We're all putting a lot of stock in these recruits just like Mack Brown did with Chris Sims. Sims was a good QB, but he was not nearly what he was hyped up to be. I hope we're not putting some of our new found talent in front of the team like Brown did at Texas. The thread about Lucky starting is what I'm talking about. AP for OU didn't start until the 4th game of the season for OU, and he's thought to be the best freshman RB ever. You don't bench your field general who was the only player on offense last year to play with heart and soul. It would be one thing if Ross wasn't that good, but he is one hell of a player. I'd agree with the poster who said he's the best RB NU has had since Ahman Greene.
As in life, some of these new recruits will be busts either due to attitude or due to health reasons. Willie Amos is probably one of the most athletic players to ever play at NU, but he was wasted by injury. Incognito would/could have been one of the best OL if he could have kept his head straight. Until we get some of these freshman out on the field and keep them healthy, we should all be holding our breath.
The fans are excited because a successful recruiting season gives them a reason to be. It's easy to get a big head with the class that we signed, but I agree you still have to be realistic. But realistic doesn't mean
cynical.
Whether you, or whoever, chose to believe them or not the coaches have said that
no one is guaranteed a starting position. No one has been guaranteed anything, but it is hard to believe that with the players we lost last year, some of them might as well be a shoe in.
I am sure the coaches have some kind of list of who they think will be starting come fall. Afterall, they know who they have and have seen them play. They also know who they have coming in and have seen them play in film at least.
However, that doesn't and shouldn't translate to a fall depth chart.
The only reason someone would be placed "in front" of someone else is related to how much eligibilty they have left. You don't bring Juco players with less than 3 years to play and have them sit.
Example: Taylor. He has obvjously shown he has the ability to do the things a QB has to do in a pass oriented offense. One being look off backs and get rid of the ball quickly. Hesitation is one of Joe's biggest weaknesses. IMO, he should come in to camp just about even with Joe. I'm sorry that some people don't feel that way, but the fact of the matter is at least where Joe is. Hell, even Beck has said the chunk of playbook he has received is strikingly similar to what he has been running in his high school career. There are just different names for positions, is what he said I believe.
Now as far as "putting stock in these recruits". Well, we did that when we got them to commit here. You do that to the team when you have the starters step out on the field. You don't go after great athletes, get them, then don't lean on them to get the job done. I don't mean that all these freshmen should be starting, because most shouldn't be. However, I think the coaches realize that you can't exactly throw all your freshmen into the fire like that, so to say. That's where the Juco's come in. Callahan and Co have said that the large number of Juco's will NOT be a year to year thing and the meat of the program will remain with HS kids.
Ross will be a stud this year. No doubt.
