Football: Fresh talk
I had a question about which freshmen we can expect to make some of the biggest impacts in 2008, that is a timely question considering the news that Isley Filiaga has left the football team. First, let me remind all what a tricky business it is to predict which freshmen are going to be great and which ones are going to be duds. The coaches aren't certain and neither am I, but that being said we can look at the list of returners and depth charts and at least pinpoint where newcomers most need to make an impact.
Let's start with that defensive line first of all. The fact that Dave Kruger is listed as the backup at nose tackle even before he has joined the team is a big sign the Utes are looking for immediate help there. I know the Utes also like Sealver Siliga (6-3, 325) out of Copper Hills but ideally would like to redshirt him and could get some more help if Keni Kaufusi comes through academically and can play for the Utes right away.
Still, it's asking a whole lot of a true freshman, even one from a football family such as Kruger, to step in and anchor a defensive line.
Rather than putting the pressure on those guys, I'd like to see some of the seasoned returners - Kenape Eliapo, Greg Newman and Aaron Tonga - take advantages of the opportunities they are going to get and improve their play.
Still, who are the new names we might hear a lot of on the defensive side?
Judging by the spring play, Derrick Shelby (6-3, 240), Paul Kruger's backup at right end, linebacker Mo Neal (6-2, 220) and defensive back Damilyn Tanner (5-10, 175) are going to be guys to watch for sure. Neal and Shelby were consistently singled out by coach Kyle Whittingham for their efforts in the spring.
One newcomer I'm particularly interested in seeing in the fall is defensive back Lamar Chapman, a transfer from El Camino JC. He'll come in with a lot of impressive sounding credentials as most JC transfers do, but he might have quite a battle on his hands to break into the lineup in one of the Utes' strongest defensive areas.
One other guy I'll be curious to see is Afa Garrigan, a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker who signed in 2004, redshirted, then lettered in 2005 before leaving on a mission. He'll be here in the fall but you have to wonder how all that time off from football will affect him and what shape he'll be in for the season.
That is it for defense, tomorrow we'll look at offense.
Let's start with that defensive line first of all. The fact that Dave Kruger is listed as the backup at nose tackle even before he has joined the team is a big sign the Utes are looking for immediate help there. I know the Utes also like Sealver Siliga (6-3, 325) out of Copper Hills but ideally would like to redshirt him and could get some more help if Keni Kaufusi comes through academically and can play for the Utes right away.
Still, it's asking a whole lot of a true freshman, even one from a football family such as Kruger, to step in and anchor a defensive line.
Rather than putting the pressure on those guys, I'd like to see some of the seasoned returners - Kenape Eliapo, Greg Newman and Aaron Tonga - take advantages of the opportunities they are going to get and improve their play.
Still, who are the new names we might hear a lot of on the defensive side?
Judging by the spring play, Derrick Shelby (6-3, 240), Paul Kruger's backup at right end, linebacker Mo Neal (6-2, 220) and defensive back Damilyn Tanner (5-10, 175) are going to be guys to watch for sure. Neal and Shelby were consistently singled out by coach Kyle Whittingham for their efforts in the spring.
One newcomer I'm particularly interested in seeing in the fall is defensive back Lamar Chapman, a transfer from El Camino JC. He'll come in with a lot of impressive sounding credentials as most JC transfers do, but he might have quite a battle on his hands to break into the lineup in one of the Utes' strongest defensive areas.
One other guy I'll be curious to see is Afa Garrigan, a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker who signed in 2004, redshirted, then lettered in 2005 before leaving on a mission. He'll be here in the fall but you have to wonder how all that time off from football will affect him and what shape he'll be in for the season.
That is it for defense, tomorrow we'll look at offense.
11:05 AM
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3 Comments:
Whittingham and Anderson have often said that a good pass rush from the D-line can mask problems in the secondary, hopefully the reverse is true this year and a very talented and experienced defensive backfield can cover long enough to allow the D-line to get to the QB and hide the apparent lack of depth up front.
Please let us know about the JUCO WR tranfers.
The Juco WRs and tight end are rated very high by all of the scouting services. We can set up the pass with our running game. We should be strong in passing and running.
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