Alpha Wolf
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
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We'll enjoy the aftermath of beating UNC for quite a while, but one thing we better hope for for next season is that Toney Baker and Russell Wilson decide to give it one more year in Pack uniforms.
We have to replace four starters on the OL and DL, but if there is one good thing about the injuries this year is that the entire depth chart got a LOT of game experience.
It may be a rebuilding year....but we aren't coming into it without some experienced players.
Mattes & Vermiglio return on the OL with some of TOB's most important recruits growing into more prominent roles, including Allen & Wallace who have both received a lot of game experience.
tjfoose1
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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OL is building depth with overall better athletic talent. With the severity of his injury, Mattes may still not be 100% healthy when practice breaks next fall.
DL loses a lot of experience, but I think the overall athletic talent of the starters may actually improve a little next year.
I hope TB comes back, but if he doesn't, that means he's getting good feedback from the NFL. That being the case, my unselfish side hopes that TB won't return for one more year. He's definitely due for some good breaks his way... Either way, here's to wishing him the best.
I still think RW comes back next year. If nothing changes, he definitely will.
VaWolf82
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
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You might be right about "better athletic talent", but I am skeptical. If they really had more talent then they would have won starting jobs this year.
Alpha Wolf
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
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VaWolf, don't forget that TOB is huge on playing experienced players whenever he can. I forget the name of the kid that replaced Byers in the second half, but he did one hellva job.
Noah
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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Where is Wilson going? I keep forgetting...
Alpha Wolf
Administrator
Posted 8 months ago
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^ Noah, don't be cloying. If a MLB executive tells the Wilson family that he be drafted high enough to get a good signing bonus, he'll be in the minors before Memorial Day.
You may not be high on Wilson's chances in baseball, but folks like Elliott Avent keep insisting there is real interest in him.
Keep in mind too that RW gets his degree soon.
howlie
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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I'm sorry, but I can't see that Baker returning would be an issue at all.
Noah
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
If a MLB executive tells the Wilson family that he be drafted high enough to get a good signing bonus, he'll be in the minors before Memorial Day.
Well...no, it would take more than that. The executive would need to tell him that that AFTER picking him. You don't enter the MLB draft. You just get picked.
WHEN Russell Wilson gets taken in the first seven or eight rounds, I will believe that he's capable of getting picked in the first seven or eight rounds. Until then, he has done NOTHING to convince ANYONE of that. He's a light-hitting second baseman who doesn't even hit for a high average. If you want one of those guys, why would you waste a first-day pick on Wilson? Just go sign one of the BILLION guys in the DR who give you the same thing.
Just about every 2B in the majors who played in college spent their time playing SS or some other position before getting picked. Plus, Wilson's college numbers are just MILES away from being a first-day pick.
Now...maybe he goes out this year and hits .400 and shows some pop. But, until then, I am expecting him to be under center next year.
As far as Avent's comments...what do you expect? A player's coach is hardly the most objective source.
tjfoose1
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
VaWolf, better athletic talent doesn't necessarily mean better player. Our younger OL players are better athletes and were ranked higher (for what its worth) than our Sr starters. With experience, hours in the weight room, and practice, hopefully they'll be just as good, and eventually surpass the guys they'll be replacing.
Look no further than Bobby Floyd. He probably has the least athletic talent of any of our DB's, yet he started this year, making himself a better player through experience, effort, heart, and toughness. Similarly to the OL Srs, we'll replace Floyd with a more talented and athletic player next year.
My point was if the starting point is a better athlete, then eventually, in theory anyway, he will develop into a better player.
highstick
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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I'm spot on with Noah's assessment. There's nothing that I see that makes him a primetime MLB signee!
Dr. BadgerPack
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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Noah is quite accurate with his draft analysis. Some points to further bring up, are that IF Wilson is drafted and chooses to sign he can still play football. Nothing in NCAA rules prevents this. In fact, it may be his best option to choose to go this route. A team can save on bonus money by allowing him to play a truncated minor league season and return to school in the fall. Not that he would get a massive bonus anyway; I would hazard a guess that 50K would be about the max at this point. If he wants to play baseball, that won't be an issue since he has indicated money is a non-factor at this point.
The secondary consideration is what TOB feels about this. I would guess he wouldn't have a problem, but you never know. It would boil down to the length of the minor league season. OR, he could sign and simply not play that first year-- August 15th is the cutoff (I believe) for signing and it may not be until the next season that he plays.
Still, he could potentially be "over-drafted" by at least a couple of teams. Two scouts I have spoken to would consider him in the 5-10 round range. Personally, I wouldn't take him until the 20s right now and that is simply due to the fact that there isn't enough information to know what he can do if solely dedicated to baseball-- or if he would ever solely dedicate to the sport to begin with. Teams will shy away from the baseball/football combination; it hasn't been done a lot and the results are rather poor. Bo Jackson had the devastating hip injury (playing football), Deion Sanders was better at football (though no slouch in baseball), Brian Jordan petered out in football, and DJ Dozier flopped harder than a Duke guard in both sports. Those are the 4 in the last few decades that come to mind.
This upcoming baseball season (college) will be critical for Russell if he wants to improve his stock. He is healthy, and with no bowl game can dedicate "spring training" time on the diamond as opposed to the trainers table or the football field. This is good, as he needs the work- there is no guarantee he has a starting job at this juncture (aside from the top two in the pitching rotation and 3-4 position spots, nothing is locked down). Baseball is loaded with talent (just need to fix the damn blow, err, bullpen).
wolfpackdawg
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
If Baker does not return..who will step in at RB?...James Washington or Brandon Barnes? And is Tobias Palmer going to make it here?
packalum44
Member
Posted 8 months ago
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I'm not so concerend with those two although I admit, I feel vindicated about my homer stance with TB pre-season.
More importantly, I want to see improved coaching and play calling, both defensively and offensively. I think our play calling is dreadfully predictable. I really liked the play calling yesterday. I never knew what was coming (yes I realize it was b/c we had a "new" OC). The screen passes worked to perfection. We haven't thrown them all year.
If RW comes back we need to throw in a couple option plays for him. Design runs for him.
Classof89
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
"Baseball is loaded with talent (just need to fix the damn blow, err, bullpen). "
I take it you are referring to our team? Good to hear it--last year was extremely disappointing...
SeaWolf
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Bo Jackson had the devastating hip injury (playing football), Deion Sanders was better at football (though no slouch in baseball), Brian Jordan petered out in football, and DJ Dozier flopped harder than a Duke guard in both sports. Those are the 4 in the last few decades that come to mind.
Drew Henson? He sucked pretty bad.
Dr. BadgerPack
Member
Posted 8 months ago
#
Drew Henson? He sucked pretty bad.
Yeah, Henson too. Throw in some others like Weinke... Samardzija (who may have chosen poorly).
My original list of 4 where the ones I could come up with who tried playing both sports professionally, simultaneously.
I take it you are referring to our team? Good to hear it--last year was extremely disappointing...
Yes. Our team this year should be quite nice. The offense should be a lot better. We also probably lost the least of any team in the conference.
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