Trading up?

[HI Cock1]

Just wondering what positions we are and which ones we aren't.

LB: not trading up. It was clear we needed sideline-sideline speed at LB this year. Doesn't seem like we're getting that.
WR: not trading up. Our bigger guys. We got 2 new guys that are 6'0 or smaller. Neither set their teams or conferences on fire.
OL: even? Getting guys from lower conferences. Experience does matter (along with size).
RB: trading up. Only problem is eligibility - Sanders will be a welcome addition, but he'll be gone... and it's not looking bright for next year.

Other positions?

 

[Big JC]

Just wondering what positions we are and which ones we aren't.

LB: not trading up. It was clear we needed sideline-sideline speed at LB this year. Doesn't seem like we're getting that.
WR: not trading up. Our bigger guys. We got 2 new guys that are 6'0 or smaller. Neither set their teams or conferences on fire.
OL: even? Getting guys from lower conferences. Experience does matter (along with size).
RB: trading up. Only problem is eligibility - Sanders will be a welcome addition, but he'll be gone... and it's not looking bright for next year.

Other positions?

The portal is not the answer if a team is seeking to be a legit contender. It will be fine for teams that simply want a winning record. HS recruiting and talent development are the keys to winning big.

 

[muscleknight]

We won't know until we see them play.

 

[Deleted11512]

Just wondering what positions we are and which ones we aren't.

LB: not trading up. It was clear we needed sideline-sideline speed at LB this year. Doesn't seem like we're getting that.
WR: not trading up. Our bigger guys. We got 2 new guys that are 6'0 or smaller. Neither set their teams or conferences on fire.
OL: even? Getting guys from lower conferences. Experience does matter (along with size).
RB: trading up. Only problem is eligibility - Sanders will be a welcome addition, but he'll be gone... and it's not looking bright for next year.

Other positions?

LB: If sideline-sideline speed is your concern, we lost 2 slow LBs. The portal LB we just added will be one of the fastest guys on D. Have you seen film on Fred Johnson and Gregory? Our LBs will be much faster this year than last.

DL: Big improvement IMO.

 

[Jonesz21]

The portal is not the answer if a team is seeking to be a legit contender. It will be fine for teams that simply want a winning record. HS recruiting and talent development are the keys to winning big.

That’s the scary part. Who have we developed

LB: If sideline-sideline speed is your concern, we lost 2 slow LBs. The portal LB we just added will be one of the fastest guys on D. Have you seen film on Fred Johnson and Gregory? Our LBs will be much faster this year than last.

DL: Big improvement IMO.

I don’t care about speed. Do they know how to tackle. We struggle to teach that.

 

[Mic4usc]

The portal is not the answer if a team is seeking to be a legit contender. It will be fine for teams that simply want a winning record. HS recruiting and talent development are the keys to winning big.

You can’t rely on HS recruits to stay either. There’s no proven way to sustain a winning roster in the current format. Washington is playing in the title game and had like the 90th ranked HS class in 2022.

 

[SC95]

That’s the scary part. Who have we developed

I don’t care about speed. Do they know how to tackle. We struggle to teach that.

If they can't catch them, they can't tackle them. Both are important.

 

[Atlanta_Cock]

LB: If sideline-sideline speed is your concern, we lost 2 slow LBs. The portal LB we just added will be one of the fastest guys on D. Have you seen film on Fred Johnson and Gregory? Our LBs will be much faster this year than last.

DL: Big improvement IMO.

Of course.

 

[Garden]

Just wondering what positions we are and which ones we aren't.

LB: not trading up. It was clear we needed sideline-sideline speed at LB this year. Doesn't seem like we're getting that.
WR: not trading up. Our bigger guys. We got 2 new guys that are 6'0 or smaller. Neither set their teams or conferences on fire.
OL: even? Getting guys from lower conferences. Experience does matter (along with size).
RB: trading up. Only problem is eligibility - Sanders will be a welcome addition, but he'll be gone... and it's not looking bright for next year.

Other positions?

