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Observational depth chart post spring

BWahlberg

BWahlberg

Well-known member
DONOR
OK, I usually do this but with a ton more observations of practice, etc. However, for discussion's sake I thought I'd put up what I'd just guess as a depth chart heading into summer conditioning and then pre-fall. Also I'm going to plug in guys that were injured or presumed to come back in the fall.

QB: Johnson / Gustafson or McKinney
RB: Canada or Van / Kirschner or Counts / Miles
H-Back: Counts / Hagfors
Z-WR: Henderson / Haynes
X-WR: Walcott / Saylor / Burke
Y-WR: Warren / Naccarato or Berland
TE: Pierson / A. Richards
T: Poole / Schmaing
G: Hines / Kalekini
C: Oiland / Hines
G: Poehls / Weyer / Todd
T: Kistler / LaRowe

DE: Wagenmann / Crittenden or Johnson
DT: Bienemann / Kidder
DT: Takai / Rehm / Ginn
DE: Holmes / Peevey
OLB: Tripp / Owen
MLB: Coyle / Kose
OLB: Kanongata'a / Lippert / Lebsock
CB: Goodwin or Harris / Nelson
S: Hermanson / Rominger or Gamboa
S: Tully / Whitted or Van Ackeren
CB: Dennard or Murray / Gratton / Anderson

Positions that appear to still be open:

Cornerback - In three scrimmages I've seen Gregorak rotate all four steadily and I'd expect that it will continue. I remember back in 2006/07 when we had four very good corners and all four played a ton, think it was Wilson, Jackson, Clark, and Harris... right? We could be looking at that scenario again. Of the four Dennard and Goodwin impressed me the most in the 3 scrimmages.

Safety - It seems like they want to keep Tully and Hermey locked in but Rominger, Whitted, and Gamboa have all had a really good spring. Not sure if they'll break through but they will get some playing time.

Kicker - Although Greenberg didn't kick in the 3rd scrimmage there just seems to be a general lack of confidence in who the kicker will be. Greenberg needs to add leg strength while Lider needs to improve on accuracy. Lider seems a lock for kickoffs.

KR/PR - I say this just b/c in three scrimmages I've seen just one guy handle a few punts. Not even sure who they're looking at for these roles entirely. I'd assume Ellis Henderson but not sure after that.

Backup WR spots - just like corner they're rotating these guys a lot. I think coming into spring they knew they had Henderson, Saylor, Warren, Naccarato, and probably Haynes as contributors but I think Berland made a case for some touches as has Burke.

Backup QB - Gustafson's strong close to spring ball has to start putting heat on McKinney and SSH to improve. Brady showed good progression from scrimmage to scrimmage, Trent and Shay did not as much - in my opinion. Brady is still behind them, specifically Trent, but he's gaining ground.

--------
Coming out of the spring here's what I see:

Strong spots: Starting QB, O-line, RB depth, D-line talent/depth, starting LB experience, improving corners, great punter, team chemistry

Weak spots: fieldgoals/kicking, safety consistency, QB-depth that would be ready if called upon, pass catching TEs, backup linebacker experience and lack of depth, dropped passes, secondary/DB tackling

Unknowns: KR/PR duty, in-game adjustments, coaching, situational drills, impact of new freshman (if any)

---------

All in all it appears to have been a real good spring. The team appears to be on the same page, there's much less division on the field, the coaches and players seem to work very well together, and we've got a solid lock at QB again in Johnson - giving time for either Gustafson / Smithwick-Hann / McKinney to adapt to the new offense if needed. Now's the time for guys to get healthy and strong over the summer.

Go Griz!
 
I'm thinking Jamal Anderson is gonna be the punt returner. Probably him and Ellis as kick returners unless they throw Canada or Naccarato out there.

I really hope Poehls gets healthy and Poole is able to come back (if he does everything that is asked of him). That would make our OLine solid and have depth.

And then I hope our coaches play aggressive on both sides of the ball.
 
BDizzle said:
I'm thinking Jamal Anderson is gonna be the punt returner. Probably him and Ellis as kick returners unless they throw Canada or Naccarato out there.

