EXCERPTS & COMMENTS RELATIVE TO PITT:
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5. Clemson's depth on defense: Deshaun Watson and the Clemson offense could be scary good in 2016. But the bigger story for the Tigers, who started spring practice this week, is depth on defense. How well Clemson has recruited and developed players will get tested in 2016. Dabo Swinney has said Clemson got lucky it stayed healthy on defense in 2015 to reach the national championship game. Now Clemson must replace six defensive starters lost early to the NFL: defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, safeties Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green, cornerback Mackensie Alexander and linebacker Travis Blanks. Throw in a couple players whose eligibility expired and the Tigers' defense is virtually brand new again in 2016. Clemson's defense heard this talk a year ago when eight starters left, and the unit more than held its own. Still, linebacker Ben Boulware, cornerback Cordrea Tankersley and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins need help. Some names to watch to possibly replace Lawson and Dodd at defensive end: Austin Bryant and Richard Yeargin.
PITT playing Clemson will really show how far Pitt has come the last 2 years and how they play against Clemson the NCS Runner Up? Glad to see the game will be towards the end of the season.
7. ACC's new, experienced coaches: For years, the ACC has often been No. 2 in NFL talent behind only the SEC. Coaching? Not so much. That's what made the ACC's recent coaching hires so intriguing. Miami's Mark Richt, Virginia Tech's Justin Fuente, Virginia's Bronco Mendenhall and Syracuse's Dino Babers have all won 10 games in a season as a head coach. On paper -- a necessary qualifier -- the ACC couldn't have asked for better hires at those schools. “I was extremely pleased with the result of those four coaching searches,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said. “I think our ADs recognize that if you're going to compete, you better have really strong coaches and really strong leadership.” Most eyes will be on Richt, who transitions from Georgia fans wanting championships to Miami fans who right now would just take their first ACC Championship Game appearance. As Richt shapes the Hurricanes over time, it will be interesting to see if “The U” can actually return.
Another PITT challenge when seeing the Great FB Coach Hires for Canes, Cuse, VT, and UVA. Coach Narduzzi & Staff really have their work cut out with these 4 Teams, and then throw in Clemson, UNC, Oklahoma State, Duke, Georgia Tech, and Penn State. Great being in the ACC!
8. SEC's changing faces at coordinator: It's Installation Spring around the SEC. Ten of the 14 teams have a new defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, or both. Ole Miss, Florida, Arkansas and Vanderbilt are the only SEC schools bringing both coordinators back in 2016. The changes within the conference may be felt the most on defense, where the SEC has eight new defensive coordinators. LSU and Tennessee may have made the best defensive hires by landing Wisconsin's Dave Aranda and Penn State's Bob Shoop, respectively. Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri now have defensive-minded head coaches. At Alabama, the expectation is Jeremy Pruitt won't miss a beat by returning to run Nick Saban's defense. Still, Kirby Smart and Saban knew each other so well for so long that it allowed Alabama to run smoothly.
Looks like Chryst and Franklin lost Great DC to SEC. No mention of Chaney as OC at UGA, but points out New Head Coaches are Defensive Minded, looks like Pitt Interim A.D. Dr. Juhl set a trend towards that kind of thinking in 2014?
By the way, Penn State A.D. cancelled Franklin Statewide Caravan visits after they were funded 4 years in a row. A.D. Barbour claimed it is a show to the Legislature they are doing their part to watch money even though none of the Coaching Caravan's were funded with Commonwealth Money. Another example of undercutting Franklin recruiting relationships after 3 years and may be an indication, you better win and stay home and on work on your coaching MUST WINS?
Link to Top Ten at CBS SPORTS:
LINK:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...hio-state-among-10-spring-football-storylines
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5. Clemson's depth on defense: Deshaun Watson and the Clemson offense could be scary good in 2016. But the bigger story for the Tigers, who started spring practice this week, is depth on defense. How well Clemson has recruited and developed players will get tested in 2016. Dabo Swinney has said Clemson got lucky it stayed healthy on defense in 2015 to reach the national championship game. Now Clemson must replace six defensive starters lost early to the NFL: defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, safeties Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green, cornerback Mackensie Alexander and linebacker Travis Blanks. Throw in a couple players whose eligibility expired and the Tigers' defense is virtually brand new again in 2016. Clemson's defense heard this talk a year ago when eight starters left, and the unit more than held its own. Still, linebacker Ben Boulware, cornerback Cordrea Tankersley and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins need help. Some names to watch to possibly replace Lawson and Dodd at defensive end: Austin Bryant and Richard Yeargin.
PITT playing Clemson will really show how far Pitt has come the last 2 years and how they play against Clemson the NCS Runner Up? Glad to see the game will be towards the end of the season.
7. ACC's new, experienced coaches: For years, the ACC has often been No. 2 in NFL talent behind only the SEC. Coaching? Not so much. That's what made the ACC's recent coaching hires so intriguing. Miami's Mark Richt, Virginia Tech's Justin Fuente, Virginia's Bronco Mendenhall and Syracuse's Dino Babers have all won 10 games in a season as a head coach. On paper -- a necessary qualifier -- the ACC couldn't have asked for better hires at those schools. “I was extremely pleased with the result of those four coaching searches,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said. “I think our ADs recognize that if you're going to compete, you better have really strong coaches and really strong leadership.” Most eyes will be on Richt, who transitions from Georgia fans wanting championships to Miami fans who right now would just take their first ACC Championship Game appearance. As Richt shapes the Hurricanes over time, it will be interesting to see if “The U” can actually return.
Another PITT challenge when seeing the Great FB Coach Hires for Canes, Cuse, VT, and UVA. Coach Narduzzi & Staff really have their work cut out with these 4 Teams, and then throw in Clemson, UNC, Oklahoma State, Duke, Georgia Tech, and Penn State. Great being in the ACC!
8. SEC's changing faces at coordinator: It's Installation Spring around the SEC. Ten of the 14 teams have a new defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, or both. Ole Miss, Florida, Arkansas and Vanderbilt are the only SEC schools bringing both coordinators back in 2016. The changes within the conference may be felt the most on defense, where the SEC has eight new defensive coordinators. LSU and Tennessee may have made the best defensive hires by landing Wisconsin's Dave Aranda and Penn State's Bob Shoop, respectively. Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri now have defensive-minded head coaches. At Alabama, the expectation is Jeremy Pruitt won't miss a beat by returning to run Nick Saban's defense. Still, Kirby Smart and Saban knew each other so well for so long that it allowed Alabama to run smoothly.
Looks like Chryst and Franklin lost Great DC to SEC. No mention of Chaney as OC at UGA, but points out New Head Coaches are Defensive Minded, looks like Pitt Interim A.D. Dr. Juhl set a trend towards that kind of thinking in 2014?
By the way, Penn State A.D. cancelled Franklin Statewide Caravan visits after they were funded 4 years in a row. A.D. Barbour claimed it is a show to the Legislature they are doing their part to watch money even though none of the Coaching Caravan's were funded with Commonwealth Money. Another example of undercutting Franklin recruiting relationships after 3 years and may be an indication, you better win and stay home and on work on your coaching MUST WINS?
Link to Top Ten at CBS SPORTS:
LINK:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...hio-state-among-10-spring-football-storylines
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