@kelly_32 I dunno. Rourke and Mendoza had/have high floors, so they weren't/aren't prone to game-altering mistakes. Sellers might have a crazy upside, but he lays eggs quite often.

Cig would spontaneously combust when LS does stupid LS things. Doesn't seem like a fit ... at any price.

Isn't the portal open when the playoffs are still going? That will make it difficult to recruit while you are trying to prepare for a game. There is no spring portal window either. 

I wouldn't spend big on a QB and go find a solid group of 5 QB to compete with Alberto. I think Alberto is ready to take over.

Lots of lineman. Both sides.

I'd want an experienced QB from G5 that is okay being a backup.

I'd want one RB to be able to trade snaps with Martin (and Beebe if he's able to come back).  We've got some younger RBs, but the depth of one additional known productive guy would be useful.

I could see us bringing in a couple WRs.  I'm not sure they're 100% necessary, but it won't hurt.  I don't think Omar leaves this year and I think he could have a special year next year if the QB is able to get him the ball.  Returning guys would be Omar, Becker, & Bond.  And I think WR is one of those positions where it's relatively easier to find guys who can be productive at the college level.

At least need a couple of DBs.  We've got some guys returning that have played, but we don't want to be super thin on the back end.  I don't know that we need "stars" here.

We DO need stars at DL.  Looks like Tucker & Landino have more eligibility.  But a lot of proven guys don't and a lot of unproven guys in the pipeline.

Feel good enough at LB with Jones, Utzinger, Turner, & Hardy all back.

Probably an OL or two.  Personally, I think Carter leaves if he's projected as 3rd round or better.  I think that would leave us with Evan Lawrence, Drew Evans, Adedamola Ajani, Bray Lynch, & ??? in the starting 5 among guys who have had any kind of significant snaps.  I'd leave it up to the coaches to decide whether the younger guys have developed enough.  But most of them are Fr or RS-Fr.  A couple veterans wouldn't hurt.  Carter coming back would be big though.

DEFINTELY need a couple TEs.

It seems we're going to need everything.

Maybe in years 4 or 5 of Cig we'll have enough high school classes assimilated and developed such that the portal classes can be reduced.

The nice thing is with this staff I don't have to worry, I can just watch and learn.

Posted by: @pazhoosier

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Isn’t the portal open when the playoffs are still going?

Yes, the portal closes before the playoffs end. They should do away with the CCG games, and remove one of the bye weeks, and they could end the season on time instead of dragging it out like this causing enrollment issues. Last year you had the backup QB for Penn St transfer out in the middle of the playoffs because of the timing, its just dumb. 

Part of why I hope we get a bye is not just for player rest, but so that the coaches have a little more time to evaluate the portal. The first playoff game is December 19, the first quarter final game is December 31. 

Posted by: @tmft

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I'd want an experienced QB from G5 that is okay being a backup.

I'd want one RB to be able to trade snaps with Martin (and Beebe if he's able to come back).  We've got some younger RBs, but the depth of one additional known productive guy would be useful.

I could see us bringing in a couple WRs.  I'm not sure they're 100% necessary, but it won't hurt.  I don't think Omar leaves this year and I think he could have a special year next year if the QB is able to get him the ball.  Returning guys would be Omar, Becker, & Bond.  And I think WR is one of those positions where it's relatively easier to find guys who can be productive at the college level.

At least need a couple of DBs.  We've got some guys returning that have played, but we don't want to be super thin on the back end.  I don't know that we need "stars" here.

We DO need stars at DL.  Looks like Tucker & Landino have more eligibility.  But a lot of proven guys don't and a lot of unproven guys in the pipeline.

Feel good enough at LB with Jones, Utzinger, Turner, & Hardy all back.

Probably an OL or two.  Personally, I think Carter leaves if he's projected as 3rd round or better.  I think that would leave us with Evan Lawrence, Drew Evans, Adedamola Ajani, Bray Lynch, & ??? in the starting 5 among guys who have had any kind of significant snaps.  I'd leave it up to the coaches to decide whether the younger guys have developed enough.  But most of them are Fr or RS-Fr.  A couple veterans wouldn't hurt.  Carter coming back would be big though.

DEFINTELY need a couple TEs.

Cooper is being talked about as a day 2 kid for the upcoming draft.

If he gets a grade like that, I'd have a hard time imagining he'd come back.

Posted by: @tmft

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I'd want an experienced QB from G5 that is okay being a backup.

