OL experience

[IvanGoode]

Saw a good little list of OLine experience (returning starts) on Phil Steele's website today. I'll just list the B1G Oline starts but the link has all schools. https://philsteele.com/2019/06/25/2019-career-starts-offensive-line/

Mich St 113
Michigan 89
Indiana 78
Illinois 74
Rutgres 64
Maryland 63
Penn St 62
Minn 61
Iowa 54
Purdue 51
Northwestern 48
Nebraska 45
Wisconsin 42
Ohio St 38

I find it interesting that Ohio St will have the lowest returning starts, a QB that just transferred in with no real experience at the college level, thin QB depth, lost 3 of their top 4 receivers, and they will still be favored to win the conference by most.

The other popular pick (annually and this year) to win the conference is Michigan which returns a lot on offense (Except RB and TE) but lost a lot on defense (#10 overall NFL pick LB Bush, #12 overall DE Gary, #77 overall Edge Winovich, #79 overall CB Long, undrafted S Kinnel, CB Watson, and DT Mone was a contributor I think).

No one seems to be talking about Penn St and I think we should like that. We lost a little on Offense but some of that is older guys who were about to lose time to younger players (Johnson, Stevens, etc) and 2 OL (but we are relatively experienced there as seen above comparably). We lost a couple of guys on D but not too much. There might be the right amount of talent returning relative to the competition for a special year.

Mich St might be a dark horse as well.

 

[canuckhal]

Saw a good little list of OLine experience (returning starts) on Phil Steele's website today. I'll just list the B1G Oline starts but the link has all schools. https://philsteele.com/2019/06/25/2019-career-starts-offensive-line/

Mich St 113
Michigan 89
Indiana 78
Illinois 74
Rutgres 64
Maryland 63
Penn St 62
Minn 61
Iowa 54
Purdue 51
Northwestern 48
Nebraska 45
Wisconsin 42
Ohio St 38

I find it interesting that Ohio St will have the lowest returning starts, a QB that just transferred in with no real experience at the college level, thin QB depth, lost 3 of their top 4 receivers, and they will still be favored to win the conference by most.

The other popular pick (annually and this year) to win the conference is Michigan which returns a lot on offense (Except RB and TE) but lost a lot on defense (#10 overall NFL pick LB Bush, #12 overall DE Gary, #77 overall Edge Winovich, #79 overall CB Long, undrafted S Kinnel, CB Watson, and DT Mone was a contributor I think).

No one seems to be talking about Penn St and I think we should like that. We lost a little on Offense but some of that is older guys who were about to lose time to younger players (Johnson, Stevens, etc) and 2 OL (but we are relatively experienced there as seen above comparably). We lost a couple of guys on D but not too much. There might be the right amount of talent returning relative to the competition for a special year.

Mich St might be a dark horse as well.

I have no idea why people are so high on UM. I guess it is because they have a lot of returnees on O. OSU is the Bama of B10 so they will always be favored until Day proves otherwise.

I think most agree that PSU is loaded on D, but questions at DT depth.

On O, there is little proven experience, but lots of talent. Unproven QB, RB, WRs, and as you point out OL.

PSU could be really good or maybe just above average depending how O develops. Should be interesting how the season shakes out.

 

[IvanGoode]

I have no idea why people are so high on UM. I guess it is because they have a lot of returnees on O. OSU is the Bama of B10 so they will always be favored until Day proves otherwise.

I think most agree that PSU is loaded on D, but questions at DT depth.

On O, there is little proven experience, but lots of talent. Unproven QB, RB, WRs, and as you point out OL.

PSU could be really good or maybe just above average depending how O develops. Should be interesting how the season shakes out.

Yes, although OL is actually not as unexperienced as much of the conference. I guess that is the nature of college football. While we are replacing 2 starters, half the teams are replacing more.

