Three Reasons App State Can Win the Sun Belt in 2015

[SouthernPigskin]

Given the current environment and set of circumstances around the program, there is plenty of reason to believe that App State will contend for a Sun Belt title in 2015.

http://www.southernpigskin.com/sun-belt ... -sun-belt/

[diehardapp18]

I think anything less may be a slight disappointment for a lot of us

[AppFan11]

I would put#3. The schedule... We play all the meaningful games in Boone. #4. Taylor Lamb #5. Marcus Cox. Should be an awesome season.

[bigdaddyg]

In addition to the starters returning our huge depth would be a top 5 or 6 reason IMO. While we list 20 guys as returning starters we will probaby shuffle the deck before the beginning of next season. Running back and receiver depth will have to be about as good as we have had it in years. I hope we are also in good shape QB wise with very capable reserves.

[Saint3333]

#1 - improve special teams.

If the incoming freshman kicker is as good as his national ranking and we insert some of this redshirt freshman in return and key defensive special teams roles that could be the biggest improvement over last year.

[hapapp]

#1 - improve special teams.

If the incoming freshman kicker is as good as his national ranking and we insert some of this redshirt freshman in return and key defensive special teams roles that could be the biggest improvement over last year.

Spring practice reports suggest that Matics was the best kicker in camp.

[ASUPATCH]

#1 - improve special teams.

If the incoming freshman kicker is as good as his national ranking and we insert some of this redshirt freshman in return and key defensive special teams roles that could be the biggest improvement over last year.

Spring practice reports suggest that Matics was the best kicker in camp.

This is not good news. Status qou in the kicking game will cost us a game or two.

[AppGrad78]

#1 - improve special teams.

If the incoming freshman kicker is as good as his national ranking and we insert some of this redshirt freshman in return and key defensive special teams roles that could be the biggest improvement over last year.

Spring practice reports suggest that Matics was the best kicker in camp.

This is not good news.

... or maybe he's recovered from an injury.

[firemoose]

#1 - improve special teams.

If the incoming freshman kicker is as good as his national ranking and we insert some of this redshirt freshman in return and key defensive special teams roles that could be the biggest improvement over last year.

Spring practice reports suggest that Matics was the best kicker in camp.

This is not good news. Status qou in the kicking game will cost us a game or two.

If you read all the practice reports from all sites they mention two things about Matics. One was he had improved his hang time, distance, and placement on kickoffs from last year, which is a good thing if that continues. The second thing that was mentioned in several reports was that last year his FG problems weren't as much during practice but in game yips. Combined with the limited outdoor practice and the fact that Rubino is here and will be working on S & C for the full program just like the rest of the team I think I'll withhold judgement until fall camp comes around and we see exactly how the chart takes shape.

[hapapp]

The coaches were apparently pleased with both his distance and placement. That's not to say that Rubino won't move to the front come Fall.

[ASUPATCH]

In the words of Allen Iverson, "we talkin bout practice?".

[Saint3333]

Competition brings out the best in everyone.

[Yosef84]

Everyone was frustrated with the kicking game last year, but we had an almost perfect storm (negative) in that area. Matics had a bad game, his holder got injured, chemistry/timing was gone from there so chances are recovery were slim. Then Matics got injured himself.

Matics has a good leg. If he has his head on straight, an off season could be huge. Now we have another kicker pushing him, so I expect significant improvement in the kicking game next year. Let's see what the Fall brings.

[bigdaddyg]

I can't get overly excited about a freshman kicker and temper expectations. For one, how many FG's did Rubino make in his HS career? Maybe I need to watch his highlights again because I possibly missed something but I don't recall seeing him make a FG. I recall a few onside kicks, several fairly deep kickoffs (now add 5 more yards), and I think some punts? I am not knocking the kid by any means but until he, or any kicker lines up in a game, say at Clemson, and knocks one through the uprights I will not hold my breath. There are tons of guys who look great in practice without the added pressure of television, thousands of screaming fans and the stress of having to make a kick in a crucial time of the game. Have to believe that Matics has the ability to be a D1 kicker. It mostly comes down to between the ears.

[AtlAppMan]

FG kickers are like baseball closers, you have to have the basic skills but mostly it is a mental game. Last season is old news and this season is a fresh start so maybe that can help Matics move forward. But having multiple options is our best strategy which looks like what we finally have now.

[appchicago]

FG kickers are like baseball closers, you have to have the basic skills but mostly it is a mental game. Last season is old news and this season is a fresh start so maybe that can help Matics move forward. But having multiple options is our best strategy which looks like what we finally have now.

Amen to that. We were lucky that Critcher was there to save our bacon last season, but I like to see options.

[sixtoes9134]

Kicking cost us at least two games last year and I would like to believe with Bentlee back punting only and kicking game being more solid we shouldn't have this issue.

Depth on roster should present more options for better special teams, overall.

But, I think, in general we need to temper our enthusiasm.

1. The traditional Sun Belt power schools will be coming for us and would love nothing more than to return the favor of a loss in Boone (Ark State, ULL, specifically). ULM will be tough on road.
2. GS will not experience as much of a drop off as some think, despite OL and Senior losses. They still will have a very dynamic offense.
4. South Alabama may be the wild card, imho.
3. Team health - gotta have good luck here.

That said, I'm pumped for Fall camp to arrive.

[moehler]

we will probably be favored in every game except Clemson, however, most of those games will be by a touchdown or less, barring injuries or a knuckle head getting kicked off the team we are going to be really good, I could see us anywhere from 10-2 to 6-6. Going to have some really exciting games being decided in the last 3 minutes.

[bigdaddyg]

With our depth coming into next fall injuries will have to be significant to cause serious issues. We can't discount the fact that other stronger programs in the SB still recruit just like we do and I'm sure many of them also redshirted kids but that being said, based on our finish coupled with the fact that we definitely would have won two more games without the kicking nightmares. Anything less than a 9-3 season would be a real let down. Clemson will be a huge challenge and you never know but at this point with our program a "good loss" would not be so bad. There is always the real probability of a tough road loss to someone like ULM. The third could be a "lay and egg" game where we just didn't come to play. Hopefully we can avoid both of the last two scenarios and by all means don't drop the GS home game. Can't wait.

[asutrnr81]

IMHO....the number one reason we will be good and hopefully better than last year......the "relative stability" of the coaching staff. To only have ONE major piece leave when it could have been 3 is a minor miracle!

With success this will not be the case down the road.

As for Rubino.....IF he gets in the weight room he should get better but from what I saw 3 different practices.....he had a ways to go to catch Matix.

Healthy and confidence go a long way!