MVFC Pre Season All Conference

[ISUBU]

Pre season all conference teams are being announced today and tomorrow. Birds have 4 first team all conference picks and 4 honorable mentions.

Offense released today. Himmelman and Robinson are the first team picks. Megginson and Edgar are honorable mentions.

 

[fourthandshort]

so figure this ... our defense was top 1 or 2 in MVFC, just a smidge behind NDSU in most categories, and was middle of conference in offense overall, both run and pass, though a little higher in run offense than pass ... and we return most of our defense and our offense. Yet we have 4 offensive all conference and zero defensive ... WTF !!!

First will say Luthor Kirk got screwed for sure .. not only was he first in picks per game in MVFC and 2nd in tackles for ISU, but he was listed by at least one credible source as being 6th best NFL prospect in FCS. Second will remind the MVFC voters that Devin Taylor was 2nd in passes defended per game in MVFC, ... and further noting that #'s 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 all graduated !!! How the hell did Taylor not make that cut ? Much less Kirk.

As for our defense overall ... as a unit was #1 in total yards per play, #2 in total yards per game, #1 in rush yards per play, #1 in pass yards per play, #2 in pass yards per game, #2 in pass defense QBR, #2 in opp 1st downs, #3 in opp 3rd down conversions, #2 in opp 4th down conversions, #2 in red zone defense. And we return 8 of 11 startes and most of our 2nd string, plus added a couple nice pieces and should be a bit faster on defense.

Only losses are MLB Matthews, OLB/Jack Harris, Safety Brees, and DB Edwards ... they will be missed, but we have strong replacements plus back ups for all 4 positions .. CB Woods had already taken Edwards spot the last 3 games, so technically only 3 starters lost.

HEY DEFENSE !!!! The rest of conference think NONE OF YOU are good enough for all conference .. not even honorable mention.

I hereby dub the 2019 ISU Redbird defense .... The No Name Defense ... that's ok, the conference will learn many of these names by time season ends.

 

[Redbirds18]

so figure this ... our defense was top 1 or 2 in MVFC, just a smidge behind NDSU in most categories, and was middle of conference in offense overall, both run and pass, though a little higher in run offense than pass ... and we return most of our defense and our offense. Yet we have 4 offensive all conference and zero defensive ... WTF !!!

First will say Luthor Kirk got screwed for sure .. not only was he first in picks per game in MVFC and 2nd in tackles for ISU, but he was listed by at least one credible source as being 6th best NFL prospect in FCS. Second will remind the MVFC voters that Devin Taylor was 2nd in passes defended per game in MVFC, ... and further noting that #'s 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 all graduated !!! How the hell did Taylor not make that cut ? Much less Kirk.

As for our defense overall ... as a unit was #1 in total yards per play, #2 in total yards per game, #1 in rush yards per play, #1 in pass yards per play, #2 in pass yards per game, #2 in pass defense QBR, #2 in opp 1st downs, #3 in opp 3rd down conversions, #2 in opp 4th down conversions, #2 in red zone defense. And we return 8 of 11 startes and most of our 2nd string, plus added a couple nice pieces and should be a bit faster on defense.

Only losses are MLB Matthews, OLB/Jack Harris, Safety Brees, and DB Edwards ... they will be missed, but we have strong replacements plus back ups for all 4 positions .. CB Woods had already taken Edwards spot the last 3 games, so technically only 3 starters lost.

HEY DEFENSE !!!! The rest of conference think NONE OF YOU are good enough for all conference .. not even honorable mention.

I hereby dub the 2019 ISU Redbird defense .... The No Name Defense ... that's ok, the conference will learn many of these names by time season ends.

I believe the defense gets announced tomorrow, likely with 2 first teamers and 2 honorable mentions.

 

[fourthandshort]

so figure this ... our defense was top 1 or 2 in MVFC, just a smidge behind NDSU in most categories, and was middle of conference in offense overall, both run and pass, though a little higher in run offense than pass ... and we return most of our defense and our offense. Yet we have 4 offensive all conference and zero defensive ... WTF !!!

