top 25, for sure

[89Hen]

Who the fuck do you think?

I thought you and we didn't play JMU this year.

[GannonFan]

JMU's problems start and end with the offensive line. They didn't have a good one last year and I don't see where the expectation will be this year that they should be significantly better. They'll be decent enough and they shouldn't lose to teams they shouldn't lose to, and they get a break in that they miss playing UD this year, but can they beat W&M again this year running the single wing? They have 6 road games this year, and every one of them could be problematic (even the game at ODU). JMU needs their OL to dominate play, not just hold their own in order to succeed offensively, and I don't see that happening. On the road for 3 of the last 4 and they could be playing some of those just to play out the string.

[JmuSkinsfan]

go ahead, stone me with insults...

No way JMU sinks to #25. I know JMU's record was 6-5 or whatever it ended up being last year but no way is JMU FCS #25.

I'd bet $1,000 and give points to half the top 25 listed and I'd be loaded with cash...

We lost a few players and so has everybody else...we beat VT, we beat W&M running a WR wide every single play... c'mon, I know Mickey has is head up his ass with play calling but we are much better than half the listed top #25.

OK. Well I'm not going to breakdown JMU in comparison to every team in the top 25, but if we're going to talk JMU here, let's start with how they're going to improve from 2010. The issue was offense...there was nothing resembling a passing game. How has that changed in 2011? How's the depth on the O-Line? Is there going to be better QB play?

Anyone who played us last year will attest to how good our defense is and we return basically everyone plus two guys from '09 that had been injured all year. Obviously we couldn't score, which was a result of 1) horrible line play, 2) a quarterback who couldn't throw under pressure and 3) an O-Line who was young, coupled with a QB who didn't have the instincts to run behind that line.

1) the O-line returns 4/5 and is another year seasoned. I think at one point last year we were starting 2 freshmen. I know our depth at OL is still a concern so injuries could definitely hurt JMU along the front this year.

2) If Justin Thorpe hadn't played in 2009 I would say the QB position has promise but is unknown. But Thorpe did play as a freshman after Dudzik got hurt in 2009. Drawing comparisons as "the next Rodney Landers," (which was projected for when he was a Jr., not having started his fr. or so. year, FWIW), Thorpe struggled in a few early games but finished the year strong with 4 straight CAA wins to lead JMU to a 6-5 record after starting 2-5 and winning CAA rookie of the year honors. He then got hurt in the first game of the season in 2010 when he was taking some snaps at the end of the first half to spell Dudzik. He was unavailable for the remainder of the season and, unless JMU wanted to pull the redshirt off of freshman Jace Edwards, the Dukes were stuck with DUdzik (who would have been yanked after the Liberty game, most likely). Another reason we were so awful last year ... only 1 QB ... and we beat W&M in the season finale with a WR playing QB and throwing ZERO passes lol.

JMU also has Kansas State transfer Billy Cosh in the fold. He will be a rs-Fr and has a lot of promise. He is expected to challenge Thorpe for the job but I think most everyone recognizes that, unless Cosh is a true superstar, the job is Thorpe's to lose before Billy Cosh takes over in 2013.

3) Dudzik wasn't a terrible runner but he couldn't really hit the holes. Maybe JMU fans are too accustomed to Rodney Landers style of running to give Dudzik a fair shot, but he just wasn't a fit for the offense. He also didn't have a very good arm, especially under pressure, which there was plenty of with the young OL. Thorpe is a pure athlete with a strong arm. He is much more comparable to Landers than Dudzik ever was will have two years under his belt after a rookie of the year campaign in 2009.

JMU has to prove itself on the field, and outside of ardent fans of our conference foes and die-hard FCS followers, not many people know our situation on offense. People are quick to forget that we lost on last-second field goals to Richmond and Delaware, which would have put as at 8-3 with possibly the worst offense in school history. Our defense carried us and will be better and stronger. We have the skill-position players in place on offense and if Thorpe lives up to expectations and the OL develops into a more formidable bunch, JMU will be very, very good.

[JmuSkinsfan]

JMU will be lucky to go 1-7 in the CAA this year.

I know you're not serious ... BlueHens ... stop being jealous. Since when did back-to-back seasons of 6-5 (both down years, BTW, in which we were still very competitive), suddenly make JMU the equivelent of Towson?

