Hey Jon. Do you still believe in this article?

Not4cy said:
Is this no longer relevant for you? After reading this article again, apparently o-line experience is not that big of a factor. I love your optimism!!


Offensive-Line Experience Can Predict Success - WSJ.com
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I think it has relevance.

It's not a stand alone harbinger either. It doesn't account for your defense, special teams, experience at skill positions or schedule.

I thinks it's a good tool to factor into an overall evaluation.
 
It was a factor that influenced why Jon thought that Penn State was highly overrated in 2009.

Of course, PSU not only lacked starting experience on the OL ... they also weren't swimming with experience in the secondary or at WR either. Furthermore, Clark had a little bit of a record of "fainting" in the big games.

In contrast, Iowa took its biggest hit on the OL ... and that is an area where we still return 2 starters and guys at C who are arguably ahead of where Eubanks was. Furthermore, Iowa DOES have a reputation concerning development on the OL ... PSU does not.
 
Why would you say Josh is ahead where Eubanks was last year? I mean did he learn so much sitting behind Eubanks that he got better? Also, if he was better than Eubanks was to start last year, then why can't he clearly beat out JF? To that extent why couldn't he have beaten out Eubanks last year. He is a fifth year senior. Hard to argue that his time as a reserve in year four could have that much of a difference from his time as a reserve in year three. This also considering that Eubanks had a lot more starting experience that Josh.

Now if you are saying James is going to be the center that would be one thing. But then why can't he clearly beat out Josh.

So, at this point I would say we are looking to not have a drop-off at center as opposed to an immediate upgrade. That being said, do you know something I don't? Hope you do, and if so, please tell.
 
homerHAWKeye777 said:
It was a factor that influenced why Jon thought that Penn State was highly overrated in 2009.

Of course, PSU not only lacked starting experience on the OL ... they also weren't swimming with experience in the secondary or at WR either. Furthermore, Clark had a little bit of a record of "fainting" in the big games.

In contrast, Iowa took its biggest hit on the OL ... and that is an area where we still return 2 starters and guys at C who are arguably ahead of where Eubanks was. Furthermore, Iowa DOES have a reputation concerning development on the OL ... PSU does not.
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What Jon said.

That particular article highlighted Michigan with 75 returning starts but ignored Iowa with 98. It failed to mention Minnesota with 96 and Indiana with 84 and Notre Dame with 100, all among the highest in the nation - how'd they do again?

Full list at Holding That Line - Wall Street Journal
 
CAARHawk said:
Why would you say Josh is ahead where Eubanks was last year? I mean did he learn so much sitting behind Eubanks that he got better? Also, if he was better than Eubanks was to start last year, then why can't he clearly beat out JF? To that extent why couldn't he have beaten out Eubanks last year. He is a fifth year senior. Hard to argue that his time as a reserve in year four could have that much of a difference from his time as a reserve in year three. This also considering that Eubanks had a lot more starting experience that Josh.

Now if you are saying James is going to be the center that would be one thing. But then why can't he clearly beat out Josh.

So, at this point I would say we are looking to not have a drop-off at center as opposed to an immediate upgrade. That being said, do you know something I don't? Hope you do, and if so, please tell.
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CAARHawk -

First off ... the comparison is between the status of Raf's play at the beginning of the '09 season as compared to the state of Koeppel AND Ferentz RIGHT NOW.

From info I trust, it really sounded like James Ferentz would have been the starting C in '09 were it not for his Shenanigans back in the spring of '09. On top of that, I had heard positive things about Koeppel back then too ... however, the primary knock on him was that he was even more undersized last year.

From what I recalled hearing last year, Koeppel and Raf were neck-and-neck in their competition too ... however, the fact that Raf was a lot more experienced (and pretty darn undersized) played into who won the starting gig.

Anyhow, as we enter the 2010 season, the fact that Koeppel has managed to keep things close says to me that that we should consider him on a level comparable to Ferentz.
 
Something tells me we have been here before. I'm not quite ready to go where you are yet with the center position. My hope is that it is not a glaring liability. If we get
more than that, awesome!
 
CAARHawk said:
Something tells me we have been here before. I'm not quite ready to go where you are yet with the center position. My hope is that it is not a glaring liability. If we get
more than that, awesome!
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Just because I think that we're starting off with guys who are an upgrade from where Raf was at, at the start of the 2009 season, isn't necessarily saying too much. It's not like I'm claiming that the C spot will be a great strength. However, what I was getting at more was that it wouldn't be a weakness.

I'm heartened that I've heard Morgan say that James Ferentz has a bit of an "edge" to him ... which basically alludes that he's one heck of a competitor and has a bit of "mean" in him. That's what you like in your o-linemen.
 
homerHAWKeye777 said:
Just because I think that we're starting off with guys who are an upgrade from where Raf was at, at the start of the 2009 season, isn't necessarily saying too much. It's not like I'm claiming that the C spot will be a great strength. However, what I was getting at more was that it wouldn't be a weakness.

I'm heartened that I've heard Morgan say that James Ferentz has a bit of an "edge" to him ... which basically alludes that he's one heck of a competitor and has a bit of "mean" in him. That's what you like in your o-linemen.
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I will admit that I have never been impressed with Eubanks. He worked his tail off and kept his nose clean. For that he has my respect.
I dont think its a stretch to say we upgraded at the C position.
 
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