2017 Initial Depth Chart | Page 2 | The Boneyard

2017 Initial Depth Chart

What stood out to me is 4 of the 5 starting interior lineman are 300 lbs or less (ready for the hurry up).

What's even more exciting is all of the WR's and Pindell will have 2 years together
It may be why they went to the stack.
 
While a few question marks remain, this is actually a very talented team. I'll take youthful, excited and eager over experienced, disillusioned and lethargic any day. Add in real coaches and the brew gets interesting. Stapleton and McAllister are underrated. Skanes is a star in waiting. The O line is much improved. DeGeorge can be special and Hopkins and Crozier are healthy. If the left side gets going watch out. The offensive scheme should be fun to watch. Pindell and crew should light it up. And on D our D-Line should be best in the conference.
The key will be the kicking and return game. Not sure about either-- but if they perform, this should be a Bowl team and could even play for the AAC title this year. P.S. Don't forget to take the over 3.5 wins!
 
I'm nervous as heck. The undersized interior line I don't think is intentional. I think it's the best we have. I am going to assume it's still better than the previous versions and that RE will use them better. I have to, right?

When you see 4 guys listed as OR, it means the job is open week to week or series to series. That and a number of the other positions indicate that we should expect to see a lot of rotations.
 
I'm nervous as heck. The undersized interior line I don't think is intentional. I think it's the best we have. I am going to assume it's still better than the previous versions and that RE will use them better. I have to, right?

When you see 4 guys listed as OR, it means the job is open week to week or series to series. That and a number of the other positions indicate that we should expect to see a lot of rotations.

OR also signals formation changes. I'm not suggesting RB & WR are strengths, but we will show 4 and 5 WR sets at times.

Should be an interesting year. New staff. Completely revamped O and D. freshmen returning kicks. I'm optimistic for future, but expect lots of firs and starts this year.
 
Looking down the road, UConn has the potential for a dynamic offensive line in the next year with Peart (RSSo), Leone (RSFr), Crozier (Sr), DeGeorge (RSFr), and Van Denmark (True Fr). Add in recruits that fit the mold of the new system and the OL looks strong for a while.

To be honest, I feel like I am in an alternate universe when I discuss UConn having depth and talent at QB, WR, OL in the same year. The concern has to be the DL depth with the injury to Okouman and Ormsby, Fatukasi and Carrezola being Srs.

Surprised that Coney from Naugatuck didn't break the 2 deep at WR given the comments about his skills last year as a walk-on. Says a lot about the skills of Dixon, Skanes, and Donaldson. WR is a really deep group with no seniors. I still hope Tyler Davis can put on some pounds and become a pass catching TE next year with the departure of both Bloom and Myers. Myers is only 10 pounds heavier than Davis and Rose is listed as a TE weighing 8 pounds less, so it doesn't seem like a stretch.

Swann and Skanes as returners will be exciting. Simply because returns were never a threat/never attempted for the last 3 years. A true freshman taking that role is not a surprise as the upperclassmen have no true experience to build upon.

5 Fr or RSFr as DBs is exciting and scary. Obviously lots of talent, but there is certainly a learning curve with DB and I would expect there to be some tough lessons early on. They have a nice senior core of Bell, Sumers, and McAllaster to help them develop.

I have concern about speed at LB, but part of the theory of the 3-3-5 is that tackling DBs provide the speed and pursuit. I still wouldn't mind seeing Rose at LB to add speed.
 
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Is Mason Donaldson on scholarship?
He's one of the reasons why I brought up the top of whether or not any walk ons earned a scholly.. If he's on the 2 deep then maybe he did earn one... I hope so...
 
He's one of the reasons why I brought up the top of whether or not any walk ons earned a scholly.. If he's on the 2 deep then maybe he did earn one... I hope so...
I thought he was. Don't we have him pencilled into SouthPaw's schollie chart?
 
Is Mason Donaldson on scholarship?

He came in as a PWO w/ the 2016 class - I don't remember seeing any info/confirmation that has changed (not to say it didn't happen quietly with scholarship attrition).
 
I do not have him on the chart at this point. Updating it now to account position switches, and noticed the name.
 
The youth is worrisome, but may the best kids play. It'll pay dividends down the road but is concerning for this year.
 
