Briggs32
Well-Known Member
After an amazing year this year, with a Rose Bowl victory still to come, I thought I'd share a few thoughts about this year and next.
I fully expected to go 7-5 or even 6-6 this year with the possibility of a new coach for the 2016 season. I couldn't be more happy to be wrong and couldn't be more proud of Kirk and the job he did. The resiliency of this team culminated in the stomping of NW in Evanston. CJ was hurt, Daniels, Duzey, Boone, Ike and Ott were all ou and Canzeri got hurt and we still took Northwestern to the woodshed. There was no bigger injury than Drew Ott's this year. With Ott, out pass rush was decent but fell to the depths of non-existent after he went down needing to get creative to manufacture a pass rush. The lack of a pass rush was our biggest deficiency all year, and the problem was magnified after Ott's injury. We have a solid foundation for next year to defend out B1g West crown and attempt for a B1G title. as well as a lot of experience to fill the voids left after this year.
2016:
QB:
Beathard. We know what he have here. A gritty, talented quarterback who can make plays and go out and win us a ball game.
RB:
Plenty of talent coming back with Caneri departing. Barring injuries, we have a nice power speed combo of Daniels and Wadley and Mitchell back as a nice 3rd down back.
WR/TE:
Perhaps the position that losses the most talent/experience. HKC, Duzey(Even though he didn't record a catch), Smith and Hillyer. Smith as a downfield option hurts and Hillyer was more known for his blocking. HKC was a nice all around TE with a knack for making big catches. We still have Vandeberg, McCarron, Smith and Kittle coming back. I'm pretty excited to see what Jon Wisniewski can do. I except him to take over the in-line TE role help by HKC/Duzey these last 2 years.
OL:
Perhaps the 2nd brightest spot going into the offseason is the development and growth of our returning linemen behind our QB. While the loses of Blythe and Walsh are big, We return a lot of experience with starts and it will be interesting to see how the line plays out next year. Does Boettger slide into G and Daniels slide to C? Does Daniels stay at guard and we look to a new C? Who wins out at RT, Boettger or Croston? The running game might have potential to be better than it was this year that averaged 200 yards a game.
DL:
We have 2 solid DTs back and Parker Hesse's experince will bay dividends for next year. He just needs to put on some more weight to endure a full season in the B1G. Meier is a big loss and Ott was a huge loss this season. I'm excited to see what Matt Nelson can do and if Ott gets granted a 6th year, look out.
LB:
Should be even better. Josey Jewell has emerged into stardom and Niemann was nothing but solid all year. Another year, another senior big time performance in his final chance to play. Fisher had a great year but his loss will be much offset by having Bower step in. He started most of last year and played well in fill in time this year.
DB:
I hope King fulfills his words of completing his degree before he leaves. If he returns, this D has a chance to be great, even if Ott doesn't get a 6th year. Mabin has had his ups and downs, but I expect a good senior year before he heads off to the NFL. Miles Taylor was solid in his first year as a starter as a true sophomore and looks the part of one of Ferentz's better safeties over the years.
2016 Outlook:
I expect this team to be Top 20 to begin the year with more disrespect as we have all come to expect. If King and Ott return, this D will be elite and could end up being one of the best Ferentz has ever had. If he can find a downfield playmaker or two, our O shouldn't be too far behind. For the first time since pre-2010, I think high levels of optimism going into the season are both expected and deserved by this team.
I fully expected to go 7-5 or even 6-6 this year with the possibility of a new coach for the 2016 season. I couldn't be more happy to be wrong and couldn't be more proud of Kirk and the job he did. The resiliency of this team culminated in the stomping of NW in Evanston. CJ was hurt, Daniels, Duzey, Boone, Ike and Ott were all ou and Canzeri got hurt and we still took Northwestern to the woodshed. There was no bigger injury than Drew Ott's this year. With Ott, out pass rush was decent but fell to the depths of non-existent after he went down needing to get creative to manufacture a pass rush. The lack of a pass rush was our biggest deficiency all year, and the problem was magnified after Ott's injury. We have a solid foundation for next year to defend out B1g West crown and attempt for a B1G title. as well as a lot of experience to fill the voids left after this year.
2016:
QB:
Beathard. We know what he have here. A gritty, talented quarterback who can make plays and go out and win us a ball game.
RB:
Plenty of talent coming back with Caneri departing. Barring injuries, we have a nice power speed combo of Daniels and Wadley and Mitchell back as a nice 3rd down back.
WR/TE:
Perhaps the position that losses the most talent/experience. HKC, Duzey(Even though he didn't record a catch), Smith and Hillyer. Smith as a downfield option hurts and Hillyer was more known for his blocking. HKC was a nice all around TE with a knack for making big catches. We still have Vandeberg, McCarron, Smith and Kittle coming back. I'm pretty excited to see what Jon Wisniewski can do. I except him to take over the in-line TE role help by HKC/Duzey these last 2 years.
OL:
Perhaps the 2nd brightest spot going into the offseason is the development and growth of our returning linemen behind our QB. While the loses of Blythe and Walsh are big, We return a lot of experience with starts and it will be interesting to see how the line plays out next year. Does Boettger slide into G and Daniels slide to C? Does Daniels stay at guard and we look to a new C? Who wins out at RT, Boettger or Croston? The running game might have potential to be better than it was this year that averaged 200 yards a game.
DL:
We have 2 solid DTs back and Parker Hesse's experince will bay dividends for next year. He just needs to put on some more weight to endure a full season in the B1G. Meier is a big loss and Ott was a huge loss this season. I'm excited to see what Matt Nelson can do and if Ott gets granted a 6th year, look out.
LB:
Should be even better. Josey Jewell has emerged into stardom and Niemann was nothing but solid all year. Another year, another senior big time performance in his final chance to play. Fisher had a great year but his loss will be much offset by having Bower step in. He started most of last year and played well in fill in time this year.
DB:
I hope King fulfills his words of completing his degree before he leaves. If he returns, this D has a chance to be great, even if Ott doesn't get a 6th year. Mabin has had his ups and downs, but I expect a good senior year before he heads off to the NFL. Miles Taylor was solid in his first year as a starter as a true sophomore and looks the part of one of Ferentz's better safeties over the years.
2016 Outlook:
I expect this team to be Top 20 to begin the year with more disrespect as we have all come to expect. If King and Ott return, this D will be elite and could end up being one of the best Ferentz has ever had. If he can find a downfield playmaker or two, our O shouldn't be too far behind. For the first time since pre-2010, I think high levels of optimism going into the season are both expected and deserved by this team.
