Originally Posted by
DM05
Again, like every year, it seems like we lose a lot (Wentz, Haeg, Kelly, Vraa, Bonnett/Albers/Cyr, Schaetz, CJ and Champ, LeCompte), but we were actually pretty damn young this year and have a ton of returning experience. Can’t help but look ahead:
Offense
QB: Stick got a massive amount of experience this year, should be running the show for 3 more years. Will be fun to see him develop as a passer. Don’t know what we have behind him, but Davis was good enough to be in competition for the backup role in fall camp this year.
RB: Frazier had a monster second half of the year, Anderson is a stud that should only benefit from a year of Jim Kramer and hopefully get’s more carries, Dunn showed some big play potential. Wonder if Morlock will get some consideration to move to more of a fullback role, or use him all over like Bonnet? Hope Purifoy can add depth if we need it.
FB/TE: Wentz/Illies/Jensen/Ellefson will compete to fill the TE spots. Sargeant/Robbins at FB. Lot of experience and great blocking to replace, but we used these guys less in the passing game this past year.
WR: RJ/Shepherd/Williams all back and should benefit from an offseason of work with Stick. Marquise Bridges will be in the mix. Hope Frandsen/Hawkins can find a way to contribute. Does incoming freshmen Engel get a look?
OL: I think this will be the most fun group to watch through the spring and fall camps. Lechler, Johnson and Kuhnert (who I think is very underrated) return, as does Plankers who played a ton. Does Lechler move to LT, Plankers at RT, and put Ziemer in at RG? Does one of the younger guys (Conner, Volson, Bacon) step up into a starting role? Hope to see a lot of guys play and get experience. Lechler, Johnson, and Plankers will all be seniors, and we had some guys from last year’s recruiting class transfer already.
Losing an NFL QB and LT, the program’s all-time leading WR, and several big contributors will hurt, but we have so much returning, and a lot of youth in the skill positions. Not often that a team can turn to an undefeated backup with 3 playoff wins. Would love to see the OL develop some depth, and for us to involve the TE’s more. Excited to see Bridges and Ellefson. Said this last year, but I hope Polasek improves as a situational play caller as well.
Defense
DE: Ambrosius and Menard , Jones/Butler/Tuszka got some great reps. Some good redshirts at DE as well (Tuszka/Karcz), should be good competition for snaps.
DT: Tanguay still has two years left, which is absolutely insane. Steidl and Morgan both played a lot of snaps. Can’t wait to see the Hubbs/Carlton/Darnell trio of redshirt freshmen. Hope to see Blake Williams earn a shot as well. Should have great depth at DT.
LB: DeLuca is All-American material, and potentially FCS DPotY. Stumpf improved roughly 400% over the course of the year, and was a beast against the run. PGT stayed healthy and played well. Marlette, Jordheim, Plank, Board, Brinkman, Mercadel all should provide depth, continue to kick ass on special teams, and compete for starting roles in 2017.
CB: Biggest question mark on the team, IMO. Jalen Allison and Dakota Reid got the starts against MSU. Allison looked solid as the nickel, and has great size. Davis/Bachmeier/Brooks? Will a true freshmen be ready (Torneden/Dixon)? Does Dempsey move back to CB? Should be a lot of competition in camp. Ridiculously young though.
S: Dempsey and Grimsley are solid. Wimbush/Brown/Sikes/Cenescar, plus the incoming recruits, should provide competition to see the 2 deep.
Front 7 might be the best since the 2012-2013 teams. Lots of depth on the line. Plenty of bodies in the secondary, just need to sort out who can play mistake free and tackle well. Dempsey will be the oldest contributing member of the back 4, and he is only a junior.
Also have to look at who everyone else loses (Number of seniors on random early season 2 deep depth chart in parentheses, along with notable losses; no clue who may be eligible for medical redshirts)
UNI (17): 2 TE’s, LG, 3 DE’s (including Ales), 2 backup LB’s, entire starting secondary (Hall, Kilfoy, Dorleant)
SDSU (17): 4 WR’s, TE, 3 starting OL, 2 DE’s, 2 starting LB’s (including Lally), both starting CB’s
ISUr (9): Roberson, Coprich, 2 DE’s, 2 starting LB, starting CB
ISUb (9): WR Owens, starting RG, 2 starting LB, ¾ of secondary
SIU (16): QB Iannotti + backup, 2 starting OL, 2 TE, WR, 3 DL, LB, both starting safeties
WIU (12): RB Watson, starting RG, 2 TE’s, entire starting DL, starting LB
YSU (12): starting LT, 3 WR’s, 4 DL (2 starters), starting LB and CB
USD (11): 2 starting OL, 2 WR’s , 2 starting DT, 2 starting LB, 2 starting CB
MSU (9): both starting OG’s, WR, DE, MLB, CB
EWU: 15 total seniors on roster (couldn’t find a 2 deep), 7 are OL
Iowa (16): Canzieri, 2 WR’s, 3 OL, 2 TE, 2 FB, 3 DE’s, 2 LB’s, FS
JSU (21): Pope + backup, 2 WR, 3 OL, 2 starting DT, 2 starting LB +2 backups, starting DE, ¾ of secondary
MVFC: Redbirds don’t lose many bodies, but no more Roberson and Coprich means they have to find some playmakers. UNI returns Bailey/Smith, along with Farley and McMakin who are damn good, but have to replace the entire secondary including 2 backups. Kilfoy and Hall are finally done, and Dorleant and Ales were very good. SDSU loses some OL and a fair amount on defense, but return Weineke and the QB’s. The Penguins might return the most in the league, with Wells and their RB’s coming back. Indiana State returns quite a bit on offense, but needs 5 new starters on D. SIU needs a QB and has a new coach, WIU needs a new DL and has a new coach, USD loses 6 starters on defense and has a new coach. MSU is incredibly young and basically played soph’s and freshmen this year.
OOC: Couldn’t find depth chart for EWU, but Cupp and their QB return. They do lose 7 OL, not sure if they start or even backup. Iowa seems to lose more backups than starters, and will be a great test early in the season and one helluva tailgate. Threw in JSU just because; lose their #1 RB, #2 WR, and 8 defensive starters.
Looking ahead to the 2016 Bison
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