I was reflecting on what talent we have coming back. Seems pretty solid, except for Dline. I don't think we're gonna win a natty....but have a solid chance at playoffs.

My thoughts on position groups......


Offense
QB - Marcel should get better with experience
RB - Moss and Owens back. Hope Daniels is back. Hell of a group.
WR - Our best WR's Noah and Bussey back, plus new dudes from portal and 2025 class. Take a step forward
TE - probably about the same but better blocking. maybe Thor advances and we take a step forward.
OL - don't we get all the starters back? would hope that they take another step forward. our depth will be very inexperienced. If our OL can keep healthy, it should be solid

Defense
LB - Scooby and York back. probably take a step forward
Dline- Here's my big concern. Not a lot of pash rushing power coming back. Think we take a step back.
DB - seems we should be better. Lee coming back is huge. Ricks getting better. Some dudes from the portal. Hope Chappelle stays as a stellar nickel dude.

Am I right that our only major position group that we take a step back is Dline and the other position groups may very well be better?

Rod '92

I think we are ok everywhere but DL. It doesn't mean we can't improve the position groups but DL is weak right now. We don't have many big body ends and lack numbers overall.

Kam Dewberry transferred to Bama.

BrianDaWheelman said:

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Kam Dewberry transferred to Bama.

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Which is crazy bc based on message board expert opinions, he sucked

vander54 said:

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I think we are ok everywhere but DL. It doesn't mean we can't improve the position groups but DL is weak right now. We don't have many big body ends and lack numbers overall.

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Hopefully that gets addressed before the season bc football seems to still be about controlling the line of scrimmage. All the other stuff is window dressing

BrianDaWheelman said:

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Kam Dewberry transferred to Bama.

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We let him walk, and if he went to bama, I can only imagine where TJ will end up.


To me this speaks to how well we are at OL / Interior OL going into next year

Stuck w/Sark Syndrome is a real thing. The Kansas loss permanently lowered the bar for this fan base. Now the wins they celebrate are Riley leaving OU and the Ags bowing out of a bowl. https://t.co/8lnB6N1fPr

— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 26, 2021

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

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DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

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I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

In comparison to other SEC teams next year.

QB - average
RB - below average (above average if Moss fully recovers)
OL - above average
WR - average
TE - average

DL - below average
LB - average
CB - average
Safety - below average

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

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DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

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DL needs help.
OL should be better, given that we should be returning all the starters.
Experience is huge. The guys on that really strong unit from 2020 weren't nearly as effective in the years prior

SA68AG said:

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In comparison to other SEC teams next year.

QB - average
RB - below average (above average if Moss fully recovers)
OL - above average
WR - average
TE - average

DL - below average
LB - average
CB - average
Safety - below average

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RB is not below average or even close. DL lacks numbers more than anything.

TxAg76 said:

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Mr. Fingerbottom said:

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DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

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DL needs help.
OL should be better, given that we should be returning all the starters.
Experience is huge. The guys on that really strong unit from 2020 weren't nearly as effective in the years prior

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Not sure I'm as bullish on that o line. The guys coming back are the same ones who got absolutely mauled by the sips a couple of weeks ago.

Hard to win big boy football with lines in order. We got issues. Unless fixed, expect similar results next year.

Next year is definitely the year

Next years OL will be good. And WR will be better than average. DL depth needs to be addressed by summer.

Mongo1225 said:

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Next year is definitely the year

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Not sure about that but if we add some true talent and depth to the DL i think 10 wins should be resonable to expect.