I'd want one RB to be able to trade snaps with Martin (and Beebe if he's able to come back).  We've got some younger RBs, but the depth of one additional known productive guy would be useful.

I could see us bringing in a couple WRs.  I'm not sure they're 100% necessary, but it won't hurt.  I don't think Omar leaves this year and I think he could have a special year next year if the QB is able to get him the ball.  Returning guys would be Omar, Becker, & Bond.  And I think WR is one of those positions where it's relatively easier to find guys who can be productive at the college level.

At least need a couple of DBs.  We've got some guys returning that have played, but we don't want to be super thin on the back end.  I don't know that we need "stars" here.

We DO need stars at DL.  Looks like Tucker & Landino have more eligibility.  But a lot of proven guys don't and a lot of unproven guys in the pipeline.

Feel good enough at LB with Jones, Utzinger, Turner, & Hardy all back.

Probably an OL or two.  Personally, I think Carter leaves if he's projected as 3rd round or better.  I think that would leave us with Evan Lawrence, Drew Evans, Adedamola Ajani, Bray Lynch, & ??? in the starting 5 among guys who have had any kind of significant snaps.  I'd leave it up to the coaches to decide whether the younger guys have developed enough.  But most of them are Fr or RS-Fr.  A couple veterans wouldn't hurt.  Carter coming back would be big though.

DEFINTELY need a couple TEs.

Don't forget that we have Tyler Morris, the WR transfer from Michigan who has been out all year. 

If I'm a defensive player, particularly a front 7 guy I'm literally dying to come to IU. Haines attacks and makes those guys look great. 

Need some size at WR if Cooper leaves (I don't think he will). Need a safety or 2. Need a rover or whatever they call Boykins. A couple of tackles. I'd take a QB if they aren't confident in Cherry being healthy and ready to play. A tight end or 3. Several offensive linemen. 

The should be busy and be able to pick from a really good group of options.  

I am working on a portal needs article for later in the week. The portal doesn't open until January 2nd so guessing who may jump in is a waste of time, but I will break down the positions.

IF Alberto is ready, AND you think there's another guy in the room that would be ready should Alberto get hurt, then I think you focus on HS guys for QB this offseason.

If either of those things you're not comfortable with, you look for a starter level, experienced, proven winner at QB in the portal.

Follow your previous, proven model, of finding proven production from the rest of the position groups, over rankings and hype.

But I would definitely focus pretty heavily on OLine and DLine.  With Cig's system, if our OLine and DLine remains anything close to elite, it'll virtually guarantee we're competitive at the top of the league again.  So I'd spend enough money on those areas, to ensure you have depth and talent on the lines.  

None of the potential portal QB's bring much excitement to me except Colton Joseph. I think the best QB's for Cig/Shanahan's (very complicated) system is a guy who has produced consistently but just needs that extra step of great coaching to become a true NFL guy.

Rourke had incredible production at Ohio but needed to be tested against tougher talent. Mendoza played very well at Cal but needed extra coaching to lean on his OL and gain confidence in making deeper throws. The model is a QB who plays well, but is one or two things away.

Players like Sellers I feel are more 'project' than 'one or two tweaks away'. Because of that, I am steering away, especially at the projected price tag. If the staff likes Alberto, I trust the staff 100%. If the staff wants someone from the outside, I feel confident they will go for a similar mold as Rourke and Mendoza where success and consistency is there.

@iunorth They’ll get a portal QB, but it should be or won’t be a superstar that gets $4-5 million. The staff believes Alberto can be the guy. Go get an experienced back up and spread that money to go get OL and depth at other positions.

@thehoosierhuddle I was thinking that the likelihood that they'll be happy enough with their QB room, without Fernando, enough to stay away from the portal... would be unlikely.  And if he wins the Heisman, and is a top 5 pick in the NFL draft, that will open living room doors to quite a lot of high level QBs, I would think.

But I agree, they don't need to blow their budget on one that's overpriced.

In the end... I guess its just as easy to say... keep doing what you're already doing.  Just use the added money they'll have, and the continuing boost in "streed cred" with better players, to use your current formula to attract similar minded guys, that are just a little bit bigger, faster, and more talented...and get more of them, for added depth.  

@iunorth winning has and will

open more avenues, but from everything I’ve been told the staff loves Alberto, so while they COULD go out and get whatever QB they want, that guy is already on the roster.

I don’t think you can count on Tyler Cherry for anything (not a knock, just an assumption), so a depth QB is what they’ll need.