OWH: Initial 3-4 Depth Chart
- Thread starter saluno22
- Start date
Riley must not have gotten the memo from the former blackshirts watching practice that Colin Miller should be on the 2 deep at outside linebacker. So much for practice reports from former players. Thanks for the link. Interesting popup was that Les Miles is going to be the headliner at the coach's clinic. I'll bet that will be a hoot.
Where is Eric Lee and Avery Anderson? Figured they would be on 2 deep by now.
For starters place khalil davis instead of freedom. Then hope collin Miller toe gets better.
How can you be excited or not about a depth chart yet? Until I see Diaco's defense perform on the field for a number of games I have no idea. But hope springs eternal.
Was not trying to be a downer but the return players did not show me much. I am hoping that the change in scheme brings out the best in them and or the incoming players can help. Did not see Miller mentioned. My thoughts hopefully will change after The Spring Game.
Per head coach Miller is slotted to play inside LB and was "looking good". Looks like he could be out all Spring.
I just don't know what you were expecting. It's spring, only a handful of the newcomers are on campus and most of those are playing offense. Riley mentioned Roberts in the mix at LB.
Other than that, this initial depth chart is a starting point and was determined by evaluations in drills, physical attributes and probably review of game film where the players were on a different scheme.
Something people should prepare for: do not expect much "production" out of NG and DEs. Nobody keeps stats on tying up linemen. You're going to need to actually watch them play before you can get frustrated. Holding their ground is kicking ***.
5. Two names I was surprised to not hear when Riley listed off what amounts to a pre-spring ball depth chart were safety Avery Anderson and Eric Lee Jr.
Both were very touted signees in Riley's first class at Nebraska -- the 2015 recruiting class. And Anderson in particular had some impressive plays from the safety spot at practices the media attended last year.
Not hearing their names is something worth acknowleding but also not making a major deal of at this point. Riley said to not run wild based off who is first up at posisitions at the start of spring. Players are going to get a chance over the next six months to make their moves. http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_cb9b526e-ff6d-11e6-a169-f3e8d38169ac.html
And all the names Riley listed off at corner and safety are certainly legit in contending for playing time, including Tony Butler and JoJo Domann, who made a good impression on coaches in their first year in the program.
There are 85 scholarships spots available. There are 44 spots available on the two deep. Given the depth at DB, kids will have to compete to get on the field. Most names on the list aren't surprising: Jones, Kalu, both Williams, Reed, Jackson, Bootle, Reed, JoJo and Dismuke. All solid recruits. Boaz Joseph has been around for quite awhile. And of course Blades will be arriving for the Fall.
The kids we recruit generally have the physical tools to play at this level and after a year or so, catch the speed of the college game. It's whats between the ears the separates.
Got to give Riley a ton of credit for doing this. This depth chart means very little (if nothing) and players & coaches know that.
But give Riley credit, this depth chart is for fans. Riley plays the game of keeping fans happy by giving them little nuggets and to keep excitement going in the off season better than anyone whose coached here since TO.
Hell Bo wouldn't even give depth charts before games. Remember the depth chart's under Bo? #1 Bla and Yada and that other guy. There is a saying in Hollywood, actors are paid very little to act but a lot to promote. Coaches are in the same boat. Paid little to coach, paid a lot to promote the program. Bo may have been the worst promoter of all time. If anything he was great at demoting excitement and playing it down. True some coaches do their best promoting by coaching elite teams, such as Saban. But when you don't have that yet, gotta create a buzz.
But give Riley credit, this depth chart is for fans. Riley plays the game of keeping fans happy by giving them little nuggets and to keep excitement going in the off season better than anyone whose coached here since TO.
Hell Bo wouldn't even give depth charts before games. Remember the depth chart's under Bo? #1 Bla and Yada and that other guy. There is a saying in Hollywood, actors are paid very little to act but a lot to promote. Coaches are in the same boat. Paid little to coach, paid a lot to promote the program. Bo may have been the worst promoter of all time. If anything he was great at demoting excitement and playing it down. True some coaches do their best promoting by coaching elite teams, such as Saban. But when you don't have that yet, gotta create a buzz.
He's probably referring to Stoltenberg getting pushed around in a 1-gap system, let alone trying to take on more double teams in a 2-gap system. That makes me pretty nervous myself.
Vrzl commented on this the other day. I only caught a part of it but he said Stolt was fine early in the season but as the season went on Stolt allowed too many linemen to lock on to him. What I took away from the comment was, Stolt got away from his technique, which is something fixable.
I hope that's the case. I noticed it more later in the year as well. I was wondering if he got injured or something, but didn't hear anything about an injury.
One note: Eric Lee is clearly No. 2 CB behind Chris Jones. Riley left off Lee Wednesday but Lee was No. 2 today.
Predictions after day one:
DE- Freedom
NG- Mick
DE- Carlos
OLB- Newby
ILB- Dedrick Young for now, but Pernell Jefferson- He is the most physically imposing inside Linebacker Nebraska has had on the roster since Barret Ruud in 2003.
ILB - Weber, but Mo Barry will really push him.
OLB- Quayshon Alexander, but Avery Roberts is going to make this very close.
CB - Kalu
CB - Jones
SS- Domann
FS- Williams
Nickel will be A Williams. Kieron will come in and Weber will go out.
Lamar Jackson
Eric Lee
Pernell
Kahlil Davis
Dismuke
Greg Simmons
Collin Miller - currently out with a dislocated toe( ouch)
Avery Roberts
Will all be big factors.
Players who have a ton to prove:
Daishon Neal- the tools are there, but maturity and focus willl be paramount.
True Frosh Dtackles Watts and Daniels. These dudes won't have a lot of pressure, but if they can prove some value early, that will be huge to allow Diaco to play with some things.
Alex Davis is major wildcard. He's an elite athlete. He's the kind of dude who could go to the combine today and cause every NFL GM to stop what they're doing. But.... He's not a very good football player. His hand placement, footwork, and ability to understand leverage was awful at times last season. You wonder if he will become Diaco's pet project. If you could somehow take Ross Dzuris's skill set and insert it into Alex Davis's body, you would have an All American.
Call me skeptical....
Day 1 MVP: JoJo Domann
DE- Freedom
NG- Mick
DE- Carlos
OLB- Newby
ILB- Dedrick Young for now, but Pernell Jefferson- He is the most physically imposing inside Linebacker Nebraska has had on the roster since Barret Ruud in 2003.
ILB - Weber, but Mo Barry will really push him.
OLB- Quayshon Alexander, but Avery Roberts is going to make this very close.
CB - Kalu
CB - Jones
SS- Domann
FS- Williams
Nickel will be A Williams. Kieron will come in and Weber will go out.
Lamar Jackson
Eric Lee
Pernell
Kahlil Davis
Dismuke
Greg Simmons
Collin Miller - currently out with a dislocated toe( ouch)
Avery Roberts
Will all be big factors.
Players who have a ton to prove:
Daishon Neal- the tools are there, but maturity and focus willl be paramount.
True Frosh Dtackles Watts and Daniels. These dudes won't have a lot of pressure, but if they can prove some value early, that will be huge to allow Diaco to play with some things.
Alex Davis is major wildcard. He's an elite athlete. He's the kind of dude who could go to the combine today and cause every NFL GM to stop what they're doing. But.... He's not a very good football player. His hand placement, footwork, and ability to understand leverage was awful at times last season. You wonder if he will become Diaco's pet project. If you could somehow take Ross Dzuris's skill set and insert it into Alex Davis's body, you would have an All American.
Call me skeptical....
Day 1 MVP: JoJo Domann