Respectfully, I think LB is a major improvement. I saw a stat that the guy who just transferred in from Charlotte had more production last season than Stone and Pup combined over their 3 merged years and 35 career games between them. They were also very slow and this incoming LB has wheels. Not to mention the 2 freshman we brought in. They are speedy backers as well

 

[wob]

HS recruiting and talent development are the keys to winning big.

... and keeping them.

 

[HI Cock1]

I just don't see us improving given who's coming in.

19th ranked recruiting class and no major "gets" in the portal - 9th or 13th ranked class depending on which one you look at.

We've lost 22 scholarship players to the portal and we're adding 12 (so far). That's a lot of "development" lost.

That said, I'll pull for whoever suits up in garnet and black. I just don't see where we get better next year or after.

 

[Tngamecock]

That’s the scary part. Who have we developed

I don’t care about speed. Do they know how to tackle. We struggle to teach that.

Well let me help you….if they can’t catch them they sure ain’t tackling them. So there’s that.

 

[Lurker123]

Respectfully, I think LB is a major improvement. I saw a stat that the guy who just transferred in from Charlotte had more production last season than Stone and Pup combined over their 3 merged years and 35 career games between them. They were also very slow and this incoming LB has wheels. Not to mention the 2 freshman we brought in. They are speedy backers as well

Unfortunately, that production was for a tiny team against weak competition.

We used to chuckle at these players being compared to SEC players.

 

[Deleted11512]

Of course.

Which part specifically do you take issue with? The CLT kid is factually faster than both pup and stone. We added 2 4* DL transfers and have one the top edge rushers in the country coming in from HS.

Or is it that you just take issue with anything that is generally positive with our program?

 

[Viennacock]

LB: If sideline-sideline speed is your concern, we lost 2 slow LBs. The portal LB we just added will be one of the fastest guys on D. Have you seen film on Fred Johnson and Gregory? Our LBs will be much faster this year than last.

DL: Big improvement IMO.

I was going to say the same about LB. I like what we have and what we picked uo.

 

[Chicken Soup]

I

 

[Chicken Soup]

g

 

[Deleted11512]

Just asking, do you believe that we'll have a winning season this year or next?

Yes. I think Sellers is really good, and will be more of what Loggains wants to run with the dual threat QB. I think the OL will be good when healthy. There’s a lot of talent there. Not too concerned with WR. If Sellers is accurate, the OL holds up, and running game is good the passing game will take care of itself. My biggest concern is CB.

 

[Chicken Soup]

n

 

[bayrooster]

We used to chuckle at these players being compared to SEC players.

EXACTLY. Now that the standards have been lowered repeatedly, it's necessary to hype up these same types of players.

 

[Lurker123]

If Sellers is accurate, the OL holds up, and running game is good the passing game will take care of itself. My biggest concern is CB.

None of this seems unreasonable, I am just struck by the amount of "ifs" that need to fall in our favor.

 

[Deleted11512]

You can’t rely on HS recruits to stay either. There’s no proven way to sustain a winning roster in the current format. Washington is playing in the title game and had like the 90th ranked HS class in 2022.

Kiffin is building his team on transfers. Mizzou has had a lot of transfers. There is not one size fits all answer.

 

[Deleted11512]

Unfortunately, that production was for a tiny team against weak competition.

We used to chuckle at these players being compared to SEC players.

It’s a small sample size, but his two games this year against P5 teams were better than all but 1 game Stone played in the 2 years he was here.

 

[gamecock stock]

I will never be happy over getting a transfer from a non-major FBS program. But I do understand and respect the opposite opinions on that. After they put on the Gamecock uniform, we are all on the same side.

 

[vacock]

I will never be happy over getting a transfer from a non-major FBS program. But I do understand and respect the opposite opinions on that. After they put on the Gamecock uniform, we are all on the same side.

A player that is better than his recruitment ratings can happen or that circumstances are different than expected. It can happen.

 

[Lurker123]

It’s a small sample size, but his two games this year against P5 teams were better than all but 1 game Stone played in the 2 years he was here.

