First Grade is quality of starters/and top backup at the position, the next is overall depth at the posiiion. The third column grade is what was on the field last November.
Qb A…B …A+
Rb B+…B……A
Wr B- … B+….A
Te A-… B +…A+
OL A… A-….A
DT B… B-… B
DE A… A-… B+
LB B+… B+….B-
CB A-…A+ ….C
S C … C… D+
K B … A+
P B+ …B+
Couple notes
Wide receiver and Safety and to a lesser extent DT (we can still play Mesidor there against pass heavy teams) both are question marks right now, but definitely volatile. If JoJo Trader is what we think he is, and CJ Daniels is all the way back from the injury he mostly played through last season… This could be a strength. Same with kicker as Bert Auburn was better than a B before the late season slump last year.
Nickle types are factored in with corners. Obviously this position could be night and day from last year with additions of Lucas, O’Connor, Scott(ncb), Brantley (cb/ncb) and the return of Demari Brown (cb/ncb). Wouldn’t be surprised if Brown gets a look at safety
Also note that the LB grade assumes Torre is about 85-90% of what he was, coming off his 2nd ACL. The depth I guess could be downgraded to a B if Aldarius Hayes is done (car accident, two children were killed…just a terrible situation), but he was unproven and we surprisingly still have numbers there.
Due to the question marks at those positions, the most important players I believe on this team right now…
QB Beck
WR Trader
DE Bain (yes there was a dropoff when he returned from early injury his “fall” was overstated last year, there just weren’t as many sacks, he still got pressure, and graded out very well vs. the run…Now healthy if he finds the frosh level, and perhaps more after that it would be huge)
DT Scott
S Poyser (basically the whole safety position)
My best guess at 2 deep:
QB Beck, Williams
RB Fletcher, Lyle
WR Daniels, Moore
WR Trader, Marion or Toney
Slot Toney or Marion or Johnson or Trader or Joseph…no idea
LT Bell, Oku or Mauigao
LG R-Rod, McCoy
C Brockmeyer, R-Rod or SJ
RG Cooper, Kinsler
RT Mauigao, Kinsler or Oku
TE Lofton, Bauman
DE Bain, Bryant or Lightfoot
DT Blay, Mesidor or Blount or Jones
DT Scott, Moten
DE Mesidor, Blount or McConathy
MLB Tourre, Popo or Bonner
WLB Bissainthe, Bonner or Pruitt
(SLB Pruitt, C.Smith)
CB Lucas, O’Connor
CB Frederique, Brantley
(NCB Scott, Brantley or Day or Brown)
SS Thomas, Day
FS Poyser, M.Will
(Possible stand up type rushers if used: Bryant/Torre/Pickett/Lightfoot)
KR: Marion/ CWH or Pringle
PR: Scott or Joseph or Trader or Toney or Joseph…no idea
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Wr is the position where someone most needs to emerge. I think it will be interesting to see how they use Marion. If he has the route running and savvy to pick up the important slot in Dawson’s offense. I believe Trader’s skill set could play slot or flanker, but we are thinner on the outside and it looks like the plan is for him to become the #1 (or 2 this year) guy on the outside. Toney has the highest slot upside and he probably wins it by year’s end, but maybe even earlier.
On defense, I have no idea how LB will sort itself out. I thought Popo looked promising as the first off the bench last year, but judging by Hetherman bringing in 2 LB this spring, he may not see it the same way. Canes fans are kinda harsh on Bissainthe imo…He was an above average ACC LB, not a star, but maybe that 1st team all ACC step comes this year in his true senior year. Last year saw 3 LB on the field about 30% of the time, which was a step up from '23…No idea if it will be that often in Hetherman’s defense this year, I doubt it…As few LB are in most defenses in today’s game.
All in all, I believe slot and both LB positions are the starting position battles right now. But LG/Safety/CB1 and 2 could still be ongoing as well.
If it was possible, I’d rather just go back in time a year and start the season over going to Florida for game one with the CB position changed to what it is now.
Deal? Can we do this? That position cost us 1. Any ACC title game appearance, 2. the ACC title itself, 3. The 12 team NCAA playoff where who knows what could have happened? With the revamped CB room last year, I give us shots at anyone but OSU and maybe Texas. Everyone else is on the table.
Team definitely gonna be down on offense in comparison to last season, but the question is how much. I think the fall can be rather smooth if WRs emerge.
The back 7 is DEFINITELY improved. Now let’s see what Hetherman and the new DB coaches can do.
If Beck is healthy and has a 2023 type of season then we will be fine on offense. I really think the key for us is to lean on this massive offensive line and capable stable of RB’s. Let’s not throw Beck to the wolves just yet and expect him to win games for us on his own. No doubt it will take him some time through the summer and fall to get his confidence in his arm back.
We have the ability to run the ball, legit TE position and enough skill guys at WR to win games.
To me our weakest area on D is at LB.
Focus on winning the ACC! We haven’t even won this thing yet and fans keep talking about NC. ACC first!