Speculation @ this point, but with camp just around the corner, here's a take on five stories and some highly classified insider information that emerges from spring football. What - you wanted more on VA, Baldwin, or Book Club? Will wait until fall camp to speculate on the impacts of the incoming recruits and transfers, once we've had a chance to see how the talent sorts itself.
Defense clearly ahead of the offense. Well duh. But the addition of Markell Sanders @ cornerback & Epperly & Rassmussen @ safety to the rotation makes the DB's a solid unit. Linebackers are solid, & the return of Caleb Kidder to the defensive line helps to ease the blow of losing Wags to the NFL. Speaking of Wags, Crittenden slides into his spot and makes it a three way race for the mystical bestowing of the number 37, joining Kidder and Peevey as the favorites. Bear in mind, that AG1 has already declined. The D is going to have to carry the day if the team is going to run the gauntlet of the opening trifecta.
Offensive line. The return of John Schmaing helps to bolster a much maligned group of youngsters that round into form nicely by the conclusion of camp. Germer understands he is going to have to find a place to play Luke, who's DOLA is off the charts. While there will be some shuffling & a boatload of hard work ahead, make no mistake - this group, along with the running backs, will be the strength of the offense going into week one.
Running back by committee. Favors, Counts, Logwood, Nguyen all have their strengths, and because this is offense is fast paced, expect to see all of them get equal reps as the coaches evaluate their situational readiness. If I were to choose a starter, with a lethal combination of "slippery power", its Logwood. But come on, they're going to try to run a hundred plays, they're going to need to rotate them. Tre (Cough)Favors.
Three clear front-runners emerge from the QB competition, & in no particular order it's Chalich, Prater and Simis. An major injury to any of them puts Willy into the mix immediately. Yes, he's that good. They're all smart enough to run the offense, let's see who can assimilate the fastest and make the timely decisions that are critical to moving the chains and scoring points. Also going out on a limb here, but this will not be the next coming of Double D or Johnny Montana. But in this offense, it's as much more about the 11, than it is the one.
In numbers, the receiver group is deep, nearly a quarter of the team when fall camp is assembled if all holds. While Henderson and Jones have spots locked down, expect Burke & Janssen to be go-to's. Chase get a long look, let's hope he's healthy and ready to go. And who knows, perhaps we'll actually get a look @ Marq Rogers, sure hope so. Perhaps one of the folks formerly known as tight ends comes to the fore. Won't be any shortage of reps so that the coaches get a long look @ what they have now. In reality, the fourth through tenth spots are likely going to be a free-for-all, much like this message board.
Now the little known, but equally important stuff. Insider Stuff...
BW is approached by members of the coaching staff who ask him to be purposely vague in his live tweeting of practice and game activities, in particular the newly installed fly sweep. Things like "great catch by ___________, nice run by _________, boy is it great to have Schmaing back on the O-line." You get the picture. The less we give NDSU to go on, the better chance we have a beating them on opening day. LTCF will be caught in the stands in Helena, with a go-pro strapped to some portion of his anatomy, hoping to get something better on film than the stuff he posted recently. While I have never met you personally, I find it hard to believe there is a resemblance to any of that crap, given your allegiance to .500 state." C'mon man." Like me, Argh will continue to post inane drivel, but both of us will be enjoying champagne & hookers, somewhere. Ok, a lot of us will be looking for champagne and hookers, somewhere. CDA, in light of my constant begging, relents and shares more of the local flavor of Ruching, please and thanks so very, very much. (They're bored on BN, the only thread worth reading, if you get my inference). The AOD recovers nicely, such that there are no shortage of samiches. Everyone who isn't on the bandwagon, won't change their minds even if we roll NDSU, CP and Liberty. Only a NC will do, and then they were aboard all along. Fortunately for all of us, golf, baseball & fishing seasons will be here. Wait, I don't live in Montana, I know you guys are doing that already. The spring game will be the most heavily attended ever, they could probably pack WAGriz with this one - given all that is new. And finally, a fall preview. Work on the Champions Center begins and likely poses problems for the faithful who need a spot tailgating in the fall. A magnanimous gesture of the part of president opens his home and lawn as a temporary replacement venue. Someone, not saying who, poops on his steps, and yet, he remains president.
