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Today's "9 Days" thread reminded me of those overlooked workhorses who, while not appreciated by fans and media per se, are, or will be, vital to your team's success. Who are they?

IMO, this will be DJ Smith's breakout year at App. With the other personnel we have on defense, opposing teams will not be able to focus primarily on him and he has the athleticism to make them pay for that decision. I'm excited for this dude's season and, barring injury, think he will end up with a monster year on 1st team AA.....he's that good.

What say the rest of you?

The sleeper (or should i say sleepers) for the Thunderbirds this year will be our O-Line. I believe more so then any other unit on the team these guys have something to prove, mainly that we are going to be much more balanced in 09 instead of airing it out. They are the biggest, fastest and most experienced O-line we have ever had and great things are expected out of them

Like Tbird I'm reall thinking/hoping that it will be our offensive line.

Taiwan Jones. There's a lot of hype about this guy from everyone on the team, coaches included. He'll be starting at HB this year after spending his true freshman year at safety. With ungodly athleticism and wicked speed (under 4.3 40's), his name will be known by FCS nation after this season is said and done.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:Like Tbird I'm reall thinking/hoping that it will be our offensive line.

I'm gonna guess Larson in the switch to WR.

For Portland State to have any success, it hinges on Bobby McClintock. He should be helped by an emphasis on the run in the run and shoot offense (if Glanville is going to do that) and also he is 100% after a severe knee injury two years ago. Last year he played with a brace and got the knee nicked up at the end of the year.

Likewise, if anything happens to him this year injury-wise, look to PSU to go to a primary passing attack, something that has not worked in the last two years. My opinion, success for the Vikings this year depends on Bobby McClintock.

I'm going Travaris Cadet. He's slated as our 3rd string QB, but also could be returning punts and has not been ruled out as playing wideout.

ASUMountaineer wrote:I'm going Travaris Cadet.

Kid looked uber-sharp running around at Fan Fest.

I'll mention true freshman WR Rob Jones, partially because it is nice to see a local Tampa Bay area kid playing for the Hens. It may be a year until this kid makes a big contribution, but he is showing a ton of potential.

From today's Wilmington (DE) News Journal -

In a University of Delaware freshman football class apparently rich in quantity and quality, Rob Jones has been one of the more obvious finds of the Blue Hens' preseason camp. He is the one who has gotten practice repetitions with the first team.

When the 5-foot-10, 164-pound wide receiver from Thonotosassa, Fla., stretched to make a difficult diving sideline grab of a pass from quarterback Pat Devlin in a scrimmage last week, it was an indication of the immediate impact he could have as the Sept. 4 season opener approaches.

Jones quickly seems to have found a home in the Blue Hens' offense. Delaware coaches have compared his pass-catching ability to that of recent graduate Aaron Love, whose 204 receptions are the most in UD history.

"He's really stepped up to the challenge and he really knows what's going on," Devlin said of Jones, who caught the QB's first pass in last Friday's scrimmage and in full-squad drills Wednesday.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... NTCAROUSEL

I'll be rooting for him, anyway.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:Taiwan Jones. There's a lot of hype about this guy from everyone on the team, coaches included. He'll be starting at HB this year after spending his true freshman year at safety. With ungodly athleticism and wicked speed (under 4.3 40's), his name will be known by FCS nation after this season is said and done.

AGREED. Taiwan Jones is going to be the differnce. If he can provide a DECENT run game....the offensive skill guys will do the rest.

I think I'll mention D J Hall, OL, Soph. Although we have a damned good O Line, with most returning and them having minor issues of who will start (even at this late date) because they are so good 2 & 3 deep, I think D J will be our unnoticed star. Didn't get to list him on the countdown because I "came back" after his number (I think ) Here's his 08 profile

2008
Earned All-Southland Conference Second-Team honors in his first season as a starting right guard ... started 13 games for the Bobcats ... was part of an offensive line that ranked 19th nationally allowing just 1.15 sacks per game ... helped pave the way for one of the nation's Top 25 rushing offenses with 184.1 yards per game and one of the Top 12 passing offenses with 453.23 yards per contest ... Bobcats were also one of the top seven scoring offenses in the nation with 36.4 points per game ... Texas State ranked eighth nationally in total offense with 453.23 yards per contest.


Uninformed or casual fans won't notice his work, for most part. In fact, those fans are the ones that won't pay much attention to the whole O line anyway. I stand by my choice.

