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Post by FUBeAR on Nov 20, 2015 12:28:10 GMT -5
Chatt offering some big boys in 2016 class! Hope MU plans on building the lines as well. All starts up front on both sides. All these kids are lcoal.....hope MU jumps in if they are any good. TE Matthew McClurg (6-5 230) – Alcoa, TN TE Stephen Omorogbe (6-4 240) – Woodstock, GA OL Steven Bedosky (6-4 255) – Fairburn, GA OL Bailey Byrum (6-7 300) – Sweetwater, TN OL Akeem Cooperwood (6-7 325) – Milledgeville, GA OL Peyton Reeder (6-6 280) – Rome, GA OL/DL Zach Thompson (6-4 295) – Twin City, GA DE Corey McDonald (6-3 270) – Chattanooga, TN DE Jonathan Decker (6-4 247) – Alcoa, TN LB Tru’self Cooper (6-1 225) – Savannah, GA LB Jeremiah Littles (6-3 225) – Jesup, GA LB Ryan Parker (6-1 210) – Chattanooga, TN LB Jireh Wilson (6-1 205 4.7) – Calhoun, GA They can have all of the 6-6 and 6-7 OLmen they want! NONE for me, please. I'd much, much, much rather have those HIGHLY ATHLETIC 6-2 6-3, maybe 6-4 OT's like the 2 that I saw 'walking the dog' with FU's D-Line last Sat...and give me a 6-1 6-2 C or OG who can get under the DLmen's pads and blow them off the LOS. The NE Patriots starting interior OLmen average 6-2. I think Coach Belicheck may know a thing or 3 about football...no? I used to say that "I firmly believe...," but after watching very closely the past 2 years, I now say, "I am absolutely certain that the decline in OL play that we see in College Football and the NFL is due to the 'fashionable trend' of Recruiting / Drafting the 'cousins' of the Jolly Green Giant to play OL. If that's about all you recruit / draft, well, you have to play them...and you have to give them valuable practice reps that could be going to much better, more athletic players. As my friend, Eric Cartman says, MARK MY WORDS, if Chatt signs these 6-6/6-7 OL dudes and that's all they sign, their OL will suck in 2 or 3 years...absolutely suck....not that I have a strong opinion on this subject or anything...  By the way...at full strength and healthy, Mercer's current OL is, BY FAR, the best OL in the SoCon right now!!  |
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Post by BearDownMU on Nov 20, 2015 14:25:13 GMT -5
Especially given the complexity and necessity for MOVEMENT in modern offenses, whether it's pulling by the guards in run blocking, or reacting to stunts and twists and blitz packages in PassPro, it is much more important that OLinemen are ATHLETIC, STRONG and have awesome FEET and HANDS. Which the Trench Bears have in spades. I'm not an OLine Coach. But I have a good mentor... |
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Post by BearDownMU on Nov 20, 2015 14:25:32 GMT -5
Also, no one rolls a bowling ball like Marchman.
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Post by chez23 on Nov 20, 2015 14:39:43 GMT -5
I agree that the OL needs to be mobile and more athletic in todays game. I just found that Chatt offer list telling what they feel is important,the big beef up front. I dont know much about MU OL and iI beleive several havent played much this year due to injuries? Are they all back for 2016? Is the SoCon more a running hard nose Big Ten style conference or more open spread offense type?
