[Schfourteenteen]

[quote=""R" i ""]Will he start this year?

If he was good enough to sign with UVA and WVU then I have a feeling he'll start. Especially since our D-line is somewhat of a question mark right now.[/quote]

Just because he could have signed with a big team doesnt mean he can beat out a Junior or Senior the minute he steps on campus.

Let him redshirt so he can get his work done as well as get a full year getting ultrahuge.

And I was told he opted out of WVU after Rodriguez went to Michigan, not grades. Maybe someone who knows what theyre talking about can clarify that

[RagingTireFire]

I'll say it: unless something happens to Colin Dugan, Chapman isn't starting. In a 3-4, there's only one DT on the field at a time and Dugan is certainly no slouch as well as being a team captain. Robertson also isn't a guarantee either.

[JK37]

It's hard to fathom not being able to make the grades just to enter WVU where a couple administrators recently resigned for handing out a degree to a person who did not show up for class.

isolated situation .. governor's daughter! .. president garrison is in trouble for it a bit, but some others in his office will end up taking the fall.

[coolhandluke]

I'll say it: unless something happens to Colin Dugan, Chapman isn't starting. In a 3-4, there's only one DT on the field at a time and Dugan is certainly no slouch as well as being a team captain. Robertson also isn't a guarantee either.

I'm not saying that he will start over Dugan, but I think he will see time there. Maybe we will run some 4-3 and he will be the other DT. Or maybe Dugan will move to DE? He's not too slow or too big to play DE.

[jcmanson]

I believe most of our nickel packages were with 4 down lineman, I may be wrong though.

[BJWilliams]

well we've got just over a week more to speculate and then the rubber meets the road if you will.

[RagingTireFire]

If the rubber is meeting the road then someone is practicing in the wrong place.

[BJWilliams]

haha...you know what I mean RTF...itll be great to see the boys getting started over in the stadium next weekend

[Schfourteenteen]

[I have a feeling he'll start.

I believe they will be the best talent we have on the D-line this year and therefore I believe they will start.

I'm not saying that he will start

[RagingTireFire]

Or maybe Dugan will move to DE?

He's 6'0 290. That ain't a DE.

[Chris Lang]

Dugan has the perfect body type and skill set to play nose in the 3-4, and I don't see any way he moves to end. Rocco absolutely loves this kid.

[coolhandluke]

[I have a feeling he'll start.

I believe they will be the best talent we have on the D-line this year and therefore I believe they will start.

I'm not saying that he will start

They will start whoever proves himself to be the best. If we use 4 linemen, we could have both of those guys in there on the inside. That would be exciting. All I was trying to say was maybe he won't start, but if he is as good as I think he will be, he will be seeing a lot of time there.

As you guys know, I am a believer in playing the best player we have for every position, regardless of their status as a senior or as a captain. If Chapman is better than Dugan, we should start him. I know I will get crap for this, just like I did for the Brock crap, but you always play your best players. If Dugan or Brock are not pulling their weight, we have guys who can step in and take their starting jobs. The pressure of competing for the starting job will make every player work harder and be a better player.

[olldflame]

Don't forget we also have Ryan Jackson coming in, who was a stud NT in HS. With him coming off multiple torn knee ligaments/tendons he may be redshirted, but I have a feeling fan00 may have a different perspective on that.

[RagingTireFire]

[I have a feeling he'll start.

I believe they will be the best talent we have on the D-line this year and therefore I believe they will start.

I'm not saying that he will start

They will start whoever proves himself to be the best.

So it's up to the coaches to determine that? Novel concept.

[Hold My Own]

My dad just spoke to RJ...it sounds like he'll be redshirted...but that's pure speculation after speaking with him

[coolhandluke]

They will start whoever proves himself to be the best. [/quote]

So it's up to the coaches to determine that? Novel concept.[/quote]

[Schfourteenteen]

My dad just spoke to RJ...it sounds like he'll be redshirted...but that's pure speculation after speaking with him

My guess looks better than everybody elses!

[SuperJon]

All I was trying to say was maybe he won't start, but if he is as good as I think he will be, he will be seeing a lot of time there.

I don't chime in very often on stuff like this, but what makes you think he will be better than Dugan? Have you seen him? Have you heard of him before this thread? I'm honestly asking what this opinion is based off of.

