DL Questions...

[chew1095]

The missing out of Hooks thread got me wondering about the DL. Now that it is becoming apparent Evans and James have some growing up to do, what are the reports on the following guys and expected contributions next year: Nelson Adams, Torey Dale and AJ Jefferson.

I would have to think Chris Jones has a very good chance of seeing signficant playing time next year as well.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Now that it is becoming apparent Evans and James have some growing up to do

Why, because Coach34 said so? He may be right on Jones, he actually GOT suspended. James and Evans played throughout the year. Whatever happened to the fact that they were just freshmen this year? Cox and Boyd both played as freshmen in 2009 when our defense wasn't that great, then in 2010 they dominated (also McPhee's 2nd year, much like Autry).

 

[chew1095]

Thanks for answering the question. And if you think Evans and Quay not playing over Cherry didnt have something to do with off the field issues, I cant help you. It was either that or Wilson is the dubmest mother 17er on the planet. Other things being equal in terms of talent (and they arent), you go with the highly rated younger guys over the JUCO walk-on, yes JUCO walk-on. That means he had no offers or did not qualify out of high school AND had no other decent options coming out of JUCO. Its inexcusable that Cherry played as much as he did, but for Evans and Quay being in someone's doghouse.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Well, I've heard countless reports that they were out of shape, hadn't learned the techniques, etc. This is the first I've heard of any private suspensions or of any evidence that were in any type of trouble.

But to answer your question, I wouldn't bank on any of those guys seeing significant time next year outside special teams.

 

[aTotal360]

I've heard from several people that have been going to bowl practice, that our "B team" defense looks better than our current starters. Nick James is finally in shape. Quay is dominating. All 3 Browns are kicking ***. Torrey Dale is killing it. Jiles is locking his side down.

I'm one of those who thinks we could easily be even worse on defense next year, but what I am hearing is just the opposite. Our front 7 will be better, but obviously we won't be as solid on the corners.

Chris Jones will see the field next year.

 

[121Josey]

But to answer your question, I wouldn't bank on any of those guys seeing significant time next year outside special teams.

"What are the reports on the following guys and expected contributions next year: Nelson Adams, Torey Dale and AJ Jefferson?"

 

[patdog]

Come on Railin. You don't think Evans and James had off-the-field issues? They both had them in high school and were known risks to sign. Maybe they'll get their heads out of their asses and maybe they won't. Realistically, if we can get just 1 of them to we'll be doing pretty good.

 

[chew1095]

Who is "starting" opposite of Jiles? Calhoun, Love, Redmond? Or a combination thereof?

 

[Arloguthrie]

Those four guys should be pretty solid.

But there's a distinct possibility that they'll receive super secret suspensions and be stuck on the bench, where they will be expected to provide "immediate help" despite their inability to find the playing field.

 

[codeDawg]

Here is the deal, and I am both frustrated by this and I respect it. If a kid does not practice well, he's not going to play on Saturday. Despite their talent, the young guys have not done what they were supposed to do, so they aren't playing.

If they would get in shape, quit f-ing around outside of football, and learn something new, they would have played more this year. Cherry worked hard and did the right things, so he played. He got blown up single handedly by the C every play, but he played.

I chalk this up partially to coaching. It's not X's and O's, but it is leadership. Effective coaches, the same as effective managers, get talented people to contribute in the way they need people to contribute.

The other half of it is that these kids are 18, 19 and 20 years old. At that age I could barely stop drinking long enough to go to class a couple of days a week. They are a step ahead of me at that age.

 

[aTotal360]

Right now, Love and Calhoun are getting the majority of the snaps because Jiles is nursing an injury. Hard to say who is going to get the start between Love and Calhoun. Mullen puts a ton of weight in experience, so I'd guess Love gets the nod.

 

[chew1095]

Incredible insight. Really 'preciate it brah. *****

 

[kired]

Did you guys read the interview with richie brown? He made it sound clear the coaches told the true freshmen they'd get very little playing time regardless of how good they were. That's simply the way Mullen & Wilson are running things.

Freshmen had to play in 2009 because we didn't have anyone else in many of those positions.

 

[codeDawg]

If we don't get better at Safety, it won't matter. The pass rush was awful this year partially because we were trying to compensate for our safeties with utra-conservative LB play, which led to conservative DL play. Personnel decisions / availability did not help, but we were considerably worse at all positions because of ****** play at one position.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

Eh, I think the coaches play the best players.

 

[engie]

Eh, I think the coaches play the best players.

How? We've had alot of true freshmen redshirting behind less talented upperclassmen at MSU. Tyler Russell redshirted for Tyson Lee to start. Nuf said. Do you really think Richie/Beniquez Brown won't be better actual linebackers in week 1 next year than Cam Lawrence was at any point in his career? Experience and hard work counts for alot, sometimes too much at MSU maybe--although I'll hold off judgement until Mullen's redshirting program is fully "mature" in 2014 to really judge.

