Depth Chart is out..

[57stratdawg]

No Rankin at either OT position.
Looks like it's Shumpert then the other 3 backs all listed as second string.
Samething with QB: Prescott, then Fitz/Staley/Williams
Damion Robinson at right OG.
Nelson Adams listed as other starting DT ahead of Cory Thomas and Nick James.
Zach Jackson ahead of JT Gray at WLB.

http://www.hailstate.com/fls/16800/pdf/fb/fb_notes_msuusm15.pdf?SPID=10997&DB_OEM_ID=16800 (Page 11)

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Lots of Seniors and Juniors on that talentless team.**

 

[BertleTheTurtle]

This depth chart is full of talent and guys who have logged a ton of minutes in big games. It's time for some of these guys to shine. It's hard to look at the depth chart and not be excited because as a fan, I know how much talent each of these guys have. The national media's obsession with our lack of "returning starters" just goes to show that none of these guys/gals really do their homework on what kind of product we will really be putting on the field this year.

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

I like the look of our defense 2-deep.

 

[00Dawg]

I had forgotten Damien Robinson was listed as a starter going into last year's fall camp. I'm not sure if that says more about his recovery from injury or the depth on our O-line.

 

[johnson86-1]

I like the look of our defense 2-deep.

I do not like the look of our top 8 OL. We are going to need a new LT to be good. Our 3rd OT is a lightly recruited redshirt freshman (I know stars don't matter, but even we didn't offer him until late). Our back-up guard is either RS Freshman (again, lightly recruited, I think although can't really remembers) or a 5th year coming off injury after mostly just being a serviceable back-up so far). Our starting center we know is a good guard but don't know how he will handle center. Our back-up center is a JUCO transfer that redshirted last year.

Somebody tell me some inside info to make me feel better about our O-Line. Otherwise, just looking at the two deep is causing my wool to slough off.

 

[Joe Schmedlap]

Pretty light on one side at linebacker, otherwise the Defense looks good. Kivon had better be able to perform.

On offense, there's jst no way a 165lb tailback with no elusiveness deserves to get snaps. Other than that, I've got no concerns.

 

[ronpolk]

I do not like the look of our top 8 OL. We are going to need a new LT to be good. Our 3rd OT is a lightly recruited redshirt freshman (I know stars don't matter, but even we didn't offer him until late). Our back-up guard is either RS Freshman (again, lightly recruited, I think although can't really remembers) or a 5th year coming off injury after mostly just being a serviceable back-up so far). Our starting center we know is a good guard but don't know how he will handle center. Our back-up center is a JUCO transfer that redshirted last year.

Somebody tell me some inside info to make me feel better about our O-Line. Otherwise, just looking at the two deep is causing my wool to slough off.

When is the last time we had a highly rated OL actually contribute? Just like always, our line will be fine.

 

[aTotal360]

Probably Sherrod.

 

[Seinfeld]

Only 2 things I can come up with

1. I think that anyone saying that they aren't at least a tad concerned with the O line is lying, but I honestly can't remember the last season when I wasn't concerned about it. Some years have been better than others, and I do hate that we don't have a known cornerstone like Gabe or Sherrod this year, but barring significant injuries, Hev always seems to have them to the point of at least being serviceable.

2. Dak. Don't get me wrong, we've got to have a decent O line to compete in the SEC, but having a QB like Dak does negate quite a few inefficiencies in that area. If we were about to start the season with a pocket passer like Russell, I'd be terrified. With Dak though, I think he has the ability to make them look a lot better than they may truly be

Aside from that, I don't know, but our starting O line last year averaged out at right around .7900(including one unranked) from 247 in terms of recruiting rankings, so I won't go off the deep end quite yet. I will say, though, that if we have trouble running the ball against Southern on Sat night, I'll be clipping wool right there with you

 

[AFDawg]

 

[engie]

We are red shirting the #1 JUCO OT who had offers from the likes of the defending national champions -- among others.

