Starting Lineup

[Teddy]

Depth charts are generally pretty meaningless as others have pointed out, especially this early.

Also, keep in mind that unless there is an obvious and glaring talent disparity, Kirk will ALWAYS place upperclassmen higher up on the depth chart. That trait in him is commendable but hasn't always been the smart strategy in terms of putting the best team on the field. Nevertheless, he will give any healthy senior or redshirt senior every chance to succeed.

You have to show loyalty to earn loyalty.

 

[BigD]

I totally agree with everyone’s remarks and understand the “doubting Thomas” syndrome, been following this team since I was six years old and watching a black and white TV sitting next to my Dad. That’s when my dad taught me some colorful Irish language. I got a double dose of that same language watching the Cubs too.

 

[94HawkMA]

Cade is lineup as a starter. DeJong at LG, ahead of Feth. Jones and Elsbury kind of expected. Colby over Stephens at RG and Grizz over Parker at RT. Pretty much as expected everywhere else, although Graves not starting is a little surprising.

It looks like starting both Eric and Luke.​

For the DLine, in particular, I think you will see at least 8 players on Saturday, and for much of the season. Graves will play a huge role this year.

 

[94HawkMA]

That is a big and experienced OL. Everyone has some level of starting experience and even the back-ups are pretty veteran. They are also man sized now. I bet Jones is closer to 300 by now and the rest of the starters are north of that mark. Colby is poised to have a break out year now that they have settled him at guard. The fact that he can play left or right will help get him drafted soon. Glad to see Parker listed as the back up. That means he is practicing and healthy enough to play. I hope we get a look. RT has sucked since Wirfs left so they need to keep running guys out there until someone can do the job. Its good to have depth and options across the board. I think 3 positions are etched in pen, with LG and RT still up for further review and rotation of players. Competition breeds succcess.

They might be bigger, but that same group did not perform last season. Why do we think this season will be different?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

It's not Lewyville, it's Loooville.

No so much pointing out to you. I just hear so many individuals state it incorrectly. You provided the platform for me. Lol.

 

[CP87]

Agree. This may be the unforeseen weakness of this team.

I forseen it...CB depth has been talked about since last spring. We have seen many young guys step in and step up, hopefully Hall, Lee, and Deasfernades will be more examples if Harris or DeJean can't go.

 

[CP87]

For the DLine, in particular, I think you will see at least 8 players on Saturday, and for much of the season. Graves will play a huge role this year.

I am interested to see if Jackson Filer has a role. The walkon from IWCC was the Juco defensive player of the year, and a sack machine, last year. He definitely seems undersized to be an every down player (225 lbs), but it seems like he could be a valuable specialist.

 

[CP87]

They might be bigger, but that same group did not perform last season. Why do we think this season will be different?

I guess we have to look at years like 2001 and 2008, where maligned OLs returned and showed great improvement. Fingers-crossed.

 

[Teddy]

They might be bigger, but that same group did not perform last season. Why do we think this season will be different?

Do you remember the OL catastrophe in 2013. Lost 2 starters and a key reserve early in the season off the line, they were terrible. How'd the same line do in 2015, same players 2 years later?

There is every reason to believe the line will be better. The players are finally experienced, something we lacked at most positions the last two seasons. Richman and Colby are in their third season, usually where our linemen get big enough and experienced enough to really play in the Big Ten. Now we have an entire line of guys that are much bigger than last season and Dunker is the only guy that hasn't played his current position, although he's played other line position. Everyone that's seen the scrimmages say Jones has significantly improved. He had only one direction to go-he couldn't possibly get worse.

Had a lot of weird things happen on the line. Losing Britt and Ince pushed the youngsters into starting. Davidkov's career end stuck was with a bunch of bad options are right tackle.

Then the simplest reason for improvement, football players, indeed most athletes, get better at their game the more they play.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Do you remember the OL catastrophe in 2013. Lost 2 starters and a key reserve early in the season off the line, they were terrible. How'd the same line do in 2015, same players 2 years later?

There is every reason to believe the line will be better. The players are finally experienced, something we lacked at most positions the last two seasons. Richman and Colby are in their third season, usually where our linemen get big enough and experienced enough to really play in the Big Ten. Now we have an entire line of guys that are much bigger than last season and Dunker is the only guy that hasn't played his current position, although he's played other line position. Everyone that's seen the scrimmages say Jones has significantly improved. He had only one direction to go-he couldn't possibly get worse.

Had a lot of weird things happen on the line. Losing Britt and Ince pushed the youngsters into starting. Davidkov's career end stuck was with a bunch of bad options are right tackle.

Then the simplest reason for improvement, football players, indeed most athletes, get better at their game the more they play.

You are leaving out the biggest example, which was 2002. Those same skinny converted TEs took some lumps KFs first few years, but they got bigger and better and were the most dominate line in college football in 2002.

Of all the things that people are nervous about and have lost faith on, I don't get losing faith that KF can develop offensive lineman. Every team can go through an injury/attrition bug, but KF has consistently shown he can develop OLs. The line will be improved this year. A lot. How much they improve will determine whether this team wins 8 or 11 games.