[89Hen]

JMU will be lucky to go 1-7 in the CAA this year.

I know you're not serious ... BlueHens ... stop being jealous. Since when did back-to-back seasons of 6-5 (both down years, BTW, in which we were still very competitive), suddenly make JMU the equivelent of Towson?

It's the 10 year anniversary of 0-8 in the A10.

[GannonFan]

OK. Well I'm not going to breakdown JMU in comparison to every team in the top 25, but if we're going to talk JMU here, let's start with how they're going to improve from 2010. The issue was offense...there was nothing resembling a passing game. How has that changed in 2011? How's the depth on the O-Line? Is there going to be better QB play?

Anyone who played us last year will attest to how good our defense is and we return basically everyone plus two guys from '09 that had been injured all year. Obviously we couldn't score, which was a result of 1) horrible line play, 2) a quarterback who couldn't throw under pressure and 3) an O-Line who was young, coupled with a QB who didn't have the instincts to run behind that line.

1) the O-line returns 4/5 and is another year seasoned. I think at one point last year we were starting 2 freshmen. I know our depth at OL is still a concern so injuries could definitely hurt JMU along the front this year.

2) If Justin Thorpe hadn't played in 2009 I would say the QB position has promise but is unknown. But Thorpe did play as a freshman after Dudzik got hurt in 2009. Drawing comparisons as "the next Rodney Landers," (which was projected for when he was a Jr., not having started his fr. or so. year, FWIW), Thorpe struggled in a few early games but finished the year strong with 4 straight CAA wins to lead JMU to a 6-5 record after starting 2-5 and winning CAA rookie of the year honors. He then got hurt in the first game of the season in 2010 when he was taking some snaps at the end of the first half to spell Dudzik. He was unavailable for the remainder of the season and, unless JMU wanted to pull the redshirt off of freshman Jace Edwards, the Dukes were stuck with DUdzik (who would have been yanked after the Liberty game, most likely). Another reason we were so awful last year ... only 1 QB ... and we beat W&M in the season finale with a WR playing QB and throwing ZERO passes lol.

JMU also has Kansas State transfer Billy Cosh in the fold. He will be a rs-Fr and has a lot of promise. He is expected to challenge Thorpe for the job but I think most everyone recognizes that, unless Cosh is a true superstar, the job is Thorpe's to lose before Billy Cosh takes over in 2013.

3) Dudzik wasn't a terrible runner but he couldn't really hit the holes. Maybe JMU fans are too accustomed to Rodney Landers style of running to give Dudzik a fair shot, but he just wasn't a fit for the offense. He also didn't have a very good arm, especially under pressure, which there was plenty of with the young OL. Thorpe is a pure athlete with a strong arm. He is much more comparable to Landers than Dudzik ever was will have two years under his belt after a rookie of the year campaign in 2009.

JMU has to prove itself on the field, and outside of ardent fans of our conference foes and die-hard FCS followers, not many people know our situation on offense. People are quick to forget that we lost on last-second field goals to Richmond and Delaware, which would have put as at 8-3 with possibly the worst offense in school history. Our defense carried us and will be better and stronger. We have the skill-position players in place on offense and if Thorpe lives up to expectations and the OL develops into a more formidable bunch, JMU will be very, very good.

What's the status with Williams and Rose - are they back on the team or are they still off pending the judicial system? Williams is certainly a loss, and Rose is from depth. Defense should still be pretty to very good, but that's something to take into account.

As for Thorpe, the jury is clearly way out on him. Remember, for all the knocking on Dudzik last year, Dudzik beat Thorpe out for the job. That says a lot right there. And I know you like to hang Thorpe's hat on those last four games in '09 that he's some kind of budding superstar, but he played UD, Maine, UMass, and Towson to end the year that year - not exactly a muderer's row in '09. UD was the only team above .500 and they were 6-5, the combined records were 18-26, and no one made the playoffs obviously. And even in his big passing games (UD and Towson - didn't do much in the others) he threw a fair amount of picks. Thorpe was a "throw it up there and hope my guy comes down with it" type of passer then. Maybe he's better now with age, but again, he couldn't beat out Dudzik last year and we all saw the type of QB Dudzik was.