That says a lot more than what recruiting sites thought of the two players you are primarily questioning -- when in reality those sites probably never saw either play live prior to their arrival at MSU -- and who have both been day 1 bad asses for the most part, at least in terms of how this regime handles OL. They've already springboarded and bumped a bunch of decent depth guys to reach that second string and have all the potential in the world. Coaches are as high on both of those guys as anyone since Sherrod..

 

[ronpolk]

Only 2 things I can come up with

1. I think that anyone saying that they aren't at least a tad concerned with the O line is lying, but I honestly can't remember the last season when I wasn't concerned about it. Some years have been better than others, and I do hate that we don't have a known cornerstone like Gabe or Sherrod this year, but barring significant injuries, Hev always seems to have them to the point of at least being serviceable.

2. Dak. Don't get me wrong, we've got to have a decent O line to compete in the SEC, but having a QB like Dak does negate quite a few inefficiencies in that area. If we were about to start the season with a pocket passer like Russell, I'd be terrified. With Dak though, I think he has the ability to make them look a lot better than they may truly be

Aside from that, I don't know, but our starting O line last year averaged out at right around .7900(including one unranked) from 247 in terms of recruiting rankings, so I won't go off the deep end quite yet. I will say, though, that if we have trouble running the ball against Southern on Sat night, I'll be clipping wool right there with you

I'm not at all concerned with the OL for 2 reasons 1) Dak - like you mentioned - will take some pressure off his group and 2) we've never had a bad line under Mullen. Obviously we've had some better than others but never a bad one.

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

Advantages for MSU OL

1. As mentioned earlier, Dak's running ability and scrambling will help the OL.

2. Bowling Ball was a good running back but his one weak spot was pass protection---we will now start Shumpert who is a much better blocker.

3. According to all reports we are going at a much faster pace on offense this year, this will fatigue the defenses we face.

However an important point this year will be for Dak to use his check downs this year more---not holding the ball waiting for the deep ball, we have a LOT of talented WRs this year that can turn a 5 yard hitch into a 20+ yard gain---just trust the play makers.

 

[johnson86-1]

I'm not at all concerned with the OL for 2 reasons 1) Dak - like you mentioned - will take some pressure off his group and 2) we've never had a bad line under Mullen. Obviously we've had some better than others but never a bad one.

I don't know about "bad", but if our line looks like 2011 or 2013, I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed. I realize that 2011 was largely due to injuries and 2013 may have been more about the lack of playmakers to block for, but still, O-line performance has not been the given that many are acting like. I'd mostly bought into the position that Warren was going to be really good because he has all the physical abilities plus the feet of a tightend, and that Clayborne and Desper are actually athletic upgrades over Day and Beckwith, but it's sobering to look at the entire two deep and realize how many unknowns we are relying on.

 

[johnson86-1]

We are red shirting the #1 JUCO OT who had offers from the likes of the defending national champions -- among others.

That's definitely the most comforting fact I keep looking at. Surely Rankin wasn't that badly misrated and at worst we have a Siddoway quality player at backup tackle.

That says a lot more than what recruiting sites thought of the two players you are primarily questioning -- when in reality those sites probably never saw either play live prior to their arrival at MSU -- and who have both been day 1 bad asses for the most part, at least in terms of how this regime handles OL. They've already springboarded and bumped a bunch of decent depth guys to reach that second string and have all the potential in the world. Coaches are as high on both of those guys as anyone since Sherrod..

I'm not worried about their recruiting rankings at all; I'm more worried about whether they were high on our coaching staff's board. I have heard all the talk about them being very good so far, I just haven't heard it from the people I know personally to be plugged in to the program. Haven't heard anything different from them, just have seen enough instances of players get hyped up as the next big thing "according to the coaches" where the info didn't come from the coaching staff or anybody else in the know at all that I try not to get too excited.

 

[bulldogbaja]

FIFY

When is the last time we had a highly rated OL actually contribute? Just like always, our line will hold us back in key games against the big boys.