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Post by FUBeAR on Nov 20, 2015 15:00:29 GMT -5
I agree that the OL needs to be mobile and more athletic in todays game. I just found that Chatt offer list telling what they feel is important,the big beef up front. I dont know much about MU OL and iI beleive several havent played much this year due to injuries? Are they all back for 2016? Is the SoCon more a running hard nose Big Ten style conference or more open spread offense type? Alabama's Starting OL averages just over 6-5, with no starters over 6-6. Alabama is a pretty good team, right? And they've been pretty darn successful in the Recruiting Game, right? Now an average of 6-5 is a little too tall for my taste and I believe having a 6-5 C is an anomaly for them...BUT...Alabama gets the best of the best players. Don't you think if those 6-6 and 6-7 kids could REALLY play, they would have offers from Alabama or at least some of the P5 schools. I haven't looked, but I bet not 1 of them has a bona fide P5 offer. Well, why not...I mean, my gosh, they're 6-6 and 6-7 and 300+ lbs. I'll tell you why they don't have any P5 offers, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PLAY FOOTBALL. But some G5 or FCS school will offer them, so that their fans can all see how well they are doing in recruiting (cough, cough) and if they sign them, they just hope that they CAN become a REAL FOOTBALL PLAYER sometime in the next 5 years. So, in order to make that happen, what do coaches have to do...Well, they don't want to look bad because they recruited a 'bust.' So, they'll give Stretch all of the practice reps they can give them and they'll hope to 'play them good' in the games...and, you know what, they'll also promote them for Awards and Accolades because, really, do the typical pencil-necks in the media know anything about O-Line. Who's gonna notice that Mr. Howstheweatherupthere just can't play. His Coach SAID he was good and he's really, really big...so, he must be good. I'll vote for him for All-Conference! And...then you know what Coaches do because they are playing kids that can't play in the OL...they design their offenses to get the ball away from the O-Line as quickly as possible - basketball on grass/turf. Jeez with most of these spread offenses, you could stand up 6-7" bollards in place of the O-Line and you wouldn't notice a whit of difference in their ability to run the ball or execute a true play action pass...or even execute drop back pass pro because the ball is out too quick to matter. Then, you find that's all you can do...and if your 'system' QB gets hurt or goes south or you play a team that can man up with your WR's or you play a DL that has some killer edge rushers...um, your get your butt beat...badly. Ask Oregon...Heck, ask Samford vs. Chatt. this year. Alright...you sent me on a rant and I'm not using my 'Carriage Return' enough to suit Jackal...so I'm gonna close. I hope Mercer continues to recruit OLmen JUST LIKE THEY HAVE NOW - ATHLETES WHO CAN PLAY THE GAME OF FOOTBALL!!! |
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Post by jackal on Nov 21, 2015 5:59:11 GMT -5
It would be nice to have good football players who also happen to be big. I would not turn such persons away.
Given the option, though, most people would take good football players over big football players. There are tons of guys playing scholarship football that look like Tarzan and play like Jane.
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Post by chez23 on Nov 21, 2015 10:22:34 GMT -5
If there is any talent in these big boys and the staff can coach them up then taking a chance on a 6'6 300lbs guy with some ability but more important willingness to work hard to improve is the way FCS schools need to approach it. Alabama's of the world have their pick from all....MU doesnt, so finding the "diamond" in the rough is the key along with some good solid coaching. MU seems to have it!
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Post by jackal on Nov 21, 2015 15:32:28 GMT -5
If there is any talent in these big boys and the staff can coach them up then taking a chance on a 6'6 300lbs guy with some ability but more important willingness to work hard to improve is the way FCS schools need to approach it. Alabama's of the world have their pick from all....MU doesnt, so finding the "diamond" in the rough is the key along with some good solid coaching. MU seems to have it! The Citadel just beat an SEC team. They have one player on their roster at 300 lbs (and I imagine that would be generous). |
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Post by chez23 on Nov 22, 2015 19:34:42 GMT -5
If you want to dominate your conferecne you need to wear down your opponents over 4 quarters, Most of MU loses this year came down to the 4th quarter, and the bigger team with more depth seem to come out on top most othte time. MU the next two years will win those games.
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Post by mercerfan on Nov 25, 2015 21:14:01 GMT -5
New RB commit today from 615 area code according to Mercer coaches.