Surely I've missed something, but what? Go Griz!
Defense clearly ahead of the offense. Well duh. But the addition of Markell Sanders @ cornerback & Epperly & Rassmussen @ safety to the rotation makes the DB's a solid unit. Linebackers are solid, & the return of Caleb Kidder to the defensive line helps to ease the blow of losing Wags to the NFL. Speaking of Wags, Crittenden slides into his spot and makes it a three way race for the mystical bestowing of the number 37, joining Kidder and Peevey as the favorites. Bear in mind, that AG1 has already declined. The D is going to have to carry the day if the team is going to run the gauntlet of the opening trifecta.
Offensive line. The return of John Schmaing helps to bolster a much maligned group of youngsters that round into form nicely by the conclusion of camp. Germer understands he is going to have to find a place to play Luke, who's DOLA is off the charts. While there will be some shuffling & a boatload of hard work ahead, make no mistake - this group, along with the running backs, will be the strength of the offense going into week one.
Running back by committee. Favors, Counts, Logwood, Nguyen all have their strengths, and because this is offense is fast paced, expect to see all of them get equal reps as the coaches evaluate their situational readiness. If I were to choose a starter, with a lethal combination of "slippery power", its Logwood. But come on, they're going to try to run a hundred plays, they're going to need to rotate them. Tre (Cough)Favors.
Three clear front-runners emerge from the QB competition, & in no particular order it's Chalich, Prater and Simis. An major injury to any of them puts Willy into the mix immediately. Yes, he's that good. They're all smart enough to run the offense, let's see who can assimilate the fastest and make the timely decisions that are critical to moving the chains and scoring points. Also going out on a limb here, but this will not be the next coming of Double D or Johnny Montana. But in this offense, it's as much more about the 11, than it is the one.
In numbers, the receiver group is deep, nearly a quarter of the team when fall camp is assembled if all holds. While Henderson and Jones have spots locked down, expect Burke & Janssen to be go-to's. Chase get a long look, let's hope he's healthy and ready to go. And who knows, perhaps we'll actually get a look @ Marq Rogers, sure hope so. Perhaps one of the folks formerly known as tight ends comes to the fore. Won't be any shortage of reps so that the coaches get a long look @ what they have now. In reality, the fourth through tenth spots are likely going to be a free-for-all, much like this message board.
Now the little known, but equally important stuff. Insider Stuff...
BW is approached by members of the coaching staff who ask him to be purposely vague in his live tweeting of practice and game activities, in particular the newly installed fly sweep. Things like "great catch by ___________, nice run by _________, boy is it great to have Schmaing back on the O-line." You get the picture. The less we give NDSU to go on, the better chance we have a beating them on opening day. LTCF will be caught in the stands in Helena, with a go-pro strapped to some portion of his anatomy, hoping to get something better on film than the stuff he posted recently. While I have never met you personally, I find it hard to believe there is a resemblance to any of that crap, given your allegiance to .500 state." C'mon man." Like me, Argh will continue to post inane drivel, but both of us will be enjoying champagne & hookers, somewhere. Ok, a lot of us will be looking for champagne and hookers, somewhere. CDA, in light of my constant begging, relents and shares more of the local flavor of Ruching, please and thanks so very, very much. (They're bored on BN, the only thread worth reading, if you get my inference). The AOD recovers nicely, such that there are no shortage of samiches. Everyone who isn't on the bandwagon, won't change their minds even if we roll NDSU, CP and Liberty. Only a NC will do, and then they were aboard all along. Fortunately for all of us, golf, baseball & fishing seasons will be here. Wait, I don't live in Montana, I know you guys are doing that already. The spring game will be the most heavily attended ever, they could probably pack WAGriz with this one - given all that is new. And finally, a fall preview. Work on the Champions Center begins and likely poses problems for the faithful who need a spot tailgating in the fall. A magnanimous gesture of the part of president opens his home and lawn as a temporary replacement venue. Someone, not saying who, poops on his steps, and yet, he remains president.
Surely I've missed something, but what? Go Griz!
