The Fresh Deacs of 2006 were damn good. They would hit you in the mouth. By the time they played Louisville, which in my opinion was the best team in the country that year, they were toe to toe with those guys and but for a couple of fumbles we win. They looked top tier in that game.
This. I attended the spring game in March 2006 and looked at the team and went "damn" we are good. We look big, strong and fast. I believe a good portion of the scrimmage that day, Micah Andrews looked like a mini-version of his dad. Damn, too bad he was not available due to injury for the season.
2006 holes: Lobo and playcalling general, running back, once Micah Andrews went down.
2021 holes: safety, defense general.
Quarterback, in that spring game, I think Zac Taylor had left, which left us with only 3 high level starting QB's (Mauk, Skinner and UCF's future starter, Hodges). With Skinner, the QB question got corrected fast.
Advantage: 2021 although better depth in 2006.
Running back: without Andrews, this became a nightmare (see: Va Tech and see bowl game), as Moore had to move to RB. Adams was good, Harris was good, but could not stay healthy.
Advantage: 2021 I mean I really like Cooley and he has barely played. Healthy Andrews, Adams and Harris is a different story.
WR: the 2021 group is terrific and with Donovan Greene -
wow.
Advantage 2021, although K. Moore, Idelette, K. Marion, Morton, Marshall W, Brinkman not bad. 2021, even without Greene may be our best WR ever.
Tight end: was good in 2006 with Tereshinski and Selmon.
Advantage 2006.
Offensive line: I think I have to
give it to 2006, in a close one, with Vallos, Justice, DeGeare all being NFL. Dr. Lou Frazier and Brim not bad. Little depth, but they stayed healthy. Our line this year has been very good.
DE: Tucker and Jeremy Thompson - NFL.
Advantage 2006. Although Villian and Bothroyd really got after it at BC. Loved that!
LB: Curry, Abbate, Arnoux backed up by Dom Midgett, who was as good or better than anyone on our current LB roster, Berry and Hunter Haynes.
Big advantage 2006. Although healthy Smenda and Masterson do make plays.
CB: Alphonso, Patterson's massive game at FSU, Swanson edge over current group. Swanson defending Calvin Johnson. I will say I like Holmes a lot, and if he and Taylor are healthy, we are good. But it's Alphonso, come on.
Advantage 2006. 2006 stayed healthy.
Safety: I am not even sure who is playing safety each game now, versus Chip Vaughn was a backup to Gattis and Ghee. Our current safeties essentially lost us 2 UNC games in a row. I guess losing Trey Rucker really hurt as did Greer not really recovering (?). I think Rucker, Redd and Greer, healthy, would be a solid group, no doubt.
Advantage 2006. 2006 better and stayed healthy.
Kicker is close : I think Swank pulled double duty with Plack having just graduated.
Advantage 2006. For that one season. I will give Sciba the nod, over Swank for their careers, maybe. This one is close.
Punter: I did not think Swank was a great punter, more necessity.
Advantage 2021.
Special teams returns: got to mention this, really like what Morin has done this year on punt returns. However, Kevin Marion was lightning - a legit weapon on kick returns. I think it is odd we have no real breakaway speed on a team that nearly made the CFP, and use KEY STARTERS like Taylor and CBS to return kicks. Marion was one of my favorites.
Advantage 2006.
Coaching: got to love what Grobe did, really incredible how he resurrected the program, he was exhausted from trying "all he could think of" to win in 2013. He said he felt they maybe got a little complacent after the 2006-2008 run. He gave Clawson that advice, when Clawson started. More like "do not ever get complacent" and also, depth, depth, depth.
Juxtapose that with Clawson, who nearly went undefeated this year. Lobo vs. Hemphill is advantage 2021, which tells you all you need to know about Lobo.
Advantage 2021.
This last part, coaching, is important, whereas I give Grobe an "A" would clearly give Clawson "A+" so the final score?
In a close one:
2021 Deacs 31- 2006 Deacs 27
