Curious to get some takes about where the team is likely to improve, and where losses are most likely to hurt the team. I do think the team is likely to be better overall - a lot of us have been looking forward to 2020 for a couple of years now. I'm assuming that we already know about everyone who had decided to leave for the draft with eligibility remaining. Could be a couple more losses on defense but I think those that could go are all lower round picks or undrafted free agents who would benefit from another year in the system. We'll have to wait see about that and whether anything big happens with the portal.
OFFENSE - Almost everyone is coming back, and hopefully another year of experience and more Galting will have the expected benefits. The coaching changes at OC and OL could also help. Looks like 9 starters returning.
QB - Everyone returns. History suggests that we will see another battle for starting QB. Hopefully iron sharpens iron
RB - Looks like everyone will stay. With JB's emergence, the young backs improving, and Slade apparently staying on, this should be a big strength for the offense. Even if nobody improves significantly as a runner (they will though), better blocking could be the biggest difference
X and Y receivers - I like George and Dotson. Really need one of these guys to step up.
Slot - Ok, losing Hamler hurts a lot, especially since Clifford looked to him so often. This is the one position that could affect the offense the most. I don't see anyone who can replace him so all I can do is hope. Interested in people's thoughts here.
TE - Very excited by what these guys can do. Freiermuth is set up to have a monster year and we're lucky to have him coming back. Quality depth with Kuntz and Strange.
OL - Looks like 4 of 5 returning. Gonzales is a big loss. There are options with Miranda, Effner, Scruggs, Whigan. No idea how the staff is going to put the line together but there should be continuity and there is plenty of depth and talent. Gawd, I hope this is the year that it all comes together and we see consistency and the ability to pick up blitzes and stunts. Again, need the RB's to help out there.
DEFENSE - The talking heads are going to focus on the loss of 6-7 starters, but that does NOT tell the whole story. Some sort of change is likely in how the secondary is coached, whether with switching up responsibilities or maybe one more change in staff.
DE - Losing a 1st rounder in YGM is big. No way can we reasonably expect his production to be matched. Oweh seems the most likely candidate to step in. I'm hoping that Toney hangs around. His loss would hurt, even though he wasn't as disruptive as YGM in 2019. Would love to see Simmons put it all togeether, Tarburton come back from his injury issues, and to see more of Adisa Isaac.
DT - Even though this position was pretty "quiet" in 2019, losing Windsor matters. Need Shelton to come back and lead as a 5th year Senior. Mustipher, Hawkins, Culpepper, Hansard - Next Man Up. This position could go either way.
MLB - This is where the talking heads will fail to realize that Brooks, Luketa, Smith, and maybe Katshir in rotation will offset the loss of 2 starters. With Micah playing himself into Top 10 in the draft, LB group should be a lot of fun to watch next year.
CB - Where to start? We are losing experience here, but Ellis and Porter got a lots of reps and learned some tough lessons. The talent is there. Improvements in tracking the ball and scheme will be the biggest story at corner in 2020. I really want to see TCF come back from his slump and show us why we were excited about him a couple of years ago.
Safety - Taylor had some troubles at times but I think was under appreciated. Brisker played a bunch, Wade is apparently coming back, and there are Sutherland and Holmes. Same as with the corners, we have the Jimmies and the Joes, but seemed at times to be lacking in the X's and the O's.
Sorry for the long read with not a whole lot of actual insight, but I wanted to start putting the names out there and see what people think about how these position groups are going to look next year.
OFFENSE - Almost everyone is coming back, and hopefully another year of experience and more Galting will have the expected benefits. The coaching changes at OC and OL could also help. Looks like 9 starters returning.
QB - Everyone returns. History suggests that we will see another battle for starting QB. Hopefully iron sharpens iron
RB - Looks like everyone will stay. With JB's emergence, the young backs improving, and Slade apparently staying on, this should be a big strength for the offense. Even if nobody improves significantly as a runner (they will though), better blocking could be the biggest difference
X and Y receivers - I like George and Dotson. Really need one of these guys to step up.
Slot - Ok, losing Hamler hurts a lot, especially since Clifford looked to him so often. This is the one position that could affect the offense the most. I don't see anyone who can replace him so all I can do is hope. Interested in people's thoughts here.
TE - Very excited by what these guys can do. Freiermuth is set up to have a monster year and we're lucky to have him coming back. Quality depth with Kuntz and Strange.
OL - Looks like 4 of 5 returning. Gonzales is a big loss. There are options with Miranda, Effner, Scruggs, Whigan. No idea how the staff is going to put the line together but there should be continuity and there is plenty of depth and talent. Gawd, I hope this is the year that it all comes together and we see consistency and the ability to pick up blitzes and stunts. Again, need the RB's to help out there.
DEFENSE - The talking heads are going to focus on the loss of 6-7 starters, but that does NOT tell the whole story. Some sort of change is likely in how the secondary is coached, whether with switching up responsibilities or maybe one more change in staff.
DE - Losing a 1st rounder in YGM is big. No way can we reasonably expect his production to be matched. Oweh seems the most likely candidate to step in. I'm hoping that Toney hangs around. His loss would hurt, even though he wasn't as disruptive as YGM in 2019. Would love to see Simmons put it all togeether, Tarburton come back from his injury issues, and to see more of Adisa Isaac.
DT - Even though this position was pretty "quiet" in 2019, losing Windsor matters. Need Shelton to come back and lead as a 5th year Senior. Mustipher, Hawkins, Culpepper, Hansard - Next Man Up. This position could go either way.
MLB - This is where the talking heads will fail to realize that Brooks, Luketa, Smith, and maybe Katshir in rotation will offset the loss of 2 starters. With Micah playing himself into Top 10 in the draft, LB group should be a lot of fun to watch next year.
CB - Where to start? We are losing experience here, but Ellis and Porter got a lots of reps and learned some tough lessons. The talent is there. Improvements in tracking the ball and scheme will be the biggest story at corner in 2020. I really want to see TCF come back from his slump and show us why we were excited about him a couple of years ago.
Safety - Taylor had some troubles at times but I think was under appreciated. Brisker played a bunch, Wade is apparently coming back, and there are Sutherland and Holmes. Same as with the corners, we have the Jimmies and the Joes, but seemed at times to be lacking in the X's and the O's.
Sorry for the long read with not a whole lot of actual insight, but I wanted to start putting the names out there and see what people think about how these position groups are going to look next year.