For now, I will give 2 high level observations:
1) We are thin on defense up front and our best players are seniors; we will need some great recruiting to fill these holes. Missing on the Miami DL transfer hurt. A healthy Diggs soon is key at LB.
2). I think with Williams and Davis as part of wideout depth - we can go with big targets in the red zone. Also, guys who have the size to put down good blocks.
 
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I'm nervous as heck. The undersized interior line I don't think is intentional. I think it's the best we have.

It's both. Crozier and Hopkins both lost about 12 pounds each from last season. Peart is down a few as well. Dan Oak is down 10 pounds.
 
It's both. Crozier and Hopkins both lost about 12 pounds each from last season. Peart is down a few as well. Dan Oak is down 10 pounds.

I think the focus on weight is misplaced. This O needs athleticism across the board. I'm not surprised we have a Fr staring at OG, I am surprised it is VDM. I was looking for the Fl kid to make a push for PT.
 
I'm nervous as heck. The undersized interior line I don't think is intentional. I think it's the best we have. I am going to assume it's still better than the previous versions and that RE will use them better. I have to, right?

When you see 4 guys listed as OR, it means the job is open week to week or series to series. That and a number of the other positions indicate that we should expect to see a lot of rotations.

How can it not be intentional (low weight interior lineman)?. I'm not sure it would be possible to keep weight up when you are in a true hurry up like our guys have been practicing.

I also don't think having an OL that are 320 or higher would be very pretty to watch. I think the offense would be called "C'mon you fat bastard, can you hurry up?"
 
It's both. Crozier and Hopkins both lost about 12 pounds each from last season. Peart is down a few as well. Dan Oak is down 10 pounds.

It looks like many players lost weight. This could be to improve speed and quickness or some fudging of the numbers both last year and this year. I think it is to improve speed and quickness.

Here are the numbers:

OL
Peart 304 lbs to 300 lbs (-4)
Vechery 309 to 310 (-1)
Rutherford 311 to 312 (+1)
Leone 337 to 316 (-21)
Crozier 300 to 290 (-10)
Oak 295 to 285 (-10)
DeGeorge 283 to 286 (+3)
Hashemi 289 to 293 (+4)
Hopkins 311 to 300 (-11)
TE
Bloom 261 to 253 (-8)
Myers 250 to 245 (-5)
RB
Newsome 180 to 180 (0)
N Hopkins 218 to 212 (-6)
Thompson 185 to 182 (-3)
WR
Skanes 171 to 175 (+4)
Davis 235 to 235 (0)
McLean 220 to 210 (-10)
Williams 215 to 212 (-3)
Mayala 200 to 203 (+3)
Donaldson 205 to 205 (0)
QB
Shirreffs 226 to 210 (-16)
DL
Ormsby 256 to 264 (+8)
Atkins 283 to 266 (-17)
Fatukasi 310 to 303 (-7)
Murphy 289 to 280 (-9)
Carrezola 255 to 260 (+5)
Lawley 275 to 275 (0)
LB
Joseph 242 to 232 (-10)
Britton 228 to 225 (-3)
Stapleton 252 to 230 (-22)
Hahn 202 to 205 (+3)
DB
Watkins 200 to 197 (-3)
Summers 185 to 190 (+5)
Herring-Wilson 191 to 190 (-1)
Coyle 205 to 202 (-3)
McAllister 197 to 189 (-8)
Terry 206 to 212 (+6)
Bell 180 to 175 (-5)
 
One thing I know for a fact is that last year's offensive line coach placed a priority on weight (he seemed to believe that 300 lbs was some minimum magic number and that bigger was better for at least the next 20-25 lbs after that).

Some of the weight drops are more likely fat/fluids due to drills requiring more mobility than being a loss of actual muscle. I also would wager that some of the smaller weight drops are as much listing a number closer to the true weight as they are a loss of mass.

My biggest takeaway is that the hope I have on building and sustaining quality offensive lines going forward is more than merely a dream.
 
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It looks like many players lost weight. This could be to improve speed and quickness or some fudging of the numbers both last year and this year. I think it is to improve speed and quickness.

