Let's take the strugglebus back to 2004. The pitchforks were out. But, I personally didn't want Joe to go out like that. Thankfully, he's turned things around and I've generally been happy with the last 4 years. If we assume that JoePa is going to finish out his shiny new contract, he'll be around through the 2011. In 2004, I wanted him to go out on a high note and have a foundation laid for the next coach, and still feel that way. Had he left after this year, that would have been the case. But, he didn't, and that's fine. Just so long as we don't drop back into the abyss that was 2000-2004, and the next coach can come in and not have to rebuild anything. So, I thought I'd take a look at what the team will look like over the next three years. I'm using the roster PSU's offical site for eligibility (although as I'm looking at it that may not be totally accurate. They have Bowman as a freshman, but so far that's the only mistake I've noticed). I'm also including our 2009 commits, which most likely will stick, especially now that LJ is staying, and will hopefully include names like Jenkins and Brown come LOI day. Those are the names in italic. And I'm not including every single player, and some of the positions along both lines could switch.

2009

QB: Clark, Newsome, McGloin

RB: Royster, Green, Beachum, Carter, Dukes

WR: Brackett, THE ZUG, Moye, Powell, Price, Cousins, McDonald, Ditto,Smith, Drake, Felder, Kuntz,

OT: Pannell, Landolt, Farrell, Radakovich (I think he's a tackle) Shrive, Arcidiacono, Gress, Cadogen

G: Wiz (or C), Eliades, Troutman,Walton, Figueroa

C: Wiz (or G), Stankiewich, Barham, Howle

TE: Quarless, Shuler, Szczerba, Wedderburn

LB: Lee, Bowman, Hull, Mauti, Stupar, Yancich, Zordich, Gbadyu, Colasanti, Carson

DT: Odrick, Koroma, Still, Ware, Ogbu, Okoli, Massaro, Terry, McEowen, Hill

DE: Crawford, Latimore, Hayes, Lathom, Stanley

CB: Wallace, Lynn, Alfreno, Morris, Thomas (maybe WR), Givens,

S: Astorino, Timmons, Sukay, Jeffries, Hodges,Obeng-Agyapong, Willis

2010

QB: Newsome, McGloin

RB: Royster, Green, Beachum, Carter, Dukes

WR: Brackett, THE ZUG, Ditto, Moye, Powell, Price, Smith, Drake, Felder, Kuntz,

OT: Pannell, Farrell, Radakovich (I think he's a tackle) Shrive, Arcidiacono, Gress, Cadogen

G: Wiz (or C), Eliades, Troutman,Walton, Figueroa

C: Wiz (or G), Stankiewich, Barham, Howle

TE: Szczerba, Wedderburn

LB: Bowman (maybe-could see him leaving), Mauti, Stupar, Yancich, Zordich, Gbadyu, Colasanti, Carson

DT: Koroma, Still, Ware, Ogbu, Okoli, Massaro, Terry, McEowen, Hill

DE: Crawford, Latimore, Lathom, Stanley

CB: Lynn, Alfreno, Morris, Thomas (maybe WR), Givens,

S: Astorino, Sukay, Jeffries, Hodges,Obeng-Agyapong, Willis

More coming back than I thought for this year. Tough schedule going to Bama and Ohio State. Clearly a lot depends on Newsome's development. We also don't know what impact the 2009 class will have or what freshman will being coming in this year. Getting Jenkins looks like it could be big. Same with Paul Jones to back up Newsome. I could see this as a 8-4 type rebuilding year.

2011

QB: Newsome, McGloin

RB: Green, Beachum, Dukes

WR: Moye, Ditto, Powell, Price, Smith, Drake, Felder, Kuntz,

OT: Pannell, Farrell, Radakovich (I think he's a tackle) Shrive, Arcidiacono, Gress, Cadogen

G: Troutman, Walton, Figueroa

C: Stankiewich, Barham, Howle

TE: Szczerba, Wedderburn

LB: Mauti, Stupar, Yancich, Zordich, Gbadyu, Colasanti, Carson

DT: Still, Ware, Okoli, Massaro, Terry, McEowen, Hill

DE: Crawford, Latimore, Lathom, Stanley

CB: Lynn, Alfreno, Morris, Thomas (maybe WR), Givens,

S: Astorino, Sukay, Hodges,Obeng-Agyapong, Willis

Again, not enough know about the next three recruiting classes to project. Even still, seems like a good deal of talent on this roster. At least enough to produce one of those 8-4 seasons.

Conclusions? Hard to say. But, I don't think we're looking at a 2000-2004 type swoon, which is quality. A couple of thoughts...

-LJ coming back is huge. Seems that we'll have the  staff together during this period. Pros and cons to this, but I think mostly pros.

-2010 could be a big recruiting year. I follow recruiting relatively closely, but don't know all the players. I do know that there seems to be some excitement about the class we could bring in next year. Looking at the core players on these squads, some big time recruits could take/keep us to/at at a high level.

-Whether or not Joe finishes out this contract, the next coach will have plenty to work with.

Thoughts?