The Lions' Pride

D. Thomas has to really step it up this year. Willis, Wallace, Stephen Obeng-A, and other senior DB's also better be ready to play this year and at a high level. We also have to hope we have no real injuries or else a ton of frosh will be on the field. I'm hoping Lucas surprises us much like Amos did.

I may sound dumb here. But I think I figured out what "FWIW" means. It means "For what its worth". Am I correct? I've seen you guys use it alot on and never knew what it meant.

Ya nailed it! wtg

There are quite a few the past few years it took me some time figuring out. Take it as a challenge and refuse to use google for acronyms. Daily brain teasers sometimes haha

1. Not yet.
2. They will try, but it's going to take more time than one offseason. I think we'll be pleased with the general framework of the scheme, even if it isn't executed perfectly yet.
3. We'll see improvement, but I'm not sure if one specific individual will emerge as 'the guy'. I still think it will be a committee approach in 2012.
4. They'll be better than last year, and decent overall.
5. Like the DE's, I still see a committee approach. Of the guys who could be a big play threat, I'll say Robinson, Kenney, and perhaps Lewis are most likely. But, I don't think any member of the group will be a stand-out performer.
6. No. First four are good...one significant injury or academic casualty and we're in enormous trouble.

Yeah I dont really see what Quarterbacks in the B1G or on our schedule period that you look at and say... "man that guy can really throw the ball around!" If there was a year to have an untested secondary... this really seems like the one.

Whos the best passer on our schedule? O'Brien?

pretty much my thoughts on the matter

1. No, not this year or at least not until 5-6 games into the season. Bolden and McGloin showed the same issues in the spring as they always have and PJ is just too inexperience right now. Maybe after a few games he could become more in the flow.

2. Not this year, no QB means teams will crowd the line and right now there is no consistant deep threat. Brown is a good possesion receiver but without deep speed, Smith drops to many balls and falls down too much.

3. Not this year but next year. Massaro is coming off his second ACL and from watching Hayes come back from his second showed how much explossion is lost with those types of injuries, fear the same with Mauti. Barnes and CJO just don't have the reps to make an impact yet, but in 2013 maybe. Stanley is good but not great and not having Still to demand double teams will have an effect.

4. The will be ok but far from special. They are just to inexpereinced. It takes time to jell and get up to game speed and with four new starters, only one who has see significant game time, it will show. The struggled against a base defense in the BW game what happens with numerous looks from opponents?

5. Hopefully Robinson, too much to ask of TEs. Gilliam missed 18 months and James is a TR FR, not fair to expect much this yeare from them.

6. Who knows? Do we have four players who could start? Is there a fifth to play nickle? The secondary is beyond scary, and not in a good way.

It is going to be a long year. There just isn't the talent to be that good, hopefully we can surprise some teams but I fear something similar to 2000/2001, but not 2003-04 bad.

Nope, same name I have always had. This was always going to be a tought year, even before all the issues arose. Please point out what is so unfair or unrealatistic in my analysis.

1) Yes, I think with the changing of the guard at the QB coaching position will actually make a BIG difference. Just wait and see. Let's face it....JayPa was terrible. Whether it's McGloin of PJ, our starting QB will be lightyears ahead of what any of our QB's have been since Kerry Collins.

2) Most certainly. I think the new offensive mindset and "pro style" offense will not only help this year but also in recruiting and development down the line at well. I think we'll see a more wide open offense, different looks/schemes to keep the defense guessing.

3) I'm going to say yes to this as well. I think our DE's will have a big year. We are do for a big year from that position since it's been a few years since we've had at least one dominant pass rusher off the edge on defense. Barnes excites me the most. He looks to have benefited greatly from the new S&C program and that was only with a month or two under his belt. Stanley has plenty of experience as does Massaro too but he's coming off a leg injury. I'm hopeful that CJO will be a surprise as well.

4) The strength (no pun intended) of our OL solely depends on the new S&C program, IMO. That's what has separated our OL from dominating games for the longest time. Now that we have Fitz2 at the helm leading our S&C program, the guys in the trenches will benefit the most from his new style, IMO. I think we will definitely see an improvement this season from the past but I'm expecting even bigger strides in year 2 and beyond. I do question how long Coach Mac sticks around (just a gut instinct).

5) This is a tricky question to answer but an interesting one, to say the least. I really liked what I saw from Jesse James in the B/W game but I know that can't be weighed too heavily in the grand scheme of things. I would like to think Gilliam and Haplea will make some plays at TE but I'm not so sure. It seems like the ball will be spread around quite a bit in this offense. Gilliam is coming off of a knee injury too but he seems to have responded well with the new S&C program.

6) Honestly, I'm not banking on our secondary too much, especially anything after our starters. We will be extremely inexperienced. Kinda scary actually........