If we are destined to struggle.....

with our offensive line for the remainder of the year, then I'm in favor of going the route of youth all the way. In other words, perhaps with the possible exception of Wiz, sit the juniors and seniors and start the freshmen and sophomores and then give them the bulk of the playing time. Let them gain the experience they will need down the road. If you look at our existing offensive line, there are three seniors (counting Eliades) and two juniors. Next year, we are going to be right back where we are now with our offensive line! Groom them to fit the position.

I'm almost inclined to do pretty much the same thing with the defensive ends. Other than Pete Massaro, I'm disappointed in the play of our defensive ends. Pre-season, I was pretty much drooling at the prospects of Crawford, Lattimore, Latham & Stanley and the fantasized pass rushes that quite frankly, never materialized. When watching the games, it is rare to hear any of their names mentioned. If they were totally green, I wouldn't have expected as much, but this is the third year of playing time for some of them. At the midpoint of the season, it is time for  the defensive ends to step up or sit down and watch some underclassman take their job.

Linebacker play has been a bit of a downer as well. I think, for the most part, and except for Gbadyu, Stupar and Colasanti, our linebackers just lack the experience to react to what they are seeing. Stupar is doing fine, but Gbadyu and Colasanti, who played pretty much last year, just don't seem to have that ball hawking instinct that PSU linebackers need to have. Fortt, Mauti, Hodges and any others just need playing time to gain experience,  Couple that with a bunch of injuries, and..... well you see what you get. I would keep rotating and coaching them up, concentrating again on the guys who are coming back.

And don't get me started on tackling, sheesh

The secondary has been doing pretty good, all things considered. When a safety is the third leading tackler on the team, that is not a good thing. The rest of the offense, I think is pretty decent (including Royster). If the O-line would do half of what is expected of them, I believe the offense would at least be respectable.

I've said my piece, feel free to comment.