kirklandduck

This has to be basically a throw-in favor for Dylan Raiola. Dayton is listed at 6'1" and 205lbs, no way he plays TE.

Well, looks like stuff is already hitting the fan there. https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/lsu-college-sports-commission-investigation

This one will never get old lol

The "premier football brand in the Pacific Northwest"? Is the author smoking something?

I think it will. He had a ton of 4th, 5th, 6th year veterans that have been in his program (both JMU and Indiana) for years. That much experience in the same offensive/defensive schemes means they knew their roles inside and out, allowing them to execute their responsibilities and easily adjust within their respective boundaries when necessary (and without a lot of prompting). Cig will certainly transfer in additional experienced help through the portal and that does make an impact. But a 5th year player with experience in other programs isn't as ideal as a 5th year guy that's been in his program from the start.

I predict another Jimbo Fisher/ TAM fiasco.

Seattle's not bad, sunny during the day but it freezes at night so I have to salt my driveway and doorsteps every couple days.

I've got mixed feelings about this. I'd be ok with something like a shoulder patch, very minimal. But if they start trotting out players that look like Nascar drivers then 🤮

Love the article! The next season will be interesting as there's much more starting depth returning than the previous season. Echoing the obvious, Dante will need to show continued growth in his ability to read defenses and keep his eyes downfield under pressure. He showed steady improvement over the course of this past season so there's no reason to believe he won't. The big question mark on offense (to me) will be the offensive line. Last season it was good (maybe very good at times) but not elite. In particular the OT spots on both sides. Isaiah World and Alex Harkey overall did well but when facing the best DLs they really did struggle to protect Dante...I view them as high floor/low ceiling guys that kept things generally stable and on a winning path during the regular season but when the CFP came TT and Indiana really worked them over. I hope Coach Dan shores up the line better this time around, before anything else on the offense can be considered the OL needs to be addressed first.

They were the exception not the rule. I surmise it will not be as smooth for them next season as their 5th and 6th year senior starters age out.

I read somewhere that he’s asking $2.5 million, a ton of money for a single lineman. If Oregon gets him I hope he’s worth it!

One thing to seriously consider: Raiola isn't sitting behind a 5 year veteran like Nix or Gabriel to learn from. He's going to be next to a peer that's roughly at the same level of development in their respective careers. OBD better hire one heck of a QB coach soon.

This. Cig has the luxury of a boatload of players that have been in his system for multiple years at JMU. After this season, his roster will start to flux with new people and we'll start to see cracks in the foundation.

This is very true and also puts even more focus on x's and o's from the coaches than ever before.

This is definitely something I've been noodling about (and everyone else should too). A ton of those guys are transfers from JMU where they've played under Cignetti's system for years. When they're gone, who's going to replace them? Curt can bring in other transfers but a 5 year veteran from another program, while a better option than a redshirt underclassman, just isn't the same as someone who's spent their entire collegiate career in the same system. I highly doubt the same magic is going to be there for Indiana next season, they better savor it now.