After 7 games PSU is STILL only 7 & 0! Franklin sucks and needs to go....oh wait.
Also FD Georgia had two 5* QB’s leave Fields and Eason because they couldn’t beat out Fromm the other 5* QB and the Bullpups are deep like that at every position. See what I’m talking about? Lol
Who won the last meeting between Bama and Ohio State? Happened in 2015...more recent history... Well maybe shoulda kept one of em and they may not have lost to South Carolina in their own building... I could give 2 flying rips about QB or any position stars...Penn State has a better defense than any team in front of them... Penn State has as much depth, speed, talent and athleticism as any team in the country....To say that Michigan is deeper and more talented is a joke considering Penn State just beat them... Only position group that concerns me is the OLine... Everything else we are as good as if not better than any team in the country....
James Franklin has definitely brought the studs in but he still needs a year or 2 to catch the teams I said. When James Franklin is on the sidelines we always have a chance to win regardless of the stars but to beat the big dawgs consistently he does need the star players and IMO he’s almost there but not quite there yet. It’s coming though baby. FD, James Franklin has made this job look easier that what it has been he’s just that good.
James Franklin has definitely brought the studs in but he still needs a year or 2 to catch the teams I said. When James Franklin is on the sidelines we always have a chance to win regardless of the stars but to beat the big dawgs consistently he does need the star players and IMO he’s almost there but not quite there yet. It’s coming though baby. FD, James Franklin has made this job look easier that what it has been he’s just that good.
IMO the separation between PSU and teams like BAMA, Clemson, OSU, Georgia are 5* an 4* OL and DL studs... OL Takes the longest to develop but 5*s are coming in with NFL ready bodies and strength.
I will put Penn State's defensive front 7 against anybody...starters, depth everything period...OLine is another story...
To catch Clemson, the Tide, Georgia, Ohio st and LSU we need more depth. Our starters can play with anybody but they get tired that’s why we’ve had so many comebacks. We’re not 2 and 3 deep yet but it’s coming.
Here's the thing with the recruiting rankings... Clemson isn't as good in that department as people seem to think. In fact, their 4 year average is #10 and we're #11. These are the 4 year averages for recruiting classes:
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. Florida
7. Auburn
8. Texas A&M
9. Texas
10. Clemson
11. Penn State
12. Michigan
13. Oregon
14. Notre Dame
15. Florida State
Now of course, as NitNation2016 points out it matters where your big time recruits play. Are they 5 star RBs and WRs for the most part, or are the 5 star DLs and OLs? We've been able to pull in the skill positions and back 7 of the defense, but when it comes to lineman he's right... we've missed on the bigger recruits (Though Micah was technically a DE in high school).
That said, I think Pry and Spencer have done a great job developing the DL. They had to deal with depth issues in early years and now that rebuilt depth is showing. We've got speed, talent, and weight on the line. In years past, the defense against Michigan would have been even more gassed than they were Saturday.
As for the OL, I think that unit gets a bit more blame than it should. Sometimes people are stating someone missed a block, but it's actually an RPO scheme the the QB should have handed off or known that guy was free. Other times the RB actually misses the block, not the OL (I'm looking at you Slade).
I think on some of the traditional run plays you can see the OL is pretty good. For example: Michigan absolutely loaded the box at the end against Cain, yet on two carries he got 7 yards. If the OL was bad, there's no way he gains 7 yards. Most likely he gets 2, maybe 3 max. But the OL was able to block downhill against numbers and still create small holes on both plays.
Clemson also played a very weak schedule because the ACC has stunk the last 2 or 3 years IMO
Great synopsis Roam. I'd like to add another variable to this equation and that is Dwight Galt III. He is one of the best, if not THE best Performance Enhancement expert in College Football. This guy's contribution cannot be overlooked and his program is a major reason we now have depth and the reason we have 3* players performing like 5* players.
His track record is outstanding having trained 51 former student-athletes who are active in the National Football League. That's just 2 short of an entire NFL roster.
We are blessed to have the coaches and trainers that we do!
Michigan didn't look bad. The Wisconsin game is not representative of Michigan. I think they will give ND a good game. They probably have as good a chance of beating OSU as we do. They have recruited as well as us and are older. They have good coaches, like them of not. OSU is their biggest game.
I don't read what Franklin said about the Cain question as meaning anything. The answer was an avoidance answer and at this point he may not have a #1 back until OSU.
Transfer Portal and its affect on our 4 RB's? Who knows. I say figure out the best 2-3 and when you are comfortable let them leave or redshirt. If one leaves so be it, we picked our 3, we have new freshman coming in, free up the scholarship. You can't keep 4 happy long term and we are recruiting to well for them to wait. Good problem and Franklin is experiencing this good problem for the 1st time in his HC Career?
We are worried about the #1 back but how about a #2 and 3 receiver?
PSU has a better team this year than many expected and we are a younger team, next year we will be better. We will know our QB, #1 Receiver, #1 Back...
Life is good
