Is the roster better AT THIS POINT for the 2019 season than it was for the 2018 season AT THE SAME POINT?
(same question per position)
My Take:
QB - Better
There was a question about who the starting QB would be for 2019 and there wasn't a ton of excitement around the "incumbent". The Clemson game and apparrent physical limitations have tampted the excitement around Book down a bit....but I think Book/Jurk is better than Wimbush/Book coming into the season.
RB - Same
There was a lot of hope/promize about Dexter entering 2018....but almost no proof. Furthermore, we knew he was suspended for 4 games. The depth had minimal experience. Armstrong now provides us with at least as much hope/promise as Dexter did (with a similar amount of physical talent) and the depth is perhaps a little more proven (Jones 2019 > Jones 2018).
WR - Better
Everyone but Boykin returns, now a year more experience, developed, and proven. Boykin "flashed" in the bowl game, but hadn't proven much of anything before that. The experience and proven production from Claypool and Finke is better than what we had coming into 2018 and the potential with Austin, Lenzy, Young, etc. is better than what we had in 2018 (same players but now no longer Frosh)
TE - Same
Kmet is in the same ballpark as Mack was entering the season, both in terms of experience/production and talent/potential. The depth is perhaps a little better for 2019, with Wright being very talented and now a RS Soph plus Tremble being very talented but unproven.
OT - Better
We return both of our starters at OT for 2019, whereas we didn't return a single full-time starting going into 2018 (though both Hainsey and Kraemer played it some). Returning both players means that we have more development/experience. Plus, if anyone unseats Hainsey, it means that we've improved at that spot even further (bc they have to beat Hainsey out, not just default into the spot)
OG - Same
At this point we had Bars and Kraemer and looked great at OG. While neither Banks/Kraemer is quite to Bars level yet, Banks looks extremely promising and Kraemer should further improve with another year of S&C and experience. Plus, the depth all returns and is another year further along.
C - Worse
At this point last year we looked to have an All-American candidate at Center heading towards his 3rd year as a starter. While our potential options are fairly experienced (Ruhland, maybe Hainsey), no one has the experience Mustipher did nor does either appear to be an All-American candidate for 2019.
Offense Overall: Better
We should be better in virtually every phase and area of the game. We should be more consistent and hopefully at least a little more dynamic at QB. We could/should have similar playmaking at RB. We should have similar (or more) playmaking and consistency at WR and TE. And we should be better across the OL, both in run blocking and pass blocking.
I think it's fair to expect the talent and experience on offense to be better in 2019, across the board.
DT - Worse
2019 doesn't have the All-American candidate at DT like 2018 did with Tillery. Furthermore, 2018 had better depth, as both Hinish and MTA were available as 2nd String guys....plus promising Frosh. 2019 has 3 good players (perhaps all 3 better than Bonner), but lacks the elite player like Tillery and lacks proven depth.
DE - Better
Everyone returns and there is every reason to believe that every player can take (another) major step forward in 2019. Whether it's S&C, technique, scheme, etc. they all had major areas to improve on. This could actually be MUCH BETTER.
LB - Worse
While 2019 has promsing/exciting athletes in Simon, Bauer, JGH, Owusu-Kamara, Bilal, etc....they don't have anything even close to the proven abilities and experience of Coney or Tranquill. Both of those players were not only promising/athletic but were also proven. However, 2019 may have a bit of an edge in terms of depth, as there was no clear depth for 2018 but with players now 1 year further along, quality options (depth) appear bountiful.
CB - Worse
The #1 CB spot was a step better in 2018 with Love returning as an All-American candidate. Pride is a good CB, but not quite as good as Love was entering 2018. The #2 CB spot was probably a bit better with Pride entering 2018 than it will be with whichever new player takes over in 2019. Vaughn has promise, but also obviously concerns. Bracy has even more promise, but experience and position fit concerns. Boykin has perhaps the most promise, but is a total wildcard. However, 2019 does seem to have an advantage at NB, where whoever starts there will have more experience and be a better fit than Griffith was entering 2018 (even if it's Griffith again in 2019).
S - Better
Everyone returns and there was a major breakout here in 2018. There is every reason to believe that those same players can take another step forward in 2019....plus there should be even more talent available at the position with Allen and Hamilton.
Overall Defense: Same
The roster composition changes somewhat. Where DT and ILB where the strength of the defense in 2018, the edges (DE, S, CB) will likely be the strength in 2019. While units like DT, ILB and CB will likely regress somewhat, there is reason to believe that the dropoffs should be minimal. And the improvement at positions like S and DE could be quite substantial. It will be close and tough to replicate, but the overall talent and experience on defense should be about the same in 2019.
