Transfer Portal 2023

Shower Fart said:
Hard to say for sure. The 2021season had every bounce go our way and 2022 was the opposite.

2021 had a veteran OL and Kenneth Walker transferred in and drew so much attention that it covered up a lot of warts. We had a good FG kicker that year, and probably the worst in CFB in 2022 (missed PATs, missed 20 yarder to become bowl eligible, etc.)

The defense sucked all 3 years, but by halftime of game 2 last year, we had lost our best player on the DL, at LB and in the secondary. No depth, and a lot more injuries, then suspension from the tunnel fight at UM…27 different starters on defense.

We haven’t lost a starter to the portal yet, but Keon Coleman is definitely shopping. The CB Brantley is coming back, the QB Thorne is gone because he doesn’t want an open competition in fall camp. Keon is the only proven playmaker on O.

The 2023 schedule has us playing 5 of the preseason top 14 teams, so it will be hard to regain momentum. Tuck didn’t replace any of the 3 coordinator positions, which is an eye opener. But, they are all on the final year of their deals, so it’s time to step up.

I could go on, but it’s too early to start drinking.
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Sounds like Thorne wasn't the issue last season. I saw that he had a 62.5% completion rate. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any of our QBs having that rate or higher.
 
batchaps4me said:
Sounds like Thorne wasn't the issue last season. I saw that he had a 62.5% completion rate. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any of our QBs having that rate or higher.
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He certainly wasn’t the only issue. Our run game sucked, which hurt him, but the OL pass blocking was decent overall. He went downfield less compared to 2021 (YPA went from 8 to 6, completion % went up 2or 3%). He was often locked on his primary receiver, and Reed/Coleman came down with some really tough catches.

The most frustrating thing by far was not going through his progressions. It’s like he was blind to the middle of the field, there were uncovered guys he just never looked to. It felt like it was always on 3rd down, but I’m sure that’s not true.

Thorne has said recently that he played hurt all season, which is a new-ish twist. He didn’t look comfortable or willing to run as the year went on. There was a 4th and Inches where the call was QB sneak. Thorne called an audible to a half back draw out of the shotgun. Turnover on downs. Things Like that I believe he was overthinking things.

I wish he was coming back, but he’d need a promise to start to make that happen. Then if he lost the job or split time early, he’d bail. For us, better to take the lumps and give those reps to the younger guys, we aren’t challenging for anything next year.
 
Shower Fart said:
He certainly wasn’t the only issue. Our run game sucked, which hurt him, but the OL pass blocking was decent overall. He went downfield less compared to 2021 (YPA went from 8 to 6, completion % went up 2or 3%). He was often locked on his primary receiver, and Reed/Coleman came down with some really tough catches.

The most frustrating thing by far was not going through his progressions. It’s like he was blind to the middle of the field, there were uncovered guys he just never looked to. It felt like it was always on 3rd down, but I’m sure that’s not true.

Thorne has said recently that he played hurt all season, which is a new-ish twist. He didn’t look comfortable or willing to run as the year went on. There was a 4th and Inches where the call was QB sneak. Thorne called an audible to a half back draw out of the shotgun. Turnover on downs. Things Like that I believe he was overthinking things.

I wish he was coming back, but he’d need a promise to start to make that happen. Then if he lost the job or split time early, he’d bail. For us, better to take the lumps and give those reps to the younger guys, we aren’t challenging for anything next year.
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I don't know if it was the route concepts, ability, or position coaching but our receivers couldn't get open. Fortunately that didn't matter because the Oline couldn't block and the QBs were beaten like rented mules. It hasn't seemed like there was a plan of attack for our offense since the substitution rules changed to allow for D to sub when the O did.
 
batchaps4me said:
I don't know if it was the route concepts, ability, or position coaching but our receivers couldn't get open. Fortunately that didn't matter because the Oline couldn't block and the QBs were beaten like rented mules. It hasn't seemed like there was a plan of attack for our offense since the substitution rules changed to allow for D to sub when the O did.
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It will be fun to watch what Freeze implements for you guys. He can scheme his way early I would think. If he can get the O clicking and add to it throughout the season that’s a win. It would be an advantage to play you guy’s earlier in the year IMO, while the kinks are getting worked out.
 
Shower Fart said:
It will be fun to watch what Freeze implements for you guys. He can scheme his way early I would think. If he can get the O clicking and add to it throughout the season that’s a win. It would be an advantage to play you guy’s earlier in the year IMO, while the kinks are getting worked out.
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I expect ... read that as hope ... a six or seven win season. I do like Hugh's RPO based offense if nothing else because it attempts to read the D and attack what the D gives you.
 
AlaskaGuy said:
Now let's see what Alex Grinch can do with all that talent.
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Riley addressed the offense last year and the defense this year. He got Grinch the personnel. Tbh I’m not sure he’s done yet. If Grinch doesn’t improve drastically don’t be surprised if he’s out the door. I do know Riley contacted a big name DC.He didn’t get a yes but he didn’t get a no. Grinch is now behind the 8 ball. If Grinch doesn’t succeed next season we may see a very high caliber DC taking over. SC doesn’t seem to be playing around anymore.
 
MarineUKFan said:
UK picked up place kicker (which was definitely a position of need) Alex Raynor from Georgia Southern. @OldDevilDawg, I know you're a Georgia Southern watcher, so figured I'd ask your thoughts on this fella. Seems like a solid pickup from what I've read about him.
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Solid kicker. Very consistent. His longest at GSU was 49, but he rarely misses. He was also a punter in HS at the 6A level with a long of 64 yards.
 
OldDevilDawg said:
Solid kicker. Very consistent. His longest at GSU was 49, but he rarely misses. He was also a punter in HS at the 6A level with a long of 64 yards.
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Good to hear that he's also got punting skills (wasn't mentioned anywhere I saw) in case our punter gets totally obliterated on a high snap play that he actually gets a foot on at the goal line and ends up getting a roughing the kicker penalty out of the deal and a first down for us even though he is gonna be lost for the rest of the season to the injury from said encounter. It's nice to have options in that kinda scenario....and it's nice to finally have an actual special teams coach too.
 
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