[Belfry0304]

Pirates will be very, very good next year on paper.

Each Senior Belfry loses not only was a good player, but a great leader... it is very apparent the Pirates should have the players and experience returning to be the favorite in the East...the question is how well this team meshes in the off-season and what kind of work ethic they take on. If next year's Seniors can improve as much as the class that is leaving, the sky is the limit for Belfry.

The Belfry playbook may never truly "open up", but I expect the Pirates to have a little more varied look next season as the Sani Warren era begins. Sani has a very unique skillset that could make him a dangerous threat in Haywood's offense if he puts in the time and effort to master his craft. Justin Johnson has the potential to be a special back. He improved in a big way as the season progressed and a year of physical development will make him even better.

The most blaring question marks are:

- Can Sani run the offense with the precision that Williams did?

- Who takes over at FB? Does Carr bulk up and make the move?

- Who steps in the middle of the D as the quick NG and DT? Dotson and Aldana were relentless. Tuffy Willis played very well at times, and Barnes may have improved the most out of all Pirates and is an absolute monster... but the Bucs still need those lighting quick guys who can get into the backfield and disrupt plays to compliment them.

Those 3 questions are the only thing standing in the way from being a very, very good team.

Sani Warren is an absolute leader in the same fashion that Gary Runyon was. He will lead this team for the next two years. This is his team now, in my honest opinion. Mullins and Ghormley lead the defense.

At fullback, I would say Trenity Carr and Austin Hatfield are your leading candidates. Would like to see Hatfield work out with his cousin Josh Dixon all offseason long, because he's a stalky little freshman and having him be our starting FB next year, if he can succeed, also gives him experience going forward. As far as the defensive line, The rotation won't change too much from Barnes, Willis, and James May. Maybe Hayden Hatfield plays as the more quick DT, Nick West may also see some playing time there. I'm sure there's a few more candidates.

I just wonder if Cameron Johnson is a shoe-in to step into the safety spot as a junior. I personally think BOTH of Dixon's roles can be filled by Davontae Dari with some hard work. Dari stands about 6'0, has good size, and with a good offseason and a little work on his speed, could be absolutely nasty in my opinion. Hopefully D reads this, and it motivates him!