in preseason rankings, Steele has IU's DL ranked #24 in the country. It gives me hope the defense will be good again to go with an improved offense this season. Coach has been going all out to have a winning season with more wins than expected.
in preseason rankings, Steele has IU's DL ranked #24 in the country. It gives me hope the defense will be good again to go with an improved offense this season. Coach has been going all out to have a winning season with more wins than expected.
Surprised, we are not ranked higher honestly .surprising
Surprised, we are not ranked higher honestly .
I know you didn't ask me but my 2 cents is that I'm basing my optimism (about the DL) on our two Coaches. I love the fact that we have a dedicated DE Coach who seems to know his business and based on Kuntz's earlier stretch here as a GA working with the DL, he's Really good at his job too... If they are working with the kind of talent our DL guys are supposed to have I think we'll end up being pleasantly surprised...What's your thinking?
I see Burris; Carpenter; Harrison; Kamara; Sneed; Tucker; West; DePaepe; Carr; Mangum-Farrar as those getting time. Am I missing anyone?
I don't think any of those guys will be 1st or 2nd ABT guys. Perhaps Carpenter with the best chance. Not saying they're bad...there's some capable guys there. However, some of the more productive guys are somewhat undersized. And there's still a depth issue.
I know you didn't ask me but my 2 cents is that I'm basing my optimism (about the DL) on our two Coaches. I love the fact that we have a dedicated DE Coach who seems to know his business and based on Kuntz's earlier stretch here as a GA working with the DL, he's Really good at his job too... If they are working with the kind of talent our DL guys are supposed to have I think we'll end up being pleasantly surprised...
Without elaborating on what I've already expressed multiple times... That's a good breakdown and I agree that LB appears to be our greatest weakness. Hopefully the DL and the DB's can find a way to mask it as others have indicated they might...Could be......to me, DL looks like some over-achievers, which could be a good thing.....guys like Carpenter, , Kamara & West.
I'm curious as to what position groups you have the most confidence in. I look at it like this:
1. WRs
2. DBs.......I was impressed at the spring game with the transfers from OD & JMU...and I feel we already had a fair amount of talent there from last year.
3. QBs....Looks like we've got 2 better than average BT QBs.
4. DL
5. OL.....I like the 1st 5.... depth is an issue.
6. TBs....To me, the opposite of the OL....good depth but maybe no standout.
7. TEs....Horton can play. I feel like the rest are below-average BT TEs.
8. LBs....My biggest concern right now.. Fisher looks like the best. I liked Turner in the spring game. Logan & Walker were productive at a lower level....Walker perhaps more than Logan. Neither looks like a stud physically. I guess Isiah Jones is in the mix.
The simulated 2-min drill showed Rouke’s experience … the starting job seems to be his to lose.From the Spring game I like the OL looked very good on the first team and I thought the 2nd OL looked good. Our RBs looked like they could be very good this year with the OL. Our two QBs looked good and Rouke looked good once he got enough plays to look good. We didn't see him in practice so unless TJ works very hard this summer Rouke will be the starting player do to his experience.
Good DL play should allow LBs to play fast … DL should get the credit … last year Casey overcame ‘average’ DL play with will, experience and effort. We seem to have enough experience … will and effort may be enough with these LBs.Without elaborating on what I've already expressed multiple times... That's a good breakdown and I agree that LB appears to be our greatest weakness. Hopefully the DL and the DB's can find a way to mask it as others have indicated they might...
Perhaps DL should be #1 … WRs #2 … We need OL to be 3/4 … achieving that and the complementary pieces should be enough.Could be......to me, DL looks like some over-achievers, which could be a good thing.....guys like Carpenter, , Kamara & West.
I'm curious as to what position groups you have the most confidence in. I look at it like this:
1. WRs
2. DBs.......I was impressed at the spring game with the transfers from OD & JMU...and I feel we already had a fair amount of talent there from last year.
3. QBs....Looks like we've got 2 better than average BT QBs.
4. DL
5. OL.....I like the 1st 5.... depth is an issue.
6. TBs....To me, the opposite of the OL....good depth but maybe no standout.
7. TEs....Horton can play. I feel like the rest are below-average BT TEs.
8. LBs....My biggest concern right now.. Fisher looks like the best. I liked Turner in the spring game. Logan & Walker were productive at a lower level....Walker perhaps more than Logan. Neither looks like a stud physically. I guess Isiah Jones is in the mix.
I think a top 25 defense line should give IU a shot at top 30 defense.I hope our DL and the total defense plays better than #24.
Coach Haines has molded a tuff defense everywhere he's been. Google himhttps://247sports.com/college/india...epers-and-position-battles-233597749/#2441721
More opinions on the general talent level also picked the DL … and picked DC Haines as the most under pressure to create a cohesive defense.