Positions That Need Improvement

[BigBearFan76]

Now that signing day is coming up, what areas on the team are looking to add players/improve their position?

QB - I think there is a good competition coming up in spring ball between Rubes, Newsom, and Burglund (Brock)

TE - After Backes leaving to transfer, Drage leaving. Our only versatile TE with experience is Vander Velde.. I think they are going to struggle in this postion because with Backes leaving they don't have the depth they did.. They have a Gaurd in Rhodes (only good for blocking) and then two younger kids who have never played a down

RB - Things are good here, but wouldn't hurt to add some depth. Graham as the every down power back. Davis and Cartegina as the change of pace speed backs. Davis has some drive when he gets into a pile of defenders and continues to push. Something important in a RB. Cartegina has the speed to really get the edge and take off, just like he did at Ewash last season


Now for the other positions, what does everyone else think???

 

[Beardown]

I would say offensive line, and LB. Does anyone know if Willingham is coming back, or did he hang the cleats up?

 

[duke the bear]

all skill positions need improving from QB to kicker. Changes must be made because the product on the field last year failed. not sure the coaches will do anything about it though....

 

[BigBearFan76]

all skill positions need improving from QB to kicker. Changes must be made because the product on the field last year failed. not sure the coaches will do anything about it though....

I wouldnt say it was the product on the field. I would say it was the coaches and their ability to put the players in the position to succeed.

 

[303Bear]

Head Coach
Offensive Coordinator
Running Back Coach

Oh, you were talking about the players....

 

[duke the bear]

agree . however if something is broke you fix it with new parts. just trying to think outside the box....if the starting crew from last year did not get the job done give others a try. can not get any worse. lets see what talent is down stream. I guess it really does not matter because until the coaching staff shows some initiative for change things will remain the same.

 

[McCandyman]

Now that signing day is coming up, what areas on the team are looking to add players/improve their position?

QB - I think there is a good competition coming up in spring ball between Rubes, Newsom, and Burglund (Brock)

TE - After Backes leaving to transfer, Drage leaving. Our only versatile TE with experience is Vander Velde.. I think they are going to struggle in this postion because with Backes leaving they don't have the depth they did.. They have a Gaurd in Rhodes (only good for blocking) and then two younger kids who have never played a down

RB - Things are good here, but wouldn't hurt to add some depth. Graham as the every down power back. Davis and Cartegina as the change of pace speed backs. Davis has some drive when he gets into a pile of defenders and continues to push. Something important in a RB. Cartegina has the speed to really get the edge and take off, just like he did at Ewash last season


Now for the other positions, what does everyone else think???

I couldn't disagree more with you assessment of Rhodes. That kid is a stud. I saw him make some very athletic plays last year. Granted, he was rarely utilized as a true tight end, and played a lot out of the full back position, but if you have any doubts about his abilities as a tight end, just watch his JUCO highlights.

 

[BigBearFan76]

Now that signing day is coming up, what areas on the team are looking to add players/improve their position?

QB - I think there is a good competition coming up in spring ball between Rubes, Newsom, and Burglund (Brock)

TE - After Backes leaving to transfer, Drage leaving. Our only versatile TE with experience is Vander Velde.. I think they are going to struggle in this postion because with Backes leaving they don't have the depth they did.. They have a Gaurd in Rhodes (only good for blocking) and then two younger kids who have never played a down

RB - Things are good here, but wouldn't hurt to add some depth. Graham as the every down power back. Davis and Cartegina as the change of pace speed backs. Davis has some drive when he gets into a pile of defenders and continues to push. Something important in a RB. Cartegina has the speed to really get the edge and take off, just like he did at Ewash last season


Now for the other positions, what does everyone else think???

I couldn't disagree more with you assessment of Rhodes. That kid is a stud. I saw him make some very athletic plays last year. Granted, he was rarely utilized as a true tight end, and played a lot out of the full back position, but if you have any doubts about his abilities as a tight end, just watch his JUCO highlights.