[Stevev]

Since the line was pretty weak last year (At least that is the perception) then all positions on the line are open to the player with the most talent or the player who performs the best in practice. Simple as that. Just because they started last year doesn't automatically mean they are going to improve.

[Hold My Own]

My dad just spoke to RJ...it sounds like he'll be redshirted...but that's pure speculation after speaking with him

My guess looks better than everybody elses!

I was speakin about Jackson


I dont see how we could redshirt Asa...if we do our program is as good as it gets as far as depth goes...my pops just ran into Asa as well to and he's really excited how things are working out, and they have him playing nose guard and a good program to make sure his academics are priority 1

[SuperJon]

Especially since our D-line is somewhat of a question mark right now.

since the D Line was weak last year.

Since the line was pretty weak last year (At least that is the perception)

You guys that say this obviously didn't pay attention last year. Two of our three starters on the DL last year were all-conference.

Our defense was first in rushing defense, 2nd in total defense, 2nd in sacks.

Steve Ackley was 2nd in tackles and Colin Dugan was third in tackles among defensive linemen in the conference. Ackley was third in tackles for loss among defensive linemen.

Yeah, our D-line sucked.

[coolhandluke]

All I was trying to say was maybe he won't start, but if he is as good as I think he will be, he will be seeing a lot of time there.

I don't chime in very often on stuff like this, but what makes you think he will be better than Dugan? Have you seen him? Have you heard of him before this thread? I'm honestly asking what this opinion is based off of.

Had you heard of him before he decided to come to LU? I looked him up when I saw this thread. He looks like he is going to be a beast. I mean, maybe he won't be very good, but the fact that UVA and WVU both signed him tells me he is a big time prospect. If he lives up to that then it would be foolish not to use him this year, especially when our line is pretty weak. Dugan is good, but if you have and ACC caliber D-linemen coming in... you play him!

I know you disagree with me here, but I think its dumb not to play someone like that. Now if he comes in here and he is not as good as everyone thought he would be then Dugan will stay our guy. But if he out performs him, then he should earn the starting job.

I love Kemoeatu, the DT for the Carolina Panthers, but if we drafted a guy like Sedrick Ellis, I would expect him to come in and start. Some people are all about experience, but I think taking chances with talented youth could pay off.

So yeah, I am not saying that Chapman should automatically start over Dugan, but if he earns the spot he should get it, regardless of Dugan's senior and captain status. YOU ALWAYS PLAY THE BEST PLAYER!

[SuperJon]

See Luke, this is what you don't understand. Sometimes people can be more talented than another player, and have more raw skill, and not be the person you want to play. Asa Chapman may be the most talented NG we have. I don't know that. However, he doesn't know the defense like Colin Dugan, he hasn't been in the weight room and isn't in the same physical shape as Colin Dugan, and isn't at the same level of Colin Dugan, yet. Will he possibly be great one day? Absolutely, anything's possible. However, there's a lot more that goes into who plays and who doesn't than just sheer talent.

[coolhandluke]

See Luke, this is what you don't understand. Sometimes people can be more talented than another player, and have more raw skill, and not be the person you want to play. Asa Chapman may be the most talented NG we have. I don't know that. However, he doesn't know the defense like Colin Dugan, he hasn't been in the weight room and isn't in the same physical shape as Colin Dugan, and isn't at the same level of Colin Dugan, yet. Will he possibly be great one day? Absolutely, anything's possible. However, there's a lot more that goes into who plays and who doesn't than just sheer talent.

Yeah, I agree. But what I was saying was if he performs better than Dugan, he should get the job... period. Obviously Dugan knows the system better and has the experience and leadership. But if Chapman learns the system and is executing better than Dugan, he should atleast split time with him.

[Chris Lang]

To automatically assume an "ACC level player" is going to beat out anybody who is already in the program is treacherous. Kent Hicks and Ryan Best are perfect examples. Hicks was average at best last year despite signing at Virginia Tech; and Best was very good when used in certain situations but wasn't steady enough to earn a starting role.

People say the same things about the kid who transferred from Miami to Coastal to play QB. Well, if he was good enough to go to Miami, he should win the starting job, right? (Is he even still there?) Or the QB who went from Clemson to Chuck South. Same deal. Sometimes you'll get talents like Rashad Jennings and Vince Redd, who are clearly superior to the level of competition in the Big South. Sometimes you get FBS transfers who have a minimum level of impact. But to just say "he's FBS, he should start right away" is not always the right conclusion.