Ive grown very comfortable with our OL, for the forseeable future. And soon we will be loaded ( talent and experience.) Maybe by midseason.
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The DL has a mass of humanity, young and eager, but still needing to beef up. We are deep but need a leader, a run stopper, and a couple of guys who can blitz and pressure the QB. We may have to use a couple of our speedy LBers to get pressure for a while.
QB has great two-deep. Cant wait to see how McS improves. But his QBR last year was #31 with a 58.1% completion, and a lotta sacks and TFLs. PSU was #26 in PPG, an area where we shined, that covered up our deficiencies - Mostly thanks to McS and a bevvy of excellent receivers.
Godwin will be missed, and his production will be made up by several players: TE, #26, Hamilton, and several young WRs, NOT by one man. NOT this year anyway.
Will watch closely to see if McS can improve his overall completion %age, and with a stronger OL, reduce sacks and TFLs, thus add significantly to his rushing yards. and QBR. If so, his QBR could move up into the teens in 2017. And #2 is now a solid two way threat as back up. What an arm! What legs. But we still lack a #3 QB who is ready to play.
In 2017, McS has to get us moving early, put games away quicker, and then turn things over to #2, to keep the wear and tear on his body to a minimum. And to put himself into the Heisman race.
45+ ppg wouldn't hurt, either.
RB is stacked for years to come. PSU was #40 in rushing yards at 169/game. NOT impressive, with a back like Barkley. This should improve, with the growth in OL experience, to 200-225 ypg this coming season. Maybe more. ie More 1st downs. Better red zone scoring. More TOP. Less wear and tear on the D. More pressure on the other guy to throw/play from behind. We had too many games that were nail-biters last year because the O was held back by a young and developing OLine. No more! #6 is a terrific power back with enough zip to take it wide from time to time. Hope #24 stays healthy. He could blossom this year. Had a terrific YPC average in 2016. And #8 is shifty and fun to watch. On deck next year is a terrific RB from VA who should see PT early on.
TE's: with G-man this year, and at least one solid back up, then next year we get the #1 and #2 TEs in the country! Oughtta be loaded there for years to come.
Defense: This young group had the #36 scoring D in 2016. Will they improve? You bet. How much? Depends on how we hold up against the run, and how much pressure we get on the QB.
Improved sacks, and improved INTs will lift us into the 20's this year, maybe higher if we can find a couple of break-out players along the DL. Pitt will be a good test.
DBs seem to be sprouting up all over. Plenty of depth right now. Plus a 5 star kid in the wings. We should improve our picks this year.
LBers Im not worried about. Two solid MLB types. Plus two pretty good starters and two speedy 220-230#ers. Not to mention a big talented kid coming in this summer. Should be solid. and provide a lot more pressure on the QB than we got last year from those positions.
Special Teams: Punting: Who do we have after Gillikin? KO's: Will Toe be back? FGs: who backs up Tyler Davis? Right now I only see Pasquarello. Where is Barbir? Depth looks quite thin, as is, but the starters - if Toe comes back - are very good.
Special Teams: Punt/KO coverage improved to #45 in the country last year. With our solid coaches, very good speed and overall great depth, should improve to the 20's in 2017.
Punt Returns: #38 last year. Expect to see continued improvement this year...into the 20's.
Somewhere among the above will be 1-2-3 break-out players. If they do it early enough in 2017, our ascent should be around the too-early poll predictions of #8-6-8. ie mid-Top Ten.
We could slip to the mid-teens but that is unlikely IMO. The coaches appear to be that good. Limegrover was a steal, who appears very happy coaching the OL again, and is very very good at it. That will show up this season, JM is in year 2 of what I suspect could be a 4 year stay. The family is very happy. He is paid very well. Is putting together what could be a powerhouse O. I think he stays until that job is complete. And even then moving on will become increasingly difficult. Coaches seem to put down roots when they come to Happy Valley. CJF seems to be very similar to JoePa in that regard. He takes care of his staff and shares the spotlight.
Our D made a nice step forward last year despite catastrophic injuries. Pry/Spence are growing nicely into the job, and so is the young team. We should make another jump, perhaps sizeable, in our defensive rankings in 2017.
This is an experienced group of talented coaches who have had another year to settle in, on both sides of the ball. Their upside should bring plenty of joy to Happy Valley, beginning in Sept.
