One way to compare apples to apples with these top teams is to look at the big board for the 2019 NFL draft. In every mock draft round one or two, you will not find a Penn State player. However, you will find 13 or 14 defensive lineman in round one, depending on the mock, and 4-5 O-lineman. That's somewhere between half & almost 2/3 of the first round going to the D-line or O-line. The trenches are where it's won. Then, when you look at the players in the mocks, you see both Bosa & Jones from OSU, Ferrel, Wilkins, & Lawrence from Clemson, Davis & one more from Bama, etc. You also get at least one D-line or O-line from Wisconsin (Edwards), Michigan (Gary), etc., ALL in the first round. THAT is what we are competing against, and it's not a fair fight. We lack a game changing, must double team road grader, 1st round pick guy on both sides. The teams we are competing with for division titles & playoffs have them, and in several cases, more than one. Wisconsin & Michigan are going to push us around.
For anyone who expected us to challenge for the playoff this year was far too hopeful. Last year was the first top 5 class we have had. It remains to be seen whether that is the beginning of a trend or if that was the anomaly. It does not look like the 25 we will get this year are going to give us a top 5 recruiting class. We have already lost out on some major prospects like Cine & things look bad for Harrison & a few other game changers. Without another two classes like last year, we are simply not going to have the talent to compete for the playoff. It's not that hard, folks, at least imo. Look, Franklin deserves heat for his end of game management, but I submit to you that Saban himself could not get this team to the playoff if he took his entire staff up here at the beginning of this year. We don't have the horses. Next year, we won't have the horses either & will be breaking in a new QB, which almost never goes that well. Then we start subbing out creampuffs for Va.Tech & Auburn on top of that in the years that follow.
College football is simply about one thing and one thing only when it comes to winning & that's recruiting. CJF can do that & do it well. To continue that, the players this year need to be coached up & continue to win to maintain the momentum started last year. Then you build depth & then you have the horses. Until then, we are solidly in that second tier of teams. Can they be coached up? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, I would recommend putting the hopes of titles on hold for at least 2-3 years at a minimum. In 3 years, Franklin will have either won enough to recruit top recruits & create a self perpetuating top team, or he will be unable to recruit the top studs & will languish between 8-4 & 10-2, which would be great if you are coaching Northwestern, but it won't work here & he will be pushed out. My 3 years is based upon having built up a fair amount of equity with a BIG title & 2 NY6 bowls. He's earned some patience this year & next.
For anyone who expected us to challenge for the playoff this year was far too hopeful. Last year was the first top 5 class we have had. It remains to be seen whether that is the beginning of a trend or if that was the anomaly. It does not look like the 25 we will get this year are going to give us a top 5 recruiting class. We have already lost out on some major prospects like Cine & things look bad for Harrison & a few other game changers. Without another two classes like last year, we are simply not going to have the talent to compete for the playoff. It's not that hard, folks, at least imo. Look, Franklin deserves heat for his end of game management, but I submit to you that Saban himself could not get this team to the playoff if he took his entire staff up here at the beginning of this year. We don't have the horses. Next year, we won't have the horses either & will be breaking in a new QB, which almost never goes that well. Then we start subbing out creampuffs for Va.Tech & Auburn on top of that in the years that follow.
College football is simply about one thing and one thing only when it comes to winning & that's recruiting. CJF can do that & do it well. To continue that, the players this year need to be coached up & continue to win to maintain the momentum started last year. Then you build depth & then you have the horses. Until then, we are solidly in that second tier of teams. Can they be coached up? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, I would recommend putting the hopes of titles on hold for at least 2-3 years at a minimum. In 3 years, Franklin will have either won enough to recruit top recruits & create a self perpetuating top team, or he will be unable to recruit the top studs & will languish between 8-4 & 10-2, which would be great if you are coaching Northwestern, but it won't work here & he will be pushed out. My 3 years is based upon having built up a fair amount of equity with a BIG title & 2 NY6 bowls. He's earned some patience this year & next.
