I will breakdown what I think is the most vital piece from 2018 to replace for 2019, give what I think the replacements could be, and have you all argue with me from there.
1) Replacing center Tanner Farmer
- I know this was heavily contested on the poll, but I agree with how this ended in the vote, our offense really started clicking once we moved Farmer to center. Now, you could also talk about how Martinez finally got healthy and our QB run game was finally able to be used at close to full capacity. But Farmer struggled at times at guard, and really came into his own at center for us in my opinion. Dating back to even before Frost being here, a viable center has been the difference in us having elite offenses, or mediocre ones. I also feel that in Frost's offense, he is able to scheme and put our skill position players in great spots. Where with our center/OL players they can scheme somewhat, but you just have to get it done. It's my biggest concern for our offense in 2019, not only from losing Farmer, but to what we have to replace. That's my biggest concern, not a ton of "center talent" sitting there or signed in the recruiting class. Here's what we have so far:
Hunter Miller 6'4" 325 pound sophomore - To me, this is who gets the nod to start the spring. A guy that was pushing Cole Conrad for the start in the fall, he has to be your go to to start spring practices. All that said, Miller was in a dog fight to start, but in Conrad's absence we moved Farmer down to center and inserted Boe Wilson at RG. Another year in Duval's S&C system, another year in Frost's offense, he could improve by leaps and bounds for 2019.
Cam Jurgens 6'3" 270 pound RFreshman - Moving to center from tightend, the staff is really high on this kid. So much that some are predicting him the starter for 2019. For me, I have a hard time with that, and think it goes back to what I said from when we recruited him, and he just doesn't fit the skillset needed to be TE in Frost's offense, but was an elite blocker. With those things in mind, I think they are trying to get him somewhere to utilize his best skills. However, he was a 245 pound recruit, so he is going to need to put on 50+ pounds in 2 years to handle B1G NGs in my opinion. A tall task. Not that he can't do it, i'll take a 4 star going after that job all day. I just think it's tough to get done with him having less than a year at that position by the time fall camp comes around. I've also seen him take zero snaps at center, and the staff moved him there for a reason, could be another pleasant surprise.
Will Farniok 6'3" 300 pounds - Everyone seems to forget that one of our starters on the line has a brother that is here working for playing time. Farniok has the ability to play guard as well, but honestly I haven't seen enough out of him to know his chances. The position is open for the taking.
Desmond Bland 6'4" 300 pound JUCO recruit - A recruit who is not yet signed, this is who has been rumored to be the starting center in 2019. But all of a sudden he's not able to be here for the spring, and there's still concerns he won't get here at all. Bland getting here gives us a ton of options, and gives us one less spot to worry about, because if he can get here and you have the other two mentioned, Coach Austin and Frost can piece something that works together IMO.
2) Replacing WR Stanley Morgan
- As the poll results showed for the public, I too wrestled with who to put at my top concern. The leadership that Morgan brings as @Pop Corn stated, the yardage we have to replace as @huskrthill brought up, those are all huge issues for me. All that said, the tipping point for Farmer over Morgan at #1 for me is that I think Frost's offense can manipulate the defense to where it will be less of an issue not having a big WR compared to not having a comparable center. I also think we have better options to replace Morgan. Here's who we got:
Kade Warner 6'1" 210 pound sophomore - Has game experience and can move permanently outside to help things there. A sure-handed kid, he won't replace Morgan's athleticism, but could make up for it in other areas.
Jaron Woodyard 5'11" 190 pound senior - Could he finally get everything down and make a name for himself? He will have the leg up in terms of athleticism on Warner, and will have the offense down better than our incoming recruits. But he's got a couple other guys to deal with.
Andre Hunt 6'0" 190 pound RFreshman - He showed flashes all fall, if he comes more consistent, this could be our most likely candidate.
Mike Williams 5'10" 185 pound senior - He got in the proverbial "dog house" for a bit, but if he can show his worth outside instead of in the slot, could be an option.
