gogreen55 wrote:I was selfishly hoping that Fisch might leave Arizona, perhaps increasing the odds of Tetairoa McMillan transferring. He would be the perfect #1 receiver to replace Franklin.
Tez Johnson could be a #1, I suppose. Him, along with Holden and Bryant make up your first line. They're going to have to play or cut bait with guys like Hutson, Kasper, Lowe and even young guys Dickey and Cozart.
Dickey will make a jump similar to Franklin year 1 to year 2.
DuckMastaFunk wrote:Let me state the obvious - we need a major upgrade at QB.
That’s not obvious at all. Nobody knows what Thompson is capable of with extended time with the first team.
Do you really believe that after 3 years with the program Ty Thompson’s problem is that he just hasn’t spent enough time with the 1s? I sincerely hope you’re right, but imho good players make the most with the opportunities they are given. Ty hasn’t done much with his opportunities.
gogreen55 wrote:I was selfishly hoping that Fisch might leave Arizona, perhaps increasing the odds of Tetairoa McMillan transferring. He would be the perfect #1 receiver to replace Franklin.
Tez Johnson could be a #1, I suppose. Him, along with Holden and Bryant make up your first line. They're going to have to play or cut bait with guys like Hutson, Kasper, Lowe and even young guys Dickey and Cozart.
Dickey will make a jump similar to Franklin year 1 to year 2.
Are you talking about Troy Franklin? The one that played meaningful time in every Oregon game his freshman year and was 5th in receptions? In what possible way can you compare that to Dickey that hasn’t caught a pass all season and has only appeared in 4 games?
DuckMastaFunk wrote:Let me state the obvious - we need a major upgrade at QB.
That’s not obvious at all. Nobody knows what Thompson is capable of with extended time with the first team.
Do you really believe that after 3 years with the program Ty Thompson’s problem is that he just hasn’t spent enough time with the 1s? I sincerely hope you’re right, but imho good players make the most with the opportunities they are given. Ty hasn’t done much with his opportunities.
You left out that he's had 3 OCs in 3 years and that other than 1? snap for Bo last year, all of his reps have been garbage time with the 2s so which opportunities is he actually not doing much with?
Under Mario he got nothing from those reps and now under Stein he's letting it rip and looks like he knows what he's doing. I also know that people are aghast at 1 throw at ASU where he had the audacity to try and thread the needle. Personally I'm glad he's trying to do that rather than be hesitant as he's also being given the green light to throw in these late drives.
He's 24/31 (77%) for 297 (9.6 avg) with 4 TD 1 INT
Bo is about to break the NCAA record at 78% and is avg 9.7 a throw.
Now obviously if the Coaches can land a QB in the Portal they feel represents a clear upgrade then they will, but my largest point and what a few others are also bringing up is that right now it might be that they do in fact view Ty as QB1 next year so they can focus on other team needs in the Portal and with the NIL. The early stretch is winnable for Ty next year and the tough games are in the middle of the season meaning that a loss or two to UM/OSU can also be regained in the Playoff Poll by winning out.
Until I hear someone give credible insider reports that TT is stinking it up in practices, I'm going with he's clearly shown himself to have improved tremendously under Stein and it's shown on the field.
DuckMastaFunk wrote:Let me state the obvious - we need a major upgrade at QB.
That’s not obvious at all. Nobody knows what Thompson is capable of with extended time with the first team.
Do you really believe that after 3 years with the program Ty Thompson’s problem is that he just hasn’t spent enough time with the 1s? I sincerely hope you’re right, but imho good players make the most with the opportunities they are given. Ty hasn’t done much with his opportunities.
You left out that he's had 3 OCs in 3 years and that other than 1? snap for Bo last year, all of his reps have been garbage time with the 2s so which opportunities is he actually not doing much with?
Under Mario he got nothing from those reps and now under Stein he's letting it rip and looks like he knows what he's doing. I also know that people are aghast at 1 throw at ASU where he had the audacity to try and thread the needle. Personally I'm glad he's trying to do that rather than be hesitant as he's also being given the green light to throw in these late drives.
He's 24/31 (77%) for 297 (9.6 avg) with 4 TD 1 INT
Bo is about to break the NCAA record at 78% and is avg 9.7 a throw.
Now obviously if the Coaches can land a QB in the Portal they feel represents a clear upgrade then they will, but my largest point and what a few others are also bringing up is that right now it might be that they do in fact view Ty as QB1 next year so they can focus on other team needs in the Portal and with the NIL. The early stretch is winnable for Ty next year and the tough games are in the middle of the season meaning that a loss or two to UM/OSU can also be regained in the Playoff Poll by winning out.
Until I hear someone give credible insider reports that TT is stinking it up in practices, I'm going with he's clearly shown himself to have improved tremendously under Stein and it's shown on the field.
