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What freshmen are the true building blocks?

Duff Man

Duff Man

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I'm not looking for a list of all the freshmen who have played. I'm looking for players that look the part of quality starters down the line. Here is my list:

Christian Powell
Donta Abron
Gerald Thomas
Nelson Spruce
Stephane Nembot
Justin Solis
Josh Tupou
Kenneth Crawley

There may be others that eventually join this group, but my list is shorter than I expected.
 
I would add Mosely and Yuri. I think it is fairly obvious our biggest weaknesses are the linebackers and the o-line.
 
Hobbs was a major oversight on my part.

I'm not sold on either Mosley or Yuri, especially Mosley. Hope I am proven way wrong down the line.
 
Hennington and Kafavalu have flashed potential at times. I wouldn't put them up with Solis and Tupou on the Dline, but I think they'll both be solid starters in the future.
 
Duff your list could get shorter there are at least 2 transfer risks on there.
 
Duff Man said:
I'm not looking for a list of all the freshmen who have played. I'm looking for players that look the part of quality starters down the line. Here is my list:

Christian Powell
Donta Abron
Gerald Thomas
Nelson Spruce
Stephane Nembot
Justin Solis
Josh Tupou
Kenneth Crawley

There may be others that eventually join this group, but my list is shorter than I expected.
Click to expand...

Not sold on Spruce although he does have a lot catches this yr. Need to see more from Crawley. Add in Hobbs.


I don't know how to evaluate the DL. None of them seem like pass rushers although I admit its early and the DC is a clown.
 
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wsp4820 said:
Hennington and Kafavalu have flashed potential at times. I wouldn't put them up with Solis and Tupou on the Dline, but I think they'll both be solid starters in the future.
Click to expand...

Good calls. I cannot complain about the young d-linemen. I think the depth there is going to be solid for a while.

It may be unfair, but the young secondary players outside of Crawley have not really impressed me at all.
 
Duff Man said:
Good calls. I cannot complain about the young d-linemen. I think the depth there is going to be solid for a while.

It may be unfair, but the young secondary players outside of Crawley have not really impressed me at all.
Click to expand...
Crawley's tackling has impressed me. he's had a few flashes. That's about it. For the entire secondary group.
 
I'll add I don't think Gerald Thomas gets the ball enough. Maybe he doesn't have the offense down but still they should be able to find simple ways to get him the ball.
 
In coverage, I would give all 3 players an INC grade. Too hard to tell what they're abilities are when there is a complete meltdown going on in the secondary. Even Henderson seems to have regressed.
 
Old Greg Brown rap ----> Good position coach, bad coordinator.

New Greg Brown rap ----> Complete waste of space, dead man walking.
 
The entire Defense is an incomplete because it is such a cluster-%$#@! - how can anyone be evalauted properly when there are so many blown coverages and holes in the middle you could drive an aircraft carrier through? Plus shoddy tackling = worst FBS defense in the country....
 
I think all who have played have showed flashes. Keep in mind for a top 25 program with depth, these kids would be redshirting this year, probably not seeing the field their RS-FR years, and then dabbling in special teams in year 3. Not until year 4 would they be seeing consistent playing time. We have these kids playing when they should have 3 years to physically and mentally develop to the game - barring 1-2 lights out top skill players (5 star types - not 4 stars) that may see some spot field activity earlier.

Way too early to be ruling players out as foundational players down the road at this point.
 
I think it's a solid list you put up, Duff.

Where it's difficult to judge with some of the freshmen is that we have some guys like Yuri and Crawley who are skinny as rails and should absolutely be redshirting (like Jimmy Smith did). Others like Hall and Mosley could develop, too. When guys are playing before they're ready and they have the worst defensive coordinator in the BCS running things, I don't know how much I can judge.
 
scotth92 said:
I think all who have played have showed flashes. Keep in mind for a top 25 program with depth, these kids would be redshirting this year, probably not seeing the field their RS-FR years, and then dabbling in special teams in year 3. Not until year 4 would they be seeing consistent playing time. We have these kids playing when they should have 3 years to physically and mentally develop to the game - barring 1-2 lights out top skill players (5 star types - not 4 stars) that may see some spot field activity earlier.