[JMU2004]

Anyone who played us last year will attest to how good our defense is and we return basically everyone plus two guys from '09 that had been injured all year. Obviously we couldn't score, which was a result of 1) horrible line play, 2) a quarterback who couldn't throw under pressure and 3) an O-Line who was young, coupled with a QB who didn't have the instincts to run behind that line.

1) the O-line returns 4/5 and is another year seasoned. I think at one point last year we were starting 2 freshmen. I know our depth at OL is still a concern so injuries could definitely hurt JMU along the front this year.

2) If Justin Thorpe hadn't played in 2009 I would say the QB position has promise but is unknown. But Thorpe did play as a freshman after Dudzik got hurt in 2009. Drawing comparisons as "the next Rodney Landers," (which was projected for when he was a Jr., not having started his fr. or so. year, FWIW), Thorpe struggled in a few early games but finished the year strong with 4 straight CAA wins to lead JMU to a 6-5 record after starting 2-5 and winning CAA rookie of the year honors. He then got hurt in the first game of the season in 2010 when he was taking some snaps at the end of the first half to spell Dudzik. He was unavailable for the remainder of the season and, unless JMU wanted to pull the redshirt off of freshman Jace Edwards, the Dukes were stuck with DUdzik (who would have been yanked after the Liberty game, most likely). Another reason we were so awful last year ... only 1 QB ... and we beat W&M in the season finale with a WR playing QB and throwing ZERO passes lol.

JMU also has Kansas State transfer Billy Cosh in the fold. He will be a rs-Fr and has a lot of promise. He is expected to challenge Thorpe for the job but I think most everyone recognizes that, unless Cosh is a true superstar, the job is Thorpe's to lose before Billy Cosh takes over in 2013.

3) Dudzik wasn't a terrible runner but he couldn't really hit the holes. Maybe JMU fans are too accustomed to Rodney Landers style of running to give Dudzik a fair shot, but he just wasn't a fit for the offense. He also didn't have a very good arm, especially under pressure, which there was plenty of with the young OL. Thorpe is a pure athlete with a strong arm. He is much more comparable to Landers than Dudzik ever was will have two years under his belt after a rookie of the year campaign in 2009.

JMU has to prove itself on the field, and outside of ardent fans of our conference foes and die-hard FCS followers, not many people know our situation on offense. People are quick to forget that we lost on last-second field goals to Richmond and Delaware, which would have put as at 8-3 with possibly the worst offense in school history. Our defense carried us and will be better and stronger. We have the skill-position players in place on offense and if Thorpe lives up to expectations and the OL develops into a more formidable bunch, JMU will be very, very good.

What's the status with Williams and Rose - are they back on the team or are they still off pending the judicial system? Williams is certainly a loss, and Rose is from depth. Defense should still be pretty to very good, but that's something to take into account.

As for Thorpe, the jury is clearly way out on him. Remember, for all the knocking on Dudzik last year, Dudzik beat Thorpe out for the job. That says a lot right there. And I know you like to hang Thorpe's hat on those last four games in '09 that he's some kind of budding superstar, but he played UD, Maine, UMass, and Towson to end the year that year - not exactly a muderer's row in '09. UD was the only team above .500 and they were 6-5, the combined records were 18-26, and no one made the playoffs obviously. And even in his big passing games (UD and Towson - didn't do much in the others) he threw a fair amount of picks. Thorpe was a "throw it up there and hope my guy comes down with it" type of passer then. Maybe he's better now with age, but again, he couldn't beat out Dudzik last year and we all saw the type of QB Dudzik was.

Williams is gone....the Rose brothers are still pending in court.

Thorpe and Dudzik were neck and neck during the Spring/Summer...but MM named Dudzik starter after Spring. I agree with your evaluation of Thorpe as a Freshman.

[State Line Liquors]

JMU's problems start and end with the offensive line...

JMU needs their OL to dominate play, not just hold their own in order to succeed offensively, and I don't see that happening. On the road for 3 of the last 4 and they could be playing some of those just to play out the string.

1) the O-line returns 4/5 and is another year seasoned. I think at one point last year we were starting 2 freshmen. I know our depth at OL is still a concern so injuries could definitely hurt JMU along the front this year.

This is more or less the crux of what I'm getting at. I think your defense will likely be as good or near as good as they were last year, but the O-line is still a big question, and the QB situation is between a kid who didn't play in the system last year and another kid who was a backup that was injured pretty much the entirety of last year.

