We will be better at QB; anybody who watched Morgan and Annexstad in Spring game or Viramontes juco AllAmerican film will tell you that AND QBs benefit as the WR unit should improve leaps and bounds AND we may be better catching the ball at TE and RB...both Tanner and Zack show great pocket presence, field awareness, and are solid, accurate throwers with touch... Viramontes is a better running QB than anyone we had last year...showed a big arm on juco film, played with/against good competition
We will be better at RB if Rodney stays healthy...he can be an All-Big Ten/NFL guy...Ibrahim looks legit and I am guessing one or both of Edmonds or Williams is ready to shine as a frosh...FemiCole not a bad depth option
We will be SO much better on O-line...return four starters in Weyler, Greene, Olson, Schlueter...we return good veteran depth that will push starters in Oseland, Dovich...add an older juco who may start in Dickson...take redshirt off a big time recruit who may start in Andries...take redshirt off two recruits PJ loves in Schmitz (will push to start at center) and Sassack... Bring in two four-star frosh in Faalele and Dunlap who may get a chance right away...one or more of Beier, York, Norton, Davis, Boe might surprise as well...
We will be better at oline coach- seems like Warinner maybe wasn't a good fit with Kirk, may have used us as a soft landing/transition spot...now we get Callahan running the o-line, who helped PJ and Kirk put together juggernaut offense at WMU that was beating NW, Purdue, playing Wisconsin tough in 2016...Callahan has great track record getting oline guys drafted from WMU.
Oline guys will be in second year of new strength and condition/nutrition program...those dividends should be seen...Oline guys will be in new weight room...should help.
We will be SO much better at WR...Tyler Johnson is ready to be AllBigTen...Autman-Bell and Douglas would have started last year if not injured...Bateman could be Big Ten AllFrosh...Howard gained nice experience. Fleck and Simon have put multiple WRs in the NFL.
Interested to see what happens at TE...Seth Green could bring some athletic mismatches we can use in space (as could Paulson or Spann-Ford)...we return some maturity and size with Kieft, Beebe, Witham that could help the run game; be used creatively in offense.
The new coach Patterson will bring a lot to the offensive room...one of most innovative minds in college football.
We add some veteran maturity to the defense...Antoine Winfield comes back from injury, may be best player on defense...Chris Williamson, the Florida transfer probably starts at one CB...OJ Smith, the Alabama transfer probably starts in middle of d-line...need all three of those to be difference makers.
DT will be solid despite losing Richardson, Stelter, Merrick...fifth year senior DT Gary Moore may have breakout year alongside 5th year senior Smith...Umlor is a returning starter who is moving inside as he puts on size, strength...juco star Silver got a redshirt year in weight/strength/film room and should help...Robinson provides good depth, will compete to start (was on travel squad last year, but kept his redshirt)...Teague a talent who plays right away like Richardson did? Redshirt also comes off PJ favorite Hickcox.
Coughlin returns and redshirt comes off Otomewo, who could have started last year, according to PJ...good competition, new blood at defensive end with some talented weapons in vets Devers, DeLattiboudere, Renner, Gibson, and newbies Mafe, Reigelsperger, Ahanotu, Okonji...not sure Paup was a good fit...d-line coaching could improve: Rossi is a Smith disciple, West comes highly regarded...DE play should be better
...we return very good linebackers in Barber, Martin, Cashman, Huff and Coughlin can play right with those guys on the edge...Schoenfelder, Oliver, Rush, Sori-Marin are nice young guys for depth and special teams who could surprise...Oliver is very highly touted...Rush looked the part as an early enrollee...LB unit should be better despite losing Celestin, who was hurt most of year
Secondary will be better, deeper. Kiondre with Williamson is a good coverage pair (Winfield in nickel package lets us match up well with three good WRs...Shenault could cover from safety position in some packages vs 4 WR sets?...Huff is a senior leader with knack for making plays...Swenson looked good at safety in Spring game; he is probably next to go on scholarship...redshirt frosh Estes could be in two-deep at corner- almost played last year; hope Durr can return to 2016 level- should be better than his 2017 level...Harris got thrown in the fire but gained experience; should be better...Sapp (safety?), T Smith (corner/Special teams?), CJ Smith (corner/safety/special teams?), Aune (safety?) may need to (earn right to) play right away...Sapp was a tops in country type talent before injuries sidelined...T Smith has tops in country type speed...CJ Smith has very good size, speed...new coach seems to have good rapport with guys
like to see kicker return to 2016 All Big Ten level, punter is a question mark but I know Herbers can boom them from watching practices...added young talent should improve return/coverage teams
second year in Big Ten for staff should help...being in new facility should help...having the culture installed and clearing the roster of non-rowers should help...willingness to pull redshirts in year two helps a lot...new uniforms helps create excitement for team?