Here are the numbers:

OL
Peart 304 lbs to 300 lbs (-4)
Vechery 309 to 310 (-1)
Rutherford 311 to 312 (+1)
Leone 337 to 316 (-21)
Crozier 300 to 290 (-10)
Oak 295 to 285 (-10)
DeGeorge 283 to 286 (+3)
Hashemi 289 to 293 (+4)
Hopkins 311 to 300 (-11)
TE
Bloom 261 to 253 (-8)
Myers 250 to 245 (-5)
RB
Newsome 180 to 180 (0)
N Hopkins 218 to 212 (-6)
Thompson 185 to 182 (-3)
WR
Skanes 171 to 175 (+4)
Davis 235 to 235 (0)
McLean 220 to 210 (-10)
Williams 215 to 212 (-3)
Mayala 200 to 203 (+3)
Donaldson 205 to 205 (0)
QB
Shirreffs 226 to 210 (-16)
DL
Ormsby 256 to 264 (+8)
Atkins 283 to 266 (-17)
Fatukasi 310 to 303 (-7)
Murphy 289 to 280 (-9)
Carrezola 255 to 260 (+5)
Lawley 275 to 275 (0)
LB
Joseph 242 to 232 (-10)
Britton 228 to 225 (-3)
Stapleton 252 to 230 (-22)
Hahn 202 to 205 (+3)
DB
Watkins 200 to 197 (-3)
Summers 185 to 190 (+5)
Herring-Wilson 191 to 190 (-1)
Coyle 205 to 202 (-3)
McAllister 197 to 189 (-8)
Terry 206 to 212 (+6)
Bell 180 to 175 (-5)

Thanks - this is very interesting analysis. Don't worry Chief00 won't start another thread about Randy and the accuracy of the scale!
 
It looks like many players lost weight. This could be to improve speed and quickness or some fudging of the numbers both last year and this year. I think it is to improve speed and quickness.

Here are the numbers:

OL
Peart 304 lbs to 300 lbs (-4)
Vechery 309 to 310 (-1)
Rutherford 311 to 312 (+1)
Leone 337 to 316 (-21)
Crozier 300 to 290 (-10)
Oak 295 to 285 (-10)
DeGeorge 283 to 286 (+3)
Hashemi 289 to 293 (+4)
Hopkins 311 to 300 (-11)
TE
Bloom 261 to 253 (-8)
Myers 250 to 245 (-5)
RB
Newsome 180 to 180 (0)
N Hopkins 218 to 212 (-6)
Thompson 185 to 182 (-3)
WR
Skanes 171 to 175 (+4)
Davis 235 to 235 (0)
McLean 220 to 210 (-10)
Williams 215 to 212 (-3)
Mayala 200 to 203 (+3)
Donaldson 205 to 205 (0)
QB
Shirreffs 226 to 210 (-16)
DL
Ormsby 256 to 264 (+8)
Atkins 283 to 266 (-17)
Fatukasi 310 to 303 (-7)
Murphy 289 to 280 (-9)
Carrezola 255 to 260 (+5)
Lawley 275 to 275 (0)
LB
Joseph 242 to 232 (-10)
Britton 228 to 225 (-3)
Stapleton 252 to 230 (-22)
Hahn 202 to 205 (+3)
DB
Watkins 200 to 197 (-3)
Summers 185 to 190 (+5)
Herring-Wilson 191 to 190 (-1)
Coyle 205 to 202 (-3)
McAllister 197 to 189 (-8)
Terry 206 to 212 (+6)
Bell 180 to 175 (-5)

Looks like there's a couple more weight updates that you're missing...

Newsome is up to 190lbs
Lawley is up to 290lbs

I know these kids show an increase in weight but I think that helps Newsome as our starting RB a bunch, especially with Edsall saying "he's a different person" now. I take that as a positive. As in, we could potentially see some of that type of production he put up in HS...

As for Lawley, we'll need that 290lbs in the rotation up front on D.. Hopefully his game has gone to the next level as well.
 
The youth is worrisome, but may the best kids play. It'll pay dividends down the road but is concerning for this year.

Actually, the team appears pretty experienced, especially the starters.

Offensive starters:

RSr or Sr: 4
RJr or Jr: 4
RSo: 1
RFr: 2

Defensive starters:

RSr or Sr: 8
RJr or Jr: 2
RFr: 1

I'm more concerned that although the starters are experienced, they are inexperienced and may not fit the new offensive and defensive schemes.

When I look at the 2 deep, I see a lack of RSo. Why? Diaco played a some of the 2015 class as true freshmen and the 2015 recruiting class, Diaco's first full recruiting class, has problems.

