Will the team play to the athletes talents?

[will.wally]

I have seen some workouts (this spring)and all the games last year as an observer because of some of my buddies who used to play at sac state. It looks like there are athletes everywhere on this team now. The Davis game last year showed how talented sac state was when they had to rely on streak routes and posts to beat Davis. Question, will the talent on the team be used? Mcleod has a pac-10 arm and he can gun it...will there be routes around the 15-25 yard mark rather than just at ten yards and anything deeper for sac state is an obvious post or streak? Dailey apparently is gone from the team...so who is the new RB to step up? Mcgowen and Croxdale are very consistent a good running backs but are somewhat undersized (they run like they are not) but will they get hurt due to lack of running backs? The WR position is the strongest and Morris Norise looks great especially for a freshman, keeping competition steady for the upper class men. The transfer from Colorado State, Brett Willis, can hella fly. Fastest dude i have seen in awhile and he is the biggest active receiver but was hindered last year with a season long injury (down the field threat). Brandyn Reed is the playmaker and Hendershott is a rangy receiver that can play multiple spots on the field. Is sac state gonna use their talent? There seems to be an incredible amount of injuries every year. The change in the type of defense 4-2-5 should be interesting and i am excited to check out spring ball to see who comes up big. The O-line is a straight mystery to me...good luck hornets

 

[ChiCity]

We have some tremendous athletes again this year. Probably as good as any team in the Sky. Hilliard should be the feature back. Douglas may play if there are injuries to any of the other backs. Murdaca will give MBT a good run for QB. You're right, Norrise has caught the attention of some folks and with Deadder back, we'll be loaded. Linebacker is the mystery for me, not only in who will play and step up, but what AP and Biaz will do with them. The line will see some changes this year with the Hofstra guy somewhere in the mix along with Taylor. The big question to me is the tackles. Thoughts anyone?

 

[will.wally]

Deader will not be back for spring ball and maybe done for awhile with his shoulder. Just as long as they play the best athletes and don't choose what the "people around the area/media" want to see...they'll be fine. Sperbeck just take care of the athletes he has and stop giving his new recruits the upper hand, they'll be fine...This fall they will have the most talented skilled players Sac State has seen...

 

[SDHornet]

Good post WW and welcome to the board. I think there will be plenty of RB's and WR's to go around. My concern offensively is with the OL getting its chemistry together early in the season and MBT having quality consistent play. Defensively players just need to step up and make plays...so long as the play calling allows the players to have the opportunity.

 

[Kadeezy]

We have some tremendous athletes again this year. Probably as good as any team in the Sky. Hilliard should be the feature back. Douglas may play if there are injuries to any of the other backs. Murdaca will give MBT a good run for QB. You're right, Norrise has caught the attention of some folks and with Deadder back, we'll be loaded. Linebacker is the mystery for me, not only in who will play and step up, but what AP and Biaz will do with them. The line will see some changes this year with the Hofstra guy somewhere in the mix along with Taylor. The big question to me is the tackles. Thoughts anyone?

Chi,

I think you hit the nail on the head... Our LB core is going to be our weak point again this year. We have Clark/Nash and Gordon/Shraeder holding things down up front and in the secondary, but I'm not confident in our LB core to any degree. We were so spoiled there with Bulter>Mulitalo>Brannon>Hickman.... and now we're hurting!

 

[Fajadadu]

Buck has started at five positions in two years and still been second on the team in tackles for the same years. That includes Mulitalo’s and Brannon’s senior year. They'll stick "Athletes" in at LB. By Montana (If not sooner) he'll be starting somewhere to solve a problem in place of an "Athlete" who can't remember assignments.

 

[jj2319]

I was thinking that same thing but I'm not that concerned about our linebackers. The linebacker corps is all returning seniors and Buck and Avery White had decent years. I am more concerned about who will start at left guard, left tackle and right guard.

 

[ChiCity]

After watching today's practice, it looks like Harell and Taylor at guard and Dustine Phaff at center. Taylor is a great athlete and could be very good at guard. Another gaurd that looked good was Tyler Worthley, a RS freshman. Phaff is a beast at center. The tackles playing the most today were Doverspike and Born. There were some other freshman O line that had good practices today, too. Defense has a different look with Wilkens playing a kind of nickle back and with two linebackers. Also not playing nearly as deep off the line as last year. Of course this was the first day of pads, but it was good to see this... The D line had a stronger push this year than last year. MBT looked sharp at QB hitting short and long passes and Murdaca had a good touch on his passes. Hilliard was stronger than ever. A good, solid first day of pads today.

 

[jj2319]

Chi - thanks for the good info. There is also good news on hornetsports about Wilkins getting a medical waiver last year so he has two years left. I just dont know how he'll be as a defensive back.

 

[Hammerhead Dad]

Chi - thanks for the good info. There is also good news on hornetsports about Wilkins getting a medical waiver last year so he has two years left. I just dont know how he'll be as a defensive back.

One thing we know for sure: he'll be fast!

 

[SDHornet]

Thanks for the post ChiCity.