OT's for 2022 and beyond...

[GregInPitt]

The discussion on OT recruiting within the audio clips linked in the "Phil's take on PSU Football with TF Carr and Jed D", a sticky thread above, warrants some discussion, although the OT position depth could take another hit if Walker decides to go to the NFL.

Part of the discussion includes Wallace playing out of position at OT, with him being a Guard and having a better upside at Guard.

But in the short term there are not many options, unless Franklin and Trautwein can find a good OT in the transfer portal.

If Walker leaves, could the starters at OT for 2022 be Fashanu and Tengwall, with Wallace moving inside with Scruggs and one of the many other inside players (Effner, Traore, Dawkins, Wormley, Achumba) ??

Christ is about the only other OT now on the roster.

Hard to believe the OT from Harvard backed out of his commitment given the lack of seasoned competition he would have faced. It would seem that Trautwein and Franklin must have a grad assistant sitting at a computer that continually updates any OT's that enter the portal......

 

[Got GSPs]

Hard to believe the OT from Harvard backed out of his commitment

Didn’t someone here imply that it wasn’t the Harvard guys idea?

 

[GregInPitt]

Didn’t someone here imply that it wasn’t the Harvard guys idea?

I don't remember hearing that from any reputable source.

It's easy to look at who is in the Portal at any position on 247's Portal, and right now there are a good many OT's in the Portal but not really any that had high ratings coming out of high school, not that that means too much once they have competed for a college team.......

 

[Got GSPs]

I don't remember hearing that from any reputable source.

It's easy to look at who is in the Portal at any position on 247's Portal, and right now there are a good many OT's in the Portal but not really any that had high ratings coming out of high school, not that that means too much once they have competed for a college team.......

I’m no expert, but if there is enough difference between Tackle and Guard, it may be better to have 3 star tackle than a 4 star guard. Certainly that could be said for other positions.

 

[GregInPitt]

I’m no expert, but if there is enough difference between Tackle and Guard, it may be better to have 3 star tackle than a 4 star guard. Certainly that could be said for other positions.

I don't look at it as being as much about ratings/stars. The roster just does not have enough players with the length and athletic attributes that make top OT's at this point. And as was pointed out on the podcast, even some of PSU's other recent OT's were not really true OT's. There are a good many inside players on the roster with multiple years left of eligibility, plus the two 2023 inside olinemen now committed. So the staff just needs OT's that they believe can be developed into good OT's.

 

[Got GSPs]

I don't look at it as being as much about ratings/stars. The roster just does not have enough players with the length and athletic attributes that make top OT's at this point. And as was pointed out on the podcast, even some of PSU's other recent OT's were not really true OT's. There are a good many inside players on the roster with multiple years left of eligibility, plus the two 2023 inside olinemen now committed. So the staff just needs OT's that they believe can be developed into good OT's.

Yes, I’m aware of all of that. I’m discussing your comment about how good the available tackles were in the portal. Meaning a high school 3 star who is legit tackle may be better than a high school 4 star who is guard size.

 

[GregInPitt]

Yes, I’m aware of all of that. I’m discussing your comment about how good the available tackles were in the portal. Meaning a high school 3 star who is legit tackle may be better than a high school 4 star who is guard size.

Yep. But at this point I don't expect Trautwein to consider any "tackles" that don't have tackle size and athleticism.

And with most of the OT's in the Portal being lower rated coming out of H.S., we looking in from the outside won't have a clue as to how they might have progressed during their college years, i.e if they are legit options to play OT for PSU. Just have to see what the staff does the next few months.

 

[grinagrin]

Honestly I can’t believe Trautwein still has a job here. Everyone, and I literally mean everyone, regressed this year. Rasheed Walker goes from a possible 1st round pick to a late Day 3 pick if he’s lucky. Wallace sucks as a Tackle, Scruggs and Miranda showed promise last year and both took a significant step back this year. Whigan was horrible in that first game against Wisconsin and never saw the field again until late in the year. Wilson was nothing special. We can speculate that the injury to Wormley hurt, but we can’t be sure that he would’ve played well under Trautwein if he was healthy.

The fact that we got pushed around and couldn’t run the ball against FCS Villanova should have been a fireable offense.

 

[blion72]

Yes, I’m aware of all of that. I’m discussing your comment about how good the available tackles were in the portal. Meaning a high school 3 star who is legit tackle may be better than a high school 4 star who is guard size.

problem is that while 40% of the OL in HS are OT's, only a fraction can actually play OT at the CFB level. Most of those OTs who could play in college are mainly suited to OG or C. I am not sure the pay scale in the NFL for OT vs OG/C.
Univ Texas seems to be violating the NCAA recruiting rules by trying to recruit and an induce OL players to sign with the Longhorns by offering NIL $$$$ for coming there. Obviously, they put value by providing special comp for these roles.

 

[Bison13]

I will also say that the RPO offenses and spread offenses are now much more prevalent in HS and so there are fewer big power OL playing. Most of those kids are now playing DL or lack the drive blocking techniques that go with it. Much harder to find good quality OT anymore

 

[Got GSPs]

problem is that while 40% of the OL in HS are OT's, only a fraction can actually play OT at the CFB level. Most of those OTs who could play in college are mainly suited to OG or C. I am not sure the pay scale in the NFL for OT vs OG/C.
Univ Texas seems to be violating the NCAA recruiting rules by trying to recruit and an induce OL players to sign with the Longhorns by offering NIL $$$$ for coming there. Obviously, they put value by providing special comp for these roles.

40% of high school o linemen are tackles, same with college and pro. It’s not complicated. Stop trying for the best overall available linemen and recruit the best available tackles. They won’t be as skilled as the guards but they need to have size and athleticism.

 

[s1uggo72]

40% of high school o linemen are tackles, same with college and pro. It’s not complicated. Stop trying for the best overall available linemen and recruit the best available tackles. They won’t be as skilled as the guards but they need to have size and athleticism.

when you get right down to it, with the offense we run, you really need to play it with 4 tackles, and forget about traditional OG skills.