2016 Roster

[Sbee]

Roster looks solid overall, defense should be much improved. Linebackers are all back and adding an all big ten returnee in Davis. We lose Colquhon who ended up as a solid DB, Wiliamson who missed most of the year with an injury and was a non factor. Copeland looked like our best corner for the first few games, Hicks will be a solid cover corner, Nicholson and Cox should improve at safety. D-line loses Shilique and LT, Malik will be a monster, might move to end, knox and evans inside, Cooper on the end.

Obviously Conklin staying would be huge, along with Finley being healthy, RB's all back. WR's will be young other than Shelton, Burbridge is a big loss, we won't miss Kings that much. Hopefully Chambers and some young guys can come in and make plays.

The big question revolves around QB, you have to assume that won't be resolved until game 3 or 4. O'connor or terry, both played a decent amount this year. you have to think that you go with the younger guy if there isn't clear separation so you're not breaking in a new QB in 2017 as well. Remember TOC started a game in early 2013 when it was still a 3 way battle between Maxwell/Cook/TOC.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Just read on Mlive that Alabama had 4 40 yard plays against us. We had 5 the whole season. That's killer! The lack of a deep passing game has always confused me somewhat. Why not take a shot down field? A lot of times if the pass isn't completed there's a chance for a pass interference call. It's frustrating watching our offense at times.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Just read on Mlive that Alabama had 4 40 yard plays against us. We had 5 the whole season. That's killer! The lack of a deep passing game has always confused me somewhat. Why not take a shot down field? A lot of times if the pass isn't completed there's a chance for a pass interference call. It's frustrating watching our offense at times.

I think a lot of that was personnel. We had 2 slot guys (Kings and Shelton), and a possession receiver (Burbridge) as our starters. I think you saw us take some shots down field earlier in the season with Madaris, but he was banged up most of the season. Felton Davis III also showed some ability. You need bigger and faster WRs to complete those deeper balls. We have some of those developing and coming in with Davis III, Madaris, Stewart, Layne, and Jackson.

 

[Sbee]

Just read on Mlive that Alabama had 4 40 yard plays against us. We had 5 the whole season. That's killer! The lack of a deep passing game has always confused me somewhat. Why not take a shot down field? A lot of times if the pass isn't completed there's a chance for a pass interference call. It's frustrating watching our offense at times.

the score was 0-0 when hicks came out with an injury, I'd take deep shots too if we were facing Jermaine Edmonson at corner.

The reason that for the deep shots was that Bama could rush the passer and contain our run game in their base defense, no safety help. we had to move our safeties closer to the line in order to stop henry, we had to shade Harris toward to box to so he wasn't able to re-route Ridley on those deep passes. that makes all of the difference in the world. Cook was throwing downfield with 2 safeties deep, you couldn't look them off, Coker had a lot of open spots on the field because of our blitzing and run help

 

[Sbee]

I think a lot of that was personnel. We had 2 slot guys (Kings and Shelton), and a possession receiver (Burbridge) as our starters. I think you saw us take some shots down field earlier in the season with Madaris, but he was banged up most of the season. Felton Davis III also showed some ability. You need bigger and faster WRs to complete those deeper balls. We have some of those developing and coming in with Davis III, Madaris, Stewart, Layne, and Jackson.

Ridley was a few steps faster than anyone we have on the roster, maybe Waynes could have kept up with him. He'd get off the line of scrimmage and have a full head of steam by the time he got to the safeties, they couldn't stay with him. you'd need a jam or re-route at the line to make him stop and start, having Derrik Henry in the backfield makes it harder to check Ridley.

Pick your poison unfortunately

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Ohio state is losing a lot of guys to the draft. Seems like we might be favored to win again next year.

 

[Sbee]

QB: TOC or Terry
RB: Scott/Holmes or London
WR: Shelton
WR: Madaris
WR: Davis or Fresh
TE: Price/Lyles
OT Kieler
OG Clemons
OC Allen
OG McGowan
OT Finley

DEFENSE:

DE: Cooper 5-sacks as reserve
DT: Knox
DT: Evans
DE: McDowell
LB: Reschke
LB: Bullough
LB: Davis
CB: Copeland
S: Nicholson
S: Cox
CB: Hicks

returning punter and kicker

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I'm hoping we go with Terry.

Also, good luck running against McDowell and Evans. I think the Dline will allow us to play some safeties in case our corners don't play well. But I have all the confidence in the world in Copeland. Hicks is solid, he actually looked pretty darn good against Alabama!

 

[Sbee]

I'm hoping we go with Terry.

Also, good luck running against McDowell and Evans. I think the Dline will allow us to play some safeties in case our corners don't play well. But I have all the confidence in the world in Copeland. Hicks is solid, he actually looked pretty darn good against Alabama!

Hicks looked good against Bama, then he got hurt in the 2nd quarter and by the time he came back it was out of reach. I don't know if he would have made that much of a difference but it helps not to play Edmonson in the CFP.

Also, Monteaz Sweat is a possible x factor for us if he's back.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I'm thinking that we will start the season ranked somewhere in the 10-15 range. Playing Notre Dame and BYU is a solid non conference schedule. It helps that we play all the good teams in the big ten at home, Wisconsin, OSU, and Michigan.

I think next year we will have a few freshmen make an impact and probably start which is unusual for Dantonio. But when you have talent coming in and holes need to be filled, it's only fair to give them a shot.

 

[Sbee]

I'm thinking that we will start the season ranked somewhere in the 10-15 range. Playing Notre Dame and BYU is a solid non conference schedule. It helps that we play all the good teams in the big ten at home, Wisconsin, OSU, and Michigan.

I think next year we will have a few freshmen make an impact and probably start which is unusual for Dantonio. But when you have talent coming in and holes need to be filled, it's only fair to give them a shot.

I think freshmen play at WR which is one position where they can make an impact, it helps that a few of them are enrolling early. I'd love to see us get a grad transfer or juco OL that can contribute.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I think freshmen play at WR which is one position where they can make an impact, it helps that a few of them are enrolling early. I'd love to see us get a grad transfer or juco OL that can contribute.

Wasn't Machado a big time Juco recruit? Is he going to see the field more this upcoming year? I think I saw him play a few snaps this year.

 

[Sbee]

Wasn't Machado a big time Juco recruit? Is he going to see the field more this upcoming year? I think I saw him play a few snaps this year.

He looked lost, i've also heard that he's not really a team player, not buying in. that may be incorrect but he seemed to isolate himself after he was pulled, I don't think much is expected out of him

 

[johnny2x2x]

He looked lost, i've also heard that he's not really a team player, not buying in. that may be incorrect but he seemed to isolate himself after he was pulled, I don't think much is expected out of him

Machado didn't show the agility to play tackle, he's been moved to guard and he'll be a backup there.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

A lot of fans are quick to forget how good Ed Davis was last year. I'm so excited to see him play another year. I think our linebackers will hands down be the best group in the big ten, and I'd put them against anyone in the nation. Davis will lead the team in sacks next year. Book it!

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Need Harris in the game..

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Wrong thread obviously