Yes, you're right. I didn't mention 3 OCs in 3 years. My logic: Bo's also had 3 OCs in 3 years also; I agree it's not ideal, but I also don't think it's that big of a deal. That said, I've never been a college QB.
I guess I'm just seeing something different. I concur that Thompson has improved, but not nearly enough to give me confidence that guy could go a win a game.
One wonders how much Cam Ward could improve behind an offensive line that has given up 10 sacks in two years. He was sacked 39 times this year for the record.
.... you can't legally recruit players until they hit the portal.
Besides, it would make a lot more sense to go after the Arizona freshman QB than Cam Ward if we're throwing legalities out the window.
Yes, you can’t recruit players, but boosters offering NIL deals are totally ok cause those are 100% unrelated to where the player is and will play, it has nothing to do with trying to entice a player to join the school you’re a booster for.
My logic: Bo's also had 3 OCs in 3 years also; I agree it's not ideal, but I also don't think it's that big of a deal.
While true, it's also true that Bo improved dramatically once he entered Dan Lanning's development system. Why couldn't the same be true for Ty? Neither his stats nor the eye tests lie -- Ty has definitely turned a corner.
Again, no idea if we'll find someone in the portal, but nobody here should be shocked if the coaches believe Ty has what it takes to be QB1. I'm confident we'll get someone in the portal if he's not actually ready.
gogreen55 wrote:I was selfishly hoping that Fisch might leave Arizona, perhaps increasing the odds of Tetairoa McMillan transferring. He would be the perfect #1 receiver to replace Franklin.
Tez Johnson could be a #1, I suppose. Him, along with Holden and Bryant make up your first line. They're going to have to play or cut bait with guys like Hutson, Kasper, Lowe and even young guys Dickey and Cozart.
I feel like Tez is best suited as the #2. He's been productive b/c all eyes are on Troy Franklin, the true #1.
QB: TRANSFER / Thompson
RB: James / Whittington
TE: Ferguson / Herbert (I think TF stays)
RT: Cornelius (I am hoping his NFL draft report will suggest with another strong season and another year of S&C he may be able to move up to rounds 2-3 from maybe 4-7 now, and he returns for another year of NIL)
RG: Poncho
C: JPJ (Similarly, hopefully his report will suggest another strong season will put him in a first or second OC off the board in 2025 and he stays).
LG: Harper
LT: Conerly Jr.
WR: Holden
WR: Johnson
WR: Bryant
NOTES: not too many pressing needs after QB. Of course you might like another experienced OG, TE, and a possible game breaking WR; but, with NIL $ limited, I think you can be ok looking to some of the young guys in those spots: Sadiq (TE), Luli (OG), and Dickey, Kasper, Anderson (WR).
DE: Burch (I imagine the plan was a strong year and off to the NFL; but, with his consistent improvement from year-to-year so far in his career, hopefully his NFL draft report will suggest another good year playing a Dorlus type role will move him up in the draft and he takes NIL and returns)
NT: TRANSFER / Roberts / Washington (I know reports have been BR has progressed well; but, I have a hard time seeing the staff moving into the B10 with a 6-2 310 NT who hasn't played much in his career. I imagine they will look for an experienced impact 330-340 NT like they have done with Riley and Taimani -- doesn't mean Roberts won't play)
DT: Ware-Hutson (6th year senior finally in-line to start, has looked capable playing in something like 40 games since joing the program in 2019. Does one of the young guys push here? Bowens? Green, Gardner? Does the freshman Breland play and play at this spot?)
JACK: Uiagalelei / Winston / Purchase (Does Rushing start his career here?)
OLB: Tuioti / Shipley
LB: Jacobs / Jackson (Another case I think his NFL draft report will suggest another year. I think he looked very solid the last 6 games given the fact he had a lot of rust to knock off. Hopefully happy in Eugene)
LB: Bassa
CB: Florence / Reed / Pleasant
CB: Manning / Bridges / Laulea
FS: TRANSFER / DeCambra (Is Laulea a possible FS candidate?)
BS: TRANSFER / Martin / Terrell (Interesting to see if Martin is ready)
NB: Johnson (I think he had a strong season and hopefully returns)
So, I've got for the portal:
1. QB
2. NT
3. FREE SAFETY
4. BOUNDARY SAFETY
5. EXTRA NIL IF NEEDED: Cornelius, Burch, Jacobs, Tysheem, Ferguson
Good news is the list isn't terribly long and doesn't have OL listed (as that is a spot almost everyone seems to be looking for). Bad news is QB and NT are competitive and expensive categories. Also, obviously, if a lockdown CB or a game breaking WR, or a terror off he edge or a solid rotational OG (or really any talented guy who wants to come) become available, the situation definitely can be fluid.