#81 Gone, Mangen, Morgan, Brown back. (+-=) =
#51 Gone, Moore & Crouch back. (+-=) -
#22,37,41 Gone, Howell, Miller, Provitt back. -
#34 Gone. Aloese, Porter, McKnight back. =
#75 Gone. Lowery, Pleasants return. +
#54 Gone. Puehs returns. +
#67 Gone. Gibbons, Anderson, McCray, Cooper, etc, back. =+
#7 Gone. White, Ouellette, Irons, Brown back. ++
#13, 35 Gone. Nelson, Hagan, Williams back. -
#23, 39 Gone. Farkas, Zervos back. =
#15 Gone. Sprague, Windham back. +

12 contested positions. The obvious ones. Does McCray challenge Watson, do Ball & Belack challenge at WR, don't know.

I only rate 3 of the 12 without equal or better talent in line to fill in.

I rate 5 of the 12 with equal talent to fill in.

I rate 4/5 of the twelve with the potential to be improved.

I see better kick returns next year, White. Better run defense, 6 of 8 returning across the DL & LB. Better OL, better WR, better RB. Corner back concerns me. Overall the talent is improving. The above leaves 12 returning starters who should be improved from another years development.

Guess I am a glass 3/4 full fan. You all already knew that.

So where am I wrong? Please find my ommissions.

Bcat2

There is only 1 position that MUST be upgraded: QB, and the current 2 returning players that received some PT this year are not the answer we need. PERIOD.





GO BOBCATS

The safety position needs to be upgraded as well. The new guys from last year look great on paper.

Kick returns this year was no better than average. Really can't remember hardly any notable kick returns.




I see that occasional comment that the NFL will look at Daz as a return guy and I wonder--don't remember him as special this year and NFL roster too slim to have a spot taken by only a return specialist unless he's about like Chicago's D. Hester used to be.

That's one. I imagine that every team has 2-3 per year.

There was nothing remarkable about our kick return game this year in my view.

I'd love to be prove wrong but one doesn't come near doing it.

Well presented, "nothing remarkable about our kick return game this year." Agreed. I was hoping to see Bass, Nelson & White spark the return game this season, but, well, I know how you feel about injuries/excuses. With White, Nelson and Bass not available I was just relieved for Daz to do the work in a workmanlike fashion without drama. Nothing remarkable, but, no unhappy dramatics either.

Well, it seems Daz's 24.2 average might not be remarkable, but, workmanlike understates it. Daz ranks 35th in FBS and 4th in the MAC. 24.2 is not a dazzling number, but, it is one I can be pleased with.

I'm hoping that Connor Krizancic can actually play. For those that don't follow Ohio D1 football, he was very impressive at the HS level. He lost 55-52 to Cincinnati Moeller in the D1 title game in 2013. He was recruited to Minnesota, but transferred to OU. He threw for a record 419 yards in the 2013 Ohio HS title game. A record just matched by Jimmy Keefe from St Ed's this year (2015). I hope they give this kid a chance and I hope he's up to the challenge. I'd also like to see them get Keefe from St. Ed's and give him a shot. Perhaps undersized, but a game day player. And he played against a big time national schedule.

Watch some Connor highlights here http://www.hudl.com/athlete/501262/conner-krizancic

Watch Jimmy Keefe highlights from the State title game here http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jimmy-keefe/qjnkEhycEeOZ5...

Someone on this board also said that Quinton Maxwell was "Big Ben"-like. Not everything you hear on this board is something you can take to the bank. ;-) I certainly hope the either Maxwell or Minnesota transfer Krizancic is the real deal. I agree with the oft express feeling on this board that we need an upgrade at QB.

Everything on this board is 100% true. You know that OCF!

+1

Transferring to Oregon? ; )

As far as Krizancic, Duckworth, and Maxwell, and which, if any will change position, I'm waiting for Spring camp. It should be interesting competition for that spot this spring.

As to some of the other positions, I'm guessing Grillot is a factor at TE, and that CB competition will include Fox, Seymour, the new JUCO, plus the Motley twins. Someone good always seems to emerge, and I'm confident that will happen this year, too.

Monroe, I suggested McCray might challenge Watson, and Ball/Belack might challenge the receivers. Crouch might challenge Moore. Do you have something substantive or should we put this down as another drive-by?