Phalanx wrote: Mon Aug 18, 2025 3:04 pm
I was surprised to hear the discussion about Isaiah World in the last presser. It seems like Lanning is pretty high on him, despite the mixed reviews he got here when he was signed. Has there been a universal recognition of improvement, or do people here still disagree with the coaches? I think someone here was saying that maybe Fox Crader would be able to beat him out for the starting left tackle spot...is that still a possibility?
I thought everyone was hyping up World?
No, it seems like the perception has changed quite a bit since December.
Ah, I wouldn't consider the presser discussion about World as surprising because of a couple initial knee jerk reactions. He was rated high in Portal, measures amazing, has solid pff numbers, had good reports in spring/summer/fall, etc.
I think everyone on this forum is high on World and if he stays healthy, he should do good things for us.
UOducksTK1 wrote: Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:01 am
Our depth (and experience) at safety is already one of the leading concerns for the position. It's basically Thieneman + Flowers, Lopa, and Woodyard. There's a big drop off after that. Not having a highly talented guy rotating with that group could be problematic.
We certainly couldn't afford another injury at the safety position. I wonder if Finney or someone else may get some reps at safety.
Safety is a concern? Literally any of those 4 are better than anything we had starting in 23 or 24. And minute should be back midseason ish. Safety is the least of my concern
All 4 options at safety could all ends up being drafted . With the kid from Purdue possibly getting into the first round next April. And I’d say 6 deep are all better than Steve Stevens was after 5 years at UO. Also if I’m a betting man, be prepared for you starters at Penn St to be Ify and Finnely at CB
Getting through the defensive videos and latest offensive ones:
Interesting comments on Tobi Haastrup. Devon calling him "A freak of nature. I thought he was a transfer. Why are you bigger than me and you're 12 years old?" had me laughing out loud. Ashton Porter also is clearly impressed by his physical traits.
Stein seems to be tipping his hand on Dante being the starter, but Novosad saying that he thinks he's done enough to be named 'the guy' is also almost a bummer. Hope we can hold onto him through this season.
I'm beginning to get a little concerned about the wideout position. Haven't heard anything about Lowe, who I felt we needed to take a step forward, and instead it's been more the guys with proven ceilings like Gary Bryant and Malik Benson getting a lot of the praise.
buckmarkduck wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:31 am
Also if I’m a betting man, be prepared for you starters at Penn St to be Ify and Finnely at CB
That's a very interesting prediction; did you read that somewhere or is this your own personal scouting? If those two develop well enough to be the starters by then, that seems like a positive for the team overall, despite what it may say about Johnson and Florence.
StevensTechU wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 6:44 am
Getting through the defensive videos and latest offensive ones:
Interesting comments on Tobi Haastrup. Devon calling him "A freak of nature. I thought he was a transfer. Why are you bigger than me and you're 12 years old?" had me laughing out loud. Ashton Porter also is clearly impressed by his physical traits.
Stein seems to be tipping his hand on Dante being the starter, but Novosad saying that he thinks he's done enough to be named 'the guy' is also almost a bummer. Hope we can hold onto him through this season.
I'm beginning to get a little concerned about the wideout position. Haven't heard anything about Lowe, who I felt we needed to take a step forward, and instead it's been more the guys with proven ceilings like Gary Bryant and Malik Benson getting a lot of the praise.
So I tend to think that Austin has a really good (and long) relationship with Stein from when he was at UTSA because as I recall, Austin was offered not long after Will came aboard. Austin and Dante for this season makes sense because injuries can happen but next season is likely to come down to whether or not Dante was so good he goes pro or Austin going somewhere he can be the clear QB1. It's also quite possible that with another high-powered offense that Stein gets a HC job somewhere and Austin ends up as his QB1.
Haastrup had such a fast get-off on film that hearing his teammates talk about him that way certainly makes him a fun one to keep an eye on.
After Moore the names I've heard the most often are Bryant and Kasper with some McClellan mixed in. IF we project Moore and Sadiq to be All-Conf level guys than Bryant being solid and Kasper taking the step into a playing like a starter should give us a quality group but it does show where the experience of Stewart is lacking to make it a high-end group.
Makai Hughes and the running game is the biggest mystery to me. There might be the potential for this group to be noticeably better on the ground to the point where the passing game is that much easier because of the focus on stopping the run but this season to me comes down to the Defense taking that collective step forward.
buckmarkduck wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:31 am
Also if I’m a betting man, be prepared for you starters at Penn St to be Ify and Finnely at CB
That's a very interesting prediction; did you read that somewhere or is this your own personal scouting? If those two develop well enough to be the starters by then, that seems like a positive for the team overall, despite what it may say about Johnson and Florence.
Ify has been getting name dropped as well as being the guy who ends up in a lot of the highlight videos the team puts out when we see a DB make a pbu. I think what can really happen when young players rise over others is that the game tends to slow down and now their natural abilities aren't playing catch up any longer.
buckmarkduck wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:31 am
Also if I’m a betting man, be prepared for you starters at Penn St to be Ify and Finnely at CB
That's a very interesting prediction; did you read that somewhere or is this your own personal scouting? If those two develop well enough to be the starters by then, that seems like a positive for the team overall, despite what it may say about Johnson and Florence.
Just speaking to people who have been at practice and also readying some reports. I was told that Finney has been really, really good so far.
Well, after having no answer for Jeremiah Smith in the playoffs last year, hearing that there are going to be more talented DB's this year is great news.
buckmarkduck wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:31 am
Also if I’m a betting man, be prepared for you starters at Penn St to be Ify and Finnely at CB
That's a very interesting prediction; did you read that somewhere or is this your own personal scouting? If those two develop well enough to be the starters by then, that seems like a positive for the team overall, despite what it may say about Johnson and Florence.
Just speaking to people who have been at practice and also readying some reports. I was told that Finney has been really, really good so far.
That’s very interesting, especially since all the scouts said Offord was the most day 1 ready CB in last year’s class, so if Finney is outperforming him to me that just indicates how good Finney is.
