HOGS 2009 ROSTER FULL OF PROMISE

I love looking at the roster by position and it looks like we have addressed our depth issues at most positions. We have good experienced players coming back at pretty much every position except for kicker (experience, just not good experience) and punter and even the not so good ones will be pushed by the talented newcomers. I can't help but be positive looking at the new depth in the secondary, even if they are younger guys. We should be good there soon if not this year. My main concern on D would probably be at the LB position. We are still a bit thin there but not as thin as we were last year. We do have some talent there though and if we stay healthy, look out. The D-line looks better than it has in a long time with some true SEC sized DTs in the mix. Along with the long lean fast guys on the edge I'm expecting big things. Our defense should be much improved over last year, but it won't take much for that. I really think it will be awhile before we are really good as we'll still be relying a lot on younger players especially in the secondary. Hopefully the JUCO's will make an impact, if they do we could have a salty defense this year.


On offense we look loaded. I mean if our QB play is improved at all, which I'm betting it will be, then I don't see how our offense doesn't improve tremendously. The talent at QB is better than we've ever had probably, but it's got to be translated to play on the field of course. I think it will. The depth at RB (8 quality guys) and WR (12 quality guys) is astonishing to me. Practices should be awesome to watch just watching the competition at these two positions. TE is a rather thin position but we have one of if not the most talented one in the nation in DJ. If he stays healthy, he'll have a great year and if Cleveland can stay healthy for a season, we'll be even deeper at the WR/TE position than we already are. Our O-line looks as deep as ever and I think versatility is the key word there as they seem to plug different guys into different places depending on the situation and don't hesitate at all to move a guard to the center position if they think one is capable of the move. That's the one question mark for me is, who will replace Luigs? I think we've got some worthy candidates and that should be an interesting development to watch as camp goes on. I think we should probably see a lot of improvement from last year's O-line as they've been in the system now and know what pass blocking is. ;) Our offense should be stellar. I expect nothing less.


Our special teams is still a question mark as far as I'm concerned, at least on kickoffs and punts. We have a new punter, and really all I want, is an adequate job and consistency. I'll take a 40 yard average right now. :) Tejada is the kicker again, and so far he's done nothing to impress me at all. He'll have to get his head straight and his kicks for us to win more than 7 games I think. Hopefully the addition of John Smith our special teams will improve all around. This is one of my biggest concerns going into the season and it has been for it seems like 20 years. I think that's about how long it's been since we've had a decent kicking game. ;) Kickoff returns haven't been an issue, but I can't remember the last time we have a true threat at punt returner. I hope that changes this year. Lord knows we have some burners that can do the job, the coaches just need to find the right guy. I'm hoping will be improved on all of our special teams, but take a wait and see approach on them, as I don't expect a whole lot overall one way or the other. All I know is that we have to improve and not just a little bit.


That's about all of my ramblings for now.



As always GO HOGS!!!!!