Way too early to be ruling players out as foundational players down the road at this point.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Freshmen play college football these days - all across the country.
 
Lt.Col.FrankSlade said:
Not necessarily. Freshmen play college football these days - all across the country.
Click to expand...

Yes. A few here and a few there. We are fielding a senior high school team against 5th year seniors. I see plenty of flashes and potential. I think the recruiting classes have been a huge upgrade, but they are being schemed and prepared by the worst DC in all of college football. Put any one or two of these freshmen in an early 2000's era Buff defense and I think they look much better. Proof of the pudding in my opinion is Henderson. He actually looks worse and much more lost this year (in this system) than he did last year. That one just boggles my mind.

Offense side of the ball will look better with a competent QB. The running game has potential, but you can't run against eight and nine man fronts. Receivers and TE have all flashed but we lack speed. Lets hope Dillon is the answer.
 
Lt.Col.FrankSlade said:
Not necessarily. Freshmen play college football these days - all across the country.
Click to expand...
Stamford's depth chart - no freshman starting, except on ST's (long snapper and a returner)
http://www.southbendtribune.com/spo...ford-depth-chart-20121012,0,2743741.htmlstory

Arizona's depth chart - one RS-FR starting at LB
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...depth_chart_event/depth_chart_20121112aaa.pdf

ASU's depth chart - 3 true freshman starting
http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/08/...h-chart/landing_sundevils.html?blockID=778389

CU's depth chart - 8 freshman starting (including 1 on ST's) and another 12 in the 2 deep
http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/2012/depth_chart.pdf

This isn't just a few freshman that are standouts here and there - it is more than half our 2 deep depth chart. You will also notice I didn't cherry pick Top 10 teams with excellent depth through years of great recruiting. The teams above I expect CU to get to the point of beating annually (AU & ASU) with Stamford either being a team to model or a team to beat regularly.

I'm not going sideways on this and posting this as an excuse for our problems. I'm saying we need to wait a while before determining if the freshman are foundation players - most teams would have never seen them hit the field yet.
 
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scotth92 said:
Stamford's depth chart - no freshman starting, except on ST's (long snapper and a returner)
http://www.southbendtribune.com/spo...ford-depth-chart-20121012,0,2743741.htmlstory

Arizona's depth chart - one RS-FR starting at LB
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...depth_chart_event/depth_chart_20121112aaa.pdf

ASU's depth chart - 3 true freshman starting
http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/08/...h-chart/landing_sundevils.html?blockID=778389

CU's depth chart - 8 freshman starting (including 1 on ST's) and another 12 in the 2 deep
http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/2012/depth_chart.pdf

This isn't just a few freshman that are standouts here and there - it is more than half our 2 deep depth chart. You will also notice I didn't cherry pick Top 10 teams with excellent depth through years of great recruiting. The teams above I expect CU to get to the point of beating annually (AU & ASU) with Stamford either being a team to model or a team to beat regularly.

I'm not going sideways on this and posting this as an excuse for our problems. I'm saying we need to wait a while before determining if the freshman are foundation players - most teams would have never seen them hit the field yet.
Click to expand...

You hit on an important point. It is one thing for a few freshman to be playing surrounded by experienced players in an established system. It is completely different to have a bunch of freshman surrounded by other guys who for the most part wouldn't be playing either at most other school yet in a system that is a giant cluster****.

These guys don't have the guys around them to tell them and show them what to do and to help cover for their deficiencies. How many of our freshmen would be on a 2-deep of an above .500 BCS level team? For that matter how many of the experienced players around them would be. Makes for an ugly situation.
 
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