Jaevon McQuitty 6'0" 205 pound sophomore - I've been waiting for this kid to break out, but he has had some injuries that have made it tough on him. Again, he has every opportunity right now to step up as we are looking for someone to replace Morgan.
Jamie Nance or Darien Chase - Two incoming freshmen that are signed from the 2019 recruiting class. Both of these guys have the speed and they can really run. If guys that are already in the system can't step up, we at least have two 4 star guys coming in to help.
3) Replacing RB Devine Ozigbo
- What Oz did was nothing short of amazing. This kid will be used as a poster child for how things can work out for you under this staff if you keep your head down and grind. The transformation that kid made in Duval's strength program is going to get him some paychecks (depending on what he runs his 40 in). With the way Held has recruited, Mo Washington actually getting a year with our S&C staff, and Frosts offense, this is the one that worries me the least. Frost's system can be catered to not only what skill position players you have, but what they can do. If Jaylin Bradley stays and does what he is supposed to off the field and stays out of the freshmen lockerroom, he is absolutely a viable option here. You also have to remember that we have a 225 pound QB, so if we have to go "small and speedy" at RB, our "dash" and "bash" concepts can help get the bigger bodied guy be the one to lower his head and get the short yards as seen here:
So who do we have coming in to help:
Jaylin Bradley 6'0" 210 pound sophomore - This is our most likely candidate in the spring. He has the frame, and has actually showed on Saturdays he is capable. Will he take the reigns? Will he seize his opportunity like Oz? Remains to be seen.
Dedrick Mills 5'11" 200 pound junior - The Georgia Tech/Garden City transfer was a freshman All-American in some publications, and could help immediately like Greg Bell did. Can he get here? Will he pick up the offense fast enough? Ryan Held is giving himself options.
Wyatt Mazour/Ronald Thompkins, Rahmir Johnson/Miles Jones/Wandale Robinson - Just like with these guys not being able to replace Stanley Morgan, they can't really replace Ozigbo. But they can certainly be change of pace guys to give Mo Washington some breaks. I would be careful with Thompkins coming off his knee injury. Miles Jones is coming off a season ending injury. Wandale Robinson and Rahmir Johnson are going to be interesting with how they insert themselves, Robinson will play as a true freshman, no redshirts there. And Mazour will get his touches.
4) Replacing LG Jerald Foster
- Replacing a 28 game starter won't be easy by any means, but it's the least of my concerns, especially if we get center ironed out. We have options, and our scheme is one that can take us where we want to go even if we have a missing link on the OL. Foster was someone often taken for granted, but he could not be overstated what his meaning to the team was. Started every game of a season under two different staffs, i'd be highlighting that in my NFL interviews if I were him.
Matt Farniok 6'6" 330 pounds - I'm not sure which side, but if Benhart is a stud, Bland gets here and plays tackle, Sichterman steps up, etc, we could shift MF down to guard which some people think is his most natural spot.
Desmond Bland 6'4" 300 pounds - Hopefully we get him here, but he has the ability to play anywhere along the line. If we want to keep Farniok out wide, and a guy like Miller or Jurgens steps up at center, we can always put Bland at guard.
John Raridon 6'4" 320 pounds - The four star legacy recruit gets his shot now. If he keeps working in the weight room, this could be our darkhorse to not shift Farniok down to guard. He has the mean streak that Austin likes, he just has to put it all together. He couldn't get the weight on he needed until Duval got here.
Will Farniok 6'3" 300 pounds - While Will is working at center, they won't hesitate to move him to guard if he proves he is one of the best 5. We have some options on the interior.
Summary
Obviously there will be some people I haven't even thought of, but that's my ranking on what I think is most important, and who I think could step up. Long story short, I am not worried at all about offense. A returning Adrian Martinez will get everything clicking the way it needs to. We just have to stay healthy at a couple spots.
Stay tuned for the defensive talk coming soon!