Our sleepers for 2009 will be the defense - in particular the defensive line.

native wrote:Our sleepers for 2009 will be the defense - in particular the defensive line.

If you believe the preseason hype, we have the same sleeper. After last seasons horrible defensive numbers, any improvement will be a welcome addition.

For GSU it's RB #6 Adam Urbano. 5.8 YPC on 52 carries for the season. He's shown he can make catches. He's going to be dangerous.

RB Deji Karim missed last year with a knee, would have started in front of Warner. He's added 20 lbs. of muscle (210 lbs.) and ran 4.4 in camp.

For the GRIZ, our OL, FR RB returner Nguyen, and our 3rd string qb, Kemp, will be used in a variety of roles.

Kemp is a stud athlete and just needs to be on the field, regardless of position.

Nguyen is a small, fast, and elusive runner. He has been very impressive this fall. I expect him to get his touches on returns, screens, wheel routes, and plays from the slot, as well as hb.

The GRIZ have a lot of big play guys this year, with speed. Like any team though, our OL is the key to utilizing our talent or not. IF our OL is good, the GRIZ will be able to play by airing it out, running it down your throat, or even all out option attack with Kemp. Reynolds, Mariani, Kemp, Nguyen, Sambrano are all threats to take it to the house at any time and often. Also our other WR Palmer is big with 4.5 something speed.

Come on OL, please play well this year.

Appaholic wrote:Today's "9 Days" thread reminded me of those overlooked workhorses who, while not appreciated by fans and media per se, are, or will be, vital to your team's success. Who are they?

Did I get this wrong or has the thread taken a turn? IMHO media and fans will focus on a whole D or O unit that underperforms or overachieves. Am I wrong here?

houndawg wrote:RB Deji Karim missed last year with a knee, would have started in front of Warner. He's added 20 lbs. of muscle (210 lbs.) and ran 4.4 in camp.

I'd say it is a tossup between Karim and Richard White. Whoever gets the most reps at the tailback spot will probably be a thousand yard rusher this year. Either is capable. It will be an interesting battle for playing time between those two, barring an injury.

skinny_uncle wrote:

houndawg wrote:RB Deji Karim missed last year with a knee, would have started in front of Warner. He's added 20 lbs. of muscle (210 lbs.) and ran 4.4 in camp.

I'd say it is a tossup between Karim and Richard White. Whoever gets the most reps at the tailback spot will probably be a thousand yard rusher this year. Either is capable. It will be an interesting battle for playing time between those two, barring an injury.

If Goode can catch out of the backfield I like him in the spread for his blocking.

Biakabutuka and Kennedy.

They'll have to be. We don't have any more running backs.

CID1990 wrote:Biakabutuka and Kennedy.

They'll have to be. We don't have any more running backs.

relying on KNOBS until we cross the Potomac and invade the north once again is scary. I am looking forward to showing the colors of the Confederate States in the godforsaken state of new jersey and the princeton campus as we "raise the black flag" and show "no quarter with yankee scum"!!!!!

SunCoastBlueHen wrote:I'll mention true freshman WR Rob Jones, partially because it is nice to see a local Tampa Bay area kid playing for the Hens. It may be a year until this kid makes a big contribution, but he is showing a ton of potential.

From today's Wilmington (DE) News Journal -

In a University of Delaware freshman football class apparently rich in quantity and quality, Rob Jones has been one of the more obvious finds of the Blue Hens' preseason camp. He is the one who has gotten practice repetitions with the first team.

When the 5-foot-10, 164-pound wide receiver from Thonotosassa, Fla., stretched to make a difficult diving sideline grab of a pass from quarterback Pat Devlin in a scrimmage last week, it was an indication of the immediate impact he could have as the Sept. 4 season opener approaches.

Jones quickly seems to have found a home in the Blue Hens' offense. Delaware coaches have compared his pass-catching ability to that of recent graduate Aaron Love, whose 204 receptions are the most in UD history.

"He's really stepped up to the challenge and he really knows what's going on," Devlin said of Jones, who caught the QB's first pass in last Friday's scrimmage and in full-squad drills Wednesday.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... NTCAROUSEL

I'll be rooting for him, anyway.

I just read that true Frosh Rob Jones will be starting at WR and returning punts for the Hens.

TampaJag, this kid is from Armwood High - did you ever see him play? Any first hand reports you can give?