Zuhn is not a tackle. He's a pretty good guard that is playing tackle.... This was pretty clear when he had to go up against edges w talent & he got smoked

If the blue chip freshman left tackle is ready to go day 1 like Joeckel was then we might have a shot at being serviceable

This would also allow zuhn to move into left guard where he belongs.... then you take your pick at right guard between bisontis or adams... I'd probably lean Adams but it's a coin flip

This still leaves crow over at right tackle which is avg at best... this is the major head scratcher imo w regards to the portal.... there were enough guys avlb that could've at a minimum come in & driven competition at the right tackle spot


But we did nothing & let a key depth piece walk without replacing him



Hope I'm wrong but I'm expecting similar results to this year.... Success against finesse teams, but failure against trench teams

Mongo1225 said:

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Next year is definitely the year

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Always. Just like with The Great Pumpkin.

AngryAG said:

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Stuck w/Sark Syndrome is a real thing. The Kansas loss permanently lowered the bar for this fan base. Now the wins they celebrate are Riley leaving OU and the Ags bowing out of a bowl. https://t.co/8lnB6N1fPr

— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 26, 2021

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Read this, then read it again, then really think about it - before you make another embarrassing post about not winning a MNC Elkos first year

I think our incoming fish will provide depth on both lines. They'll go through spring practice and get started in the S&C program under Moffitt. I don't normally like to count on fish to contribute but I think we signed some big athletic dudes on both lines who can play soon.

Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Mr. Fingerbottom said:

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DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

---

The OL hate comes from the inability to convert 4th and 1 all season, which ultimately cost us big. It's a legit gripe.

We should be able to run it up the middle and gain a yard. But we should also be able to scheme around the fact that we couldn't.

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We were really good until Moss went down and then we were still good until the tu game so that thought is invalid.

We were 100% when needing 2 yards or less vs Auburn and 50% against South Carolina. We ended up 10/13 in those games.

vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Mr. Fingerbottom said:

---

DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

---

The OL hate comes from the inability to convert 4th and 1 all season, which ultimately cost us big. It's a legit gripe.

We should be able to run it up the middle and gain a yard. But we should also be able to scheme around the fact that we couldn't.

---

We were really good until Moss went down and then we were still good until the tu game so that thought is invalid.

We were 100% when needing 2 yards or less vs Auburn and 50% against South Carolina. We ended up 10/13 in those games.

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4th and 1 was our Achilles heel and there are no excuses on why we shouldn't be able to convert that. It cost us 2 games at least, and it's on the OL.

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

---

DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

The 2 biggest ingredients for success at the highest level are ,

1. Elite QB Play
2. Elite LOS

At the moment we have neither .

Reed needs to take a big step forward which is entirely possible .
Will his backup be the 7th year guy ?

My biggest concern is the LOS as we are losing a lot of talent on the DL .(They really didn't play at the level that I thought they would)
This needs to be addressed thru the portal but not sure what will be available .
I think we return a large portion of our OL and definitely need improvement there .
Why are Dewberry and Shanahan leaving ?
Do we have any Portal targets ?

Elko and company have a lot of work to do this off season .

Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

---

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

---

DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

---

The OL hate comes from the inability to convert 4th and 1 all season, which ultimately cost us big. It's a legit gripe.

We should be able to run it up the middle and gain a yard. But we should also be able to scheme around the fact that we couldn't.

---

We were really good until Moss went down and then we were still good until the tu game so that thought is invalid.

We were 100% when needing 2 yards or less vs Auburn and 50% against South Carolina. We ended up 10/13 in those games.

---

4th and 1 was our Achilles heel and there are no excuses on why we shouldn't be able to convert that. It cost us 2 games at least, and it's on the OL.

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Which 2 games?

tu was the only one I can think of.

I guess you could say South Carolina since we were 0-2 but that's not what cost us the game

vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

---

vander54 said:

---

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

---

DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

---

The OL hate comes from the inability to convert 4th and 1 all season, which ultimately cost us big. It's a legit gripe.

We should be able to run it up the middle and gain a yard. But we should also be able to scheme around the fact that we couldn't.

---

We were really good until Moss went down and then we were still good until the tu game so that thought is invalid.

We were 100% when needing 2 yards or less vs Auburn and 50% against South Carolina. We ended up 10/13 in those games.