Last edited: Yesterday at 11:54 AM
ShortSideOption, Yesterday at 7:33 AM
https://forum.huskermax.com/index.php?threads/winning-the-west-who-must-step-up-on-offense.108853/
1) Replacing center Tanner Farmer
- I know this was heavily contested on the poll, but I agree with how this ended in the vote, our offense really started clicking once we moved Farmer to center. Now, you could also talk about how Martinez finally got healthy and our QB run game was finally able to be used at close to full capacity. But Farmer struggled at times at guard, and really came into his own at center for us in my opinion. Dating back to even before Frost being here, a viable center has been the difference in us having elite offenses, or mediocre ones. I also feel that in Frost's offense, he is able to scheme and put our skill position players in great spots. Where with our center/OL players they can scheme somewhat, but you just have to get it done. It's my biggest concern for our offense in 2019, not only from losing Farmer, but to what we have to replace. That's my biggest concern, not a ton of "center talent" sitting there or signed in the recruiting class. Here's what we have so far:
Hunter Miller 6'4" 325 pound sophomore - To me, this is who gets the nod to start the spring. A guy that was pushing Cole Conrad for the start in the fall, he has to be your go to to start spring practices. All that said, Miller was in a dog fight to start, but in Conrad's absence we moved Farmer down to center and inserted Boe Wilson at RG. Another year in Duval's S&C system, another year in Frost's offense, he could improve by leaps and bounds for 2019.
Cam Jurgens 6'3" 270 pound RFreshman - Moving to center from tightend, the staff is really high on this kid. So much that some are predicting him the starter for 2019. For me, I have a hard time with that, and think it goes back to what I said from when we recruited him, and he just doesn't fit the skillset needed to be TE in Frost's offense, but was an elite blocker. With those things in mind, I think they are trying to get him somewhere to utilize his best skills. However, he was a 245 pound recruit, so he is going to need to put on 50+ pounds in 2 years to handle B1G NGs in my opinion. A tall task. Not that he can't do it, i'll take a 4 star going after that job all day. I just think it's tough to get done with him having less than a year at that position by the time fall camp comes around. I've also seen him take zero snaps at center, and the staff moved him there for a reason, could be another pleasant surprise.
Will Farniok 6'3" 300 pounds - Everyone seems to forget that one of our starters on the line has a brother that is here working for playing time. Farniok has the ability to play guard as well, but honestly I haven't seen enough out of him to know his chances. The position is open for the taking.
Desmond Bland 6'4" 300 pound JUCO recruit - A recruit who is not yet signed, this is who has been rumored to be the starting center in 2019. But all of a sudden he's not able to be here for the spring, and there's still concerns he won't get here at all. Bland getting here gives us a ton of options, and gives us one less spot to worry about, because if he can get here and you have the other two mentioned, Coach Austin and Frost can piece something that works together IMO.
2) Replacing WR Stanley Morgan
- As the poll results showed for the public, I too wrestled with who to put at my top concern. The leadership that Morgan brings as @Pop Corn stated, the yardage we have to replace as @huskrthill brought up, those are all huge issues for me. All that said, the tipping point for Farmer over Morgan at #1 for me is that I think Frost's offense can manipulate the defense to where it will be less of an issue not having a big WR compared to not having a comparable center. I also think we have better options to replace Morgan. Here's who we got:
Kade Warner 6'1" 210 pound sophomore - Has game experience and can move permanently outside to help things there. A sure-handed kid, he won't replace Morgan's athleticism, but could make up for it in other areas.
Jaron Woodyard 5'11" 190 pound senior - Could he finally get everything down and make a name for himself? He will have the leg up in terms of athleticism on Warner, and will have the offense down better than our incoming recruits. But he's got a couple other guys to deal with.
Andre Hunt 6'0" 190 pound RFreshman - He showed flashes all fall, if he comes more consistent, this could be our most likely candidate.
Mike Williams 5'10" 185 pound senior - He got in the proverbial "dog house" for a bit, but if he can show his worth outside instead of in the slot, could be an option.