(same question per position)
My Take:
QB - Better
There was a question about who the starting QB would be for 2019 and there wasn't a ton of excitement around the "incumbent". The Clemson game and apparrent physical limitations have tampted the excitement around Book down a bit....but I think Book/Jurk is better than Wimbush/Book coming into the season.
RB - Same
There was a lot of hope/promize about Dexter entering 2018....but almost no proof. Furthermore, we knew he was suspended for 4 games. The depth had minimal experience. Armstrong now provides us with at least as much hope/promise as Dexter did (with a similar amount of physical talent) and the depth is perhaps a little more proven (Jones 2019 > Jones 2018).
WR - Better
Everyone but Boykin returns, now a year more experience, developed, and proven. Boykin "flashed" in the bowl game, but hadn't proven much of anything before that. The experience and proven production from Claypool and Finke is better than what we had coming into 2018 and the potential with Austin, Lenzy, Young, etc. is better than what we had in 2018 (same players but now no longer Frosh)
TE - Same
Kmet is in the same ballpark as Mack was entering the season, both in terms of experience/production and talent/potential. The depth is perhaps a little better for 2019, with Wright being very talented and now a RS Soph plus Tremble being very talented but unproven.
OT - Better
We return both of our starters at OT for 2019, whereas we didn't return a single full-time starting going into 2018 (though both Hainsey and Kraemer played it some). Returning both players means that we have more development/experience. Plus, if anyone unseats Hainsey, it means that we've improved at that spot even further (bc they have to beat Hainsey out, not just default into the spot)
OG - Same
At this point we had Bars and Kraemer and looked great at OG. While neither Banks/Kraemer is quite to Bars level yet, Banks looks extremely promising and Kraemer should further improve with another year of S&C and experience. Plus, the depth all returns and is another year further along.
C - Worse
At this point last year we looked to have an All-American candidate at Center heading towards his 3rd year as a starter. While our potential options are fairly experienced (Ruhland, maybe Hainsey), no one has the experience Mustipher did nor does either appear to be an All-American candidate for 2019.
Offense Overall: Better
We should be better in virtually every phase and area of the game. We should be more consistent and hopefully at least a little more dynamic at QB. We could/should have similar playmaking at RB. We should have similar (or more) playmaking and consistency at WR and TE. And we should be better across the OL, both in run blocking and pass blocking.
I think it's fair to expect the talent and experience on offense to be better in 2019, across the board.
DT - Worse
2019 doesn't have the All-American candidate at DT like 2018 did with Tillery. Furthermore, 2018 had better depth, as both Hinish and MTA were available as 2nd String guys....plus promising Frosh. 2019 has 3 good players (perhaps all 3 better than Bonner), but lacks the elite player like Tillery and lacks proven depth.
DE - Better
Everyone returns and there is every reason to believe that every player can take (another) major step forward in 2019. Whether it's S&C, technique, scheme, etc. they all had major areas to improve on. This could actually be MUCH BETTER.
LB - Worse
While 2019 has promsing/exciting athletes in Simon, Bauer, JGH, Owusu-Kamara, Bilal, etc....they don't have anything even close to the proven abilities and experience of Coney or Tranquill. Both of those players were not only promising/athletic but were also proven. However, 2019 may have a bit of an edge in terms of depth, as there was no clear depth for 2018 but with players now 1 year further along, quality options (depth) appear bountiful.
CB - Worse
The #1 CB spot was a step better in 2018 with Love returning as an All-American candidate. Pride is a good CB, but not quite as good as Love was entering 2018. The #2 CB spot was probably a bit better with Pride entering 2018 than it will be with whichever new player takes over in 2019. Vaughn has promise, but also obviously concerns. Bracy has even more promise, but experience and position fit concerns. Boykin has perhaps the most promise, but is a total wildcard. However, 2019 does seem to have an advantage at NB, where whoever starts there will have more experience and be a better fit than Griffith was entering 2018 (even if it's Griffith again in 2019).
S - Better
Everyone returns and there was a major breakout here in 2018. There is every reason to believe that those same players can take another step forward in 2019....plus there should be even more talent available at the position with Allen and Hamilton.
Overall Defense: Same
The roster composition changes somewhat. Where DT and ILB where the strength of the defense in 2018, the edges (DE, S, CB) will likely be the strength in 2019. While units like DT, ILB and CB will likely regress somewhat, there is reason to believe that the dropoffs should be minimal. And the improvement at positions like S and DE could be quite substantial. It will be close and tough to replicate, but the overall talent and experience on defense should be about the same in 2019.
