On offense this week, even after injuries to more experienced starters, we started 8 guys who were juniors, seniors, or grad transfers. Only two freshman were listed in the two-deep, a remarkably low number for this late in the season. We started three sophomores, two of whom played extensively last year. The fact is that most of our starters on offense will not return next year, so we are hardly building experience among our young players in these losses.
On defense, we started seven young men who are juniors, seniors, or grad transfers. Linebacker, a position that has killed our defense this year, is filled with one redshirt senior and one grad student. Only Gallagher, among the starters, is an undergraduate. Yet, this year NU has had the worst linebacker play that I have seen since perhaps the early 1990s, maybe earlier. We will have to find two new starters at LB next year. I worry that our third-string guys, whom we recruited with much fanfare, are worse than the guys on the field or we would see them. Horrors! That said, Fitz and McGarigle know linebacking - let's hope they can produce some magic. Our youth on defense is found entirely in the secondary, offering some promise for improvement next year. Six of our top 8 guys are underclassmen and we lose only Bryce Jackson to graduation. Adebaware, our best DE, and McLaughlin, whose playing time at DE has increased, return next year, as do several highly regarded recruits who have played sparingly, if at all. I still have high hopes for Edwards, O'Rourke, Story, and Butler, as well as the new recruits this year. But, except for Edwards and O'Rourke in some games, these players have not been afforded the chance to gain much, if any experience. Our play at DT has been very disappointing, and there we have three seniors or grad transfers among our top four. No freshmen appear on our defensive two-deep.
I do not look at our two-deep and see a lot of young or even inexperienced players.
Our punter, placekicker, and punt return specialist are all seniors. We are not developing young talent at these positions, though Kuhbander has given little reason to continue in his role.
On defense, we started seven young men who are juniors, seniors, or grad transfers. Linebacker, a position that has killed our defense this year, is filled with one redshirt senior and one grad student. Only Gallagher, among the starters, is an undergraduate. Yet, this year NU has had the worst linebacker play that I have seen since perhaps the early 1990s, maybe earlier. We will have to find two new starters at LB next year. I worry that our third-string guys, whom we recruited with much fanfare, are worse than the guys on the field or we would see them. Horrors! That said, Fitz and McGarigle know linebacking - let's hope they can produce some magic. Our youth on defense is found entirely in the secondary, offering some promise for improvement next year. Six of our top 8 guys are underclassmen and we lose only Bryce Jackson to graduation. Adebaware, our best DE, and McLaughlin, whose playing time at DE has increased, return next year, as do several highly regarded recruits who have played sparingly, if at all. I still have high hopes for Edwards, O'Rourke, Story, and Butler, as well as the new recruits this year. But, except for Edwards and O'Rourke in some games, these players have not been afforded the chance to gain much, if any experience. Our play at DT has been very disappointing, and there we have three seniors or grad transfers among our top four. No freshmen appear on our defensive two-deep.
I do not look at our two-deep and see a lot of young or even inexperienced players.
Our punter, placekicker, and punt return specialist are all seniors. We are not developing young talent at these positions, though Kuhbander has given little reason to continue in his role.
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