6-5 was a respectable record and there were some obviously impressive wins in there. From what's been discussed,in addition to the a pretty darn tough road schedule, I'm not sold that this is a team that will be better than last year. You'll certainly have your opportunity to prove yourselves though. I just wish we got to play you folks this year. I absolutely hate what a clusterfunk the CAA's scheduling is these days.

[JMUpurplehazed]

LU attacked my Dukes but the dude should be able to sling it on a message board w/o Jerry Fallwell bashing...you guys are brutal. LU was not hosting a tent revival on here you know...

I'm an atheist but I feel no need to Falwell bash or put Darwin stickers on my car This is still a free country...

[JMUpurplehazed]

The O-line was young last year...a year older, a year heavier and a year stronger with 10 starts under their belts can't hurt...IMO, the O-line was blamed for not so great QB play last year...
We will be back...

[State Line Liquors]

So what's the the likely 2 deep on the O-Line? I recall depth being an issue last year.

Since you started this thread I'm interested in basing the conversation on a bit more than 'We'll be back...', and 'We're better than half the top 25', and more actual reasons why. AKA, if the O-Line is more experienced now, who are we talking about, what's their size, key newcomers, size, etc.

[JMUpurplehazed]

State line

I'm not saying we have 10 starters back, I'm saying the line we have, good or not, got a lot of PT last year, 10 games worth...

I'll back off this thread with this, I think a ranking of 15 is fair based on 6-5 last year. 25 is low and not being in the top 25 is crazy...

In the end, the FCS has playoffs to settle such things, see ya'll in November & December

[JmuSkinsfan]

State line

I'm not saying we have 10 starters back, I'm saying the line we have, good or not, got a lot of PT last year, 10 games worth...

I'll back off this thread with this, I think a ranking of 15 is fair based on 6-5 last year. 25 is low and not being in the top 25 is crazy...

In the end, the FCS has playoffs to settle such things, see ya'll in November & December

Once again, I'll agree with you here. Let the games dictate the rankings. Right now, I think JMU around 15-17 is respectable ... but looking at some of the teams in the top 25 polls that leave JMU out is frustrating knowing that JMU would likely beat a majority of them. THat being said, let it be played on the field, because pre-season polls are just that ...

[State Line Liquors]

Here is what I think is a reasonable expectation, at present, for JMU's schedule. I'm giving you 5 W's and 2 L's, and will hinge your season on the 4 games I list below that I think are a toss up at this point. 1-3 (or worse) in those games and you're staying home again, 2-2 in those 4 games gets you into the playoffs, 3-1 gets you a 1st round bye, and 4-0 get's you a seed with at least 2 games home field adv in the playoffs:

at UNC L
C. Conn St W
at Liberty W
at William & Mary L - most likely an L against what I think is the cream of the CAA crop

Richmond 50/50 - both teams have some questions, and this series is competitive
Maine W
Nova W - loses too much of a very good class that just graduated
@ ODU 50/50 - if @ home I give you the W, but 50/50 since it's road & ODU is the friggin sphinx @ this point

@ UNH 50/50 - not a program that has many down years
URI W - URI is overrated already, which is nearly insane to think about
@ UMass 50/50 - Senior Day for UMass

[JmuSkinsfan]

UNC L
C. Conn St W
at Liberty W
at William & Mary L - most likely a W against what I think is the cream of the CAA crop
Richmond 50/50 - both teams have some questions, and this series is competitive
Maine W
Nova W - loses too much of a very good class that just graduated
@ ODU 50/50 - if @ home I give you the W, but 50/50 since it's road & ODU is the friggin sphinx @ this point
@ UNH 50/50 - not a program that has many down years
URI W - URI is overrated already, which is nearly insane to think about
@ UMass 50/50 - Senior Day for UMass

Okay, fair assessment ... but please, can we stop jumping all over ODU? I know they put in a scare against WM last year, but I chalk that up as a fluke as their first big home game as anything else. I just don't see it. I even hesitate to say ODU beats Towson! I'll give them Towson and a 1-7 conference record with MAYBE an upset against one of the lower-to-mid level teams in the conference but to say JMU/ODU is a toss-up? I get that it could be a "trap" game and one with lots of energy ... but if ODU is 3-5 at that point (or however many games they'd have under their belt), I believe it'll take some wind out of the game. I'd also venture to give WM a 50/50 ... regardless of how good WM looks right now, JMU is likely just as talented ... and we beat them last year with an inept offense ... and they've only beaten us 1 time in the last 5/6 years. I get that they're the cream of the crop, but I still can't chalk that up as a Loss! So I'll take your predictions, drop the 50/50 on ODU and make it a win and switch WM to 50/50 ...

