OK why did Merritt leave?

[smellmyfinger]

Can we afford to loose another O Lineman?

 

[smellmyfinger]

Can we afford to loose another O Lineman?

 

[8dog]

which should answer both questions.

 

[OMlawdog]

Players that look good:

Perkins - Most underrated recruit at MSU, guy I talked to says he will get more touches than Bumphis
Russell - Will be very good to great
Bumphis - Worth the hype
Tobias Smith before injury - Second best lineman behind Sherrod I was told

Players that look bad

Templeton Hardy - Was told that he may not ever play
Josh Boyd - out of shape
Chris White - Going to take some time to adjust, but won't just step in and play at SEC level

From what I was told the weakest to strongest parts of the team go - DB/OL/WR/QB/DL/LB/HB

Some think the DL is better than the LB, mainly because of depth at DL, and a dropoff at LB after the first unit.

I only speak to one guy that would know anything about MSU football, and this is what he told me after going to three practices and speaking to one coach at MSU.

 

[smellmyfinger]

actually read that he was taking turns in the 2nd string rotation. Chris White was getting alot of praise early on....wonder what happened.

 

[Todd4State]

I think our o-line problems were a combination of a lack of talent, coaching, and poor conditioning. I think we have a little bit of talent in Sherrod, Brignone, and maybe Tobias- of course he's unproven, but I think the coaching and the better conditioning will help offset the talent at least a little bit.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

Don't give up on Quinton Saulsberry. He was out of position, not to mention way undersized, at tackle last year. He's put on 20 pounds and is inside at guard where he belongs now. One thing I never questioned with him last year was his motor/effort. I think he'll look much, much better this season. If I'm right, that would give us 4 solid linemen. RT will still be a problem, as will depth, but that's still better than last year, especially with solid coaching and a scheme fitted to their strengths.

 

[Todd4State]

I felt bad for Saulsberry last year. Like you said, he was playing out of position as a RS Fr. and just getting his tail handed to him after every play it seemed like. We probably should have put him at guard last year.

 

[Rabid]

that we are losing players at positions where we can least afford to lose players. Namely WR and OL. I'll never understand quitters. Period. But, something about this bothers me.

 

[Todd4State]

that we are losing players at positions where we can least afford to lose players. Namely WR and OL. I'll never understand quitters. Period. But, something
about this bothers me.

I'm actually more concerned about the fact that we recruited guys who are quitters.

I think we'll be OK at the WR position, as long as Mullen is creative with guys like Elliott, Dixon, Marcus Green and etc. in terms of using them as WR's from time to time.

Losing Dakota Merritt doesn't concern me. Losing Sherrod would.

 

[skb124]

Losing Merritt really isn't that bad. I know Dakota, and he hated football. He was in my Comp 2 class and all he could talk about was how much he hated football. The only reason he stayed on the team this long was to keep his scholarship. I asked him once if he wanted to play in the NFL and he said "Hell no, that's too much work." I like the guy, but he was never gonna help our football team.

 

[OMlawdog]

Same guy told me that MSU would win 8-9 games last year and that the OL would be fine. So take it for what its worth.

It also appears that Mullen is from the school that you talk your players up in the media instead of dress them down. I like that line of thinking.

 

[Todd4State]

Same guy told me that MSU would win 8-9 games last year and that the OL would be fine. So take it for what its worth.

It also appears that Mullen is from the school that you talk your players up in the media instead of dress them down. I like that line of thinking.

He would talk up Henig- which was hilarious because we were booing Croom for putting him back in, not Henig. But Derek Pegues would always get criticized even though he was one of our best players.

 

[DudyDog]

regarding the OL.

This is to gauge what you think would constitute an adequate OL.

We play 12 games. What I'm looking for here is a number. This is for the whole year.

How many total sacks could we give up and at the end of the year you determine that we had an acceptable OL.

example....24 sacks (avg 2/game) 12 (avg 1/game) 120 (avg 10/game)

 

[OMlawdog]

Pegues was not always a team player. I've been told my multiple people that he basically faked an injury to get out of the egg bowl.

 

[OMlawdog]

and number of sacks allowed.

Also, you if know anything about football you can tell when your OL is actually good, or when it is crap. Ole Miss OL last year looked like crap the first few games, but it improved by the end of the year.

Last year MSU couldn't run the ball and by the end of the year it couldn't protect the QB. This year Im not sure what the offense is going to look like, so I have no idea what to expect from the OL. I know some think there is talent there, but beyond the physical attributes of Sherrod, I thought he looked horrible last year. Now i know the standard response is poor coaching, but some of that was just him.

He reminds me of Pegues, that he showed up on campus with a great deal of hype, was playing a lot as a frosh and soph, but they didn't really play particularly well. I think he needs a big jump, like Pegues had his Junior year. He only has two years left, and if he has ALL-SEC ability, it is time to start showing it.

 

[MonkeyCheese]

I think our o-line problems were a combination of a lack of talent, coaching, and poor conditioning. I think we have a little bit of talent in Sherrod, Brignone, and maybe Tobias- of course he's unproven, but I think the coaching and the better conditioning will help offset the talent at least a little bit.

I remember some quotes from Brignone at the end of summer. He was saying they have the chance to be the best OL in the conference. Now I understand talking with confidence, but it still surprised me. But he pointed out that "now that we have guys playing in their right position...look out!" So here is an OL member saying that the previous staff had people out of place. I like that confidence. And I hope he still has it 5 games into the season.

 

[Todd4State]

except for the coaching staff.

 

[jackstefano]

If y'all end up having the best OL in the conference, and the DL leads the conference in sacks like McPhee predicts, y'all will have one hell of a year.

 

[Rabid]

If y'all end up having the best OL in the conference, and the DL leads the conference in sacks like McPhee predicts, y'all will have one hell of a year.

Talk is cheap though. Let's see it happen.

 

[jackstefano]

Turn on your sarcasm meter.

 

[o_rexxx]

that we are losing players at positions where we can least afford to lose players. Namely WR and OL. I'll never understand quitters. Period. But, something about this bothers me.

If anyone is concerned with losing Dakota Merritt, I would be surprised. If it bothers you then you need to find other hobbies.

 

[8dog]

I don't think he expected anything from him this year.

things could've changed.

 

[pebblesForstate]

nFm.

 

[lazlow]

sorry.....it was right down broadway.

 

[Thick]

nm