As excited as I am about the upcoming season, I am really worried. The team was 10th or worse in the Big Ten for all of the important statistical areas last year. So here is what scares me: we lose our leading rusher, only decent wide receiver, top 2 tight ends, best and most versatile lineman and 2 other starters on the line, our QB ran the ball well last year but is below 50% for his career throwing. Defensively, we lose our two top tacklers and two starting d tackles. Last year we not only lacked talent, but also depth.
I am not convinced that we have people in place that are better than what we lost. I would have loved to have seen one back emerge. Based on Coach Kill's comments, it does not appear that has happened. I have had doubts about Gillum from the start as his top game in JUCO was 163 yards. Seems to me a quality Big 10 back would have had a few 200 yard games competing against only freshman and sophomores, most of whom will not play 4 year football.
The same goes for the WR's. Coach Kill was very vague about the top WR's in his press conference, even mentioning AJ Barker, a name out of nowhere. I get nervous about playing 2 freshman. I was not impressed by Raabe last year and Goodger is an unknown.
His comments about being unsettled at o-line really scare me. Again, I had hoped that by now it would be clear cut. I think most teams have solidified their line by now but it sound like we are far from that with Mottla, Epping, and Christenson. Plus, I have to imagine, since they are having difficulty determine who will start, we are not very deep.
Defensively, one of my big concerns is all of the changing positions. Wells, for example, will be a first year starter playing a new position next to another player also playing a new position. I know many are high on Hagemann, but he is on his third position and, let's face it, he has not made much of an impact in his career so far. Manuel and Rallis are playing new positions. And then there is the matter of a pass rush. We had more sacks last year, which is good. But the spike in sacks came from linebackers and d-backs. We need the d-ends to create a pass rush. And am I the only one disappointed to see Michael Carter starting? Haven't we been down this road before? I was hoping Kill would have brought in someone to replace him. I also have concerns about the kicking game.
I know it is not popular to question anything on this board, but does anyone else share these concerns?
I am not convinced that we have people in place that are better than what we lost. I would have loved to have seen one back emerge. Based on Coach Kill's comments, it does not appear that has happened. I have had doubts about Gillum from the start as his top game in JUCO was 163 yards. Seems to me a quality Big 10 back would have had a few 200 yard games competing against only freshman and sophomores, most of whom will not play 4 year football.
The same goes for the WR's. Coach Kill was very vague about the top WR's in his press conference, even mentioning AJ Barker, a name out of nowhere. I get nervous about playing 2 freshman. I was not impressed by Raabe last year and Goodger is an unknown.
His comments about being unsettled at o-line really scare me. Again, I had hoped that by now it would be clear cut. I think most teams have solidified their line by now but it sound like we are far from that with Mottla, Epping, and Christenson. Plus, I have to imagine, since they are having difficulty determine who will start, we are not very deep.
Defensively, one of my big concerns is all of the changing positions. Wells, for example, will be a first year starter playing a new position next to another player also playing a new position. I know many are high on Hagemann, but he is on his third position and, let's face it, he has not made much of an impact in his career so far. Manuel and Rallis are playing new positions. And then there is the matter of a pass rush. We had more sacks last year, which is good. But the spike in sacks came from linebackers and d-backs. We need the d-ends to create a pass rush. And am I the only one disappointed to see Michael Carter starting? Haven't we been down this road before? I was hoping Kill would have brought in someone to replace him. I also have concerns about the kicking game.
I know it is not popular to question anything on this board, but does anyone else share these concerns?