That gives us 6 wins, 1 loss, and 4 toss-ups between WM, UNH, UMass and UNH ... who I think all will be very good, and along with Delaware and JMU, could see 4-5 playoff teams coming from that crop. So go 0-4 in those games and the season is another disappointment, sitting at home. Go 1-3 and finish 7-4, on the bubble, but likely in. Go 2-2, get a first round home game. 3-1 and 4-0 gets us a top seed, IMO

*EDIT: UNC is likely a loss .. but they do lose a lot from last year with the violations/graduation. I know we beat VT last year but that was rare and I think very hard to repeat, but it will be an interesting game to watch

[DirtyDukes]

Who cares? WE GOT A NEW STADIUMMMMMMM

[State Line Liquors]

Okay, fair assessment ... but please, can we stop jumping all over ODU? ...

*EDIT: UNC is likely a loss .. but they do lose a lot from last year with the violations/graduation. I know we beat VT last year but that was rare and I think very hard to repeat, but it will be an interesting game to watch

Suggesting an away game at ODU is a toss up given that we know very little about them is hardly 'jumping all over them', but whatever. At least we both agree I'm giving a fair assessment, that is far from written in stone.

As a sidebar, you're snorting the glue from too many of those JMU>VT bumper stickers if you think you're going down to UNC with a QB that hasn't played more than a live down or two in the better part of a 2 years and winning that game. I appreciate your optimism, but I just think you're discounting the need to have an offense just a little bit too much.

[BDKJMU]

JMU's problems start and end with the offensive line...

JMU needs their OL to dominate play, not just hold their own in order to succeed offensively, and I don't see that happening. On the road for 3 of the last 4 and they could be playing some of those just to play out the string.

1) the O-line returns 4/5 and is another year seasoned. I think at one point last year we were starting 2 freshmen. I know our depth at OL is still a concern so injuries could definitely hurt JMU along the front this year.

This is more or less the crux of what I'm getting at. I think your defense will likely be as good or near as good as they were last year, but the O-line is still a big question, and the QB situation is between a kid who didn't play in the system last year and another kid who was a backup that was injured pretty much the entirety of last year.

6-5 was a respectable record and there were some obviously impressive wins in there. From what's been discussed,in addition to the a pretty darn tough road schedule, I'm not sold that this is a team that will be better than last year. You'll certainly have your opportunity to prove yourselves though. I just wish we got to play you folks this year. I absolutely hate what a **** the CAA's scheduling is these days.

The defense will be better, probably the best in school history. The offense will at least be no worse. That equals a team that will be at least a little better.

[LeadBolt]

I believe that JMU will have the defense to beat anyone on their schedule, including UNC. The question comes down to the offense and as has been pointed out the keys there are the OLine and the QB. My guess is that both will be improved and JMU will be strong.

[GannonFan]

This is more or less the crux of what I'm getting at. I think your defense will likely be as good or near as good as they were last year, but the O-line is still a big question, and the QB situation is between a kid who didn't play in the system last year and another kid who was a backup that was injured pretty much the entirety of last year.

6-5 was a respectable record and there were some obviously impressive wins in there. From what's been discussed,in addition to the a pretty darn tough road schedule, I'm not sold that this is a team that will be better than last year. You'll certainly have your opportunity to prove yourselves though. I just wish we got to play you folks this year. I absolutely hate what a **** the CAA's scheduling is these days.

The defense will be better, probably the best in school history. The offense will at least be no worse. That equals a team that will be at least a little better.

Hard to say for certain on that. As bad as Dudzik was, he won the job from Thorpe, so Thorpe is no automatic upgrade. OL lost their best lineman in Sherman and Sullivan was the best RB JMU had and the biggest bruiser and he's gone as well. Not a gimme that the offense is better than last year, or not worse.