.
The DL has a mass of humanity, young and eager, but still needing to beef up. We are deep but need a leader, a run stopper, and a couple of guys who can blitz and pressure the QB. We may have to use a couple of our speedy LBers to get pressure for a while.
QB has great two-deep. Cant wait to see how McS improves. But his QBR last year was #31 with a 58.1% completion, and a lotta sacks and TFLs. PSU was #26 in PPG, an area where we shined, that covered up our deficiencies - Mostly thanks to McS and a bevvy of excellent receivers.
Godwin will be missed, and his production will be made up by several players: TE, #26, Hamilton, and several young WRs, NOT by one man. NOT this year anyway.
Will watch closely to see if McS can improve his overall completion %age, and with a stronger OL, reduce sacks and TFLs, thus add significantly to his rushing yards. and QBR. If so, his QBR could move up into the teens in 2017. And #2 is now a solid two way threat as back up. What an arm! What legs. But we still lack a #3 QB who is ready to play.
In 2017, McS has to get us moving early, put games away quicker, and then turn things over to #2, to keep the wear and tear on his body to a minimum. And to put himself into the Heisman race.
45+ ppg wouldn't hurt, either.
RB is stacked for years to come. PSU was #40 in rushing yards at 169/game. NOT impressive, with a back like Barkley. This should improve, with the growth in OL experience, to 200-225 ypg this coming season. Maybe more. ie More 1st downs. Better red zone scoring. More TOP. Less wear and tear on the D. More pressure on the other guy to throw/play from behind. We had too many games that were nail-biters last year because the O was held back by a young and developing OLine. No more! #6 is a terrific power back with enough zip to take it wide from time to time. Hope #24 stays healthy. He could blossom this year. Had a terrific YPC average in 2016. And #8 is shifty and fun to watch. On deck next year is a terrific RB from VA who should see PT early on.
TE's: with G-man this year, and at least one solid back up, then next year we get the #1 and #2 TEs in the country! Oughtta be loaded there for years to come.
Defense: This young group had the #36 scoring D in 2016. Will they improve? You bet. How much? Depends on how we hold up against the run, and how much pressure we get on the QB.
Improved sacks, and improved INTs will lift us into the 20's this year, maybe higher if we can find a couple of break-out players along the DL. Pitt will be a good test.
DBs seem to be sprouting up all over. Plenty of depth right now. Plus a 5 star kid in the wings. We should improve our picks this year.
LBers Im not worried about. Two solid MLB types. Plus two pretty good starters and two speedy 220-230#ers. Not to mention a big talented kid coming in this summer. Should be solid. and provide a lot more pressure on the QB than we got last year from those positions.
Special Teams: Punting: Who do we have after Gillikin? KO's: Will Toe be back? FGs: who backs up Tyler Davis? Right now I only see Pasquarello. Where is Barbir? Depth looks quite thin, as is, but the starters - if Toe comes back - are very good.
Special Teams: Punt/KO coverage improved to #45 in the country last year. With our solid coaches, very good speed and overall great depth, should improve to the 20's in 2017.
Punt Returns: #38 last year. Expect to see continued improvement this year...into the 20's.
Somewhere among the above will be 1-2-3 break-out players. If they do it early enough in 2017, our ascent should be around the too-early poll predictions of #8-6-8. ie mid-Top Ten.
We could slip to the mid-teens but that is unlikely IMO. The coaches appear to be that good. Limegrover was a steal, who appears very happy coaching the OL again, and is very very good at it. That will show up this season, JM is in year 2 of what I suspect could be a 4 year stay. The family is very happy. He is paid very well. Is putting together what could be a powerhouse O. I think he stays until that job is complete. And even then moving on will become increasingly difficult. Coaches seem to put down roots when they come to Happy Valley. CJF seems to be very similar to JoePa in that regard. He takes care of his staff and shares the spotlight.
Our D made a nice step forward last year despite catastrophic injuries. Pry/Spence are growing nicely into the job, and so is the young team. We should make another jump, perhaps sizeable, in our defensive rankings in 2017.
This is an experienced group of talented coaches who have had another year to settle in, on both sides of the ball. Their upside should bring plenty of joy to Happy Valley, beginning in Sept.
