We need to prepare for another rough year next year, especially if Hack and Austin Johnson declare to go pro as has been speculated
Schedule
Other than beating Wisconsin on the road this team hasn't beat a quality opponent on the road in a long time so there is nothing to think that would change next year. The Pitt game looks to be a tough matchup but I don't look at that as an "away" game because I think Penn State fans will fill the stadium for that game. But as the 2nd game of the year and breaking in a new QB will make that a difficult game. We go to Michigan, Purdue, Indiana and Rutgers next year and would realistically hope we could win 3 of those. We get Ohio State and Michigan State at home and they are better teams than us regardless. Iowa and Minnesota rotate on to the schedule and would seem to be programs on the rise and tough games. Temple may have had their high water mark this year and we need to win that game as payback for this year. Kent State and Maryland are home games we definitely need to win. Even the most positive fan would expect losses to Michigan, Michigan St and Ohio State with Pitt, Iowa, Minnesota and Temple as difficult games. Rutgers away will be their game of the year but with that game at the end of the year we should have made improvement and beat them. Are we looking at a 6 or 7 win season?
Offense
Assuming Hack leaves we will be breaking in a new QB in McSorley or Stevens with a totally different scheme. Our supposed strength in athletic wide receivers would be limited with less passing and more running and that will make that area of strength weakened. Barkley as a sophomore will be the focus of the offense as long as he is healthy, and we add Robinson off redshirt year and Scott and Allen will be a year older and we will still have Lynch. You'd have to think that the tight end position would be used more than it was this year when they were used to help block more than running routes, and Gisecki has to improve. Not sure if Brenaman will ever be what we expected out of him, and Wilkerson has another year. Along the offensive line we have a good news/bad news situation. The good news is we only lose Mangiro so we return 4 starters. The bad news is can we expect improvement? Back ups and redshirts in Gonzalez, Beh, Bates, Sorrell, Wright and Jenkins may push for playing time but just don't see any studs along the line making an impact next year.
Defense
If Austin Johnson leaves as is expected the defensive line will go from a strength to a big question mark. Losing Zettel, Nassib and Johnson will be a huge blow. The starting lineup would most likely come from Schwan, Sickels, Cothran, Cothren, Brown and Antoine White getting more time. Redshirts Bucholz and incoming freshmen may get a chance to play here. No losses at Linebacker with Wartman-White hopefully coming back to full strength. Bell is solid but not spectacular and Cabinda and Reeder will be another year older and hopefully better. Bowen, and Cooper got playing time this year and should improve. Of all the areas you could say the linebackers should be a strength next year. In the secondary there are no key losses other than Jordan Lucas. Marcus Allen needs to take a leap forward and Reid and Haley have the potential to be solid cornerbacks. This is an area where a younger player or even true freshman may make an impact.
Key Losses
The defensive line gets gutted with losses of Zettel and Nassib and likely loss of Johnson. All signs point to Hack leaving and having to replace a 3 year starter at QB.
Bright spots
Obviously Barkley is a stud. We have some solid wide receivers with Godwin taking a huge leap forward this year. Can Hamilton and Lewis become more consistent next year and can Gisecki performance match his potential? On defense, Haley and Reid should improve as they get another year under their belts and our linebacker corp is all returning.
Looks like another 7-5 season next year in my opinion
Schedule
Other than beating Wisconsin on the road this team hasn't beat a quality opponent on the road in a long time so there is nothing to think that would change next year. The Pitt game looks to be a tough matchup but I don't look at that as an "away" game because I think Penn State fans will fill the stadium for that game. But as the 2nd game of the year and breaking in a new QB will make that a difficult game. We go to Michigan, Purdue, Indiana and Rutgers next year and would realistically hope we could win 3 of those. We get Ohio State and Michigan State at home and they are better teams than us regardless. Iowa and Minnesota rotate on to the schedule and would seem to be programs on the rise and tough games. Temple may have had their high water mark this year and we need to win that game as payback for this year. Kent State and Maryland are home games we definitely need to win. Even the most positive fan would expect losses to Michigan, Michigan St and Ohio State with Pitt, Iowa, Minnesota and Temple as difficult games. Rutgers away will be their game of the year but with that game at the end of the year we should have made improvement and beat them. Are we looking at a 6 or 7 win season?
Offense
Assuming Hack leaves we will be breaking in a new QB in McSorley or Stevens with a totally different scheme. Our supposed strength in athletic wide receivers would be limited with less passing and more running and that will make that area of strength weakened. Barkley as a sophomore will be the focus of the offense as long as he is healthy, and we add Robinson off redshirt year and Scott and Allen will be a year older and we will still have Lynch. You'd have to think that the tight end position would be used more than it was this year when they were used to help block more than running routes, and Gisecki has to improve. Not sure if Brenaman will ever be what we expected out of him, and Wilkerson has another year. Along the offensive line we have a good news/bad news situation. The good news is we only lose Mangiro so we return 4 starters. The bad news is can we expect improvement? Back ups and redshirts in Gonzalez, Beh, Bates, Sorrell, Wright and Jenkins may push for playing time but just don't see any studs along the line making an impact next year.
Defense
If Austin Johnson leaves as is expected the defensive line will go from a strength to a big question mark. Losing Zettel, Nassib and Johnson will be a huge blow. The starting lineup would most likely come from Schwan, Sickels, Cothran, Cothren, Brown and Antoine White getting more time. Redshirts Bucholz and incoming freshmen may get a chance to play here. No losses at Linebacker with Wartman-White hopefully coming back to full strength. Bell is solid but not spectacular and Cabinda and Reeder will be another year older and hopefully better. Bowen, and Cooper got playing time this year and should improve. Of all the areas you could say the linebackers should be a strength next year. In the secondary there are no key losses other than Jordan Lucas. Marcus Allen needs to take a leap forward and Reid and Haley have the potential to be solid cornerbacks. This is an area where a younger player or even true freshman may make an impact.
Key Losses
The defensive line gets gutted with losses of Zettel and Nassib and likely loss of Johnson. All signs point to Hack leaving and having to replace a 3 year starter at QB.
Bright spots
Obviously Barkley is a stud. We have some solid wide receivers with Godwin taking a huge leap forward this year. Can Hamilton and Lewis become more consistent next year and can Gisecki performance match his potential? On defense, Haley and Reid should improve as they get another year under their belts and our linebacker corp is all returning.
Looks like another 7-5 season next year in my opinion
