What's your PSU starting 22 at Purdue? *
- Thread starter ChiTownLionPSU
- Start date
Purdue QB Jack Plummer, who I believe was a starter for some or all of Purdue's 2021 season, just announced he is transferring to Cal for next season. Not sure if this is good or bad news for Cal.
WR - Washington, Tinsley, KLS
TE - Johnson
OL - Fashanu, Effner, Scruggs, Tengwall, Wallace
RB - Lee
QB - Clifford
DE - Isaac, Tarburton
DT - Mustipher (if healthy), Izzard
LB - Jacobs, King, Sutherland
CB - King, Porter Jr
S - Ellis, Brown
Lots of rotations however so these are not set in stone starters IMO, especially at RB, OG, and DL
TE - Johnson
OL - Fashanu, Effner, Scruggs, Tengwall, Wallace
RB - Lee
QB - Clifford
DE - Isaac, Tarburton
DT - Mustipher (if healthy), Izzard
LB - Jacobs, King, Sutherland
CB - King, Porter Jr
S - Ellis, Brown
Lots of rotations however so these are not set in stone starters IMO, especially at RB, OG, and DL
I know this flies in the face of conventional wisdom but I think CV will start at QB and Singleton at RB.
I’ll go off the board and predict we don’t have 22 players left on the roster by opening day.
Lots of competition at a few spots that could yield some surprises between now and September.
1. Johnson could win the starting TE job, as he is a dynamite receiver for a TE, but I still believe the job is Strange's to lose.
2. Effner seems to have great position flexibility, but with all the playing time he got he didn't seem to distinguish himself at any of the positions and he could be the odd man out if (when) a Portal OL players gets into the fray.
3. I also like Lee to start the season, but RB is a crap shoot with all the possibilities.
4. Smart money is on Clifford, but hope springs eternal.....
5. Isaac seems like the logical choice opposite Tarburton, but with Isaac coming back from an injury and the possibility that the staff might not want to put too much on him at first, I would have Vilbert as about even money to start at DE. Then along with DDS, PSU will have a very good 2 deep at DE, with some young players such as Fisher and Townley, and possibly Talley, trying to get snaps as well.
6. If (when) a Portal LB shows up, hopefully Sutherland goes to a backup role at Sam. I'm hoping that a real Will Portal LB shows up and Jacobs stays at Sam, with King at Mike, and Biddin, Sutherland and Elsdon as the 2nd unit. Wouldn't it be great if Carter could somehow come in and be too good to redshirt!
7. I'm not sold on Ellis as a starter, especially with the play of Reed and the fact that Hardy has been playing some Safety. Reed looks very good and will look more physical after a year in the S&C program.
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Recall that Wormley was scheduled to be the LG this year prior to getting injured in the preseason. I don't know what the injury was or how it has healed, but I would assume he's going to push hard for that LG spot, again. Another possibility would be to swap Tengwall and Wallace.
The situation at LB sucks. Smith & Luketa leaving early has created huge holes in the front 7, in my opinion; maybe we play mostly nickel??
Regardless, not too many difference makers on offense/defense given this list of potential starters...how many Day 1/2 draft picks? Again, my opinion...but I think you need at least 4-5 players, total, on both sides that are going to get drafted in Round 1 and another 4-5 players in Rounds 2-4 to truly make up a championship team. This 2022 team looks pretty lean in that regard...
I think you nailed it. All these guys have played so while not a spectacular 22, all have had considerable playing time to date except for Fashanu and King.
I would bet Singleton, Allen, and DDS all get meaningful snaps early and often. Plus the punter coming in.
Great point on Wormley. It would seem that Wormley might be a more logical choice than Effner. And if Trautwein and Franklin can somehow pull a legit RT from the Portal, we may see a battle between Wallace, Wormley and Effner for the Guard spot opposite Tengwall, if indeed Guard is where Tengwall ends up.