First will say Luthor Kirk got screwed for sure .. not only was he first in picks per game in MVFC and 2nd in tackles for ISU, but he was listed by at least one credible source as being 6th best NFL prospect in FCS. Second will remind the MVFC voters that Devin Taylor was 2nd in passes defended per game in MVFC, ... and further noting that #'s 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 all graduated !!! How the hell did Taylor not make that cut ? Much less Kirk.

As for our defense overall ... as a unit was #1 in total yards per play, #2 in total yards per game, #1 in rush yards per play, #1 in pass yards per play, #2 in pass yards per game, #2 in pass defense QBR, #2 in opp 1st downs, #3 in opp 3rd down conversions, #2 in opp 4th down conversions, #2 in red zone defense. And we return 8 of 11 startes and most of our 2nd string, plus added a couple nice pieces and should be a bit faster on defense.

Only losses are MLB Matthews, OLB/Jack Harris, Safety Brees, and DB Edwards ... they will be missed, but we have strong replacements plus back ups for all 4 positions .. CB Woods had already taken Edwards spot the last 3 games, so technically only 3 starters lost.

HEY DEFENSE !!!! The rest of conference think NONE OF YOU are good enough for all conference .. not even honorable mention.

I hereby dub the 2019 ISU Redbird defense .... The No Name Defense ... that's ok, the conference will learn many of these names by time season ends.

I believe the defense gets announced tomorrow, likely with 2 first teamers and 2 honorable mentions.

ahem ... well this is a little embarrassing

 

[ISUBU]

I believe the defense gets announced tomorrow, likely with 2 first teamers and 2 honorable mentions.

Yes, we still have two first teamers and two honorable mentions to go. Defense for sure, with punter and maybe returners included. Bohlken might make it as punter. Agree that Kirk is a first teamer. Uphoff as a returner? Devin Taylor as a DB? Those seem most likely. We'll find out tomorrow.

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

 

[ISUBU]

I believe the defense gets announced tomorrow, likely with 2 first teamers and 2 honorable mentions.

Yes, we still have two first teamers and two honorable mentions to go. Defense for sure, with punter and maybe returners included. Bohlken might make it as punter. Agree that Kirk is a first teamer. Uphoff as a returner? Devin Taylor as a DB? Those seem most likely. We'll find out tomorrow.

Luther Kirk and Devin Taylor are both first team defensive backs. Christian Uphoff is honorable mention as a return specialist, and John Ridgeway is honorable mention DL. There is only the first team, so honorable mention is like being the second team all conference.

 

[Total Red]

Luther Kirk and Devin Taylor are both first team defensive backs. Christian Uphoff is honorable mention as a return specialist, and John Ridgeway is honorable mention DL. There is only the first team, so honorable mention is like being the second team all conference.

This program has recruited DB's as well as can be expected and maybe better. After the 2017 season Davontae Harris became a 5th round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals. After this past season we lost Willie Edwards as he transferred to Appy St. a FBS program. Despite Edwards leaving a year earlier than expected Redbird Football can still boast two 1st Team DB's in Luther Kirk and Devin Taylor. Kirk has a knack for big plays as he reads QBs very well and Taylor got targeted a lot last season and he proved that he wasn't a weak link that could be picked on. Kirk and Taylor headline a deep crop of DB's. You can drill down to 2nd and 3rd teamers and there are players I wouldn't be afraid to put on the field. The defensive secondary hasn't relied on transfers. Davontae Harris and Willie Edwards were HS recruits. Our entire 2-deep this season will be HS recruits. DB's raised as Redbirds and Ready to Rumble


John Ridgeway doesn't get a shot at big plays like Kirk does but he does like to grab the ball and lumber towards the end zone. Don't give up your defensive job John. If you can occupy two offensive linemen that will do.


So Kirk, Taylor and Ridgeway all deserve recognition but if I were drafting players for the defense my #1 choice would be Romeo McKnight. I may not be the only one that thinks that way. Two players were held out of spring ball. James Robinson and Romeo McKnight. That tells you something. I heard that they both had minor injuries but they were held out largely as a precaution. They could have scrimmaged if necessary but they were considered too valuable. We need McKnight healthy and we need a big year from him. I think it's a joke that he didn't get any preseason recognition but that's fine. I don't want teams to be ready for him.