Some thoughts after week 1:
Pros:
1. Our young RBs, Singleton and Allen, definitely showed more potential than we had last year in the RB room. Despite his scoring the game winning TD, K Lee, simply doesn't appear to have the burst of the Freshmen. Yes, run-blocking still needs to improve, but the future is bright with these two.
2. Chop Robinson - Most of the pressure he applied was on the final drive, yet he showed an impressive first step. While he likely won't reach AK levels of dominance, he could provide a solid pass rush.
3. Mitchell Tinsley - Another win for the transfer portal! Kid was very solid and looks to be great for YAC.
4. Barney Amor - It was easy to take Jordan Stout's punting for granted last season. He was so consistently awesome. Amor was very impressive, after his first punt which was shaky. Long punts and good at getting the ball inside the 10. Impressive.
5. Defensive Secondary - Yes there is still some hands-on stuff that needs to get cleaned up. However, there is a ton of impressive talent back there in Porter, Jr., Brown, Hardy, K King, Wheatley, and on and on.
6. Even in one series, his talent was undeniable. The pass he made that Warren dropped was a thing of beauty.
7. GUTS - The team has some guts. On the road, not playing great, they gutted out the W. Says a lot about character.
Cons:
1. Clifford's inconsistency - Airmailing that INT on a just brutally horrible pass, still gets happy feet before he's really being pressured, injury prone. The kid is a warrior, but it's understandable to wonder if his ceiling is around a B+, which is not enough if the team wants to do big things.
2. Caedan Wallace - Won't rag on him too much, but he's just too easily beaten by speed rushers. Whether it's Effner or something else, changes need to be made.
3. LBs - A definite weakness. Even the fantastic Jacobs was not as impactful in his new position as he was the end of last year. Elsdon's lack of speed is huge. Hoping Kobe King and Abdul Carter can affect a positive change here.
4. On the bright side in the OL, I thought Fashanu, Scruggs and Wormley were very solid. Hoping Tengwall can improve a bit further. Maybe he goes to RT?
5. Dropped passes. Awful. No excuse for the volume of drops. Hopefully, that improves.
In the end, this doesn't appear to be a 10 win team, but I could see 9, and all the impressive, young talent will be fun to watch this year.
Pros:
1. Our young RBs, Singleton and Allen, definitely showed more potential than we had last year in the RB room. Despite his scoring the game winning TD, K Lee, simply doesn't appear to have the burst of the Freshmen. Yes, run-blocking still needs to improve, but the future is bright with these two.
2. Chop Robinson - Most of the pressure he applied was on the final drive, yet he showed an impressive first step. While he likely won't reach AK levels of dominance, he could provide a solid pass rush.
3. Mitchell Tinsley - Another win for the transfer portal! Kid was very solid and looks to be great for YAC.
4. Barney Amor - It was easy to take Jordan Stout's punting for granted last season. He was so consistently awesome. Amor was very impressive, after his first punt which was shaky. Long punts and good at getting the ball inside the 10. Impressive.
5. Defensive Secondary - Yes there is still some hands-on stuff that needs to get cleaned up. However, there is a ton of impressive talent back there in Porter, Jr., Brown, Hardy, K King, Wheatley, and on and on.
6. Even in one series, his talent was undeniable. The pass he made that Warren dropped was a thing of beauty.
7. GUTS - The team has some guts. On the road, not playing great, they gutted out the W. Says a lot about character.
Cons:
1. Clifford's inconsistency - Airmailing that INT on a just brutally horrible pass, still gets happy feet before he's really being pressured, injury prone. The kid is a warrior, but it's understandable to wonder if his ceiling is around a B+, which is not enough if the team wants to do big things.
2. Caedan Wallace - Won't rag on him too much, but he's just too easily beaten by speed rushers. Whether it's Effner or something else, changes need to be made.
3. LBs - A definite weakness. Even the fantastic Jacobs was not as impactful in his new position as he was the end of last year. Elsdon's lack of speed is huge. Hoping Kobe King and Abdul Carter can affect a positive change here.
4. On the bright side in the OL, I thought Fashanu, Scruggs and Wormley were very solid. Hoping Tengwall can improve a bit further. Maybe he goes to RT?
5. Dropped passes. Awful. No excuse for the volume of drops. Hopefully, that improves.
In the end, this doesn't appear to be a 10 win team, but I could see 9, and all the impressive, young talent will be fun to watch this year.
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