---

4th and 1 was our Achilles heel and there are no excuses on why we shouldn't be able to convert that. It cost us 2 games at least, and it's on the OL.

---

Which 2 games?

tu was the only one I can think of.

I guess you could say South Carolina since we were 0-2 but that's not what cost us the game

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We had failed 4th down conversions in all of our losses so take your pick. The point is that this is where most of the OL hate comes from which was your original question. Our inability to get a yard cost us in the end no matter how you spin it, and the first to blame is the OL.

Getting our starting center back, a healthy Bisontis, and being a year older will all help OL be better in 2025.

Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

---

vander54 said:

---

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

---

DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

---

The OL hate comes from the inability to convert 4th and 1 all season, which ultimately cost us big. It's a legit gripe.

We should be able to run it up the middle and gain a yard. But we should also be able to scheme around the fact that we couldn't.

---

We were really good until Moss went down and then we were still good until the tu game so that thought is invalid.

We were 100% when needing 2 yards or less vs Auburn and 50% against South Carolina. We ended up 10/13 in those games.

---

4th and 1 was our Achilles heel and there are no excuses on why we shouldn't be able to convert that. It cost us 2 games at least, and it's on the OL.

---

Which 2 games?

tu was the only one I can think of.

I guess you could say South Carolina since we were 0-2 but that's not what cost us the game

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We had failed 4th down conversions in all of our losses so take your pick. The point is that this is where most of the OL hate comes from which was your original question. Our inability to get a yard cost us in the end no matter how you spin it, and the first to blame is the OL.

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And again we weren't bad at short yardage until tu so it's an invalid arguement.

On fourth down we mainly passed the ball before South Carolina. At that point we were 5/8 with 7 passing plays only run was a sucess. South Carolina we were 1/3 all running plays. Auburn we were 2/2 both passing and then tu

We ran the ball well most the year until tu. We did struggle in certain situations vs South Carolina but that was more Daniels and play calling.

levypantsEOY said:

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TxAg76 said:

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Mr. Fingerbottom said:

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DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

DL needs help.
OL should be better, given that we should be returning all the starters.
Experience is huge. The guys on that really strong unit from 2020 weren't nearly as effective in the years prior

---

Not sure I'm as bullish on that o line. The guys coming back are the same ones who got absolutely mauled by the sips a couple of weeks ago.

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Oh trust me I'm not bullish on these guys either.
I'm not saying they'll be 2020 good, I'm just saying they all benefit from more reps and time.

And that even that 2020 group struggled. Up until the point they didn't.

vander54 said:

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I think we are ok everywher

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Lol

Aggie Dad 26 said:

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vander54 said:

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I think we are ok everywher

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Lol

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And of coure you leave off the rest of what i said. Shocker

But keep up the obsession.

Plus ok doesn't mean we can't improve

Bill Superman said:

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vander54 said:

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Bill Superman said:

---

vander54 said:

---

Mr. Fingerbottom said:

---

DL & OL need to be upgraded if we want to be serious contenders... & so far we've done basically nothing


Coaching & play calling also needs to improve... we saw this year you can have an all world dline but if coaches are clueless, they will fall apart in November

---

I don't get the OL hate. We were much improved abd are returning 100% of iur starters for the first time in awhile.

1st year with new coaches and we nade huge strides. They weren't perfect but they were decent.

---

The OL hate comes from the inability to convert 4th and 1 all season, which ultimately cost us big. It's a legit gripe.

We should be able to run it up the middle and gain a yard. But we should also be able to scheme around the fact that we couldn't

---

We were really good until Moss went down and then we were still good until the tu game so that thought is invalid.

We were 100% when needing 2 yards or less vs Auburn and 50% against South Carolina. We ended up 10/13 in those games.

---

4th and 1 was our Achilles heel and there are no excuses on why we shouldn't be able to convert that. It cost us 2 games at least, and it's on the OL.

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