Juco is Juco, not Division one football. What i saw was a kid that could hardly run, was very slow and was very slow to make any moves. Every tight end on the roster at the time was better than him. Vander Velde is a WR playing tight end easily better than Rhodes in that part of the game. Monson, awesome blocker not the best route runner but easily showed better ability than Rhodes in receiving as well. Backes great blocker.. Didn't see many routes from him during the season but when you look up his highlights he has some hands. Hinds horrible blocker, good route runner.

Rhodes is an okay tight end. Great Full Back, if the kid wants to play he needs to play FB.

Besides, what do you know about anything tight end, your son plays guard. i assume you can asses blocking which is pretty cool.

 

[gobears2010]

We were 3-8, every position needs improvement.

 

[McCandyman]

Besides, what do you know about anything tight end, your son plays guard. i assume you can asses blocking which is pretty cool.

Bottom line, Leonard Rhoades has the capability to be a playmaker for the Bears at tight end. Get the kid the ball and he will make things happen. He is athletic, has good hands (watch his highlights) and is a beast physically. He's not the kind of guy that D-backs like to tackle (get run over by).

 

[duke the bear]

tight end is the least of the teams worries. understand that their is talent at that position. Just needs to be utilized. the rest of the skill positions need work. QB. RB, WR, kicker, etc...

 

[tigershark62]

tight end is the least of the teams worries. understand that their is talent at that position. Just needs to be utilized. the rest of the skill positions need work. QB. RB, WR, kicker, etc...

Funny duke how you keep coming back to these three positions on needing the most work this year. While all positions have to get better , and I realize that competition is what will push the kids in these positions . You should also point out that for the most part these positions were headed up by sophomores, playing in there fist season of college football. As with the young offensive line they will all be better this year with that learning year under their belt ( we were the youngest offense in the Big Sky). The bigger concern may be with the defense, that lost many seniors to graduation as well as some players who aren't coming back or may not come back due to injury.

 

[duke the bear]

tiger...point well taken. all position do need to improve. defense, offensive line, etc...hopefully competition will bring out the best because the program can not afford to wait for players to "develop". i singled out those skill spots because they seem to have least development during the season.

 

[tigershark62]

tiger...point well taken. all position do need to improve. defense, offensive line, etc...hopefully competition will bring out the best because the program can not afford to wait for players to "develop". i singled out those skill spots because they seem to have least development during the season.

Duke , I guess I am just not following what you are saying when it comes to least development vs other positions on the team. Lets take a look, WR , only 1 senior on the team, he was named all conference 3rd team , and 2 WR underclassman named honorable mention last year. RB, had 1 senior named 3rd string all conference, with 3 other sophomore and freshman RBs playing significant time. QB , was named honorable mention all conference and ranked 2nd in the nation in completion percentage, not to mention the backup, who when coming in did a great job. Most of these kids were first time college players , so where is the lack of development that you keep talking about. Those 3 positions were recognized than any others for post season honors.

 

[duke the bear]

Tiger hope you are right and i am wrong and these guys have a break out season. i want nothing more than to see success. you can talk about accolades all you want but if you do not get wins who cares.

from a fan in the stands here what i saw the last few game:
our QB out rushing the RB's
Our QB get benched
WR red zone fumbles
punts- I saw a 7 yarder

 

[tigershark62]

Tiger hope you are right and i am wrong and these guys have a break out season. i want nothing more than to see success. you can talk about accolades all you want but if you do not get wins who cares.

from a fan in the stands here what i saw the last few game:
our QB out rushing the RB's
Our QB get benched
WR red zone fumbles
punts- I saw a 7 yarder

Right there with you Duke. All aspects need to improve, from coaching, to players, administrators to fans. I wasn't around during the glory days of the program, but would love to see it come back during my sons tenure at the school, and if dosent happen, at least I hope they can be a group of kids that got the boat going in the right direction.

 

[duke the bear]

Amen Tiger