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Post by FUBeAR on Nov 26, 2015 1:40:13 GMT -5
New RB commit today from 615 area code according to Mercer coaches. Yep - another 3 Star with offers from Army, Navy, APSU, FU, Montana, Chatt., Ill. St., TN St., and UT-M. So...what? That makes 5 3-Star commits? I hate the whole 'star' thing, but I have seen fans of other FCS Programs "oohing & aahing" because their program landed ONE 3-Star. This is shaping up as an UNBELIEVABLE Recruiting Class for the Bears. (now I just hope ANY of them can PLAY....I may have mentioned that I HATE the whole 'STAR' thing...) |
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Post by FUBeAR on Nov 26, 2015 20:12:22 GMT -5
So...every respectable Fan Message Board needs a Recruiting Nerd...I mean Recruiting Expert. I will NOT be that person for The UMFF. In fact, I don't even like this whole "Recruiting Game" because if I didn't raise 'em and/or Coach 'em, I think they all suck until they prove otherwise on the college level. But somebody on here (looking at you Chezz) ought to be INTO it and keep up with it for Mercer Bears Football Fans. I've started that lucky person (or persons) off with a table below, which can be used to track Recruits. ALL of the info in this table is from 247 Sports...but other sources, such as SoCon Recruiting, Twitter, Facebook, Local News Sources are available to add to this info. Thoughts? Volunteers? | Name | Current Status | High School
| City / Town | ST | Position | HGT. | WT
| Commit Date | Interest Level | Other Offers / Other Schools | Comp. Stars | Comp. Rating | Comp. Natl Rank | Comp. Pos. Rank | Comp. State Rank | 247 Stars
| 247 Rating | 247 Natl Rank | 247 Pos. Rank | 247 State Rank | | Trevor Merritt | Commit | Viera
| Melbourne
| FL | CB | 5-10 | 185 | 8/8/15 | Commit | Beth-Cook FIU FLA A&M Idaho Monmouth S. AL S. Dak St. Tenn. St. | 3 | 0.8111 | NA | 172 | 258 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Malique Fleming | Commit | Hillsboro | Nashville | TN | S | 5-11 | 190 | 7/3/15 | Commit | CCU APSU Ball State | 3 | 0.8006 | NA | 141 | 48 | 2 | 79 | NA | 124 | 41 | | Kaelan Riley | Commit | Calhoun | Calhoun | GA | PRO QB | 6-4 | 210 | 7/22/15 | Commit | App State | 2 | 0.7933 | NA | 96 | 188 | 3 | 82 | NA | 62 | 125 | | Chris Ellington | Commit | Duncan U. Fletcher | Neptune Beach | FL | TE | 6-4 | 225 | 11/18/15 | Commit | App State Buffalo Cincinnati Iowa State Marshall Miss. State S. AL WKU | 3 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | JaVaughn Craig | Offer | McCallie School | Chattanooga | TN | DUAL QB | 6-2 | 180 | - | Cool | 29 Others | 2 | 0.7944 | NA | 48 | 56 | 3 | 80 | NA | 38 | 36 | | Ryan Lee | Offer | Spring Valley | Columbia | SC | DUAL QB | 6-1 | 189 | - | Cool | 6 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Jaquarius Bargnare
| Offer | Dr. Phillips | Orlando | FL | All Purpose Back | 5-10 | 170 | - | Cool | 22 Others | 3 | 0.8322 | NA | 27 | 178 | 3 | 83 | NA | 26 | 174 | | Nate Johnson | Offer | Independence
| Thompson's Station
| TN | WR | 5-11 | 172 | - | None | 24 Schools | 3 | 0.8717 | 446 | 80 | 10 | 3 | 91 | NA | 46 | 6 | | Johnathan Boyd | Offer | Parkview | Lilburn | GA | WR | 6-2 | 200 | - | Cool | 5 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Mack Nash | Offer | Camden County | Kingsland | GA | TE | 6-5 | 255 | - | Cool | 22 Others | 3 | 0.8306 | NA | 52 | 117 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | Stephen Omorogbe
| Offer | River Ridge | Woodstock | GA | TE | 6-4 | 240 | - | None | 44 Schools | 3 | 0.8056 | NA | 83 | 169 | 3 | 80 | NA | 73 | 139 | | Zac Crosby | Offer | The Bolles School | Jacksonville | FL | TE | 6-4 | 210 | - | Cool | 11 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Jordan Jackson | Offer | The Bolles School | Jacksonville | FL | DT | 6-4 | 238 | - | Cool | 8 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | Sidney Otiwu
| Offer | Mill Creek | Hoschton | GA | ILB | 6-0 | 205 | - | Cool | 23 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Rashad Byrd | Offer | North Augusta | North Augusta | SC | OLB | 6-1 | 195 | - | Cool | 14 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Walter Pritchett | Offer | Central | Phenix City | AL | OLB | 6-2 | 215 | - | Cool | 18 Others | 2 | 0.7889 | NA | 153 | 92 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | Jamauri Wakefield
| Offer | Providence | Jacksonville | FL | OLB | 6-1 | 210 | - | None | 27 Schools | 3 | 0.8327 | NA | 90 | 176 | 3 | 83 | NA | 95 | 161 | Mareio McGraw
