The CheckerBoard

We won't struggle to replace Waggner or Lathers. They are both average players. Lathers had a hell of a game today but him and AJ are to slow. You can afford to have 1 slow LB not 2 on the field.

We will not miss Waggner. Once Bonner and Gray learn they playbook they will be fine, they are more athletic then Waggner.

I'm with drizzle. Thomas is the only one we will "miss".

Because leadership played such a huge role this year. We are 3-5.

You didn't even read the thread, obviously... you just made my point. There are very few seniors to speak of to lead this year. It's a MAJOR issue. Depth, experience, it is what we've been missing these last few years. It's why we're losing the close ones now! Thank you for helping me with that one.

Seniors are not the only ones that can lead.

Most look to the QB, and others look to a LB (take M.T. at ND for example). I believe that H. Lathers was the guy that almost all of the D looks to for leadership. Followed closely by AJ, CM, and maybe JS. The O has to look at some of the line for leadership--ZF,Stone, Tiny, and maybe MR?

Leadership has been a problem for couple years, what do you think makes it get better after these couple of seniors are gone?

We haven't had any upperclassmen the entire Dooley regime. That was the OP's point. Next year, we will finally have a decent sized, talented senior class. For the most part, you get your leadership, experience and even depth from your seniors. He hasn't had that luxury.

Easy answer=just watch the coaches show from the msu game--the TD watch as 71 comes out and chooses not to hit either of the two defenders. I get tired of watching him swing and miss.

I get that the run game is better, I also get that it could be much better if he did his JOB.

I have also watched on pass protection he is the gap that the blitz comes through on the majority of the blitzs-sack no-throw aways by QB yes or hurries by QB, or back foot throws across his body that get picked.

Just watch him and see what grade you would give him.

Rocky I get what you and he are saying, we knew that CPF's and CLK's guys were not leaders--the board has said numerous times that CPF's classes were way overrated and not that good. That showed with what CLK walked into. Then CLK had bones thugs and harmony as a class that did not survive a full year no leadership there as well. We had to depend on Freshman for leadership CDD's first year and Freshman/Sophmores next (with DR in that group and you see where he is at). I am saying the Defense has more leaders and most are going to be Jr's. The O-Line will be in the best spot for more leadership.

The last two years it was we are young and going to make mistakes--I am sorry that QB is not a leadership spot that is vocal on this team-maybe he leads in practice IDK but he is not a rah rah guy. That is where most people look for the leader.

I do know this, in the UGA/FLA game it looked like a hard hitting hard chargin game on both sides-passion, toughness, and determination. Watching the Vols was not like that game at all. I don't know what it is that was missing but I do know that one game had a brand of football that is what I used to see on the hill and the other did not.

One of the stories posted / written was about the close games we used to win, that was a long time ago and I remember a bunch of them. I remember the way we flew around on the field on both sides of the ball. Maybe that is what I am missing and we are a great team I just don't realize it. But I do know this 0-5 the last three years is a bunch of something I don't want anymore. Having to beat KY to get bowl eligible is not what I want anymore as well. Sick of moral victories from CLK, talk of 1/2 wins from anyone, and most of all just loosing.