Was thinking about which players or units are National Champion contender quality...
(Set aside schedule, etc. Simply this: which pieces are good enough to be legitimately in the conversation. Not saying the best unit/player in the country, just of that caliber.)
Ratings:
Green: Yes, NC caliber.
Yellow: Potentially, but not there yet. Things need to go well.
Red: Not NC caliber, probably not getting there.
DL: Green. A unit with Malik McDowell as it's third, maybe even fourth best player? And stars like Calhoun, and a potentially ridiculous beast like Thomas? It's there, on the most important, consistent element to a CFB national champion, as Comp as so skillfully educated us on.
LB: Yellow. Davis, Harris, and Bullough is a pretty damn impressive trio. I don't have any doubts about Bullough in the middle. Depth is probably the question mark, but I think this unit is good enough.
Secondary: Red. Love Nicholson and Cox, but the corners? I expect solid play from the CBs, and liked what we had in the spring game. But...
K & P: Yellow. Do we get a healthy, confident Geiger, or last year's? If we get a healthy, confident Geiger, I think Hartbarger will be good enough, often enough to overcome some frosh "fog-outs". And we have that D...
QB: Green. No question. Either the second or third most important unit (DL, OL), and not only a great player, but an experience Senior.
OL: Green. Can't afford to lose Conklin to injury, but if the right side guys can step it up to that next level, this unit is a load. Hell, they're already a load.
RB: Red. But in this offense, if LJ Scott or Holmes can be good, not great, that might be enough. Pendleton is a big plus.
TE & WR: TEs: Green, WRs: Red. Burbridge becoming a star, Kings staying focused and the other guys becoming solid might give you solid, winning play. Again, a great OL, QB and TEs can sure help off-set this.
Overall:
I believe the three most important units are:
DL, OL, QB: Green, Green, Green.
Concerns: CB, WR, RB, K:
On WR and RB, I'm not as worried--lots of strengths help off-set the concerns, and these are units that should be good, but maybe not NC caliber. And do they need to be? But, the secondary? That needs to be better than good, I'd say, for NC contention.
Does it all come down to secondary play, in terms of how good and how far this team can go?
And dare I say FG kicking, as well?
Thoughts?
(Set aside schedule, etc. Simply this: which pieces are good enough to be legitimately in the conversation. Not saying the best unit/player in the country, just of that caliber.)
Ratings:
Green: Yes, NC caliber.
Yellow: Potentially, but not there yet. Things need to go well.
Red: Not NC caliber, probably not getting there.
DL: Green. A unit with Malik McDowell as it's third, maybe even fourth best player? And stars like Calhoun, and a potentially ridiculous beast like Thomas? It's there, on the most important, consistent element to a CFB national champion, as Comp as so skillfully educated us on.
LB: Yellow. Davis, Harris, and Bullough is a pretty damn impressive trio. I don't have any doubts about Bullough in the middle. Depth is probably the question mark, but I think this unit is good enough.
Secondary: Red. Love Nicholson and Cox, but the corners? I expect solid play from the CBs, and liked what we had in the spring game. But...
K & P: Yellow. Do we get a healthy, confident Geiger, or last year's? If we get a healthy, confident Geiger, I think Hartbarger will be good enough, often enough to overcome some frosh "fog-outs". And we have that D...
QB: Green. No question. Either the second or third most important unit (DL, OL), and not only a great player, but an experience Senior.
OL: Green. Can't afford to lose Conklin to injury, but if the right side guys can step it up to that next level, this unit is a load. Hell, they're already a load.
RB: Red. But in this offense, if LJ Scott or Holmes can be good, not great, that might be enough. Pendleton is a big plus.
TE & WR: TEs: Green, WRs: Red. Burbridge becoming a star, Kings staying focused and the other guys becoming solid might give you solid, winning play. Again, a great OL, QB and TEs can sure help off-set this.
Overall:
I believe the three most important units are:
DL, OL, QB: Green, Green, Green.
Concerns: CB, WR, RB, K:
On WR and RB, I'm not as worried--lots of strengths help off-set the concerns, and these are units that should be good, but maybe not NC caliber. And do they need to be? But, the secondary? That needs to be better than good, I'd say, for NC contention.
Does it all come down to secondary play, in terms of how good and how far this team can go?
And dare I say FG kicking, as well?
Thoughts?
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