| Offer | Nashville Christian School | Nashville | TN | CB | 6-0 | 175 | - | Cool | 9 Others | 3 | 0.8333 | NA | 105 | 26 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Michael Hampton | Offer | Hillsborough | Tampa | FL | CB | 6-1 | 180 | - | Cool | 13 Others | 3 | 0.8117 | NA | 160 | 234 | 2 | 79 | NA | 178 | 219 | | Troy Pride Jr. | Offer | Greer | Greer | SC | CB | 6-0 | 175 | - | None | 17 Schools | 3 | 0.8551 | 704 | 66 | 13 | 4 | 91 | NA | 24 | 4 | | Khris Pam | Offer | Blythewood | Blythewood | SC | CB | 6-0 | 175 | - | Warm | 7 Others | 3 | 0.8111 | NA | 166 | 31 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Rayshad Lewis | Offer | Bishop Moore Catholic | Orlando | FL | CB | 5-9 | 165 | - | Cool | 10 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | Kemble Laguines
| Offer | Washington-Wilkes | Washington | GA | S | 6-1 | 189 | - | Cool | 10 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | Hamp Cheevers
| Offer | Trenton | Trenton | FL | ATH | 5-10 | 155 | - | Cool | 11 Others | 2 | 0.7667 | NA | 178 | 364 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Corey McDonald | Target | McCallie School | Chattanooga | TN | DT | 6-3 | 270 | - | Cool | 15 Others | 2 | 0.7667 | NA | 155 | 70 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Blake Rogers | Target | Bledsoe County | Pikeville | TN | WR | 6-0 | 170 | - | Cool | 3 Others | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
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Post by chez23 on Nov 27, 2015 10:26:38 GMT -5
New RB commit today from 615 area code according to Mercer coaches. Yep - another 3 Star with offers from Army, Navy, APSU, FU, Montana, Chatt., Ill. St., TN St., and UT-M. So...what? That makes 5 3-Star commits? I hate the whole 'star' thing, but I have seen fans of other FCS Programs "oohing & aahing" because their program landed ONE 3-Star. This is shaping up as an UNBELIEVABLE Recruiting Class for the Bears. (now I just hope ANY of them can PLAY....I may have mentioned that I HATE the whole 'STAR' thing...) Star ratings are SOOO important. I agree with you that the rating system is overvalued, but it has a lot of value. Talented kids you will look at MU now and see many 3 stars on the team....and that means in their minds anyway that MU is a program that gets the more talented guys and the place to be. MU is doing a great job recruiting right now and fingers crossed these 3 stars stick come signing day. |
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Post by chez23 on Nov 27, 2015 10:35:08 GMT -5
Nice work on that list. I thought Riley was a 3 star? GOod to see many 3 star offers. Like I said above, star rating have a big impact on recruits. If MU had one or tow 3 star commits and the rest one or tqwo then mamy 3 star would skip right over MU. Right or wrong that's reality. With MU having 4-5 3 star commits and mnay offers out there then those undecided 3 stars will take a much longer look now at MU. You may not like the star ratings, but you have to admnit is had an impact. The ones that are "cool" on MU will see the other 3 stars commit and that has major impact. Just excited to see MU is getting that level. I would like to see more OL/DL 3 star offers.
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Post by FUBeAR on Dec 14, 2015 15:34:53 GMT -5
Just wanting to let the Bears' Faithful know that your Mercer Football Coaches are out there on the Recruiting Trail working hard to find some Cubs ready to become BIG BEARS. Saw 4 of them gettin' after it at the GHSA Championship Games at the GA Dome on Saturday. Of course...I saw Coach Hatcher and his posse of Sammy Coaches along with Coach Fowler and his crew from FU, as well as 2 Bellhop Coaches. Spoke to all 3 staffs and told them to get the heck out of GA and go back to AL & SC and find their players in their home states! (not really - did talk to all of them though - nice guys). Doesn't mean they weren't there, but I did not see any Coaches from UTC, Woffy, WCU, VMI, or ETSU. Also saw Savannah State, Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern, LaGrange, Marshall...and a few others I'm forgetting. Marshall was the only FBS school I saw - I guess those FBS guys don't have to work as hard as the FCS Coaches to find their future Student Athletes...or they were all preparing to take their 6-6 / 5-7 teams to their 'reward' Bowl Games.  Beyond all that - I saw a BUNCH of GREAT HS FOOTBALL (watched the 2A, 4A, and 6A games) and HS Football Players - If you haven't been to the event, you should come next year. It's FAN-tastic!!! |
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