Lets do this.
Given what we've seen from the reserves this year, how do you think things might shake out for 2016? Here's a thread to give it a shot, and you're more than welcome to include any position changes or additions to the team that you wish. Let your mind run wild, and also feel free to have this double as a place to post your thoughts on the young guys we've seen this year in general.
My take:
QB: Higgins, Smith, Wilson
I think that at minimum they will have packages for Smith. Either he starts, or he plays in those packages with Higgins or Wilson starting. But he won't ride the bench. I'll take the Higgins/Smith combination with Price the odd man out.
RB: Scott, Craft, Dancy
I'd scheme this as 1 and 2 basically being co-starters. Craft on third down, obvious passing situations, and short yardage; Scott otherwise. Basically a 50/50 split. Dancy gets garbage time reps and, looking back, really needed a redshirt year in 2015. He wasn't ready.
WR1: Henderson, Watts
No change from 2015
WR2: Gaines, Smith
Could interchange these two based on what I've heard about Smith, but I haven't seen him for myself. Gaines will get his set plays regardless.
WR3: Taylor, Childress
No change from 2015. I suspect Childress is ripe for getting passed by one of the freshmen coming off of a redshirt, but I'm not sure.
WR4: McKnight, Smith
No change from 2015
TE: Woodall, Rodriguez
Woodall when Tech goes one-tight. Rodriguez (with a number change) when they go with two TE's.
LT: Brown, Rodriguez
I imagine Edinburgh is an attrition/transfer candidate. The OL-numbered version of Rodriguez is the backup LT.
LG: Dugas, Landry
No change from 2015.
C: Wixson, Brunson
Back to the original 2015 lineup at Center. Brunson might be another transfer candidate if he doesn't feel good about his PT after Spring. Can Ethan Reed play center? Need a future starter here.
RG: Mahaffey, McCrady
Mahaffey slides over to this spot.
RT: Carpenter, Lovett
Seamless transition for Shane into a starter. All in all, this is the best OL at Tech in years.
---
DE: Ferguson, Turner
Ferguson will be the best DE in the conference. I need to see more explosion from Turner - right now he's just a guy.
DE: Canty, Ydarraga
Not sure MY will be ready after his ACL tear. If not, one of the freshmen will have to step up. Tech could really use a transfer or JC DE. I still want to explore Canty at MLB, but there's no depth to try that.
DT: Brown, Gray
Only change is Gray taking Porter's reps. Aaron Brown is REALLY good and gets lost in the (deserved) Butler talk. Gray looked good against Southern before his injury. Will Davenport be ready?
DT: Bradford, Wallace
Bradford has huge shoes to fill, but I really like him as a disrupting three technique player. Another year of strength and conditioning and I'll go out on a limb and say he flirts with all-Conference. Wallace and Hester need to become best buds.
LB: Farris, Freeman
This is the OLB spot. I think Farris moves over to start here, and I'll peg Freeman to leap frog some folks into the #2 role. Farris is a good player.
LB: Durman, Scott
These are the only two MLB-sized LB'ers on the roster right now, so this is almost by default. Tech could really use a transfer or JC here. Moore was a bust. This is a spot of concern.
LB: Grogan, Mims
Grogan at this spot is the only "sure" starter at LB going into next year. I'll guess that Mims moves back over here from the other side, where he's just too undersized. He fits the mold at this spot. My wildcard at LB is Secdrick Cooper, who it might be wise to move down. It seems the extra bulk has slowed him at safety.
S: Woods, Williams
No change from 2015. I like Theron's game a lot.
S: Cooper, Jackson
Big question mark. I again think Cooper is a move-down candidate. Will Jackson be ready? Could one of the corners (of which Tech suddenly has a ton of) move up to safety?
CB: Lewis, Spencer
Who the heck knows at corner. I'm honestly guessing. Lewis comes highly regarded but I've never seen him play.
CB: Roberson, Jackson
Again, purely guessing. Will Kitchen and Dunn be in the mix? If Dunn remains buried he might be another attrition candidate. I think the world of Roberson, but he has definitely looked like a freshman at times this year.
