being on your back in wrestling it ain’t good and it will get you beat. Overall I thought we had a good spring game. The RB’s looked really good and they looked fast. Great days are here baby and bigger, faster and stronger days are on the way. The beast of the east big dawg is back and ain’t nothing anybody can do about it except just deal with it! Now I got to find out who won the race lol
Good assessment overall Roam. The offense will go as far as the new QB and OL take them. RB, TE, and WR are loaded with talent. The defense should be better to start the season than last year. More depth everywhere. Enjoy YGM. He’ll be off to play on Sundays after this year. ST should improve with new coach and his track record. They may not be as flashy in spots as years past but they should be much better fundamentally overall.
I agree Southern. Clifford looked much quicker and better at making decisions. He impressed me. Going to be tough to beat him out. Stevens will need to be healthy or the job will be Clifford’s and he may not let go of it until he graduates. I have some reservations about Stevens throwing ability since we haven’t seen it much and the only thing I keep thinking about is that horrible throw at Michigan last season.
They said yesterday that his foot wasn’t fixed correctly and he had to have surgery again so that’s really not his fault. Man I thought that was cool the way James Franklin give that kid the scholarship and it made it even sweeter he happens to score a TD lol
Tommy Stevens will not be the starting QB.
Stevens will be the starting QB and he will be good and we’ll win the big 10. I still believe we’ll go 12-2 with a bowl win but I don’t see us making the playoffs unless we go undefeated. The DE’ and DT’s are going to be nasty so that should open up for our LB’s to run all over the place and make some plays. This might be the best defense James Franklin has ever had and will be the best since 2011 but I guess 2012 was pretty good to lol. I don’t know Roam Clifford looked pretty dang good to me and he’s only going to get better and is it me or did his feet look better than what he gets credit for because he had some good runs yesterday. I didn’t like seeing the drops yesterday because that crap is like a spreading disease brother and is a VERY bad habit. I don’t care if it’s on offense, defense or special teams catch the dam football do not let the ball hit the ground..period. Not taking care of the the football is like being on your back in wrestling it ain’t good and it will get you beat. Overall I thought we had a good spring game. The RB’s looked really good and they looked fast. Great days are here baby and bigger, faster and stronger days are on the way. The beast of the east big dawg is back and ain’t nothing anybody can do about it except just deal with it! Now I got to find out who won the race lol
Too funny.
If Stevens is healthy, he starts. After that, it's up to him to keep the job. I think he'll silence Sky and the other doubters and lead us to the B1G title.
Anyone else concerned with all the WR drops again ??? Even a few TE's had the ball hit their hands b4 it hit the ground.
Tommy Stevens will not be the starting QB.
Care to expand on that??
I'm not worried about the WRs... This new coach is very good and will have them focused come game 1.
If Stevens is healthy, he starts. After that, it's up to him to keep the job. I think he'll silence Sky and the other doubters and lead us to the B1G title.
IF
Tommy Stevens will not be the starting QB.
Care to expand on that??
Surgery did not accomplish the goal. If it was successful, Stevens would have played Saturday. Everyone, including the coaches, want this kid to succeed. Unfortunately for Stevens, the fickle finger of fate did not point in his direction. Maybe he can apply for a medical redshirt and transfer to a school where he can play.
Where did you find out about the unsuccessful surgery?
From what I have read, he had one surgery. The previous efforts to "fix" the foot may have been conservative measures, such as physical therapy and orthotics (the boot). When those were not successful he likely opted for surgery. That's the typical course of treatment for injuries that I encounter in my law practice (from a defense viewpoint). That's just speculation, based on the lack of comment about surgery until just prior to the bowl game.
During the spring game they mentioned it or it may have been something I read on PennLive heck I can’t remember but that’s exactly what I heard bob.
Well I think that’s what I heard lol. Need to watch my wording
SPF, think those comments might have been directed at Sky.
👍
During the spring game they mentioned it or it may have been something I read on PennLive heck I can’t remember but that’s exactly what I heard bob.
Southern, just as BT II said, my comment was directed to Sky