I also feel like with our top 2 receivers (in terms of both catches and yards) returning and a mid-year break thru starter in Dotson coming on as the season progressed that we have more proven receivers than most of the B1G. It's just that there is so much potential in those we have yet to really see much of that it feels unproven. But it must have proved something to our 3rd leading receiver (and the leading returning receiver from 2017)Johnson that he knew he was getting passed up. I think it's also interesting that the 3 proven returners who lead our receiving corps were all freshmen last year. That also might suggest that we haven't seen nothin yet in terms of the passing game.

Lastly, I just really like the limited reps we saw of Clifford. Everything I've seen including coming off the bench cold in the bowl game was right on the money and he seemed to really throw a nice long ball to stretch a defense out. I really think we are going to be pleasantly surprised here.

 

[nittanyfan333]

Yes, although OL is actually not as unexperienced as much of the conference. I guess that is the nature of college football. While we are replacing 2 starters, half the teams are replacing more.

I also feel like with our top 2 receivers (in terms of both catches and yards) returning and a mid-year break thru starter in Dotson coming on as the season progressed that we have more proven receivers than most of the B1G. It's just that there is so much potential in those we have yet to really see much of that it feels unproven. But it must have proved something to our 3rd leading receiver (and the leading returning receiver from 2017)Johnson that he knew he was getting passed up. I think it's also interesting that the 3 proven returners who lead our receiving corps were all freshmen last year. That also might suggest that we haven't seen nothin yet in terms of the passing game.

Lastly, I just really like the limited reps we saw of Clifford. Everything I've seen including coming off the bench cold in the bowl game was right on the money and he seemed to really throw a nice long ball to stretch a defense out. I really think we are going to be pleasantly surprised here.

I really believe the lack of love for PSU this year has everything to do with the QB position. You can have all world WR and TE talent, but if you don't have someone to get them the ball it negates what they bring to the table. Losing a 3 year starter like TMcS then losing his believed heir apparent puts a HUGE question mark on the ability to get the ball into the playmakers hands. This, to me, is the only reason there is a serious lack of recognition for PSU this year.

ALL THAT SAID, I'm in the same boat with you re: Clifford. I think we're all in for a very pleasant surprise with the offense this year.

 

[SR108]

Saw a good little list of OLine experience (returning starts) on Phil Steele's website today. I'll just list the B1G Oline starts but the link has all schools. https://philsteele.com/2019/06/25/2019-career-starts-offensive-line/

Mich St 113
Michigan 89
Indiana 78
Illinois 74
Rutgres 64
Maryland 63
Penn St 62
Minn 61
Iowa 54
Purdue 51
Northwestern 48
Nebraska 45
Wisconsin 42
Ohio St 38

I find it interesting that Ohio St will have the lowest returning starts, a QB that just transferred in with no real experience at the college level, thin QB depth, lost 3 of their top 4 receivers, and they will still be favored to win the conference by most.

The other popular pick (annually and this year) to win the conference is Michigan which returns a lot on offense (Except RB and TE) but lost a lot on defense (#10 overall NFL pick LB Bush, #12 overall DE Gary, #77 overall Edge Winovich, #79 overall CB Long, undrafted S Kinnel, CB Watson, and DT Mone was a contributor I think).

No one seems to be talking about Penn St and I think we should like that. We lost a little on Offense but some of that is older guys who were about to lose time to younger players (Johnson, Stevens, etc) and 2 OL (but we are relatively experienced there as seen above comparably). We lost a couple of guys on D but not too much. There might be the right amount of talent returning relative to the competition for a special year.

Mich St might be a dark horse as well.

Does this analysis include Tight ends in the equation? If not, the whole picture is not being presented.

 

[BBrown]

Saw a good little list of OLine experience (returning starts) on Phil Steele's website today. I'll just list the B1G Oline starts but the link has all schools. https://philsteele.com/2019/06/25/2019-career-starts-offensive-line/

Mich St 113
Michigan 89
Indiana 78
Illinois 74
Rutgres 64
Maryland 63
Penn St 62
Minn 61
Iowa 54
Purdue 51
Northwestern 48
Nebraska 45
Wisconsin 42
Ohio St 38

I find it interesting that Ohio St will have the lowest returning starts, a QB that just transferred in with no real experience at the college level, thin QB depth, lost 3 of their top 4 receivers, and they will still be favored to win the conference by most.

