Depth Improvement this decade

[ShakerBuck]

What never ceases to amaze me is how much our overall depth of talent has improved over the past 6-7 years.

in the beginning of this decade we've had

* walk-ons starting on the oline and not having enough bodies to fill the 2-deep

* a LB moved to CB (Cie Grant) out of necessity and actually starting....and not because of steller play at the position


FFwd to 2008....

* we have the luxury of red-shirting players who are probably good enough to help us now.

* we are so deep that we have players who don't see the field who would start at most other big ten teams (see LB, WR, CB)


Over the last few years we have been stockpiling a level and depth of talent that has allowed us to reload instead of rebuild...and based on last years class and the 2009 class i don't see this stopping anytime soon.

The true test will be what happens after this season, since the sheer numbers going to NFL should be unprecedented.

 

[scarletngray]

Good post. I think that if Coach T can continue to recruit the way he has the past couple years, we should continue to have a plethora of talent and depth on the team. However, what may be lacking every few years is experience and leadership as people move on to the NFL. IMO, that's one of the main things that kept us from winning the NC last year.

:osu:

 

[Taosman]

The quarterback position has shown the most improvement in depth.
All the guys we have now are capable of playing and winning.

 

[BrutusBobcat]

Don't forget about tailback depth. That was a painful area for a while as well, and a costly one.

Part of what Tressel has been doing also is recruiting fewer busts. Whether that's scouting, academics, fewer off-field issues or development (or a combination of the four), we're not losing players from the program. When a player does leave, it's now normally a depth/PT issue, which isn't a bad thing.

The strength of the walk-on program is impressive as well. While few ever make it to the field, it's nice to have quality guys in the program who are busting their butts on the scout team and contributing to the overall team culture.

 

[IronBuckI]

I'm not so sure about depth at tailback. All of the backups are either still unknown as far as their actual ability vs. potential, or they just haven't shown very much. Beanie and Pitt in the backfield has, so far, been our best one two punch under Coach Tressel. Unless the backups step up this year, it's still just one very good to great starter and a bunch of bodies.


As for the overall point of this thread I will definitely agree. Depth of players that have actually seen the field and performed has improved steadily since Coach Tressel's first days at the helm.

 

[matcar]

I'm not so sure about depth at tailback. All of the backups are either still unknown as far as their actual ability vs. potential, or they just haven't shown very much. Beanie and Pitt in the backfield has, so far, been our best one two punch under Coach Tressel. Unless the backups step up this year, it's still just one very good to great starter and a bunch of bodies.


As for the overall point of this thread I will definitely agree. Depth of players that have actually seen the field and performed has improved steadily since Coach Tressel's first days at the helm.

Yeah, and if you add fullback depth to this...we're looking worse. Especially if Olsen is indeed, hanging them up.