New Depth Chart Reveals Insight

'06 Football General6

Chuck Amato has released an updated depth chart for the 2006 football team. (Link)

I realize that (like all coaches) Coach Amato uses depth charts for motivational ploys and the like; but for the sake of some quick analysis we are going to presume that what has recently been released is legitimate. To set the stage for a conversation about the 2006 Wolfpack’s football positions, you can click here.

A few thoughts:

* Toney Baker listed as #3 at HB behind Jamelle Eugene and #1 at FB. This is a little tough to read, but I am guessing that this is Coach Trestman’s way of exhibiting that Andre Brown and Toney Baker will be on the field at the same time. Of course, this is very exciting. I hope that in our zeal to get so much skilled position talent on the field that we don’t lose sight of running traditional I-sets with a conventional fullback. Last season, a disproportional amount of long runs came out of the I for the Wolfpack.

* We’ve all been wondering which true freshman receiver was going to be the one to step up and earn playing time due to the Pack’s lack of experienced depth at the position. Right now it looks like Donald Bowens has earned the honor.

* Lots of redshirts along the offensive line. Very important for long term stability and performance.

* Meares Green’s importance to the offensive line’s next few years can’t be over-stated. Unrecruited, he has become a utility player that can fill in several spots and is only a sophomore. It is very nice to have POSITIVE SURPRISES every now and then.

* Martel Brown is projected in front of Willie Young at one defensive end spot.

* Raymond Brooks has risen to top of the depth chart at the other DE. That was somewhat to be expected, but is very good nonetheless. The real story is that behind Brooks that true freshman and highly rated recruit, Audi Ausustin is listed at #2 on the depth chart in front of Littleton Wright.

* The secondary is very deep, talented, and experienced…especially considering that there is only one senior back there.

'06 Football General

6 Responses to New Depth Chart Reveals Insight

  1. cfpack03 08/25/2006 at 2:11 PM #

    I also noticed the defensive linemen were flipped to opposite sides. Is App’s QB a lefty? Any other reason?

  2. RickJ 08/25/2006 at 3:25 PM #

    The biggest surprise to me is that Miguel Scott has moved to the Roverback position and is now backing up Garland Heath. Is this because they want Scott to take Heath’s place next year or has DaJuan Morgan made a quantum leap in play?

    Overall, the DB’s look good and deep. Levin Neal is our 4th cornerback and J.C. Neal is our 4th safety. I believe both of these players can become stars.

  3. vtpackfan 08/25/2006 at 8:03 PM #

    Davis is really a starting LB? This is going to be interesting.

  4. Micky McCarthy 08/25/2006 at 9:37 PM #

    The Davis nod at LB is not unprecedented. Clemson had a QB (Patrick Sapp) who started as a rookie LB in the NFL after never having played the LB position in college. Clemson also had a RB move over to CB last year and started, again, never having played the position.

    I think he has the physical tools and the kid has probably worked overtime to learn the nuances so he can get on the field. This is his last go around. Good for him.

  5. bTHEredterror 08/26/2006 at 1:09 AM #

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the B’s are on the field together alot. They are both big enough to be sufficient lead blockers. Defenses would have to be wary of both in a split backfield, which will likely keep the defensive front balanced more often than not. And fortunately, in college football, the fullback isn’t just a tight end in the backfield. Both Jerome Bettis and Tony Brooks, NFL halfbacks, played fullback at ND and took a majority of the carries (but it was a wishbone).

    Good point about the youthful depth in the secondary. Plus a couple of leaders in Heath and Davis (both SR’s), and a ballhawk like Morgan. Isn’t Levin Neal the 3rd corner though, since Holloman and Grey are still a toss-up?

    Excited and skiddish to see so many freshman. Kudos to the coaching staff for recruiting some TALL WR’s specifically to complement the tall, high-throwing QB? I Hope we get a Penn State ’05 type revival out of our receiving corps. On D, I expect we’ll see a lot of Audi Augustin, and maybe Ray Michel, too. Freshman impact players are one of the many nuances that make college football great. You can’t always tell who it will be, just like last year with the RB’s. But somebody is bound to step up.

    I liken Stone’s record as a starter (7-1 right? wins AT FSU and VT), and relatively poor stats, to Craig Krenzel. You can never figure out how it got won, but it got done. I am an optimist, though.

    ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT. May the answers be as plentiful as the ?’s.

  6. tvp 08/26/2006 at 10:51 AM #

    7 of the 9 linebackers on the depth chart have never played a down at that position in college before. Not good. Where the hell is Ernest Jones?

    Wright 3rd string, Falaise 3rd string, Garret Kline not even on the depth chart – can we please not recruit anymore JUCOs? That might be unfair to Wright as he’ll probably play a good bit, but for every Shawn Price we’ve had it seems we’ve had 4 Klines.

    Going back to that earlier post, I’d put my level of concern in the various positions as follows:

    1) Linebackers, by a great margin
    2) Quarterbacks
    3) Offensive Line
    4) Defensive Line
    5) Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
    6) Special Teams
    7) Secondary
    8) Running Backs

    Only really worried about the first 3.

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