Disagree -- not enough firepower on offense. I'm more optimistic about the oline than most, but I'm pessimistic about our playmakers. We really only have two big-time playmakers (Boutte, Emery), and one is criminally underused. The lack of playmaking ability on our roster was evident to anyone who watched the Spring game -- our WRs made the second-team DBs look all-conference.

Don't get me wrong. I think players like Moore, Jenkins, and Kirklin are solid contributors and will make plays here and there. And, obviously, Davis-Price is a reliable if not explosive back. But I have zero confidence that these guys will be difference makers against the best teams in our league with the season on the line.

Our best hope to find some additional playmakers is with the trio of awesome freshmen WRs, but it will probably take them until the end of the season to find their footing, and by then it will be too late.

Sorry, but I'm just not buying the hype on this team.

This post was edited on 7/12/21 at 12:09 pm

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Posted by BayouCowboy

Member since Dec 2012

14463 posts

Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:24 pm to TxTiger82

quote:
Our best hope to find some additional playmakers is with the trio of awesome freshmen WRs, but it will probably take them until the end of the season to find their footing, and by then it will be too late.

I agree with your first statement. Hilton, Thomas and Smith could all emerge as legit playmakers and it will take some time. The schedule sets up favorably though.

Our first 6 games:
@UCLA
McNeese
Central Mich
@Miss St
Auburn
@Kentucky
Barring a slip up at UCLA I think we win all these games without a serious challenge. By then the freshmen WRs should have gotten some solid reps. With a new OC seniority of WRS will likely be less of a factor and all players will get a fair evaluation. I can see Hilton pushing for time, but Deion Smith could surprise folks.

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Posted by nitwit

Member since Oct 2007

12265 posts

Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:54 pm to TxTiger82

Agree.
On defense, LB and, to a lesser extent, safeties are only concern.
On offense, we have lots of question marks:
TE (weakest I can remember)
OL ( see above);
WR (after Boutte, we have potential but no proven HR hitters;
RB average SEC stable, hoping Goodwin or Kiner can shine.
There's talent, but there are plenty of questions

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Posted by Purple Tiger King

Member since Jan 2021

2016 posts

Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:35 pm to TxTiger82

quote:
I think players like Moore, Jenkins, and Kirklin are solid contributors

Unlike you, I don't think the aforementioned will be the most solid contributors. Maybe early. As I think the aforementioned will eventually be replaced by players like Deion Smith, Jack Bech, Chris Hilton, and Brian Thomas, Jr. As some of those but not all of them I believe will emerge when the season begins.

I also don't think it will take a full season for them to emerge because of the summer of 10,000 catches that they will all have to fulfill. I think that exercise will accelerate their evolution tremendously.

Not to mention, that Deion Smith already looked awesome in the spring game without hardly any practice.

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Posted by The Pirate King