Nothing polarizing there. I agree with some and disagree with others.
1) The offense should average 30 pts next year, especially with 9 starters returning and an OC that runs a wide open offense.
2) The D might give up 25 next year because of weak DT play but more because a wide open offense can result in more turnovers and quick 3 and outs.
3) Key games are Pitt & Iowa. We theoretically have better talent than those teams (and Iowa is at home). Lot's of people are now saying we should be happy to be 6-6. I think 9 wins would be great but 8 wins is a reasonable expectation.
4) Disagree about McSorley. Hopefully we'll have more of a running game going forward, including McSorley's running.
5) IMO the only way we Sanders has 1,000 all purpose yards is of he returns kicks. Afterall, there's only one football.
6) I'm rooting for Gesecki. I think it was a mistake for Franklin to bench him and use Carter/Wilkerson almost exclusively as blockers. That really limited our offense IMO. JoMo might help Gesicki.
7) I don't think we win the B1G in 2017. Have you been watching OSU and UM recruiting? Maybe when the new OL & DT are seniors.
8) We won't have enough scholarships available to sign a top 5 recruiting class next year.
9) Can't predict a NC.
10) NCAA is largely off the hook due to their agreement to restore the wins. Who knows where the Paterno suit goes but the university is only a nominal defendant. I wish you were right about this but I don't think so.
Reasonable thoughts. Here is some more on my reasoning.
1) I actually think 35pt/game is possible next year. The current offensive weakness Oline will be mitigated by the following.
a) New system gets the ball to playmakers in space quickly.
b) McSorley seems to have great pocket awareness despite lacking a big arm. But that means a missed block or two doesn't automatically result in a loss as we've seen the past 2 years. He will move around and the plays will get a second chance.
c) New system and running threat QB are much better for redzone conversion than Hack's big arm. Hack could hit the deep ball but once things were tightened down, he had little else to offer. I see us turning a much higher % of redzone trips into 6.
d) A year of development for young Oline means some younger players will break through.
e) Godwin, Lewis, Hamilton, Blacknall, Polk, Thompson was pretty young but pretty talented. Now they will be a year more experienced and include 2 very talented 6-4 RS Freshmen. Hard to not like this group to be even better.
f) We will start to use the TE again and Gesicki will become Gesicki. I think this year was a combo of him gaining all that weight and not being used to carrying it fluidly and Hack gunning it 100 mph all the time.
g) Barkley should stay fresh with Robinson and Sanders ready to contribute. By the way, WORLD of difference between Lynch backed up by Barkley, Scott, and Allen to Barkley as the established starter being spelled by Robinson and Sanders. When does the D catch a break?
h) The D will likely take a small step back and that means more higher scoring games.
2) I'm worried about the DLine. I do think that we will definitely have some players step up like Sickels, Brown, White, Cothren, and some of the redshirts. But I seriously doubt they will be as strong or as deep as we were this year and we struggled at times with the 2nd team DLine this season. I don't think teams will completely run roughshod over us but we will be weaker upfront and that often makes what would be a stronger back 7 not appear as strong.
3) Can't disagree with this point. Pitt especially since it might help set a tone early.
4) I think the running game will improve but I think McSorley will add the element of extending plays that we have not had which will lead to good things. I think the prospect of higher scoring games gives McSorley a better shot at breaking records long term.
5) You know why I said all purpose. Plus I think he gets 20% or more of the carries and he catches good out of the backfield. With his speed, he is an excellent screen back.
6) I agree with the poster who said not just Gesicki but I think another young TE will step up, probably Bowers.
7) I feel good about 2017 because the kids that played as freshmen last year and this year will be Srs and Jrs with talent and a ton of experience. The drawback is that the B1G scheduled us Michigan, Ohio St, and Mich St in back to back to back weeks. I am hoping that Mich St takes a step back by then and who knows, Urby is due to bolt by then and usually leaves a program in flames.
8) You are probably correct. Definitely on the way to top 10 though with the high end talent we are in on.
9) Hey, I'm calling it.
10) If evidence is reported that shows NCAA executives colluding, there is no amount of NCAA concessions that will relieve them of the public backlash of this story. They better pick their scapegoat and try to isolate it to that person to limit damages.