Jaevon McQuitty 6'0" 205 pound sophomore - I've been waiting for this kid to break out, but he has had some injuries that have made it tough on him. Again, he has every opportunity right now to step up as we are looking for someone to replace Morgan.
Jamie Nance or Darien Chase - Two incoming freshmen that are signed from the 2019 recruiting class. Both of these guys have the speed and they can really run. If guys that are already in the system can't step up, we at least have two 4 star guys coming in to help.
3) Replacing RB Devine Ozigbo
- What Oz did was nothing short of amazing. This kid will be used as a poster child for how things can work out for you under this staff if you keep your head down and grind. The transformation that kid made in Duval's strength program is going to get him some paychecks (depending on what he runs his 40 in). With the way Held has recruited, Mo Washington actually getting a year with our S&C staff, and Frosts offense, this is the one that worries me the least. Frost's system can be catered to not only what skill position players you have, but what they can do. If Jaylin Bradley stays and does what he is supposed to off the field and stays out of the freshmen lockerroom, he is absolutely a viable option here. You also have to remember that we have a 225 pound QB, so if we have to go "small and speedy" at RB, our "dash" and "bash" concepts can help get the bigger bodied guy be the one to lower his head and get the short yards as seen here:
So who do we have coming in to help:
Jaylin Bradley 6'0" 210 pound sophomore - This is our most likely candidate in the spring. He has the frame, and has actually showed on Saturdays he is capable. Will he take the reigns? Will he seize his opportunity like Oz? Remains to be seen.
Dedrick Mills 5'11" 200 pound junior - The Georgia Tech/Garden City transfer was a freshman All-American in some publications, and could help immediately like Greg Bell did. Can he get here? Will he pick up the offense fast enough? Ryan Held is giving himself options.
Wyatt Mazour/Ronald Thompkins, Rahmir Johnson/Miles Jones/Wandale Robinson - Just like with these guys not being able to replace Stanley Morgan, they can't really replace Ozigbo. But they can certainly be change of pace guys to give Mo Washington some breaks. I would be careful with Thompkins coming off his knee injury. Miles Jones is coming off a season ending injury. Wandale Robinson and Rahmir Johnson are going to be interesting with how they insert themselves, Robinson will play as a true freshman, no redshirts there. And Mazour will get his touches.
4) Replacing LG Jerald Foster
- Replacing a 28 game starter won't be easy by any means, but it's the least of my concerns, especially if we get center ironed out. We have options, and our scheme is one that can take us where we want to go even if we have a missing link on the OL. Foster was someone often taken for granted, but he could not be overstated what his meaning to the team was. Started every game of a season under two different staffs, i'd be highlighting that in my NFL interviews if I were him.
Matt Farniok 6'6" 330 pounds - I'm not sure which side, but if Benhart is a stud, Bland gets here and plays tackle, Sichterman steps up, etc, we could shift MF down to guard which some people think is his most natural spot.
Desmond Bland 6'4" 300 pounds - Hopefully we get him here, but he has the ability to play anywhere along the line. If we want to keep Farniok out wide, and a guy like Miller or Jurgens steps up at center, we can always put Bland at guard.
John Raridon 6'4" 320 pounds - The four star legacy recruit gets his shot now. If he keeps working in the weight room, this could be our darkhorse to not shift Farniok down to guard. He has the mean streak that Austin likes, he just has to put it all together. He couldn't get the weight on he needed until Duval got here.
Will Farniok 6'3" 300 pounds - While Will is working at center, they won't hesitate to move him to guard if he proves he is one of the best 5. We have some options on the interior.
Summary
Obviously there will be some people I haven't even thought of, but that's my ranking on what I think is most important, and who I think could step up. Long story short, I am not worried at all about offense. A returning Adrian Martinez will get everything clicking the way it needs to. We just have to stay healthy at a couple spots.
Stay tuned for the defensive talk coming soon!
Last edited: Yesterday at 11:54 AM
ShortSideOption, Yesterday at 7:33 AM
https://forum.huskermax.com/index.php?threads/winning-the-west-who-must-step-up-on-offense.108853/