I really hope Poehls gets healthy and Poole is able to come back (if he does everything that is asked of him). That would make our OLine solid and have depth.

And then I hope our coaches play aggressive on both sides of the ball.
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I think Poehls will be ready to go, wasn't the off-season surgery more of a fix-up kind of thing and not a major one? (Not sure on what it was but I don't recall it being a major issue).

The thing about both of those guys though is Schmaing had a pretty darn good spring and Weyer was one of the big surprises coming out of nowhere to contribute. While having Poole/Poehls back is optimal it's been really encouraging to see these two step up when called upon.
 
grizpaws said:
Is Poole going to be back in the fall?
Click to expand...

We will have to see.

Me placing him as a starter goes off what a few (soon to be) graduating players told me. That he's got a chance to return in the summer/fall. While Schmaing has done really well this spring Trevor (IMO) is the best option there. Maybe my post is more wishful thinking - but I'm basing it on what I was told and I'd think that's pretty solid. I'd compare it to Brian Maus who missed part of a season, winter condo, and spring camp as part of a punishment last year.
 
Why isn't Van Ackeren more prominant on the depth charts, whether at safety, where he is needed, or at LB, not so much? He certainly has the credentials and it sounded like he had a decent spring. The coaching staff love affair with Hermanson and Tulley continues to mystify. They seem to value experience (good or bad) over potential.
 
b/w,,,this post of spring depth chart helps me get a handle on the team in general and what the coaches may be thinking...thanks for taking time to think through it....im excited for a griz run come this fall....go griz !!!!!!!
 
BWahlberg said:
OK, I usually do this but with a ton more observations of practice, etc. However, for discussion's sake I thought I'd put up what I'd just guess as a depth chart heading into summer conditioning and then pre-fall. Also I'm going to plug in guys that were injured or presumed to come back in the fall.

QB: Johnson / Gustafson or McKinney
RB: Canada or Van / Kirschner or Counts / Miles
H-Back: Counts / Hagfors
Z-WR: Henderson / Haynes
X-WR: Walcott / Saylor / Burke
Y-WR: Warren / Naccarato or Berland
TE: Pierson / A. Richards
T: Poole / Schmaing
G: Hines / Kalekini
C: Oiland / Hines
G: Poehls / Weyer / Todd
T: Kistler / LaRowe

DE: Wagenmann / Crittenden or Johnson
DT: Bienemann / Kidder
DT: Takai / Rehm / Ginn
DE: Holmes / Peevey
OLB: Tripp / Owen
MLB: Coyle / Kose
OLB: Kanongata'a / Lippert / Lebsock
CB: Goodwin or Harris / Nelson
S: Hermanson / Rominger or Gamboa
S: Tully / Whitted or Van Ackeren
CB: Dennard or Murray / Gratton / Anderson

Positions that appear to still be open:

Cornerback - In three scrimmages I've seen Gregorak rotate all four steadily and I'd expect that it will continue. I remember back in 2006/07 when we had four very good corners and all four played a ton, think it was Wilson, Jackson, Clark, and Harris... right? We could be looking at that scenario again. Of the four Dennard and Goodwin impressed me the most in the 3 scrimmages.

Safety - It seems like they want to keep Tully and Hermey locked in but Rominger, Whitted, and Gamboa have all had a really good spring. Not sure if they'll break through but they will get some playing time.

Kicker - Although Greenberg didn't kick in the 3rd scrimmage there just seems to be a general lack of confidence in who the kicker will be. Greenberg needs to add leg strength while Lider needs to improve on accuracy. Lider seems a lock for kickoffs.

KR/PR - I say this just b/c in three scrimmages I've seen just one guy handle a few punts. Not even sure who they're looking at for these roles entirely. I'd assume Ellis Henderson but not sure after that.

Backup WR spots - just like corner they're rotating these guys a lot. I think coming into spring they knew they had Henderson, Saylor, Warren, Naccarato, and probably Haynes as contributors but I think Berland made a case for some touches as has Burke.

Backup QB - Gustafson's strong close to spring ball has to start putting heat on McKinney and SSH to improve. Brady showed good progression from scrimmage to scrimmage, Trent and Shay did not as much - in my opinion. Brady is still behind them, specifically Trent, but he's gaining ground.

