Now that we've got a little bit more clear picture of the 2016 roster I thought I'd be fun to once again go position by position for discussions on the roster, depth, etc. Naturally the one most people are going to be looking at should start the discussion, quarterback.
Here's my guess as to depth at the start of spring ball.
Starter Brady Gustafson - Sr
2nd string Chad Chalich - Sr
Depth Reese Phillips - Jr, Eric Prater - Soph, Connor Kaegi - Soph, Will Weyer - Soph
Red Shirt Gresch Jensen - Fr, Brandon Bea - Fr
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Brady Gustafson - Last year's starter that showed us the great potential (1st NDSU game, EWU and MSU games) and possible pitfalls (CPSLO game and 2nd NDSU game). Brady also had a pretty rough mid-season injury that sidelined him for a good stretch as well. Brady will benefit from a full year in the system, knowledge of the offense, and he's faced and won a QB battle before (last year). The newly brought in competition of Phillips is going to push him. Brady's shown that he can read defenses pretty well and he's great with the hurry up. His down side from last year was some very bad throwing decisions in critical games, especially when pressured.
Chad Chalich - I assume that Chad will hold the backup spot over Phillips for the time being due to knowledge of the system. Chad came in for Brady and showed he brought a bit more mobility to the QB position and he could run the hurry up as well. However once in the game it was pretty clear the complexity of the offense was scaled back. Will a full year of time with Stitt's offense get Chad up to speed? If so he could hold the backup spot, if not, he may lose the job to Phillips.
Reese Phillips - Obviously the guy everyone's going to watch. Yes he's an SEC transfer, but from a school that hasn't posted a winning season in 5 years now and I don't think he saw much of the field at all. One post I read on here did probably sum it up though, you don't get to the SEC by accident, so presumably Phillips will bring some heated competition to the QB race. Another benefit Phillips has is that UK's offense and Stitt's offense have some similar styles, so the quick pace and fast reads won't be an adjustment for him (like it was for Chalich last year). We'll have to see how Phillips does in the spring, obviously a lot of people are assuming he'll rise quickly and will battle Gus to start. My guess is that it won't be solved come the end of spring ball.
Eric Prater - Prater's in a funky position this year, he's going to be watching the battle between two seniors in Gus and Chalich and one junior in Phillips. The chance to start for the Griz probably isn't a reality this year, but for 2016 it'll be good for him to match up against Phillips. Prater has a very strong arm, which the players and coaches like. He showed last season that he was still adapting to the offense as he'd go from hot to cold really quick. For him this year showing improved consistency will be key.
Connor Kaegi - Kaegi is enrolled and will be here for spring camp, that's a big benefit for him compared to the high school signees of Jensen and Bea who won't be here until the fall. For Connor it's going to be learning the system and starting to work with and become familiar with the WRs that he'll be throwing to in the years ahead. If he's got a red shirt still I'd bet that the coaches intend on applying that.
Will Weyer - Still listed on the roster, I'd heard (and read) otherwise, that he's going to be hanging it up. Didn't participate in fall camp and wasn't seen in the 2015 season. Tough to say if we'll see Will or what we'll see out of him.
Gresch Jensen & Brandon Bea - Both will be here in the fall, both are obviously going to be looking at a redshirt for 2016.
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By class that would break the 2016 roster to:
Seniors - 2
Juniors - 1
Sophomores - 3
Freshman - 2
And with the red shirts applied (assuming Kaegi has an RS to use) the 2017 roster would look like:
Seniors - 1
Juniors - 2
Sophomores - 1
RS-Frosh - 2
So while it seems kind of over-loaded at the time, after this season there's going to be a need for some young depth, which is what Stitt seemed to target in this recruiting class.
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It's going to be real interesting to see how spring camp goes for the team. At this time I don't see Gus losing the job, I think the addition of Phillips will bring the best out in him. Last year's competition really pushed him, and it surprised many that he won the job - however he proved he can run this offense and beat good football teams.
Here's my guess as to depth at the start of spring ball.
Starter Brady Gustafson - Sr
2nd string Chad Chalich - Sr
Depth Reese Phillips - Jr, Eric Prater - Soph, Connor Kaegi - Soph, Will Weyer - Soph
Red Shirt Gresch Jensen - Fr, Brandon Bea - Fr
--------------
Brady Gustafson - Last year's starter that showed us the great potential (1st NDSU game, EWU and MSU games) and possible pitfalls (CPSLO game and 2nd NDSU game). Brady also had a pretty rough mid-season injury that sidelined him for a good stretch as well. Brady will benefit from a full year in the system, knowledge of the offense, and he's faced and won a QB battle before (last year). The newly brought in competition of Phillips is going to push him. Brady's shown that he can read defenses pretty well and he's great with the hurry up. His down side from last year was some very bad throwing decisions in critical games, especially when pressured.
Chad Chalich - I assume that Chad will hold the backup spot over Phillips for the time being due to knowledge of the system. Chad came in for Brady and showed he brought a bit more mobility to the QB position and he could run the hurry up as well. However once in the game it was pretty clear the complexity of the offense was scaled back. Will a full year of time with Stitt's offense get Chad up to speed? If so he could hold the backup spot, if not, he may lose the job to Phillips.
Reese Phillips - Obviously the guy everyone's going to watch. Yes he's an SEC transfer, but from a school that hasn't posted a winning season in 5 years now and I don't think he saw much of the field at all. One post I read on here did probably sum it up though, you don't get to the SEC by accident, so presumably Phillips will bring some heated competition to the QB race. Another benefit Phillips has is that UK's offense and Stitt's offense have some similar styles, so the quick pace and fast reads won't be an adjustment for him (like it was for Chalich last year). We'll have to see how Phillips does in the spring, obviously a lot of people are assuming he'll rise quickly and will battle Gus to start. My guess is that it won't be solved come the end of spring ball.
Eric Prater - Prater's in a funky position this year, he's going to be watching the battle between two seniors in Gus and Chalich and one junior in Phillips. The chance to start for the Griz probably isn't a reality this year, but for 2016 it'll be good for him to match up against Phillips. Prater has a very strong arm, which the players and coaches like. He showed last season that he was still adapting to the offense as he'd go from hot to cold really quick. For him this year showing improved consistency will be key.
Connor Kaegi - Kaegi is enrolled and will be here for spring camp, that's a big benefit for him compared to the high school signees of Jensen and Bea who won't be here until the fall. For Connor it's going to be learning the system and starting to work with and become familiar with the WRs that he'll be throwing to in the years ahead. If he's got a red shirt still I'd bet that the coaches intend on applying that.
Will Weyer - Still listed on the roster, I'd heard (and read) otherwise, that he's going to be hanging it up. Didn't participate in fall camp and wasn't seen in the 2015 season. Tough to say if we'll see Will or what we'll see out of him.
Gresch Jensen & Brandon Bea - Both will be here in the fall, both are obviously going to be looking at a redshirt for 2016.
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By class that would break the 2016 roster to:
Seniors - 2
Juniors - 1
Sophomores - 3
Freshman - 2
And with the red shirts applied (assuming Kaegi has an RS to use) the 2017 roster would look like:
Seniors - 1
Juniors - 2
Sophomores - 1
RS-Frosh - 2
So while it seems kind of over-loaded at the time, after this season there's going to be a need for some young depth, which is what Stitt seemed to target in this recruiting class.
------------
It's going to be real interesting to see how spring camp goes for the team. At this time I don't see Gus losing the job, I think the addition of Phillips will bring the best out in him. Last year's competition really pushed him, and it surprised many that he won the job - however he proved he can run this offense and beat good football teams.