Or perhaps you meant:

When is the last time we had a highly rated OL actually contribute? Just like always, our RBs will be fine.

 

[engie]

You lost me on the OL being an issue in 2013. Tyler Russell and LaDarius Perkins were the issue in 2013. I've shown it statistically a bunch of times before. That line was just as good as last year's with Dak and/or JRob in the game. Last years -- which was a top 10, arguably top 5, offense in the history of the conference...

2011 - sure, that one struggled when we were down 3 starters by halftime against LSU and playing 2 guys that weren't ready at the most important positions on that line. Calhoun and Jenkins are ready.

 

[johnson86-1]

2011 - sure, that one struggled when we were down 3 starters by halftime against LSU and playing 2 guys that weren't ready at the most important positions on that line. Calhoun and Jenkins are ready.

2011 when we had a converted DL playing OT (a little different than a converted TE) that was backed up by a RS Freshman that was supposed to be a long term project when he was signed?

Again, I have no inside info it's just always worrisome when there are that many unknowns you are relying on. It's a pretty regular occurrence for teams to replace two or three starters on the OL and plenty of them do it without major hiccups. But plenty don't and I'm going to be nervous until we make it through the season without major injury or until a backup OT, backup OG, and backup C all play and prove that there will not be a huge drop-off if we have to rely on them.

 

[121Josey]

I do not like the look of our top 8 OL. We are going to need a new LT to be good. Our 3rd OT is a lightly recruited redshirt freshman (I know stars don't matter, but even we didn't offer him until late). Our back-up guard is either RS Freshman (again, lightly recruited, I think although can't really remembers) or a 5th year coming off injury after mostly just being a serviceable back-up so far). Our starting center we know is a good guard but don't know how he will handle center. Our back-up center is a JUCO transfer that redshirted last year.

Ok, here's the situation. You haven't followed State since January. You just woke up. Go back to sleep until next Monday and you'll see that everything is fine.**

Our 2nd 4 might be more talented than our Top 4.

But you say we need a new LT? The current LT - who has held his own at the position for 8 months - hasn't even played a game there, but we should get rid of him. Should we try to trade for somebody? Maybe we should see if we can get a loan LT from another team. Either the coaches are dubmasses or our OL really sucks. You decide.**

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

Trust has been earned...

I don't have all the answers but until our coaching staff fields a steaming hot mess, I gotta give them the benefit of the doubt.

I didn't think a kid from Canada with very few offers could ever start at RT (Justin Senior). Or a kid from Benton Academy with ZERO STARS could ever start for us and be SEC lineman of the week (Ben Beckwith)---so I am cautiously optimistic about having an OL filled with 3 star Jr. and Sr. players.

However I reserve the right to COMPLETELY change my mind after the LSU game---We are M-State dead Indians and stuff.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I think that one of the smartest things Mullen did was nut it up and start redshirting at a time when an argument could've been made that we could've used some help by some pretty good freshmen. Beyond being able to coach, redshirting players so that you are always putting experience on the field is key.

 

[ronpolk]

Is peters going to redshirt?

 

[patdog]

Yep. He got some criticism for it, but he held firm and it's paying off. For all the talk in his first few years about how he was looking to use MSU as a stepping stone for a bigger job, he sure didn't manage his team that way. He was patient and built for the long-term.

 

[johnson86-1]

But you say we need a new LT? The current LT - who has held his own at the position for 8 months - hasn't even played a game there, but we should get rid of him. Should we try to trade for somebody? Maybe we should see if we can get a loan LT from another team.

Or maybe you should have read that post again with some context. Admittedly not the clearest wording, but still.

Or if re-reading doesn't help, try this wording: "We are going to need our left tackle, who is new to the position, to be good."

Or even more precisely, "We will need Rufus Warren, who is a converted TE in his first year as a starter at LT, to do a good job in order for the offense to excel."