--------
Coming out of the spring here's what I see:

Strong spots: Starting QB, O-line, RB depth, D-line talent/depth, starting LB experience, improving corners, great punter, team chemistry

Weak spots: fieldgoals/kicking, safety consistency, QB-depth that would be ready if called upon, pass catching TEs, backup linebacker experience and lack of depth, dropped passes, secondary/DB tackling

Unknowns: KR/PR duty, in-game adjustments, coaching, situational drills, impact of new freshman (if any)

---------

All in all it appears to have been a real good spring. The team appears to be on the same page, there's much less division on the field, the coaches and players seem to work very well together, and we've got a solid lock at QB again in Johnson - giving time for either Gustafson / Smithwick-Hann / McKinney to adapt to the new offense if needed. Now's the time for guys to get healthy and strong over the summer.

Go Griz!
Click to expand...

B-Dub, you have Nelson in front of front of Murray at the CB? Throughout most of what I read it gave me the impression that Dennard, and Goodwin had it sewed up with a rotation of Harris, then Nelson and then Murray? Thoughts ideas?
 
granitegriz said:
Did I miss something, I thought Z. Gratton was playing safety?
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Appeared to me to move to corner. Tully, Rominger, Hermanson, Van Ackeren, Whitted, and Gamboa were playing safety.
 
Pounder29 said:
B-Dub, you have Nelson in front of front of Murray at the CB? Throughout most of what I read it gave me the impression that Dennard, and Goodwin had it sewed up with a rotation of Harris, then Nelson and then Murray? Thoughts ideas?
Click to expand...

No, not in front. I see a rotation with the main four, Dennard, Goodwin, Murray, and Harris. Murray I know in the depth was bumped down to 3rd string but I had heard it might've been an attitude adjustment/reality check thing for him. He was back up rotating in with the 1s/2s on Friday. I'd be willing to bet barring any major fall camp melt-downs or injuries that Goodwin and either Dennard or Murray will be listed as the official starters, but all four will play a ton.
 
kemajic said:
Why isn't Van Ackeren more prominant on the depth charts, whether at safety, where he is needed, or at LB, not so much? He certainly has the credentials and it sounded like he had a decent spring. The coaching staff love affair with Hermanson and Tulley continues to mystify. They seem to value experience (good or bad) over potential.
Click to expand...

Van Ackeren isn't more prominent on the depth chart at safety because it would make things a little "uneasy" at the next Delaney/ Hermanson family bbq. Can you imagine the reaction when Delaney has to finally tell Hermanson's dad that his
journeyman kid isn't the starter any more? South Dakota HS football will be shaken to it's core.
 
All I can base this on is watching the last 2 scrimmages, but Whitted look like he was playing hard nosed and good assignment football. He should be given a serious look this fall and get some playing time at least.
 
granitegriz said:
All I can base this on is watching the last 2 scrimmages, but Whitted look like he was playing hard nosed and good assignment football. He should be given a serious look this fall and get some playing time at least.
Click to expand...

Agreed but I don't think he played in the 3rd scrimmage, he did well in the first 2
 
reinell30 said:
ALPHAGRIZ1 said:
reinell30 said:
Hope Tully has learned how to tackle....
Click to expand...

There is much more to his poor play than just his tackling.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

But he has to start to improve somewhere first....
Click to expand...
He is slow to read and react then he takes bad lines to the ball. This puts him out of position quite often making tackling harder..........don't hold your breath on him getting better....he hasn't improved much in his career so far.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
 
ALPHAGRIZ1 said:
reinell30 said:
ALPHAGRIZ1 said:
reinell30 said:
Hope Tully has learned how to tackle....
Click to expand...

There is much more to his poor play than just his tackling.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

But he has to start to improve somewhere first....
Click to expand...
He is slow to read and react then he takes bad lines to the ball. This puts him out of position quite often making tackling harder..........don't hold your breath on him getting better....he hasn't improved much in his career so far.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

This was a HUGE problem last year. Got caught on his heels a lot.
 
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