Wow, I like the fact that we will have a very strong team this year but an even better one the following year. We will lose only three projected starters off this chart. That shows me a lot of potential and I am excited.

4 since I bet Tolar will play center and JWF will stay at LG. Only 1 on defense (Forrester)!!!!

2009 looks like a rose bowl contending team, unfortunately tye may not have the opportunity if they can't win 6 or 7 games this year.

Bob, did I miss a position change recently? When did D. Matthews move to DT?

IMO he's undersized to be playing DT and trying to tie up the OL in stopping the run. He'd be better suited at DE and utilize his speed to rush the QB. I don't get it.

I was excited for this guy to play DE since the day we signed him. He looked the type to be a true pass rusher from the outside and give the opposing QB trouble.

I think they are hoping that Matthews can put on about 15 lbs over the summer. I think that would put him around 270 or so....but I agree it doesn't seem like a good idea to have him at DT. I don't think that move is set in stone yet...I believe it was a spring experiment. Bob may have more information on that one.

Bob, I'm not positive on this but I think that Shaw is a starting WR ahead of Logan then Aguilar and not a backup SB behind Polk. Although I think he will play both positions. I could be wrong but I think thats the way I saw it on Saturday.

A near void of upperclassmen. We can talk about this year and the next, but sustained success won't occur until later recruiting classes have members replacing starters/top subs from '08.

I do think that we're on the correct path, but nearly all the football that matters is left to be played.

Two things about the above that I like a lot...one is the dramatic uptick in speed represented, and the other is the potential for the return for the rotation to return to a "meritacracy" rather than a seniority-based decision. There's really not much choice.

I'm hoping that there will be enough time during fall camp to utilize some of the incoming frosh to create a legitimate 3-4. I'd love for one of them to emerge as a dominant nose guard that all DC's would have to take into account in their plans. That, btw, is one of the reasons to have people like Mathews to be trained to be flexible, being able to look like one defense when they break huddle, only to line up in something different.

Can't help but hope that the end of the UO game feels like a great Christmas. I'm really tired of hoping for upsets, and it's way past time to win as favorites.

A lot can change during the summer so I wouldn't read too much into this depth chart, plus it's Bob's take on it so it's not like it's an official release from the team.

I thought Tyrone Duncan was gonna be a DT? I didn't know he moved to DE. Does he have the quickness and pass rushing abilities? I like Aiyewa and Nate solidifying the safety spots. They are gonna be a dynamic duo for 2-3 years. I'm also excited for the size at CB with Quinton and Forrester.

And please get Charles Hawkings off the field. He looked terrible. I hope the young WR's step it up, especially Anthony "string bean" Boyles.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/739043.html

I could see Matthews and Duncan as DEs in the 3-4 if Wood, Kirton, and ta'amu were the nose tackles. However, our defensive personnel seems quite a bit better suited to the 4-3 this year.

Bob, Interesting that you have Aguilar ahead of Logan at WR. Logan ran with the first team at the scrimmage and caught both passes thrown his way. I am sure the recievers will all substitute quite a bit but I think Logan brings something to the mix with his size. Aguilar definitely has good height and athleticism though. I think we will definitely see Goodwin and Polk the most, followed by Shaw, then Logan and Aguilar, and more and more Boyles as he gets in college football shape.

Despite the drops, I like the athleticism and speed at WR, which is a change from the past. It's gotta help Jake to have more open targets instead of guys that are blanketed.

There's even more talent coming in the fall. I can't wait to see where people like Thompson, Ta Amu, Middleton, Kearse, Bruns, Noble, Fogerson and the like fall in. Don't look too much into the spring game. The defense is better, but Locker was limited to what he could do and we didn't have a starting or back up running back. The D is better, no question, but there is room for other people to come in and make it better !.

I'm very excited for Fall as well. The D-line talent coming in is very impressive with the likes of Ta'amu, Noble, Thompson, and Kelimente could call figure into a nice DL rotation. I saw Thompson at the game and he is huge. Our linebacking corp is very solid and we finally, finally are getting some quality depth in the secondary. The defense will be much better...heck even marginal improvement over last year's debacle will amount 2 or 3 more wins alone.

Imagine our depth after another full recruiting class...'08 is going to be fun to see these young guys on the field, but '09 is going to be an absolute blast!

Savannah certainly needs to be the starter ahead of Gage and i'm nearly 100% positive that the only receivers who did not drop a pass thrown to them were Polk, Aguilar and Logan; goodwin, boyles, hawkins all dropped balls though goodwin did make up for it with the TD. play the guys that don't drop the football. Bruns (the incoming frosh) is the all time WA high school record holder for catches so i'm hoping he can be a go to 3rd down receiver to help move the chains. I also think Middleton will be a factor at TE, he's a freak athletically. Things are looking up. I also would like to see Ta'amu in at DT ahead of deshon matthews. A bowl game this year and a real good bowl game in 2009-10

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3371812&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2

I dont understand why you have Savannah on Gage's side. He is is the backup to Mason right now, and played that side all of spring and the whole spring game.

On the WRS -- I went with how they were listed on the depth chart we got Saturday. Logan and Shaw were listed as backups. But they will rotate so liberally that it really doesn't matter. On the LBs, UW fan has a point. However, I really struggle with the fact that the three best LBs have to be Foster, Savannah and either Butler or Tui in the middle. So I would think that's how they would eventually go. But maybe not.

On Matthews --- It was pretty well publicized that he has moved to DT and for now, that's where they plan to keep him --- that's what they said, anyway. As for Duncan, he as listed as a DE on Saturday and that's where he appeared to play.

There might be more interchangable parts in this new defense. Guys like Duncan, Matthews, and Kirton could line up inside or out. Even Teo Nesheim has had some inside looks in the past.

Savanah, Foster, Stevens and some of the other linebackers could line up at SLB or WLB or even ILB.

We already know that our corners are safety size so there could be some interchangable aspects of the back end as well.

Remember the days when SS Tommie Smith would line up at ILB and ILB Chico Fraley would man up a receiver one on one?

I'm really hoping that Victor Aiyewa gets to start this year. I encourage everyone to see his interview on gohuskies.com, he is really motivated to hit and hit hard on defense. Outside of his desire, he has the talent and as bob mentioned, is standing out as an aggressive defensive player.

Btown --- That's a very good point as we saw more varied looks from the defense in the spring game than we usually saw from the team in a real game last season. Trenton Tui lining up at D-end, for instance, and as you said Te'o-Nesheim lining up at D-tackle in some formations. I do think it's going to be much more about finding the best 11 players for that week's game plan than we've seen in the past few seasons, and there will be more variability and flexibility in roles.

great article jaydee.

thunder and lighting, coming soon to a stadium near you!

Hey Bob, great stuff here. A question I'd like to pose is about the team intangibles out there? Are there any "leadership" personalities emerging? In interviews Te'O Neisheim comes across as kind of quiet . . . is he becoming more vocal or is he leading more by example? Does Tripper Johnson's maturity and approach to life help the other kids? Who keeps things balanced in locker room? Is there a lighter/fun side that draws the team together? Is there someone who brings perspective to the team (or is that the coaches job?)?