So HD6... If last season felt like 2001 going in.
- Thread starter mcdawg22
- Start date
on the dl (John Hilliard, Toby Golliday, Dorsett Davis, Ellis Wyms, Kevin Sluder, Mario Haggan)......This team doesn't have that kind of quality depth......
I dont think you will see the #1 defense in the country again, but the schedule certainly sets up for a possible early season undefeated run.<div>
</div><div>Similarities dont stop there. We have a couple good QBs (Tyler/Dak vs. Madkin/Wyatt). Thunder and Lightning RBs (Dontae/Dicenzo vs. Griffin/Perk). Steady but not spectacular receivers (Love/Huntington/Grindle vs. Clark/Smith/Bump). Smoot v. Banks, Coop v. Lawrence, etc. etc.</div><div>
</div><div>The thing that probably keeps this team from being that team in my opinion is we had some awesome safeties - definitely need Nickoe to come back but I dont think we have a Tim Nelson on this squad right now. Although I really think Wells or Slay could be that kind of guy. Also, our D-line depth was just stupid that year. I also have always said that Kenny Williamson made that running attack go - dont have one of those. It would be nice to have a Scott Westerfield also.
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</div><div>Similarities dont stop there. We have a couple good QBs (Tyler/Dak vs. Madkin/Wyatt). Thunder and Lightning RBs (Dontae/Dicenzo vs. Griffin/Perk). Steady but not spectacular receivers (Love/Huntington/Grindle vs. Clark/Smith/Bump). Smoot v. Banks, Coop v. Lawrence, etc. etc.</div><div>
</div><div>The thing that probably keeps this team from being that team in my opinion is we had some awesome safeties - definitely need Nickoe to come back but I dont think we have a Tim Nelson on this squad right now. Although I really think Wells or Slay could be that kind of guy. Also, our D-line depth was just stupid that year. I also have always said that Kenny Williamson made that running attack go - dont have one of those. It would be nice to have a Scott Westerfield also.
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There were 5 total NFL DL on roster 1999.
the 99 DL draft picks(number taken):
2000 draft
McKinley (120)
Hilliard (190)
2001 draft
Blade(93)
Wyms(183)
2002 draft
Davis(96)
Haggan was a LB, so he doesn't count.
Our current DL has at least 5 that expected NFL-level talents. Any less from this group will be a pretty big disappointment IMO. Boyd, Autry, Eulls, Quay, James are all(currently) projected NFL draft picks. Virges and PJ Jones are borderline, depending on their performance as they mature...
the 99 DL draft picks(number taken):
2000 draft
McKinley (120)
Hilliard (190)
2001 draft
Blade(93)
Wyms(183)
2002 draft
Davis(96)
Haggan was a LB, so he doesn't count.
Our current DL has at least 5 that expected NFL-level talents. Any less from this group will be a pretty big disappointment IMO. Boyd, Autry, Eulls, Quay, James are all(currently) projected NFL draft picks. Virges and PJ Jones are borderline, depending on their performance as they mature...
The other thing is we didn't know how good Davis was going in to '99. The one thing I think that draws comparison, in '99 we didn't have to blitz as much because our DLine got good pressure and we had lock down corners we were as base as ever that year under Dunn, I think will see a lot of lock down coverage with pressure off the edge. Hopefully our safeties are up to the challenge over the top. I think will see how much pressure we can get out of base defenses against JSU, because we are going to be very vanilla that game, not giving Auburn anything.