So other than our QB situation can you name one position that we didnt improve on from last year even with the people we lost?
CB - Nope, we lost TJ and gained Nate Harris and I will even be so bold as to say as a group we are WAY better at Cb than we were last year. Goodwin, Dennard and Murray are very solid and give us depth we didnt have last year.
S - We lost McCord (Thank God) and have our true sophomore from last year Hermanson returning along with Tully who got torched in the SHSU game. We have a stud in waiting Lebsock who is always around the ball he seems to be playing a S/LB hybrid at times so far this fall and he is possibly the most talented Lebsock we have ever had. JC Transfer Coogan is a HAMMER he is 2 weeks in and already the WR and TEs are fearing this dude he lays it out there, if he gets this down hopefully Tully is an after thought.
LB - We lost McSurdy and have 7 guys that would start on any other team in the BSC Tripp, Kanongataa, Coyle, Stuberg, Holt, Owen and Kose all have playing time under their belt, the have speed.
DL - We lost Waldo and Alt but return Harris, Wagenmann and Bienemann who all got significant playing time last year. Add into the mix a guy who is a true freshman that has been virtually unblockable this fall Tyrone Holmes. This kid is explosive off the end and we havent had a guy like this in YEARS playing DE for us. We have great size on the DL with Takai (315) and Ginn (308) so try and move that out of the way.
OL - we lost a few guys but this years starters played a lot last year and are better as the group that ran the ball down yours and MSUs throats. Sabin, Kistler Oiland, Poehls and the Hines twins give us much more depth and versatility than last year. Also the true freshman MCCauley Todd is a steal from Iowa he comes in at 6'8 295 and has possibly the best feet on the OL.
RB - We return Canada, Nguyen and Moore, but Walden, Kirschner got playing time last year so we are 5 deep plus Nelo Butler is back from a knee injury and looks as good as any of our starters and M&M (mini Moore) from Arizona is a stud waiting to happen Joey Counts is a beast and all around the best RB we have and he may not even get a sniff because of the depth and the fact he is a true freshman.
QB - JJ goes down with legal troubles and we bring in Brezczek he is just a better version of JJ with a stronger arm and just as accurate. The rest of our QBs are not that good.
WR - next to QB the weakest part of our team. We lost Moutra and Sambrano and replaced them with more size and speed. Haynes and Saylor are studs, you guys will find that out soon enough, then we have Gratton and Carver that got playing time last year in the slot. We have added Ellis Henderson and Taylor Walcott that have size and more speed than the starters and I would bet both get some playing time this fall because they are too good as freshmen to not play.
We have a better punter than last year Shaw is 6'3" 235lbs and booms routine 55-60 with GREAT hang time so I expect that part of our special teams to improve dramatically.
K- Lider seems to have this locked down, he is a left footed kicker and is very accurate from 30 in. and I have seen him make a 48 yarder in practice but he would never be consistent at that range in a game situation at this stage of his career
You guys know me, you know Im honest and call out the Griz when things are not sugar covered rainbows like the rest of the idiot Griz fans. So really, enlighten me as too why we wont be a VERY solid football team again this fall? The off season stuff was months ago, the coaching stuff was months ago and trust me Delaney isnt a step down from Pflu, hes a step up in accountability and toughness, IMO hes better than Hauck and Pflu and we definitely upgraded our OC position with Timm Rosenbach.
I havent been this excited about a Griz team since 1996 and possibly 2001. The talent, size and SPEED that Pflu brought in have never been on a Griz team like this since I have been watching (1983ish)
If this team stays healty and progresses like good teams do this could be the best team overall we have ever had at UM. Bold words? Hell yes but I am dead serious.
You want some?
COME GET SOME!