After a disappointing 2015 what does 2016 look to be?
Some will say, “We were 9-4, how can that be a disappointment?” It’s a disappointment because Memphis started 8-0. They were ranked 13th in the nation.
When you start off the season that hot and then fall flat on your face (1-4) then yes, it is a disappointment. It’s an enormous opportunity missed.
The coaches and players will that they just didn’t get the job done and that the Fuente to VT rumors and Lynch to the NFL rumors didn’t affect their play. But their play will tell you something different.
Fuente is now gone to Virginia Tech taking Coach Shibest, Coach Vice, and Coach Cornelson with him. Paxton Lynch has now declared for the NFL.
There shouldn’t be any more distractions right? You’d hope not.
It’s a new year and it’s time to but that 2015 bad taste out of your mouths and focus on the hope of what is 2016. Hope of new beginnings with new Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell.
All is not lost when looking at the Tiger offense in 2016. Sure, Paxton Lynch will be gone but what do you have coming back? You have a very hungry Brady Davis and an incoming JUCO quarterback Riley Ferguson.
The quarterback battle will be fierce and intense. Both kids can play. Both kids have the ability to be the starter. Both are capable of leading the Tigers.
You have all your running backs coming back. At Receiver you only lose the production from Mose Frazier. Tight End Alan Cross will be missed but you have Jr. Daniel Montiel and RS-Sophomore Robby Young coming back.
The Offensive line is only losing 1 real starter in Left Tackle Taylor Fallin. Look for 6-foot-6 Jace Neville to fill in that spot. Neville was 260 when he got on campus in 2014. He’s now 290. Some will say, “We’re losing Ryan Mack at RT”. Well, Mack only started 3 games. RS Freshman Trevon Tate started 8 times this year and will be back.
So offensively, the only position that is up for question is quarterback. Yes, that a big position to fill but as I said before, Davis and Ferguson are very much capable of leading this team.
We admit that the offensive production may drop a little but I think we can all agree that defensively can’t get any worse in 2016.
There will be a new Defensive Coordinator (hasn’t been named yet) and we’ll have to see what the new DC will implement as far as a formation. Will Memphis still be a 3-4? We will have to wait and see.
Memphis was 77th in overall defense and 114th against the pass. You have to have hope that things will only get better next year.
The Tigers lose Defensive End Ricky Hunter but RS Jr Latarius Brady and RS Sophomore Ernest Suttles will be back.
You only lose 2 Linebackers in Wynton McManis and Leonard Pegues. There’s a great group of core players coming back. Genard Avery, Shareef White and Jackson Dillon are a great group of players that should help solidify the defense.
The biggest question will be the Secondary. It’s been the biggest question for years.
Safety Reggis Ball is the only starting that’s leaving. CB’s Dontrell Nelson, Arthur Maulet and Chauncey Lanier all should improve over the summer.
Then there’s the schedule. It’s manageable and there are at least 6 wins if not more. This team should be bowling next year
The home schedule has 7 games that include Kansas, Bowling Green, SEMO, Houston, USF, Temple and Tulsa.
Looking at that home schedule I would count a minimum of 4 wins. That’s on the light side. But 4-5 wins I would say are expected.
The away schedule includes Ole Miss, Cincy, Navy, SMU, and Tulane. I honestly see 2-3 wins there at a minimum.
There’s a lot of time between now and the start of the season but I’m being conservative in saying there’s at least 6 wins. I would expect more and so should you.
The Tigers should be in contention for the AAC West Division Title. I’m not saying the Tigers will win it but they will be in the discussion. I really don’t see Memphis finishing any worse than they did this year, which is 3rd in the division.
Some will say, “We were 9-4, how can that be a disappointment?” It’s a disappointment because Memphis started 8-0. They were ranked 13th in the nation.
When you start off the season that hot and then fall flat on your face (1-4) then yes, it is a disappointment. It’s an enormous opportunity missed.
The coaches and players will that they just didn’t get the job done and that the Fuente to VT rumors and Lynch to the NFL rumors didn’t affect their play. But their play will tell you something different.
Fuente is now gone to Virginia Tech taking Coach Shibest, Coach Vice, and Coach Cornelson with him. Paxton Lynch has now declared for the NFL.
There shouldn’t be any more distractions right? You’d hope not.
It’s a new year and it’s time to but that 2015 bad taste out of your mouths and focus on the hope of what is 2016. Hope of new beginnings with new Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell.
All is not lost when looking at the Tiger offense in 2016. Sure, Paxton Lynch will be gone but what do you have coming back? You have a very hungry Brady Davis and an incoming JUCO quarterback Riley Ferguson.
The quarterback battle will be fierce and intense. Both kids can play. Both kids have the ability to be the starter. Both are capable of leading the Tigers.
You have all your running backs coming back. At Receiver you only lose the production from Mose Frazier. Tight End Alan Cross will be missed but you have Jr. Daniel Montiel and RS-Sophomore Robby Young coming back.
The Offensive line is only losing 1 real starter in Left Tackle Taylor Fallin. Look for 6-foot-6 Jace Neville to fill in that spot. Neville was 260 when he got on campus in 2014. He’s now 290. Some will say, “We’re losing Ryan Mack at RT”. Well, Mack only started 3 games. RS Freshman Trevon Tate started 8 times this year and will be back.
So offensively, the only position that is up for question is quarterback. Yes, that a big position to fill but as I said before, Davis and Ferguson are very much capable of leading this team.
We admit that the offensive production may drop a little but I think we can all agree that defensively can’t get any worse in 2016.
There will be a new Defensive Coordinator (hasn’t been named yet) and we’ll have to see what the new DC will implement as far as a formation. Will Memphis still be a 3-4? We will have to wait and see.
Memphis was 77th in overall defense and 114th against the pass. You have to have hope that things will only get better next year.
The Tigers lose Defensive End Ricky Hunter but RS Jr Latarius Brady and RS Sophomore Ernest Suttles will be back.
You only lose 2 Linebackers in Wynton McManis and Leonard Pegues. There’s a great group of core players coming back. Genard Avery, Shareef White and Jackson Dillon are a great group of players that should help solidify the defense.
The biggest question will be the Secondary. It’s been the biggest question for years.
Safety Reggis Ball is the only starting that’s leaving. CB’s Dontrell Nelson, Arthur Maulet and Chauncey Lanier all should improve over the summer.
Then there’s the schedule. It’s manageable and there are at least 6 wins if not more. This team should be bowling next year
The home schedule has 7 games that include Kansas, Bowling Green, SEMO, Houston, USF, Temple and Tulsa.
Looking at that home schedule I would count a minimum of 4 wins. That’s on the light side. But 4-5 wins I would say are expected.
The away schedule includes Ole Miss, Cincy, Navy, SMU, and Tulane. I honestly see 2-3 wins there at a minimum.
There’s a lot of time between now and the start of the season but I’m being conservative in saying there’s at least 6 wins. I would expect more and so should you.
The Tigers should be in contention for the AAC West Division Title. I’m not saying the Tigers will win it but they will be in the discussion. I really don’t see Memphis finishing any worse than they did this year, which is 3rd in the division.
