The Bobcat Nation

I watched some of last years games this weekend and there are some definate players we are going to miss this year unless we get people to step up in there place. The 3 guys below we really need to fill their spots with the talent/tenacity they had in my opinion.

1) Jeff Bolton - This guy actually made the guy across from him scared I think. In the 3-4 games I watched he was just throwing guys around/bulldozing them. In the Cat/Griz game he was just man handling the guy across from him and throwing him out of the way. I really liked his tenacity inside too. I know we have a good line coming back, but this guy really caused HAVOC inside for us (especially when he was at center). Figs also had the mean streak attitude like he did as well. We need guys to come in and fill there spots and keep that blue collar attitude that those guys had in the trenches (especially with us needing to rely on the running game.

2) Kahiam Hunter - This guy made play after play after play in the secondary in the games I watched. Our other corners were solid, but it just seemed like Hunter was always on his guy/playing the BALL and not the player/body. We really need someone to step up and fill his shoes as well. I think our front 7 will and can help our secondary out a lot this year, but we do need that SWARM COVER corner that we can put on their best receiver for those quick slant/over the middle 20 yard quick hitch type passes.

3) Nick Marudas - Plain and simple was an animal last year. Very good instincts and ATTACK mode. I think Daly is in that mold (maybe not quite as fast and is more like Mac) so we should be okay. I have yet to see Fletcher play but from what it sounds like he is going to be very similiar to Marudas.

Anyway, MSU had a lot of good players (I didn't include Lulay in there as that is obvious that we will have a very hard time replacing what he brought to the table). The guys above just seemed to make play after play after play though at their respective positions. I just thought I would give them some kudos as they really brought their game each and every play.

I think we have a lot of playmakers in stock for this year, they just need to bring it like I think these 3 guys did each and every game.

Chaz Guinn made several difficult catches that were crucial and kept drives alive. Justin Dominek did a great job of picking up blitzes. But replacing Bolton will be huge. Verlanic is maybe 255, Bolton was 300. With Verlanic and Birkland side by side, the center guard combo is undersized. Saucedo is big on the other side, but that is the other side. Verlanic is just not big enough to handle people one on one like Bolton did. The adjustments will be interesting. Defensively, Hunter made a ton of big plays. Hopefully the corners will step up. Has anyone heard if the transfers from a yaer ago are hurt yet? Practice starts in about 10 days. Safety is a question as well. Force is more than capable, but he doesn't have a running mate. Grenphell had a huge pick at the end of the Weber game. He wasn't spectacular,but he handled his business. If you were to ask the right people they wouls say that noone has stepped up and won the Grenphell's old spot. LeBlanc gets lost frequently and while a biig hitter, he doesn't wrap up. Yards after contact? Retoriano had a decent spring,but who will it be? We will know in a little over 3 weeks.

083190 wrote:Chaz Guinn made several difficult catches that were crucial and kept drives alive. Justin Dominek did a great job of picking up blitzes. But replacing Bolton will be huge. Verlanic is maybe 255, Bolton was 300. With Verlanic and Birkland side by side, the center guard combo is undersized. Saucedo is big on the other side, but that is the other side. Verlanic is just not big enough to handle people one on one like Bolton did. The adjustments will be interesting. Defensively, Hunter made a ton of big plays. Hopefully the corners will step up. Has anyone heard if the transfers from a yaer ago are hurt yet? Practice starts in about 10 days. Safety is a question as well. Force is more than capable, but he doesn't have a running mate. Grenphell had a huge pick at the end of the Weber game. He wasn't spectacular,but he handled his business. If you were to ask the right people they wouls say that noone has stepped up and won the Grenphell's old spot. LeBlanc gets lost frequently and while a biig hitter, he doesn't wrap up. Yards after contact? Retoriano had a decent spring,but who will it be? We will know in a little over 3 weeks.

I agree, Grenfell was a very good player as well (ball hawk and hitter). I say if we have CB depth maybe move Fuller back to Safety as he is a very good tackler. There are a lot of key playmaking positions that need to be filled. I think we have good solid depth, but it remains to be seen if we can continue to have the playmakers that are so crucial for a teams success.

We still have all of preseason practices to get through and I'm sure there'll be changes in the depth chart before the first game. I don't think the o-line is settled yet. I'm sure Hirst, Jensen and Birkeland are solid. Saucedo and Verlanic aren't a lock. Hansen has looked good. Birkeland can play either guard of center.

The receiving and QB slots are pretty up in the air with the exception of Jefferson, but no one has ever verified his status. Is he still here?

The def. line is open with the exception of Papich at one end. Siataga or Matakis or Hoffenbacker (he's officially playing and is on the roster) at nose. Kolone or Cerise with Lowe, at times, at the other end.

LB is the most settled with Daly, King and Lowe. One outside LB is still somewhat open, but Claggett looked pretty tough in spring camp.

No one knows who'll play the corners and only Force is a lock at safety with at least LeBlanc and Brown, maybe Fuller in the other. Austin seems to have a good shot at one CB, but with Beach, DDavis and Fuller, and healthy CDavis and Smith, who knows?

Even tailback isn't a sure bet for Groves with Taito so highly thought of.

There a lot of good competition coming up next week, so I wouldn't take the depth charts too seriously.

How about Gazzerro at the other safety? Maybe the next Kane Ione.

gtapp wrote:How about Gazzerro at the other safety? Maybe the next Kane Ione.

Definitely. I'm sure I left out a few other possibilities. I'm just saying there's a ways to go before the lineup gets ironed out. Maybe even a game or two into the season.

crazycat wrote:

gtapp wrote:How about Gazzerro at the other safety? Maybe the next Kane Ione.

Definitely. I'm sure I left out a few other possibilities. I'm just saying there's a ways to go before the lineup gets ironed out. Maybe even a game or two into the season.

If you get the time, go up and watch fall ball. Things change on a daily basis with many, many positions. It's just fun to watch how things develop position wise, but the up side is we have some really talented athletes who can adjust and we'll have depth everywhere.

We have some serious shoes to fill every year (as do most collegiate teams), but we seem to be getting better and better at not having a serious lapse at any particular position, and that is what makes a collegiate team a contender year after year.

Damn, still a week from Wed.