Looking deeper, it seems like Luther has enough guys that he should be able to find a few who can spell Vakalahi and Vimahi. Just a matter of getting the technique down and who can play quick & physical to hold up for 30-40% of snaps. The DL always has a brotherhood thing going on, which helps.
In the WR group, it will be interesting to see how Micah Simon does coaching talented transfers who may have underperformed at previous stops - Merriweather, Whittemore, Simmons. Two holdovers who might be interesting are Zipperer and Rayshawn Glover, both smaller & more athletic. Can the distraction of a dual threat QB help provide just enough separation to allow them to flourish? CBs and NBs can usually negate smaller WRs off the line via physicality alone.
Ryan Davis came with Dampier from UNM, had 747 yards on 54 catches, he may help with the transition, a safety valve option that knows Dampier & the offense well. Smith Snowden is a baller - will he be a decoy or will he need to become a primary if some of the talented guys wilt?
If prototypical talents like Merriweather blossom, this group could impress. It will be interesting to see how things go. Micah Simon & Beck under a magnifying glass a little bit to see how they handle the WR situation.
I’m getting excited. I wish there was a media presence at the scrimmages, but I’ll probably get more done at work this way, and maybe we will catch UCLA with their pants down.
I am much more concerned about UCLA than most other fans seem to be. They have never lacked for athletes and from all reports have upgraded talent through the portal this past year. I think this game is the difference between a 7-5 season and 8-4 or better. Win it and it gives you great momentum going forward. Lose it and the confidence that was lost last year will begin to creep in.
A little motivation from the head man never hurts, especially for a player who still hasn’t touched his full potential, but Parker has reportedly been a great asset for the offense this fall. One such glimpse was posted by Utah on social media platform X, in which he absorbed contact, broke several tackles and pushed forward for a touchdown.
It’s one snippet in time, but Parker has been effective with the first-team offense already.
If we have two backs to carry the conventional RB load + a QB who can run + NJohnson & Snowden + the OL is good… I’m optimistic.
Prefer to have a couple of reliable RBs getting reps. When one player is carrying 30 times and catching half a dozen short passes week after week, (all too often the case in recent years) it wears them down over the course of the season.
Over the decades I remember facing teams that had a really good 1-2 punch at RB. It wears defenses down. You can’t assume the 2nd back is just going to block or give RB1 a few snaps to recover.
Maybe it’s PTSD, but seems like the 2nd RB has been more likely to score… maybe because he was fresh and the D relaxed a little. After the game, thinking “how did that guy have 2 TDs?”
My guess is they dial back Dampier’s yardage and it would be great if we had something like:
Dampier 700 yards
Parker 800 yards
Rogers 500 yards
That’s 2000 yards right there and then add in some other yards from sweeps (NJ) and a few others and it adds up. And with this OL, it could happen. As long as Dampier can throw well and avoid too many INT, we can stay pretty balanced and if he could get 200-250 passing yards a game (2.5-3k for the season?), I’d be satisfied with that offense to go with the defense. ST could help, but at the very least, should not hurt us - just need to be consistent and solid in tackling and no big plays given up and no TO.
Edit: that being said, why not 3 1000 yard rushers like the 2009 Nevada Wolf Pack team who accomplished this feat, with Vai Taua (1,185 yards), Colin Kaepernick (1,129 yards), and Luke Lippincott (1,028 yards)?
I like that an OL is a captain & 4 out of the 5 are either a captain or the leadership committee. Harding’s group will be the foundation of success on that side of the ball.
Two time MaxPreps and Gatorade Basketball player of the year in Hawai’i, now a 6-2 / 274 lb DT?
Luther Elliss: Sepulona is “very athletic, strong, physical, explosive,” and is one that he’s been “impressed” with so far despite being with the team for just a short time.
Long way to go, but a cross-sport athlete on the DL? Manny Hendrix is probably smiling.