2015 Recruiting Class:

Total recruits: 23
Not at UConn: 7 (including 4 out of top 9 recruits)
Starters: 4
2 Deep: 4
Not in 2 Deep: 6
Injured: 1
Graduated: 1

The 2014 and 2016 recruiting classes seem to be better, although PP's recruits in 2014 are doing better:

2014 Recruiting Class:

Total recruits: 15 (8 Diaco, 7 PP)
Not at UConn: 2 (1 Diaco, 1 PP)
Starters: 8 (2 Diaco, 6 PP)
2 Deep: 4 (4 Diaco)
Not in 2 Deep: 0
Injured: 1 (1 Diaco)

2016 Recruiting Class:

Total recruits: 16
Not at UConn: 0
Starters: 4
2 Deep: 7
Not in 2 Deep: 5
Injured: 0
 
Looks like there's a couple more weight updates that you're missing...

Newsome is up to 190lbs
Lawley is up to 290lbs

I know these kids show an increase in weight but I think that helps Newsome as our starting RB a bunch, especially with Edsall saying "he's a different person" now. I take that as a positive. As in, we could potentially see some of that type of production he put up in HS...

As for Lawley, we'll need that 290lbs in the rotation up front on D.. Hopefully his game has gone to the next level as well.

On the weights, I went with the 2 deep listed weights vs the roster listed weights.. The 2 deep that UConn put out says Newsome is at 180 lbs, but the roster says he is 190 lbs. Same with Lawley as he is listed at 275 lbs on the 2 deep and 290 lbs on the roster. Crozier and Carrezola also have different listed weights. Crozier lis listed at 290 lbs on the 2 deep and 300 lbs on the roster. Carrezola is listed at 260 lbs on the 2 deep and 255 lbs on roster.

I think the point on weights is that it seems that players have lost weight to improve speed and quickness, but we will see when the games start!
 
Hahn at LB. Probably moved to add back the speed we lost at LB with Diggs on the sideline.
I heard through a friend that lives near Hahn and knows the family that he was moved to LB the week before the open practice. @businesslawyer told you he was moved.
 
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Give me speed versus size 6 times a week and twice on Saturday.

Looking at the depth chart for next year: man we better hope a lot of the young kids can play on the defensive side of the ball.

This is what I have been saying since HCRE's second hire. There can't be any "one year for everyone to learn the system" year, because if Diggs takes Britton's place when he returns, we have 9 senior starters on defense. The goal absolutely positively has to be to at least get back to .500 and a minor bowl this year, because there will be a step backwards in 2018 and probably 2019 as the prior staff's failure to recruit flows through the system.
 
While I think most of you are right about the coaching staff wanting guys to be faster, quicker, more agile. It has less to do with actually trying to lose weight and more to do with gaining lean muscle mass. A muscular 220lbs looks much different then a dumpy 220lbs. Lean muscle mass is going to burn more fat. So you can be bigger and stronger but actually weigh less, because of a decrease in overall body fat. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the training regimen under HCRE has been vastly different then that of the last regime. More specifically, it's geared toward an increase in muscular strength and endurance. I'd be more interested in seeing each players change in body fat %.
 
It's both. Crozier and Hopkins both lost about 12 pounds each from last season. Peart is down a few as well. Dan Oak is down 10 pounds.


I like to see the OL with the possible exception of the C to be 3 bills plus. The guards should be 315 plus. The FR at guard is listed at what 285? You can block guys if you have good technique but it is hard to move people unless you are freakishly strong. Thinking about short yardage. Is this another year that we can't get one yard if we need it?
 
I like to see the OL with the possible exception of the C to be 3 bills plus. The guards should be 315 plus. The FR at guard is listed at what 285? You can block guys if you have good technique but it is hard to move people unless you are freakishly strong. Thinking about short yardage. Is this another year that we can't get one yard if we need it?

My only weight concern is Cam getting driven back to the QB in passing situations or against a road grading run stopper in the middle. If it doesn't work out you might see Leone, who's dropped some weight but still has the bulk to create a standoff against most guys. Otherwise give me the speed and lean muscle to get to the 2nd level guys and hold blocks on the move. Tempo will start to wear down the big fellas if we can string a few first downs together.

I'm also interested to see the rotation on our interior D line and how many snaps a guy like Murphy gets. I like keeping those guys fresh.
 
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