Even if he was the best player on his team (leading in tackles, etc) doesn't mean he's suddenly SEC quality.

 

[Lurker123]

A player that is better than his recruitment ratings can happen or that circumstances are different than expected. It can happen.

It absolutely can happen. Hopefully we're finding those situations. It's concerning though, to be taking the number of players from non major FBS schools. Maybe we're just that good at finding all these diamonds in the rough that other teams are missing. One can hope.

 

[Deleted11512]

Even if he was the best player on his team (leading in tackles, etc) doesn't mean he's suddenly SEC quality.

I didn’t say that. But it doesn’t mean he’s not either.

 

[Cackmandu]

It absolutely can happen. Hopefully we're finding those situations. It's concerning though, to be taking the number of players from non major FBS schools. Maybe we're just that good at finding all these diamonds in the rough that other teams are missing. One can hope.

The caveat now is holding on to those diamonds in the rough that your staff develops.

 

[Atlanta_Cock]

Which part specifically do you take issue with? The CLT kid is factually faster than both pup and stone. We added 2 4* DL transfers and have one the top edge rushers in the country coming in from HS.

Or is it that you just take issue with anything that is generally positive with our program?

Sure. We're going 4-8 at best next year.

 

[Atlanta_Cock]

None of this seems unreasonable, I am just struck by the amount of "ifs" that need to fall in our favor.

Every team in the country not named UGA, Bama and Mich can say this.

 

[Tngamecock]

Using the lazy analytics by most of our astute recruiters on this board, we would be trashing getting Walter Payton from Jackson State.

I love the star clowns buying all the recruiting analytics by services peddling their product.

We got better on D this portal round.

 

[Cackmandu]

Every team in the country not named UGA, Bama and Mich can say this.

Maybe add Ohio St.! But it sure looks like Washington answered those if’s, IF you look at recruiting rankings!

 

[Lurker123]

Every team in the country not named UGA, Bama and Mich can say this.

I don't think necessarily to our degree.

IF the qb pans out, and IF the oline takes a 180 and IF the RBs improve then we shouldn't have to worry about the passing game? We literally listed every position on offense as a question mark.

 

[Lurker123]

I didn’t say that. But it doesn’t mean he’s not either.

True. But the point was that leading his team in stats, or having stats better than someone on our team doesn't mean much if he's on a crappy team.

He could just be the tallest midget.

 

[Lurker123]

Using the lazy analytics by most of our astute recruiters on this board, we would be trashing getting Walter Payton from Jackson State.

I love the star clowns buying all the recruiting analytics by services peddling their product.

We got better on D this portal round.

As opposed to those deeply researched analytics of the crowd that says anyone else we sign is awesome and anyone who leaves stunk?

We can pull examples of lower tier guys making an impact, heck we had a good example at RB just last year. I wouldn't want to rely on that happening over and over though.

 

[Atlanta_Cock]

Maybe add Ohio St.! But it sure looks like Washington answered those if’s, IF you look at recruiting rankings!

They've got a coach and an AD.

 

[Atlanta_Cock]

As opposed to those deeply researched analytics of the crowd that says anyone else we sign is awesome and anyone who leaves stunk?

We can pull examples of lower tier guys making an impact, heck we had a good example at RB just last year. I wouldn't want to rely on that happening over and over though.

Lurker123 is quickly becoming a poster to be followed.

 

[Tngamecock]

As opposed to those deeply researched analytics of the crowd that says anyone else we sign is awesome and anyone who leaves stunk?

We can pull examples of lower tier guys making an impact, heck we had a good example at RB just last year. I wouldn't want to rely on that happening over and over though.

You have to research them individually….some are good and some likely not. Kind of like recruiting in general. For every poster claiming the recruit is great bc he signed with us, there’s 5 saying they suck bc they didn’t come from a big school

 

[Lurker123]

You have to research them individually….some are good and some likely not. Kind of like recruiting in general. For every poster claiming the recruit is great bc he signed with us, there’s 5 saying they suck bc they didn’t come from a big school

Agreed. Although I'm not certain of the ratio.