How many surprises later today: Signingday

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:24 am

OK, last I checked we have a list of 17 athletes we think will be signed today out of
possibly 20-24 maybe. I do not remember ever seeing this many known commitments
before signing date. So in about 8 hours when the list comes up there are only going to
be (theoretically) a hand full of athletes that we don't know about. Where are the holes in
this recruiting class? I have heard that we still need freshman quarterback, what else. do we need. Has anyone heard how many athletes we are expected to sign?

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:50 am

I think we have 19 with the two new guys. I think we may have one or two others who we find out about today. Kramer usually does a good job of keeping 5 or 6 schollies in his back pocket to sign a few players after spring ball, or during the summer. I really think that we have filled some immediate holes as well as added some depth for the future. The only glaring need is a young QB, I also wouldn't mind finding a game breaker running back that can contribute as soon as he steps foot on campus. (I'm not sold on JD, and although I think Taito will be very good, he is young and unproven...I want someone for THIS YEAR).

All in all, I think this is a great class, and I intend on sending the coaching staff an email later today thanking them for their hard work, and congratulating them on a nice recruiting class.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:00 am

wbtfg wrote:I think we have 19 with the two new guys. I think we may have one or two others who we find out about today. Kramer usually does a good job of keeping 5 or 6 schollies in his back pocket to sign a few players after spring ball, or during the summer. I really think that we have filled some immediate holes as well as added some depth for the future. The only glaring need is a young QB, I also wouldn't mind finding a game breaker running back that can contribute as soon as he steps foot on campus. (I'm not sold on JD, and although I think Taito will be very good, he is young and unproven...I want someone for THIS YEAR).

All in all, I think this is a great class, and I intend on sending the coaching staff an email later today thanking them for their hard work, and congratulating them on a nice recruiting class.

I have been watching some of the this last years game film to try and watch some of the players who are returning and I think JD could be okay this year if our line can open up some holes. The up the middle stuff last year I don't think we can blame that all on him as there just wasn't a lot of holes in a lot of games through there. The plays that there are minor holes he can get there and push it through and put his head down. The only knock I think is the wide sweeps where he has his guy beat, but can't cut it up w/o losing speed ... thats the biggest thing I think he lacks. If he can improve on that by next year and keep that speed going he could be a very decent back for us next year. HE IS AWESOME IN BLITZ pickup and catching out of backfield. I would like a home run hitter as well and hopefully we can get someon explosive in there. JD will help this team a lot next year though ... need some road graders in there on the OL.

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:08 am

CARDIAC_CATS wrote:
wbtfg wrote:I think we have 19 with the two new guys. I think we may have one or two others who we find out about today. Kramer usually does a good job of keeping 5 or 6 schollies in his back pocket to sign a few players after spring ball, or during the summer. I really think that we have filled some immediate holes as well as added some depth for the future. The only glaring need is a young QB, I also wouldn't mind finding a game breaker running back that can contribute as soon as he steps foot on campus. (I'm not sold on JD, and although I think Taito will be very good, he is young and unproven...I want someone for THIS YEAR).

All in all, I think this is a great class, and I intend on sending the coaching staff an email later today thanking them for their hard work, and congratulating them on a nice recruiting class.
I have been watching some of the this last years game film to try and watch some of the players who are returning and I think JD could be okay this year if our line can open up some holes. The up the middle stuff last year I don't think we can blame that all on him as there just wasn't a lot of holes in a lot of games through there. The plays that there are minor holes he can get there and push it through and put his head down. The only knock I think is the wide sweeps where he has his guy beat, but can't cut it up w/o losing speed ... thats the biggest thing I think he lacks. If he can improve on that by next year and keep that speed going he could be a very decent back for us next year. HE IS AWESOME IN BLITZ pickup and catching out of backfield. I would like a home run hitter as well and hopefully we can get someon explosive in there. JD will help this team a lot next year though ... need some road graders in there on the OL.

I agree with all of that. I think that JD could be a great BSC running back. The two things that concern me the most are his asthema/conditioning, and he needs to hold on the ball a little better. With everyone we have returning on the OL, I think we could have a dominant line, but I think we need someone in there in addition to JD.

On another note: Is Evin Groves playing this spring? I'd really like to get a look at him to see what he can do, but I thought I saw him with his arm in a sling the other day.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:32 pm

JD did a very good job last year, in particular pass blocking and pass receiving. Where he had a problem was there was no sub. You can't have one back doing it all every play. Last year I think they really wanted to keep Groves Redshirt year, Milton was hurt, and Beal just couldn't do it. If Milton is health or Groves is the stud he could be, there is already a lot of backup for JD.

As far as the OL, probably one of the two strengths (the QB being the other on the team). Six starters returning (Hirst) and 3 that have been all conference. All bigger and stronger and more experienced this coming year. Any can start for any team in the conference. The number one assignment for the OL is to protect Lulay. Typically a line is exceptional on either run block or pass block, we can't have Lulay hurt if the year is to be expectional. Last year when Travis was knocked out, the OL was told no one touches him and no one else did in that game. Looking at the recruit list, there are no JC transfer OL, that means there is no quick fix needed.

So many times it seems like some people feel the OL is poor if the running back doesn't get 1000 yards. But if a running back gets 1,000, there is no comment about the line. In this case, look at the yards that Lulay got and how long he had to pass, might say something about the line.

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:03 pm

Well put. And we all know Kramer may tent to exaggerate from time to time, but last year he did make a comment about the O-Line possibly being the best in Bobcat history. That speaks volumes, and we lost nobody from it. I can't wait to see them next fall after putting on the "Winter Meat"...