Looking at the roster

[BMF]

Uhhh... he was atrocious as a freshman,no doubt. and I was all over him. But he didn't look that bad last year. I wonder if he's not better than Fred.

I'm fairly sure he's going to be better at defensive tackle than a freshman.

he had zero business starting as a freshman. Most do not. That wasn't his fault that we had no one better because the previous moron recruited nothing but defensive backs, just like the current more on recruits wide receivers and defensive backs.

I agree on Riles. Plus he's a 4th year player. I don't think any of us are expecting him to be a starter, or a star. But he could easily get 10-20 snaps a game.....and a 4th year player vs. a true freshman, that's a HUGE difference. 4 years in the weight program vs. 0 years? I'll take the 4th year guy all day long.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

I feel better now knowing that we tried to sign 2 but one was crippled and one was retarded.

I lol'd...

 

[Gator2222]

Agree w/ this Law...especially the part about also being able to play SDE. Another issue w/ players, they won't all pan out....some get injured, some aren't SEC ready, some take time to add weight, etc.

For this year though, I'm still waiting to see what they do w/ Riles (DL or OL?).

Word is that they still have him penciled in as an OL. Hasn't been any indication of a move to DT.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

4 years in the weight program vs. 0 years

I would like to agree with this but I'm not sure all of our players get the directions to the weight room facility...or perhaps the damned thing is so small they can't find it...Daniel McMillan never did, and lets not forget we recently sent an offensive linemen to pro day who could only bench 225# 7 or 8 times.....

 

[BMF]

Have we heard anything about him? Is he back from the injury?

He could really be a pivotal part of our season with our ongoing problems at RG and our disaster at DT. Maybe he will play both ways.

Word is that they still have him penciled in as an OL. Hasn't been any indication of a move to DT.

Well, I'll be disappointed if this staff lets another capable OL stand around on the sidelines (like last year) while we're getting gutted up the middle by power running teams due to lack of depth, size, and/or talent. Riles has played 6 games at DT for us in the past, weighs 310+lbs....and if he's not going to play OG (other than in practice) I'd like to - at least - see him cross trained in case he's needed over one of the true freshman. We had 3 or so OL's standing around on the sideline - mainly Buchanan and Desir-Jones, both HS DT's - doing absolutely nothing last year. Inexcusable and poor preparation by our coaching staff. Riles will be a waste if he's just standing around. Now, if he plays valuable minutes at OG it's a different story.

One other note, true freshman Zach Carter is reportedly up to 280lbs. I'm not sure if they planned on using him this year, but he appears destined for DT by 2018 w/ another 10-20lb gain.

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

We had 2 more DT'S (Truesdell/Scott) ready to sign last cycle and yet...our HC chose to pass. Him doing so will more than likely come back to bite him dead in the a$$ before we get midway through the season.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

One other note, true freshman Zach Carter is reportedly up to 280lbs. I'm not sure if they planned on using him this year, but he appears destined for DT by 2018 w/ another 10-20lb gain.

How about let's keep him at DE and start playing big boy football again?

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Word is that they still have him penciled in as an OL. Hasn't been any indication of a move to DT.

Yeah, OK. I guess they think these freshmen are ready to roll. I guess we will see.

 

[GR8 2B]

Well, I'll be disappointed if this staff lets another capable OL stand around on the sidelines (like last year) while we're getting gutted up the middle by power running teams due to lack of depth, size, and/or talent. Riles has played 6 games at DT for us in the past, weighs 310+lbs....and if he's not going to play OG (other than in practice) I'd like to - at least - see him cross trained in case he's needed over one of the true freshman. We had 3 or so OL's standing around on the sideline - mainly Buchanan and Desir-Jones, both HS DT's - doing absolutely nothing last year. Inexcusable and poor preparation by our coaching staff. Riles will be a waste if he's just standing around. Now, if he plays valuable minutes at OG it's a different story.

One other note, true freshman Zach Carter is reportedly up to 280lbs. I'm not sure if they planned on using him this year, but he appears destined for DT by 2018 w/ another 10-20lb gain.

This x 1000

 

[BMF]

How about let's keep him at DE and start playing big boy football again?

I agree, but if he gets up to 300 he's a DT. Polite seems like he'll be "that" guy you want at SDE, but they'll move him inside also. If Carter stays under 290 he would be a great fit for that "bullard" role we've been using the last 6 or so years. I have no problem w/ 250lb DE's that can get to the QB, I just don't want a roster full of them. When it's 4th and 1 and they're going for it we need "big boy football". It would be nice to see our SDE weigh more than 260 though....

