mgobaran

December 11th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^

Let's rock!

 

Also, from the reaction I was seeing to the tweet, seems like Ole Miss is handling this pretty well! Credit where credit is due, that fan base deserves some props. 

Joined: 09/12/2012

MGoPoints: 22811

Qmatic

December 11th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^

QB: Patterson/Peters RB: Higdon/Evans/Walker FB: Mason WR: Black/Collins WR DPJ/Jefferson?/Crawford Slot: Perry/Martin/McDoom If we can have just a decent line, oh my lord this offense could be electric

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32780

1WhoStayed

December 11th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^

Even decent QB play and M could be 11-1. The O line wasn’t great but they were adequate. Mix in maturation of WRs and the offense could be very good next year with the same levelnof O line play. Could it be better? Absolutely. But it isn’t the issue you make it out to be. “Drastically” improved is not mandatory - but would be great.

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mgobaran

December 11th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^

I think "Even decent QB play and M could be 11-1" is a lazy assesment. We all know Ruiz is going to be a stud for Michigan. But True Sophomore Center who played guard his freshman year (i.e. wasn't practicing Center exclusively) is most likely a step down from Mediocre 5th year Senior who had the genetics and center ranking that made him the original unholy lock. Mason Cole is out the door and being replaced by ???????. RT was a turnstyle and probably will continue to be. Bredenson did not take the leap we hoped, but he and Big Mike are still encouraging prospects. Still yet to be realized completely but holding out hope that their Junior years are a big step up. 

That is a lot of hope and prayers just to break even with last years OL. An OL that ended up putting two QBs in hospitals. 

Joined: 09/12/2012

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mgobaran

December 11th, 2017 at 3:44 PM ^

Spanellis is promising, but has maybe 30 snaps to his name as a 6th OL (blocking TE). Not even his position. And Ruiz as a starting center is complete projection. We think he will be great, we hope he is, but that is a wash at best at a position that wasn't great this year. Him performing worse than a 5th year senior with a pro-bowl father is not at all out of the question. 

And where do QB pressures come from? Tackles who are turnstyles, or missed line calls letting blitzes and stunts through to the QB. I.E. the three spots that are the biggest questions next year. And I doubt Peters (still learning playbook) or Patterson (probably recieved the playbook to study 5 mins ago) will be experienced enough to make those line calls for Ruiz. 

Joined: 09/12/2012

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trueblueintexas

December 11th, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^

I think Spanellis or Ruiz could step in and be better than Kugler next year. There are many factors coaches take under consideration when deciding who to play, when & where. As a fan it is easy to fall into the video game mentatlity of "highest rated guy plays best" and "player progresses at a fixed rate". Just because Kugler was the best starting C option this year, does not mean other guys who couldn't beat him out this year will obviously be worse. 

Joined: 11/10/2008

MGoPoints: 36653

mgobaran

December 11th, 2017 at 4:22 PM ^

I think Ruiz can be better too. I also think he can be worse. Smart money says increase in talent but loss of experience will be an wash. Anything markedly above that is a hope at this point. And when you hope your center is an improvement and you hope RT is an improvement, and you hope Bredesen makes the jump you really expected him to take this year happens, and you hope big Mike can make it thru full games and you HOPE a LT shows up out of thin air. I mean that is a lot to hope for. 

I mean, do that offseason test. 

???? << Mason Cole
Jr. Bredensen > So. Bredensen 
Ruiz = Kugler
Jr. Onwenu > So. Onwenu
2018 Uluzio/JBB/Runyan/??? > 2017 Uluzio/JBB/Runyan

That's two 2nd/3rd team All B1G guards and three problem areas. Maybe this midicates damage?

Jr. Bredensen </= Mason Cole
Spanellis </= So. Bredensen 
Ruiz = Kugler
Jr. Onwenu > So. Onwenu
2018 Uluzio/JBB/Runyan/??? > 2017 Uluzio/JBB/Runyan

That still isn't a great OL. 

Joined: 09/12/2012

MGoPoints: 22811

Sopwith

December 11th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^

Should be a great competition. My money is still on Peters to start in South Bend, but the spring/summer just got a WHOLE lot more interesting. And you need 3 legitimate options anyway, no matter who starts. Feels like we've got that now. 

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