I believe that this Spring will see a high priority tryout for Tengwall at both Guard and Tackle. I'm about convinced that by mid-2022 Tengwall will be PSU's best olinemen and given what the staff has to work with getting Tengwall to his best position should be the first step in forming the 2022 oline. Then with Fashanu at LT and Scruggs at Center, the rest of the olinemen will be trying out for the remaining 2 open spots.
That sums it up. I think Tengwall is a better OT than Wallace, I look forward to seeing those two anchor the right side and am really rooting for Wormley. Anybody heard anything on Dawkins?
I like the idea of solidifying a few positions on the OL and also getting Tengwell set in a fixed position. I believe he is a more natural guard.
It seems logical that Trautwein would try and build around a few good pieces. It seemed that last year's starting OL didn't really have even 1 olinemen that consistently could open a running lane. If Tengwall is really a high level olinemen that will play at least the next 2 years at PSU and potentially anchor the PSU oline, Trautwein needs to get him planted in his best position and then do the same for any other olinemen that he see's as developing into actual high level players during the 2022 season.
No offense to Effner, but he has not really played at a high level and led a turnaround in oline performance and he has has every chance to do so, having finished up his 4th year at PSU. Just using him as an example. Effner may make a very good backup at more than one OL position for 2022, but he is very likely not a player that will end up leading the resurgence of the PSU oline in 2022 or beyond and where he plays should be a secondary concern to where the younger higher potential olinemen such as Tengwall, Fashanu and Wormley (are there others?) play and improve as they get experience.
Does it really matter who the starting 22 are?
On offense, the script is James Franklin demanding that his QB get X runs per game and that the offense deliver Y “high impact” plays
On defense, James demands that they deliver X TFL’s, Y QB pressures and hopefully some turnovers.
Every season is the same under James. Rinse & repeat.
I remain hopeful that we will add a few starters from the portal. You guys nailed most of it above. IMO OL will include Scruggs, Tengwell and Fashanu as starters. The other two spots will be a battle between Wallace, Wormley and hopefully two transfers, a G and a T. It would be nice to have both depth and competition. For example, Wormley, Tengwell and the kid from Cornell at G, and Fashanu, transfer and Wallace at T. The OL could look a whole lot better with those additions.
On defense I think/hope for a transfer starter at DE opposite Isaac with Tarburton, Vilbert and DDS providing really nice depth and a transfer at the Will LB spot, backed up by Carter, with King and Elsdon in the middle and Jacobs and Buddin at SAM. IMO that is a nice two deep and we could start feeling pretty good about the defense.
On defense I think/hope for a transfer starter at DE opposite Isaac with Tarburton, Vilbert and DDS providing really nice depth and a transfer at the Will LB spot, backed up by Carter, with King and Elsdon in the middle and Jacobs and Buddin at SAM. IMO that is a nice two deep and we could start feeling pretty good about the defense.
I'm hoping that Wallace is in the competition at Guard, and not at OT where he was not an effective pass blocker. But we are forgetting that JB Nelson is coming from JC, is a big dude, and has already enrolled. So if Trautwein can get an OT transfer in the fold the depth at OT could be a transfer, Fashanu, and Nelson.
Unless there is attrition, or Isaac is not going to be ready, at DE I'm not looking for a Portal DE. Isaac with Tarburton, Vilbert and DDS form a nice 2 deep, and Fisher as well. Also, there are some young DE's and it's not out of the question 1 or 2 of them could be developing to see the field in 2022 - Townley, McGraw, and Mostella. With Talley arriving in the Summer.
LB is the spot of high need for a Portal player as you said. With Sutherland coming back and moving to LB (Sam) it's hard to see him not getting playing time, but I'm hoping it's as the backup.
Wonder what is a realistic timeline for incoming transfers to arrive going forward and them still being able to enroll for the Spring and participate in Spring practice....?
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Great points Greg. I forgot about Nelson, he is a big boy and may be physically ready to play early, and I completely agree that Wallace at G would be great news.
They can be difficult to keep abreast ofSorry, but I don't believe in depth charts.
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