 

[t-gator]

We had 2 more DT'S (Truesdell/Scott) ready to sign last cycle and yet...our HC chose to pass. Him doing so will more than likely come back to bite him dead in the a$$ before we get midway through the season.

The year we only targeted shavar manuel at dt will bite us un the ass this year. That is really gonna haunt us this year. Next year too.

 

[BMF]

The year we only targeted shavar manuel at dt will bite us un the ass this year. That is really gonna haunt us this year. Next year too.

Well, Polite will be a DT (from that same class). But yes, no excuse to whiff (again) on DT. Shaver played us....and then failed to qualify, so we would have gotten screwed either way - which is another reason we should be bringing in a minimum of two DT's/year.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I agree, but if he gets up to 300 he's a DT. Polite seems like he'll be "that" guy you want at SDE, but they'll move him inside also. If Carter stays under 290 he would be a great fit for that "bullard" role we've been using the last 6 or so year....

Well, the Bullard role IS a DE. And he would have contributed more if he had stayed there. Moving a guy like that to NT is ok in a 3 man front on third and long but we shouldnt have two undersized (240-250 lb) DEs every play.

Im not seeing what you guys see in Polite. He is still an undersized DE. May grow into a DE someday but he will never be a functional NT/DT IMO. Last I saw of him he still looks like the 255 or whatever he is listed on the roster.

Someday when we build a weight room he should be one of the guys that first in line.

 

[BMF]

Well, the Bullard role IS a DE. And he would have contributed more if he had stayed there. Moving a guy like that to NT is ok in a 3 man front on third and long but we shouldnt have two undersized (240-250 lb) DEs every play.

Im not seeing what you guys see in Polite. He is still an undersized DE. May grow into a DE someday but he will never be a functional NT/DT IMO. Last I saw of him he still looks like the 255 or whatever he is listed on the roster.

Someday when we build a weight room he should be one of the guys that first in line.

I'm 100% w/ you on not wanted two undersized DE's on the field for every play.

Polite was a true freshman last year....and it looks like he's not much heavier than his listed 271 (from last year's roster). So, he'll very likely play outside w/ the occasional move inside (he's essentially Jefferson's backup), which is fine. I'm not giving up on a true sophomore who actually contributed last year as an unheralded true freshman. If he can get into the high 270's/low 280's he'll be a solid SDE (who can move inside occasionally)....which will give us a solid DL w/ the addition of the WELL OVER 300lb DT's we just signed.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I'm 100% w/ you on not wanted two undersized DE's on the field for every play.

Polite was a true freshman last year....and it looks like he's not much heavier than his listed 271 (from last year's roster). So, he'll very likely play outside w/ the occasional move inside (he's essentially Jefferson's backup), which is fine. I'm not giving up on a true sophomore who actually contributed last year as an unheralded true freshman. If he can get into the high 270's/low 280's he'll be a solid SDE (who can move inside occasionally)....which will give us a solid DL w/ the addition of the WELL OVER 300lb DT's we just signed.

Weve been through this. He was listed at 255 last year. We did the pictures of him standing beside 240 lb Jarrad Davis.

He isnt 270. His may, just may, be slightly heavier than 255 but I seriously doubt it.

 

[gators4224]

I believe the roster has been updated. some takeaways... Jordan smith listed at 6'7 and moon at 6'6. Clayton up to 255 ish. Cece down to 242. Kylan johnson up to 236. Polite 260.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Polite 260.

LOL. I hate to say I told you so. Even that is probably rounded up.

 

[NavetG8r]

I gotta say, I'm pretty happy with the weights I saw on the Oline, but some of the Dline guys I was hoping we could count on this year to be something special, look like they weren't interested in being special this year...unless "specialist" is what they consider special, because at those light weights, they're pass rusher one trick ponies. I'm losing faith in our ability to hold up against a good run game now.

 

[gators4224]

LOL. I hate to say I told you so. Even that is probably rounded up.

If he plays DE which i think he will, 260 is very respectable and I think that 260 is mostly muscle (dude is strong as a bull). I think polite has huge potential. Can probably play a little everywhere depending on the situation.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I agree, but if he gets up to 300 he's a DT. Polite seems like he'll be "that" guy you want at SDE, but they'll move him inside also. If Carter stays under 290 he would be a great fit for that "bullard" role we've been using the last 6 or so years.

It's not just size. It's height and technique. On the line, low man wins. Being too tal is a disadvantage for playing inside. Not so much outside (the tackles are generally taller than guards).