We have great potential and numbers. Will be develop into our potential and how quickly will that happen are the two questions that linger as were approach the dog days of summer.
PSU D-LINE: A Positive Outlook
- Thread starter anacreon3
- Start date
But...young young young and younger...Hope that isn't the factor it once was in this game
I think the recipe to Penn State's success at DT/DE is recruiting and depth. Coach Franklin has done a terrific job recruiting elite talent and vastly improved depth. Having the ability to rotate quality DT/DE in key opportunities through out a game can and will wear down the best of Offensive Lines in college football. The key is getting freshman and sophomores quality playing time.
As much as I do not want to concerned, I am worried about the middle of the defense. Givens and Windsor need capable backups. Starting MLB and safeties will be new. I like the safety and LB talent but mistakes will be made. Nick Scott is probably a better athlete than Allen but inexperience will show at times.
I have been rewatching the spring game to focus on the DTs. I think Barber struggled against the larger olinemen. I think he needs more lower body strength. Bolds needs more time. I would be surprised if he is a factor this year. Hansard likely will get pt but I think he is a year or two away from making a difference. Shelton looked to be big enough with a good motor but lacks experience.
With Jordan's injury + the above players not being clearly ready + freshmen being freshmen I think the DT concern is legitimate. And the lack of experience behind them will only highlight the problem.
One change is that our offense may have longer possessions this year without Barkley. Perhaps Givens and Windsor will be able to play a greater percentage of the snaps as a result.
The depth might be OK. I have hopes for Shelton and Barber, and if Hansard and maybe even Mustipher can come in and eat up some snaps, that would help a lot.
As you note, the performance of the offense is key as well. In tight games, if the offense can put together 10-12 play drives and keep the D off the field, that means as much as scoring sometimes.
Last year the O made some really good progress on ball control but it was with short quick passing. This year if they can make some progress with run-blocking, it would be huge for the whole team.
PSU now has the kind of athletes and size on the OL that Wisconsin has. If they can play a little more like Wisconsin and grind people down a bit, nothing helps a defense more than that.
As you note, the performance of the offense is key as well. In tight games, if the offense can put together 10-12 play drives and keep the D off the field, that means as much as scoring sometimes.
Last year the O made some really good progress on ball control but it was with short quick passing. This year if they can make some progress with run-blocking, it would be huge for the whole team.
PSU now has the kind of athletes and size on the OL that Wisconsin has. If they can play a little more like Wisconsin and grind people down a bit, nothing helps a defense more than that.
I was just wondering, for those of you who seem more than somewhat concerned about the DL this year, it must be because you feel that the lack of experience and/or talent will lead to more points surrendered to opponents. Can you tell me how many more points you feel this inexperience will yield per game and is it a serious threat to a possible double-digit win season? Here are some pertinent stats from the last four years. I’m expecting the offense to put up numbers similar to those shown for the last two years.
yes - the tOSU game was impacted when we lost Bucholtz on the first series. he is a beast against the run, and we just lost a bit when he went out - no real backup to him in that size/strength range. it also impacted the pass rush.
- we lost 3 DT’s. They were solid guys but I don’t think any of them were at the level of guys like Zettel or A.J.
- we get 3 RS freshman DT’s.
- we get 3 true freshman DT’s who were very highly recruited.
- JF and co. did not pursue a JUCO DT to my knowledge as they did in 2015 since 2015.
- Buchholz has not been moved back to DT and has actually dropped some weight.
- DE is as deep as it has ever been.
So it seems the coaches maybe aren’t as concerned as many people on this board.
I just hope the newer contributors can get enough practice and game reps before the middle of the season.
- we get 3 RS freshman DT’s.
- we get 3 true freshman DT’s who were very highly recruited.
- JF and co. did not pursue a JUCO DT to my knowledge as they did in 2015 since 2015.
- Buchholz has not been moved back to DT and has actually dropped some weight.
- DE is as deep as it has ever been.
So it seems the coaches maybe aren’t as concerned as many people on this board.
I just hope the newer contributors can get enough practice and game reps before the middle of the season.
...Just, worried man. 275 and 280 in the middle on the 1's....that's Fleischour territory. Gonna be down like 50 pounds per man in the middle in a lot of these games, maybe more against Wisky.
One of my son in laws played at and coached with chaos at Wesleyan U. He occasional texts him as I was with him last year when he did so, although I don't recall why but it had to be about PSU, since he married into a family of six (seven with a daughter in law) PSUers! The whole family will be together on the vineyard, end of June into July. Will request he picks chaos's brain!
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