Rating our depth chart

[bdgan]

4* = top 25% of B1G
3* = top 50% of B1G
2* = bottom 50% of B1G
1* = bottom 25% of B1G

QB = 4*. Hack is probably 3rd best and potentially better. This year he has a backup.
RB = 3*. Somewhat unknown with several RS freshmen.
WR = 3*. Can they improve route running and get separation?
TE = 3*. A lot depends on how Brenneman performs.
OL = 2*. The returners really struggled last year. aAn Palmer & Reihner make a difference?

DT = 4*. Johnson & Zettel are two of the best
DE = 2*. Nassib & Sickels have to do it on the field before I can rate them higher.
LB = 3*. Wartman & Bell are solid. Cabinda & others have to show what they can do.
DB = 3*. Lucas & Allen s/b good safeties. CBs are less proven.

K = 2*. Who really knows?
P = 1*. Unfortunately we do know about last year. Can Liebel be any better?

KR = 2*. Seems like we should have potential but last year wasn't too good.
PR = 2*. Counting on RS freshman Thompkins.

 

[psufan9808]

My rating scale goes from 0.000 to 6.000 and in increments of 0.001. It weights the first string at 50% of the positional score the 2 string at 30% and remaining depth at 20%. I'll release the results at 11:30 am on Sep 5th. Check back for the results.


I'm just kidding. Good luck in generating the discussion.

 

[ram2020]

Our CB's are not unproven at all. Trevor Williams is a good player and honorable mention BIG ten player at the CB position. Grant Haley has a lot of experience from last year and praise from the staff. Christian Campbell played meaningful minutes last year as well. Unless unproven means they have not started for multiple years? But I think our secondary proved itself last year, and we return just about everyone(Keiser only departure?).

 

[NittanyChris]

Agree with most of what you wrote. My differences: according to your criteria, the OL is a 1* based on last year's performance until they show us differently on the field. The CBs are a 4* IMO. They have outstanding athleticism and actually did show enough on the field last season to warrant a 4*.

 

[sss]

Amos is a pretty big loss in the secondary too. That being said, I really like our safeties, not as sold on the CBs, I would go 4* on the S and 2* on the CBs.

 

[NJPSU]

Kudos for at least starting a football thread.

That said you rate our defense way too low. We had one of the top defenses in the nation last year and return the bulk of the starters yet you have 3 of the four units outside of the top 25% of the Big 10?

That doesn't make any sense. DT, LB, and DB are definitely 4. Tight end and running back depth is defintely in the Top 25% of the Big 10 as well.

 

[ChandlerPearce]

I agree with much stated already. But I feel you have not included rising talent. I think John Reed will play this year, and be AA before he is finished. Garret Taylor is a slight question mark due to his injury....but based on previous play....he will be very good also. After reading Coach Pry's assessment of his players...I feel very confident with the LBers. Upon further reflection....perhaps my confidence is derived from our coaches. As a group, they embody Joe's philosophy.....they are not merely football coaches, they are teachers and mentor's.

 

[tboyer]

Granted I am going more on talent than performance last year, but I think I'd make the wideouts 4*. There are just too many talented wideouts to not have 1 or 2 or 3 of them really become stars this year. We have seen Lewis and Hamilton make great plays -- we know they have it in them to take over games. And Godwin and Blacknall both showed that ability. And then you add Thompkins and one of the freshman -- Charles or Johnson -- that is a TON of talent.

I think I would project the TEs to 4* as well. Gesicki is an all-B10 caliber talent -- and he has had a year in the program to get bigger and learn the ropes. He is totally ready for a breakout year. And Carter, if he's healthy -- he is another all-B10 caliber player who can do a lot of things. I would trust that Carter has worked really hard to get into great shape, because this is his final year. Depth is the only question with this group as Brennaman/Wilkerson are still coming back from injury.

 

[uppermaclion]

I think overall pretty fair. PSU is expecting a lot of guys to improve or contribute that haven't yet played, or played very little . So there is a bit unknown. I would give the DB's a 4* though. 3 guys are proven and Haley played a lot last year and was very effective. Hard to find too many DB's as a group who are better in the BIg 10.

Wr's could easily be a 4* if they play to the level we all expect and with some of the freshman coming in and off of redshirt. the talent on paper is clearly there for this to be one of the best groups in the Big 10, but we just don't know yet.

 

[Locolion]

Not saying you should change your DE rating at this time, but somehow I feel that Nassib and Sickels are going to perform very well. Flashes of brilliance last year. The depth is really good too. I'd be willing to bet we are happier this year than last year with the DE's (assuming we stay healthy).

 

[spud358]

Not saying you should change your DE rating at this time, but somehow I feel that Nassib and Sickels are going to perform very well. Flashes of brilliance last year. The depth is really good too. I'd be willing to bet we are happier this year than last year with the DE's (assuming we stay healthy).

I suspect, if they stay healthy, they will be better than last year. Barnes, CJ, and Bars were all very good, but Sickles is an elite pass rusher and Shoop is on record suggesting that Nassib has eaten and lifted himself into a guy with a 5-10 year NFL career ahead of him at 6'7" 273lbs. With 2 draft picks in the middle, including a preseason all-american, these guys are going to have a field day.

That said, I think the rating is fair until we see it. BTW, Campbell is the guy to watch out for at CB, I think he owns that spot this year and becomes a 3 year starter. Haley, Worley, and Reid are all positioned to see plenty of time in the rotation as well (Reid might redshirt if they don't need him, but he seems ready).

 

[bison13]

Your ratings are based on the top groups of the conference, so depending on if you say that 3 or 4 of the 14 make up a quartile we could all be a star off. I would rank the RB spot a 2. Cant count potential, need production, PSU was last in rushing by a wide margin. I know the OL was not good ( I would give them a 1) but OSU, Wis, Neb, MSU, Minn, NW, Purdue, UM all can say their RB class is at least as good as ours at this pt. I think the same with the TE, potential vs results make them a 2, but the DB group is good, they are definitely a 4, top 3 group in the conference for sure. K and P I would give them a 1 until proven otherwise.

 

[dawgduice]

OK "my ratings" for what it's worth .....

QB - easily a 5 (mostly based on outside evaluations and projection that Hack may be the first QB drafted)
WR - 4 (again based on outside evaluations)
TE - 4 (we have 3 TEs that would start for most every team in Div 1)
RB - 3 (potential for higher OR lower)
OL - 2 (potential to get to a 3 by mid year) concerned about Paris Palmer

DL - 4 (interior a 5 and DE 3)
LBs - 3 (could be a 4 by mid season) no Hull !!!
DBs - 4 (a very solid 4) deep and experienced

kicking game - ????????? could be a 2-4 ???? most likely a 3 (I hope)
Coaching - ????? play calling ????? clock management ?????

Season projection - 12-2 (it's ALL about the OL and kicking game) If both of those areas falter I see a year much like last year. If the OL is the problem, yet again, we will be 8-4

We should know what we have right out of the gate against a "veteran" Temple defense. If you recall we faced a veteran D last year for the opener. We should have "suspected" problems when we could not run at all on them. Hack, as quite often, was the entire offense !!!

I do not think my evaluations are overboard, well, maybe a tad

WE ARE !!!!!