https://x.com/therealdcunna/status/1828459682316366105
Pene OR Copeland jumped out. Gilliam must have had one heck of a camp after his spring game performance.
Keller at WILL. Prove it time.
Mose Phillips starting at safety. Ghannam at left guard.
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Thank you, I refuse to click on an X link.
Curious that Peebles is as low as he is on the depth chart. I thought that was a transfer we would have expected to start or at least get a lot of time in the rotation.
Think you might be reading that wrong he's at one of the two the 1 spots for DT
I did read that wrong, thank you.
He's a starting DT
Will be interesting to see who plays Nicket/slot corner with 5 DBs. Could see Delane moving inside to that spot and one of the young guys Lovett/Williams playing outside.
Keller needs to step-up - has gotten every chance possible. My guess is his starting job is in their base package - can't see him on the field for too many passing downs.
O-line seems to finally have some decent depth - will be interesting to see if they take the next step.
Offensive skill positions are as deep as they have been in years - maybe on of the best top-to-bottom QB/RB/WR/TE depth charts that they've had in the last 15 years in terms of talent + experience.
DL/DEs also present a functional 2-deep with potential to be very good in spots.
We are looking at 4-6 guys on each side of the ball with NFL-level potential - not sure we've said that in quite some time.
BLOW OUT VANDY...please.
For nickel, Pry has said in the past that Strong will play there some this year. That is part of why he came back, to play inside more to round out his game better. I'd guess that means Lovett or Williams will come in out the outside when that happens.
Will be interesting to see - they tend to rotate guys so will likely see a few people there. Strong only played 15 snaps in the slot against 600+ total snaps last year but we'll see - maybe that was a depth thing on the outside vs. the ideal plan.
Linebacker thoughts:
Safety Thoughts:
DL Thoughts:
OL Thoughts:
.
TE Thoughts:
I'm not too worried about Safety - Jones got time last year and is functional, Reddish has tons of potential, and Delane is a swing guy in a pinch. Sounds like Braylon Johnson and some others also adding depth there too. Not tons of experience but a far cry from having to start Sean Huelskamp.
Worried about what I always worry about- Runs right up the middle, QB runs, poor tackling, poor gap fits. Those lead to big plays and back breaking 3rd down conversions against VT regularly.
Agree - the run defense both in terms of fits and tackling has been way below standard. Safeties filling the alley and making open field tackles is a part of it - but the brunt is still in the DL and LBs.
3rd down defense conversion % was always a Bud specialty - bend dont break - and then shut them down on 3rd.
Giving up a record amount of 20+ yard runs in recent years has been painful to watch. Make them earn it.
interesting. i always felt like bud's defenses were Break But Don't Bend -- in that you're either punting after 3-5 offensive plays or you're scoring a 67 yard touchdown
Vintage Bud had phenomenal 3 down conversion % and redzone defenses - definition of bend don't break.
Yes - later Bud could be more hit or miss - but I've been neuralyzed.
My biggest issue is that behind the 2-deep is Delane and B. Johnson, as you mentioned. They like Johnson, but it seemed Pry thought he wasn't yet there developmentally and so wants to RS him. And moving Delane over to safety means two-thirds of CBs in the nickle package are RS freshmen. Doesn't seem ideal.
And if the safeties have the injury and targeting issues of 2023, VT will have to rely on a starter fulltime with no breaks or B. Johnson may have to play over 4 games. We'll see how it goes.
Outside corner is typically a bit easier to fit a younger player into for most systems. My guess is that if we had to trot out someone more green at corner you would see Dorian Strong move to the nickel when necessary to deal with the more complicated overhang, passing strength adjustments, and pattern match trade-offs.
I think most of the backup DB options being young is more reflective of the immediate focus Pry put on the position with his early classes in rebuilding the talent in that room. I'd rather have Pry's younger talented players than be playing veterans who aren't P5 talents.
You're definitely right. But Pry did mention in his presser yesterday that he doesn't think T. Williams is quite ready to for significant time at corner yet. So, in Pry's mind, B. Johnson and T. Williams are liabilities if thrown into the gauntlet.
There is depth. But not enough depth at the very end, especially in the nickel package. An injury or untimely ejection puts VT and coaches in a position that will be difficult to manage and would require individuals to be in spots that are not their ideal position and young players to step up that might not yet be ready . The defensive backfield goes from a major strength to questionable, especially against a team like Miami with Cam Ward.
I agree. There's no doubt that we are in largely untested waters if we lose one or both of Delane and Strong for any material amount of time. There could be a significant drop off.
Won't really matter when APR keeps sacking the QB
My takeaways:
-I'm not putting much stock in Pene OR Copeland. A lot times you see that OR designation to give respect to veteran player. Yesterday, Auburn dropped a depth chart with so many OR's they technically had 37 starters on defense LOL.
-Gilliam in the two-deep is very interesting. Let's see how it plays out. I still believe in Perry big time over the course of the season.
-Takye Heath passing XTB as the little, dynamic slot playmaker in space guy?
-Love the secondary two-deep.
-Keller and Lawson will probably both play a lot, particularly once Lawson gets fully back into the swing.
-Jayden McDonald is probably athletically a best fit at MIKE, so I don't mind him spelling Brumfield.
-Ghannam starting... PRAISE!
A pleasant surprise to see Ghannam with the 1's...kinda surprised to see Clements still there, but we'll see what happens.
Garrett and Cunningham are both pushing Clements hard.
If anyone is interested, Vandy's depth chart:
I don't really follow Vandy closely, but I don't think anything was too surprising except none of the WRs transferring in are listed as starters and their starting DE from last year DiCosmo is listed as 3rd on the chart. He is the player returning with the most sacks at 2.5. Maybe he's injured, Idk, probably a story there.
Lea putting an OR next to Pavia's name, ain't nobody falling for that.
Wait there's a long snapper and a short snapper?
I've honestly never heard of that being a thing.
A long snapper is what you tell everyone you caught and released, a short snapper is what you actually caught
I was a long snapper in high school
So basically...
My dad has diabetes.
Sorry. Had to for old times sake.
I was long for the snapper in high school.
I am still known to experience this condition from time to time.
Punts versus field goals and extra points. One needs to snap then be able to cover the punt being fielded and run the other needs to snap and block a little.
Funny side note google AI said this when I went to try and find a link.
I don't know if Google AI or the Meta AI Chat thing piss me off more.
Not that it matters for this year and not really a surprise to anyone, but man... we are going to look A LOT different next year. lol
Nah, uniform change was this year.
Big reason why Mines is able to grab so many studs, a lot of open spots at WR next year.