The other popular pick (annually and this year) to win the conference is Michigan which returns a lot on offense (Except RB and TE) but lost a lot on defense (#10 overall NFL pick LB Bush, #12 overall DE Gary, #77 overall Edge Winovich, #79 overall CB Long, undrafted S Kinnel, CB Watson, and DT Mone was a contributor I think).

No one seems to be talking about Penn St and I think we should like that. We lost a little on Offense but some of that is older guys who were about to lose time to younger players (Johnson, Stevens, etc) and 2 OL (but we are relatively experienced there as seen above comparably). We lost a couple of guys on D but not too much. There might be the right amount of talent returning relative to the competition for a special year.

Mich St might be a dark horse as well.

Ughhh I hate Dantonio but do not discount or sleep on MSU. I think they pose a serious challenge to OSU and we already know they have Michigan, as well as our number.
Did I mention I hate Dantonio?

 

[IvanGoode]

Does this analysis include Tight ends in the equation? If not, the whole picture is not being presented.

Valid point, I seriously doubt that they did. Iowa takes a huge hit there. Michigan had one drafted too. I'd think that position is one of the most positive growing strengths for PSU.

 

[Thomas1945]

I have no idea why people are so high on UM. I guess it is because they have a lot of returnees on O. OSU is the Bama of B10 so they will always be favored until Day proves otherwise.

I think most agree that PSU is loaded on D, but questions at DT depth.

On O, there is little proven experience, but lots of talent. Unproven QB, RB, WRs, and as you point out OL.

PSU could be really good or maybe just above average depending how O develops. Should be interesting how the season shakes out.

Every year Michigan is a preseason darling to win it all according to the journalistic brain trusts. That would be true even if the Black Plague decimated them at the conclusion of Spring practice. The only thing that stops the winged helmet terrors is that pesky regular season, and the annual bowl game rout.

 

[SR108]

Valid point, I seriously doubt that they did. Iowa takes a huge hit there. Michigan had one drafted too. I'd think that position is one of the most positive growing strengths for PSU.

Agree, we have two tight ends with experience who are good blockers as well as reception threats.

 

[tboyer]

This can be a little misleading because athletic talent overcomes lack of experience, and with OL, a new starter is often a third or fourth year player anyway.

MSU and Michigan OL will probably be beastly, but Iowa, Wisky and Ohio State will be up there as well, certainly by mid-season. PSU could be in the top tier too.

Saw a good little list of OLine experience ...

Mich St 113
Michigan 89
Indiana 78
Illinois 74
Rutgres 64
Maryland 63
Penn St 62
Minn 61
Iowa 54
Purdue 51
Northwestern 48
Nebraska 45
Wisconsin 42
Ohio St 38

 

[IvanGoode]

This can be a little misleading because athletic talent overcomes lack of experience, and with OL, a new starter is often a third or fourth year player anyway.

MSU and Michigan OL will probably be beastly, but Iowa, Wisky and Ohio State will be up there as well, certainly by mid-season. PSU could be in the top tier too.

After some digging, it seems Ohio St took advantage of the portal/waiver wire to add experienced talent. https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...otball-Jonah-Jackson-what-it-means-129486019/

Seems that they recruited Rutgres captain and honorable mention all-conference OL Jonah Jackson. Sounds like their spring on OL was a mess though with a number of injuries and illnesses hampering the competition. Either way, their number of returning starts is a little deceiving due to their Rutgres poaching. Their TE is also back.

At any rate, OL and QB appear to be their biggest concerns at this point.

Iowa's OL sounds solid on the tackles but the interior is still up in the air with a former DT being brought over to add to the competition. They lost 2 elite NFL TEs as well which impacts the line.

Wisconsin is tough to project after losing 3 All-American OL. They have a returning TE starter and a rare 5 star OT true freshman that could win a job along with a DE they converted to OL. I don't totally know what to expect there.