What position needs to step up this year?

[rockdog]

First three polls have went well. After last week, it seems like the consensus is that Spangler is under the most pressure to perform this year.

This week's question:

With the exception of the QB position, what position do you think needs to step up the most overall this season?

[DQDawg]

First three polls have went well. After last week, it seems like the consensus is that Spangler is under the most pressure to perform this year.

This week's question:

With the exception of the QB position, what position do you think needs to step up the most overall this season?

We missed Boo Smith big time last year. Saw opponents' average points/game year to year somewhere on here, and looks to me like ole Boo's presence was worth just about a touchdown a game.

[MiloBumP]

Defensive line play will make our DBs look better. The quicker the QB has to throw, the less time our DBs have to cover.

[CChandler]

Safeties need to cover somebody in the passing game.

[Bigdog13]

Safety, DT, QB. I think the CB's and DE's are fine. If we are ok at all 3 positions we can win this conference. If we are OK at 2 of 3 we can go bowling.

[jellidawg]

Safety, DT, QB. I think the CB's and DE's are fine. If we are ok at all 3 positions we can win this conference. If we are OK at 2 of 3 we can go bowling.

As long as one of the two is QB, I agree.

[techman05]

I agree on the d-line play. However, our receivers dropped a lot of passes last year. I agree that if our DB's don't get left on an island too long they will be much more effective. That is the case with any defense though. If we can make the QB get rid of the ball faster, causing receivers to have to adjust earlier on their routes or cut off routes all together, our DB's will have a much better shot at breaking up plays. That, in turn could take the pressure off our WR's to make big plays so they can relax and keep with the game plan. I don't know, can we just say everybody needs to improve?

[baw011]

Not that they had a bad year last year, but I would like to see this O line step up and really make the qb's job as effortless as possible. A young quarterback will take his eyes from down the field when faced with content pressure. A year under thier belts in this system should make for a big difference in the O line trenches!

[SixWings]

Safeties need to cover somebody in the passing game.

somebody - key word.

Standing out there covering nobody didn't work to well for us last season, especially in the red-zone.

edit: see the Moore TD passes here. Not exactly the D-line's fault. http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302990068

[LookingForResults]

somebody - key word.

Standing out there covering nobody didn't work to well for us last season, especially in the red-zone.

edit: see the Moore TD passes here. Not exactly the D-line's fault. http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302990068

That's not just bad coverage. When guys are that wide open either the DB's are imbeciles or there's some poor preparation (i.e. bad coaching) involved.

[rockdog]

somebody - key word.

Standing out there covering nobody didn't work to well for us last season, especially in the red-zone.

edit: see the Moore TD passes here. Not exactly the D-line's fault. http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302990068

That was the entire game. They were literally running open all night. Last season we could not cover up the middle of the field at all. Good post. I'm glad you showed an example of a problem that happened again and again.