What we've got right now is a split 2009 class, where half played immediately and half redshirted -- then in 2010, basically everyone started redshirting. For that reason, we've got something like 17 scholarship seniors graduating this year and like 14 next year. After that, it'll all be 5th year guys.

 

[patdog]

Tyler Russell wasn't ready to beat out a Tyson Lee that first season. If he could have, he would have started. And yes, I fully expect that neither Brown will be anywhere near as good as Lawrence has been the last 2 seasons in their first year. Do you really think our coaches are stupid enough to not play the best players?

 

[engie]

Tyler Russell wasn't ready to beat out a Tyson Lee that first season. If he could have, he would have started. And yes, I fully expect that neither Brown will be anywhere near as good as Lawrence has been the last 2 seasons in their first year. Do you really think our coaches are stupid enough to not play the best players?

Mullen has been quoted that Russell was our best QB by midseason as a true freshman... And that he nearly burned his redshirt in one of those games. Did you miss all that?

Yes, I think both Beniquez and Richie will be better linebackers than Cam Lawrence on day 1. Maybe not as "generals of the defense" but definitely both greatly superior athletically. Bigger, stronger, faster, quicker. Richie Brown is a legit 4.5 guy at 225 as a linebacker. He is actually decent in coverage. You tell me.

I think our personnel decisions have been perplexing as hell at times... No, I don't think they are putting the best players consistently on the field -- if they were, we would have never seen Cherrington this year. Simply put, we've yet to have a Mullen-recruited true freshman or redshirt freshman come in and offseat a guy with more than 1 year of superiority on him in the program. Not once that I can think of. How do you explain that?

 

[chew1095]

I have no inside information, this is just based on observations and what I have read in player interviews:

1. Default rule, you redshirt, unless you choose not to.
2. Part of the decision in 1. is yours and part is the staff.
3. If it is decided you will not redshirt, you play sparingly and must play special teams.
4. Guys that have been around and put in their dues have "earned" it more and are played more even when everything is not equal in terms of talent.
5. If you do not fully buy in, both on and off the field, your PT reflect such.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Mullen has been quoted that Russell was our best QB by midseason as a true freshman... And that he nearly burned his redshirt in one of those games. Did you miss all that?

Ha, yeah, I did. Seeing how #1, he didn't burn his redshirt, and #2, Chris Relf started the following year. And the next. It wasn't until Relf got benched in 2011 (mainly for having busted up ribs) that Tyler finally started.

Maybe that's the way it went down, I don't know. But what it does prove is that sometimes, it's better to let a player develop instead of throwing them to the fire just because you see glimpses of raw talent. We are reaping the benefit of Russell's development now. We're really going to like it next year.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

Well that's certainly an interesting philosophy.

Could have something to do with recruiting troubles.

 

[chew1095]

I am not sure its very interesting and I would not say we are having any "trouble" in recruiting right now. Mullen took some flyers on kids in 2010 and 2011 when he probably should not have, but we are about to put together our second very solid class in a row.

I think my hunch is right about Mullen's "system" though and it probably isn't for everybody.

 

[engie]

With you 100% on it. Exactly what I see...

Certainly don't know if it is right or wrong...

 

[RockstarFromMars]

I actually think recruiting is going very well for you. Some of your fans seem to disagree though.

 

[engie]

I actually think recruiting is going very well for you. Some of your fans seem to disagree though.

Because our fanbase is loaded with insecure morons that think the sky is falling each and every time that we miss on a nationally-recruited blue chip talent. Of course, they don't follow recruiting closely enough to notice all the guys that even the absolute best schools miss on, so they assume it's just us. This, I 100% agree with you on.

We are going to finish with another handful of 4* guys -- for our best (rankings) class under Mullen... Yet many here are more worried about how (potentially) well OM does than how well we are doing. This "hold each other back" mentality has been the problem in the state forever. We already know that it ends with both of us on probation and back in the basement of the SEC - at least that's what history tells us.

 

[chew1095]

I likewise think Freeze is doing a pretty good job. Probably a little light on both lines, but thats just my opinion. I dont get paid millions of dollars to recruit though.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

I don't think we'll be very light on the D-line when it's said and done.

 

[studentdawg87]

Mullen depends WAY too much on experience.

Right now, Love and Calhoun are getting the majority of the snaps because Jiles is nursing an injury. Hard to say who is going to get the start between Love and Calhoun. Mullen puts a ton of weight in experience, so I'd guess Love gets the nod.

Like others have said, if two guys are equal, you play the younger one. We don't do that, and it kills us. Mullen will trot out some terrible upperclassmen no matter how well the guy below him is playing.

 

[engie]

Like others have said, if two guys are equal, you play the younger one. We don't do that, and it kills us. Mullen will trot out some terrible upperclassmen no matter how well the guy below him is playing.

Exactly. The numbers crunch in this class and the next one will hopefully help prevent this problem going forward. Numbers are about to get real tight for the next two classes...