Inventory Part III – Let’s Turn That Into A 3-Deep April 23, 2012
Figured I’d take those last two inventory posts and compile them into a three-deep.
QB: Nathan Scheelhaase (JR) / Reilly O’Toole (SO) / Chase Haslett (rs-FR)
Scat-RB: Josh Ferguson (rs-FR) / Miles Osei (JR) / Devin Church (FR)
Power-RB: Donovonn Young (SO) / Zach Becker (SR) / Ean Days (rs-SO) / Dami Ayoola (FR)
Split-TE: Jon Davis (SO) / Matt LaCosse (SO) / Tim Russell (JR walkon)
Power-TE: Evan Wilson (JR) / Eddie Viliunas (SR) / Justin Lattimore (JR)
LT: Simon Cvijanovic (rs-SO) / Scott McDowell (rs-FR) / Josiah VanderHeyden (SO-walkon)
LG: Hugh Thornton (SR) / Alex Hill (rs-SO) / Chris Boles (rs-FR)
C: Graham Pocic (SR) / Jake Feldmeyer (JR) / Tony Durkin (rs-FR)
RG: Teddy Karras (rs-FR) / Tyler Sands (SR) / Joseph Spencer (FR)
RT: Michael Heitz (rs-SO) / Pat Flavin (rs-FR) / Shawn Afryl (rs-SO)
WR1: Darius Millines (JR) / Jeremy Whitlow (rs-FR) / Kenny Knight (rs-FR)
WR2: Spencer Harris (JR) / Jordan Frysinger (rs-FR) / Peter Bonahoom (rs-FR walkon)
WR3: Ryan Lankford (JR) / Fritz Rock (rs-SO) / Anthony Williams (rs-SO)
Leo: Michael Buchanan (SR) / Brandon Denmark (JR) / Darrius Caldwell (rs-FR)
DT: Glenn Foster (SR) / Austin Teitsma (rs-SO) / Chris O’Connor (rs-FR)
NG: Akeem Spence (JR) / Jake Howe (rs-SO) / Dejazz Woods (rs-SO)
DE: Justin Staples (SR) / Tim Kynard (JR) / Kenny Nelson (rs-FR)
WLB: Houston Bates (rs-SO) / Henry Dickinson (SO) / Mason Monheim (FR)
MLB: Jonathan Brown (JR) / Ralph Cooper (SO) / TJ Neal (FR)
Star: Ashante Williams (SR) / TaJarvis Fuller (FR) / Zeph Grimes (rs-FR)
CB: Terry Hawthorne (SR) / Eaton Spence (rs-FR) / Jevaris Little (FR)
FS: Steve Hull (JR) / Ben Mathis (JR-walkon) / Earnest Thomas (rs-SO)
SS: Supo Sanni (SR) / Patrick Nixon-Youman (SR) / Nick North (rs-FR)
CB: Justin Green (SR) / Jack Ramsey (SR) / V’Angelo Bentley (FR)
K: Taylor Zalewski (rs-FR) / Nick Immekus (rs-SO) / Brennen Van Mieghem (rs-FR) / Ryan Frain (FR)
P: Justin DuVernois (SO) / Brad Janitz (rs-SO) / Garrett Stroup (rs-FR)
A few thoughts (although most of this was already covered in Part I and Part II.
+ Because it appears we’ll have a few different positions in the offensive backfield, and because I refuse to use lame Northwestern-y words like “superback”, I’ve named the four backfield positions. I’m splitting the tailbacks into “Power-RB” and “Scat-RB” (for lack of a better term), and I’m splitting the tight ends into “Split-TE” and “Power-TE”. I realize that “split tight end” is an oxymoron that makes my father roll over in his grave (he was a split end as a junior in high school and a tight end as a senior according to numerous high school reports), but that’s the best I can do.
I’ll describe it this way: say we run the West Virginia Orange Bowl Clemson Killer play, the shovel sweep. Nate is in the shotgun, Donovonn Young behind him, Josh Ferguson split out to the right (with Darius Millines out wide), Evan Wilson at Tight End and Jon Davis split out as a receiver. Ferguson goes in motion and a timed snap reaches Nate just before Ferguson arrives. If it’s a shovel sweep, Nate flips the ball to a speeding Ferguson right in front of him, and Wilson and Davis are on the edge blocking for him. If it’s a fake shovel sweep, he fakes the flip and hands to the power back (Young) for a standard dive play. If he fakes both of those, he has multiple tight ends and a wide receiver to throw to.
Two positions, dozens of different looks in a spread. That’s why I feel the need to break our depth chart into things like “scat-RB” and “power-TE”.
+ Why do I always forget Brandon Denmark? Shame on me. I don’t think I even mentioned him in Part II.
This year, it’s mostly Justin Staples and Michael Buchanan getting after the quarterback. In 2013, it’s a combination of Tim Kynard, Brandon Denmark, and Darrius Caldwell. Caldwell can then begin his world domination in 2014 and 2015.
+ Player I’m the least sure what to do with, but the most sure he’ll be a major contributor down the road: Zeph Grimes. He was the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year, and guys that win that award (like this guy named Whitney Mercilus) are usually players to watch in the future. But I’m not sure if he’ll be a star linebacker or if he’s more the inside type. I’m 63% certain I saw him playing some Will Linebacker in the spring game, but that’s not enough for me to move him to Will. So I’ll keep him a star linebacker for now.
+ I also put some incoming freshmen in this three-deep. Guys like V’Angelo Bentley and Dami Ayoola. And, of course, future superStar TaJarvis Fuller.
Caldwell’s going to have to put on alot of weight.
He looked skinny in the spring game, played too up right, and missed some tackles.
for the names of the running back labels you could go instead of Power and Scat: but Zone Back for you power back and Scat back seems fine
but for TE instead of Split you could say Flex TE and then Power TE you could go with Inline TE (Flex means TE is Flexed out not in a down stance and Inline TE is when he’s next to the OT with his hand in the ground stance)
but some football terminology for ya not trying to correct you in any way….
i did as well see Grimes play some WILL LB position when Grimes and Fuller were on the field at the same time…..so he could move to the WILL position
thought Flavin was more of a LT then RT and then McDowell more of a RT….could be wrong i don’t know for sure
its gonna be a battle between Staples and Kynard for the last Dline starting spot i think Kynard played very well for us last year being a rotational guy
i feel like this is a very realistic and accurate Depth Chart as of right now…..cant wait to see how well it changes during camp with position battles and the freshman arrive
i was impressed with fuller in the spring game. looking forward to him – will we see him on special teams coverages quite a bit? i think we are deepest at LB/Bussey backer.
I’ll be surprised if the O line stays the way you’re showing it. After Beckman said they would play the best 5 guys, it seemed like a done deal to move Pocic and Thornton. Thornton played right tackle as a freshman and might move to left tackle. Pocic might go to right tackle. Didn’t Sands play backup center the year before last? I could see him moving back to center and Hill and Karras at guard.