Thoughts?
Given what we've seen from the reserves this year, how do you think things might shake out for 2016? Here's a thread to give it a shot, and you're more than welcome to include any position changes or additions to the team that you wish. Let your mind run wild, and also feel free to have this double as a place to post your thoughts on the young guys we've seen this year in general.
My take:
QB: Higgins, Smith, Wilson
I think that at minimum they will have packages for Smith. Either he starts, or he plays in those packages with Higgins or Wilson starting. But he won't ride the bench. I'll take the Higgins/Smith combination with Price the odd man out.
RB: Scott, Craft, Dancy
I'd scheme this as 1 and 2 basically being co-starters. Craft on third down, obvious passing situations, and short yardage; Scott otherwise. Basically a 50/50 split. Dancy gets garbage time reps and, looking back, really needed a redshirt year in 2015. He wasn't ready.
WR1: Henderson, Watts
No change from 2015
WR2: Gaines, Smith
Could interchange these two based on what I've heard about Smith, but I haven't seen him for myself. Gaines will get his set plays regardless.
WR3: Taylor, Childress
No change from 2015. I suspect Childress is ripe for getting passed by one of the freshmen coming off of a redshirt, but I'm not sure.
WR4: McKnight, Smith
No change from 2015
TE: Woodall, Rodriguez
Woodall when Tech goes one-tight. Rodriguez (with a number change) when they go with two TE's.
LT: Brown, Rodriguez
I imagine Edinburgh is an attrition/transfer candidate. The OL-numbered version of Rodriguez is the backup LT.
LG: Dugas, Landry
No change from 2015.
C: Wixson, Brunson
Back to the original 2015 lineup at Center. Brunson might be another transfer candidate if he doesn't feel good about his PT after Spring. Can Ethan Reed play center? Need a future starter here.
RG: Mahaffey, McCrady
Mahaffey slides over to this spot.
RT: Carpenter, Lovett
Seamless transition for Shane into a starter. All in all, this is the best OL at Tech in years.
---
DE: Ferguson, Turner
Ferguson will be the best DE in the conference. I need to see more explosion from Turner - right now he's just a guy.
DE: Canty, Ydarraga
Not sure MY will be ready after his ACL tear. If not, one of the freshmen will have to step up. Tech could really use a transfer or JC DE. I still want to explore Canty at MLB, but there's no depth to try that.
DT: Brown, Gray
Only change is Gray taking Porter's reps. Aaron Brown is REALLY good and gets lost in the (deserved) Butler talk. Gray looked good against Southern before his injury. Will Davenport be ready?
DT: Bradford, Wallace
Bradford has huge shoes to fill, but I really like him as a disrupting three technique player. Another year of strength and conditioning and I'll go out on a limb and say he flirts with all-Conference. Wallace and Hester need to become best buds.
LB: Farris, Freeman
This is the OLB spot. I think Farris moves over to start here, and I'll peg Freeman to leap frog some folks into the #2 role. Farris is a good player.
LB: Durman, Scott
These are the only two MLB-sized LB'ers on the roster right now, so this is almost by default. Tech could really use a transfer or JC here. Moore was a bust. This is a spot of concern.
LB: Grogan, Mims
Grogan at this spot is the only "sure" starter at LB going into next year. I'll guess that Mims moves back over here from the other side, where he's just too undersized. He fits the mold at this spot. My wildcard at LB is Secdrick Cooper, who it might be wise to move down. It seems the extra bulk has slowed him at safety.
S: Woods, Williams
No change from 2015. I like Theron's game a lot.
S: Cooper, Jackson
Big question mark. I again think Cooper is a move-down candidate. Will Jackson be ready? Could one of the corners (of which Tech suddenly has a ton of) move up to safety?
CB: Lewis, Spencer
Who the heck knows at corner. I'm honestly guessing. Lewis comes highly regarded but I've never seen him play.
CB: Roberson, Jackson
Again, purely guessing. Will Kitchen and Dunn be in the mix? If Dunn remains buried he might be another attrition candidate. I think the world of Roberson, but he has definitely looked like a freshman at times this year.
Thoughts?
