Projected Starters for 06

[BobCatFan]

I have some thoughts for special teams.

Kicking-Hastings will kick FGs and XPs. Bolton and Fisher will share kickoffs.
Punting-Fisher (I bet he'd be good at punting, too)
Holder-Coppack
Longsnapper-Bostick (he was really good this year)

Returners-Austin and Force will split punt returns and maybe kick returns. They may be too tired to return kicks after playing DB. Look for some WR to come in for kick returns.

Coaching - Need to replace Kramer with a real coach.

[HelenaCat95]

I would predict that we move Big Lou back to the O LIne, we have plenty of depth at D Line, and he could help us best on the offensive side.

I think you might be right. Barring massive injuries/grades, we will have the bodies on the D-Line. I think they will be good.

On the Offense, can you imagine how Groves feels thinking that he may be running behind 6'6" 320 pound Big Lou?? I bet Groves is ready to start the season tomorrow.

[bozbobcat]

I have some thoughts for special teams.

Kicking-Hastings will kick FGs and XPs. Bolton and Fisher will share kickoffs.
Punting-Fisher (I bet he'd be good at punting, too)
Holder-Coppack
Longsnapper-Bostick (he was really good this year)

Returners-Austin and Force will split punt returns and maybe kick returns. They may be too tired to return kicks after playing DB. Look for some WR to come in for kick returns.

Coaching - Need to replace Kramer with a real coach.

I don't think Kramer needs to go yet. I do think he should relinquish the special teams coaching part of the job, get a special teams coach, and focus on leading the overall direction of the team.

[BobcatLionFan]

Ok Bobcat Lion, I'm having a hard time biting my tongue. Do you even watch Bobcat football, or do Texas St. players have the same names as MSU players.

First off Macciola didn't play, red shirt I believe, Secondly I can't remember Barnhart NOT catching a pass thrown to him. Thirdly, If you watched any of the scrimmages you'd have seen that Bolton can boom it as a punter. And lastly Lulay and Boltan did start as freshman and were on a winning team that went to the playoffs after beating the Griz.

Don't let facts get in the way of you pessimism.

Thanks for the help, and I'm all for next year. Not pessimistic (sorry If i sounded that way). I stated the cats will be in the top 3, and I hope the champs. I'm just not ready to assign the D a "A" for next year losing Mac, Nick, Hunter, and Toff. Also I count my chickens when they arrive. I want to see Smith, Davis, and Matakis on the field come conference time. History says we'll see. A knee like Matakis has just doesn't recover and be perfect by magic!!. It's been two years that Smith has been trying to be there. Also, 3 of these guys are 1st team all-conference types. 3 or 4 of the new guys need to be at that level again.

On your points. Macciola did play. Official Stats show 5 games, two assisted tackles and no unassisted tackles for the year before the UM game. (Partiscipation stats shows 7 games entered before the UM game). He is a JC transfer, they typically do not red-shirt for the heck of it. They are here to play, especially if you have injuries like we had. Just wasn't effective. I hope he is next year.

But if what you are saying, we will not need any transfers on the D side. That is good news. That means we can get more quality freshman knowing they will not be needed next year because we're already an A?

On Barnhart, I thought he caught the ball very well and I am more than a Barnhart fan. I also said the TE position does not need to be fixed. There are two other TEs; Bostick and Parker. Barnhart had 18 receptions and Bostick one. Bostick's was for a TD. 18 is actually a very high number of receptions for being the 5th target (behind Gatewood, Murray, Miller, and Guinn) so the output was very good from the TE given the power at WR. If you say they never dropped a ball, OK. But I just remember several being dropped on 3rd downs (In the EWU game 3rd and 19 in the 4th Q, the ball bounced off Barnharts chest down the sideline) and in the PSU game, a ball was dropped by Bostick on 3rd down. I'm probably wrong?? maybe not. But I saw multiple games and they dropped a couple. (but then it might have been Lulay's fault)

As for Bolton booming the ball in practice games. That's great. We then don't have an issue. Didn't see a lot of practice games so I'm sure you are up on that more than I am. You must be right. It's just when Travis was hurt, it was't Bolton. It was Force who stepped in. I've seen a lot about Bolton on the nation and always wondered why he isn't starting. We'll have to see and I hope he is the goods. In either case, I think Hastings is a lock on place kicker for next year (setting an MSU record for fieldgoals this year) and for punting. we'll just have to see. I'm just guessing like most of the other poor guesser on the blog.

And lastly Lulay and Bolton. I agree with you mostly. I said Lulay and Bolton were 4 year starters. But they did not start the first game their Freshman year. Nor the second, nor the third. I believe Lulay started against ISU his first game (about 5 into the season). Bolton started about the same time. But when they started they were TRUE Freshman, which is amazing (especially on the OL). That typically NEVER happens. They were special. Kolone, Hirst, and Jensen were Red Shirt freshman and they started the first game their Freshman year. Still a feat on a winning team.

I do hope you didn't bite off your tough until you got it out. Would hate to hear you had a problem like that. You should actually read the entire thing written until you go ahead and bite.

Have a little patience. Everyone is just putting out their thoughts, however wrong (Mine?) might be. I am waiting for you knowledgible total assesment.

Give my rant another read and you might have a second thought on your thoughts. I actually think and said MSU is going to be good, but the D doesn't get an "A" just for showing up or wishfull thinking. I'm just a cat fan.