[JmuSkinsfan]

GF ... none of us really know why Dudzik won the job over Thorpe ... but I've talked to multiple players (going back to 2009 when Thorpe was a r-Fr) and every one of them said Thorpe was far better than Dudzik but that it was "Dudzik's team" ... Thorpe had some maturity issues when he got PT as a freshman (makes sense) ... and Dudzik was the guy who sat behind Landers and waited his turn in line. He was the "leader" of the team, and I think Mickey felt, after the QB debacle (read, disaster) of the 2009 season (for those that don't remember, Thorpe and Dudzik split time before Dudzik got hurt), that he owed it to his veteran leader to start in 2010.

THAT being said, ask any JMU fan and they would tell you that if Thorpe had not gotten hurt before halftime of the first game of the season, that Dudzik would have been yanked by the Towson game. As bad as the offense was, once we started losing games 13-10 (or winning 13-10 for that matter), the leftover juice from the VaTech win would not have carried Dudzik far with a healthy Thorpe behind him.

Also, Sherman was a great OT, but I think others would tell you that the best OL left on the team is C Roane Babington ... guys a stud and has been starting for at least 2, if not 3 years (memory fails me) ... and in our spread system he has been a stud

[BDKJMU]

The defense will be better, probably the best in school history. The offense will at least be no worse. That equals a team that will be at least a little better.

Hard to say for certain on that. As bad as Dudzik was, he won the job from Thorpe, so Thorpe is no automatic upgrade. OL lost their best lineman in Sherman and Sullivan was the best RB JMU had and the biggest bruiser and he's gone as well. Not a gimme that the offense is better than last year, or not worse.

OL returns 4 of 5. Eh, Sherman may have been the best OL for JMU. Was 2nd team All CAA. So was JMU's Center Roane Babington. Anyway, Several candidates for the 5th spot, including a transfer. Regardless won't be starting 2 rFr (unless have something like last yr when lost 2 starting SR OL in Aug for season (one injury and one eligibility)). Will be better at 4 positions, worse at one= better overall.

Starting and all but one of the 2 deep WRs return, and both TEs return, will be better

RBs drop off, question is how much.

QB is the biggest ? mark as to who it will be , Thorpe, Cosh (K State transfer), or kid from TX (Jace Edwards) and how good they'll be.

Another big change is Mickey will be doing the playcalling, not the OC Durden. Mickey knows another 6-5 on top of the off the field with the 62 million upgrade would put him on the hotseat.

[BDKJMU]

GF ... none of us really know why Dudzik won the job over Thorpe ... but I've talked to multiple players (going back to 2009 when Thorpe was a r-Fr) and every one of them said Thorpe was far better than Dudzik but that it was "Dudzik's team" ... Thorpe had some maturity issues when he got PT as a freshman (makes sense) ... and Dudzik was the guy who sat behind Landers and waited his turn in line. He was the "leader" of the team, and I think Mickey felt, after the QB debacle (read, disaster) of the 2009 season (for those that don't remember, Thorpe and Dudzik split time before Dudzik got hurt), that he owed it to his veteran leader to start in 2010.

THAT being said, ask any JMU fan and they would tell you that if Thorpe had not gotten hurt before halftime of the first game of the season, that Dudzik would have been yanked by the Towson game. As bad as the offense was, once we started losing games 13-10 (or winning 13-10 for that matter), the leftover juice from the VaTech win would not have carried Dudzik far with a healthy Thorpe behind him.

Also, Sherman was a great OT, but I think others would tell you that the best OL left on the team is C Roane Babington ... guys a stud and has been starting for at least 2, if not 3 years (memory fails me) ... and in our spread system he has been a stud

Yep. Both Sherman and Babington were 2nd team All CAA last season. Babington will be the only pre season ALL CAA on offense for JMU.

[bjtheflamesfan]

One thing you dont want to have (especially with Thorpe starting) is to get so little production from the running backs (the line play had a good bit to do with that as well) that Thorpe pretty much becomes the running game as well as the passing game. Mike Brown was beat up pretty bad by the time the season was over

[JmuSkinsfan]

One thing you dont want to have (especially with Thorpe starting) is to get so little production from the running backs (the line play had a good bit to do with that as well) that Thorpe pretty much becomes the running game as well as the passing game. Mike Brown was beat up pretty bad by the time the season was over

Good point. Last year was definitely more the line than it was a lack of competent backs. This year, after losing Sullivan, JMU has a lot of potential and depth but not much experience. I expect one or two of the young guys to step up and carry or split the load.