Our 2nd 4 might be more talented than our top 4, or they may suck. I seriously doubt they suck, but we won't know how good they are until we see them in a game.

 

[codeDawg]

Who the hell knows, but you have to think a dude that big could help inside. He was never fast (or tough) enough on the outside, but maybe he can give a good goal line push.

 

[121Josey]

Or maybe you should have read that post again with some context. Admittedly not the clearest wording, but still.

Sorry, I was having trouble wading through the crocodile tears. I probably wasted time by not hijacking the thread and asking advice about which TE to draft on my fantasy team.

Our 2nd 4 might be more talented than our top 4, or they may suck. I seriously doubt they suck, but we won't know how good they are until we see them in a game.

Let me know how good a job "Rufus Warren, who is a converted TE in his first year as a starter at LT," does when you see him in a game. Until then, you're wasting time. I don't really want to read 10 other statements like "We need the TE... to do a good job in order for the offense to excel."

 

[Where'sWaldo]

Just remember Southern miss stopped us on the goal line last year. Don't jump off the ledge over any one thing that happens in the Southern game.

 

[campshelbydog842003]

In 2011 we had 2 starters go down in the first part of the season. In 2013 we had a good offensive line. I don't know what the hell you were watching that year, but it wasn't our offensive line if you think that they weren't good. We lost because we gave up tons of points against A&M and LSU, gave up a game winning drive with under 2 minutes against Auburn, had our quarterback turn the ball over 5 times against Carolina when his mother was on her deathbed, and played the best
Team in the country in Alabama with our 3rd string quarterback.

2011 when we had a converted DL playing OT (a little different than a converted TE) that was backed up by a RS Freshman that was supposed to be a long term project when he was signed?

Again, I have no inside info it's just always worrisome when there are that many unknowns you are relying on. It's a pretty regular occurrence for teams to replace two or three starters on the OL and plenty of them do it without major hiccups. But plenty don't and I'm going to be nervous until we make it through the season without major injury or until a backup OT, backup OG, and backup C all play and prove that there will not be a huge drop-off if we have to rely on them.

 

[DudyDog]

Is peters going to redshirt?

I hope so. It would mean two things. One, the guys in front of him are capable of handling the job; and two, imagine what he will look and play like his RS Jr. and possibly Sr. yr. compared to his true freshman yr.

 

[hotdawg88]

The depth chart is the sports information guys guess. The coaches dont release a depth chart

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

One thing I'd query is why Joe Morrow is backup to De'Runnya. I thought Joe was finally getting it at the end of last year. I would hope both of them can be on the field at the same time. Have 2 big receivers for Dak to throw to.

 

[johnson86-1]

One thing I'd query is why Joe Morrow is backup to De'Runnya. I thought Joe was finally getting it at the end of last year. I would hope both of them can be on the field at the same time. Have 2 big receivers for Dak to throw to.

Morrow has definitely come on and I think that's a good sign if he's second string. For Mullen to move Brown to start over a senior like Morrow that has improved every year makes me think that Brown must have made a little bit of a leap this off season. Makes me really excited to see Wilson, Brown, and Ross as a unit. I was expecting our best unit to be Wilson and Ross on the outside and Myles in the slot and I thought that would be an outstanding unit. If Wilson, Brown and Ross are better, that's obviously a good thing.

 

[BiscuitEater]

On offense, there's jst no way a 165lb tailback with no elusiveness deserves to get snaps. Other than that, I've got no concerns.

Yea.. who would want's last year's LEADING rusher to even think about running with the ball **

** FYI .. Brandon Holloway averaged 6.5 yards/carry in 2014. Meanwhile Josh Robinson was next .. averaged 6.3 yards/carry. There is a place for both Shump & Holloway in Dan's offense.

I will concede that Dan does try to run Holloway up the middle too much .. but it's hard to argue with 6.5 per carry.

 

[57stratdawg]

I think Brown is hella underrated. If he played at any other time in MSU's history, he'd be the #1 guy. He's big, strong, and he has good hands.