Yep. This pretty much sums it up. DB and DL should be a position of strength. Special teams will continue to do their thing. Offense isn't losing anyone.
It all comes down to our linebacking room. Gotta have a couple guys step up.
I'd be interested in hearing CamLemons take on this. He tends to have a pretty good grasp of the innerworkings of our roster and who we can expect to play early, etc.
Basically here's how the team breaks down to me
QB: Set here, Sam will be sam and as he doesn't regress to freshman year he's the 4th best QB in the ACC behind DJ/Howell/King and that's saying a lot about how good I think those 4 are than bad Sam is. Eaten crow about how Sam has been as a whole this year(he's had his moments of bad) but full body of work he's been great and his only knocks are holding onto the ball too long and not being on the right side of TD variance
RB: I don't need to go in depth here, John Hunter just finds great RBs so *shrug*
Outside Receiver: I am bullish on what they did to the depth chart, mostly because it reflects what they've had success with in 2017 and 2018 with this style of QB. Instead of forcing the twin towers we had in 2019, they're starting to play to the strengths of the team. Having one side being your gliders in Greene/AT(and whatever you call the amalgamation of Banks and Stewart), while the other side being crafty guys with speed and great route running in Morin/Groulx plays a lot more into the offenses that had Sage on one side and Bachman on the other(who is a generous 6 feet.) It allows you to disguise who's running a 9 route and who's actually breaking inside a bit better. Banks with more practice will be *fine* but that injury in the spring really put him behind the 8 ball. It should be Horatio Fields, who i'm extremely high on, learning the boundary/glider side and Dez Williams learning behind Morin/Groulx. I'm willing to hear arguments for another transfer if Stewart isn't back and I have my particular favorites out there, but if they stay put with this reshuffling I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if they ended up staying pat with what they have.
Slot Receiver: Roberson/Ke'shawn, and a break glass option in Morin if they're desperate. Christian Greene will get to learn for a bit behind some good ones. Fine here.
OL: If Terrance Davis is back and fully gets himself healthy, this unit is great. Davis immediately slides in at RG and you go L-R: Tom, Maginn/Loic, Jurgens, Davis, Nash. You have increased depth now at guard, Gordon and Elmonus are pretty good depth at tackle, and Petitbon was already the 2nd unit center when the starters comes out, his potential seems through the roof.
TE: I'm not so much worried about this as I am nudging it to produce. Chapman is a good blocker and Whiteheart has flashed but someone probably needs to start coming alive here. Especially if the OL progresses like the staff wants them to, they're probably going to be wanted to block less and be more of a threat in the passing game.
DE: With Boogie gone it's Bothroyd's time to shine and well you don't have to search hard to see the love the staff, myself and Conor has for Rondell. Think he is a superstar in the making but what's behind him is a bit less clear. Isaiah Chaney slots behind him and while I think he has the talent, same with Jasheen Davis, snaps just haven't been there so it's hard to pinpoint especially with Conor and Les not being at practices giving us updates as to how guys look there. I don't think they'll be bad, but it's a high standard you have when you can take Boogie off the field and it be a known commodity behind him. Do they get someone to bridge the gap? Who knows. With the drop ends, JaCorey keeps chugging along and quietly being good but the question is can McCollum regain the form he had 2 springs ago and the first few games of his freshman year? Does a guy like Kendron Wayman pop up more? What's up with Royce Francis? Wouldn't expect Brandon Williams to be an immediate guy.
DT: Kamara and Fox back is huge. The rotation with those 2, Dion Bergan, a healthy Tyler Williams, Will Smart and Justin Williams should be a great one to clog up the middle. Still have guys like James Ash and Malik Puryear in the wings but unlike the DEs still a lot of known players ahead of them for another year. Gooden gets a year to just work on his craft put on some good weight and learn.
LB: We know who the top 4 guys are, Smenda, Ja'Cquez, Monroe, Jones. There are questions here obviously: is this year an aberration? Can Chase Jones stay healthy? Can Monroe continue to push Smenda, I'm of the opinion that if they're playing at what we know they're capable of being 2 of the best LBs in the ACC. Same with Ja'Cquez, but what do guys like Jaylen Hudson have to offer, do they move Zach Ranson back to LB(or really where has he been all year?) the pieces are there but can this new coach get what's needed out of them that the last LB coaches seemed to do year after year?
Rover: Traveon Redd is one I'm keeping an eye on. I'm *pretty* sure he's back. If he's not then Masterson probably rolls down to Rover and they figure things out at safety. If he comes back, which is what is assumed, then it'll be Him/AJ Williams who have been well... good this year. Garnes is one where it's hard to put without seeing practice, I *think* he slots in to compete for time at Rover but if they feel fine there they could also work him in as a high safety and move some other pieces around. It's a weird place to be 3/4 deep but they can move Luke down, KD3 can fill in there and be fine, Garnes, Ranson seems to be there right now given the roster.
CB: Feel great about this with Wingfield and Ja'Sir announcing he'd be back. If they can get Holmes to stay healthy they have a true 2 deep and don't have to rush the freshman out there unless he's ready. Coby Davis can still fill in as their slot guy if need be but Ja'Sir and Caelen by numbers and the eye test were nationally just extremely good.
S: Questions! Can Nasir get back to 100% and be that guy again after being rushed back? Masterson seemed to thrive as being a Rover, less as a high safety but still a good starter, can he entrench himself as the guy across from Nasir? Can Rucker get back to full health? He's been very good when healthy but just hasn't been that way all year. Can Coby Davis get back to 2018 form now that he's healthy? What's JJ Roberts' role moving forward, same question to Zion Keith and Nick Andersen. Can a guy like Evan Slocum or Quincy Bryant push for early time? Lot of bodies here, good ones, just how do they fit and can they stay healthy?
