Charlie Weis released his 2 Deep roster the other day for game 1 against San Diego State.  Usually, this is something that I would look at and not think much of, the depth chart is what it is.  This time however, the list of the “boys who are gonna be playing” caused a little friction between my partner-in-crime Adam H and I.  The reason?  Eight freshman-Kyle Rudolph, Michael Floyd, Braxston Cave, Trevor Robinson, Robert Blanton, Darius Fleming, Ethan Johnson, and Kapron Lewis-Moore are all on it.

My View

Eight freshman are on the 2 deep and I think it is a good thing! Charlie has spent his time building up depth, and these guys are leap frogging upperclassmen that can play a little.  Weis had two top 10 recruiting classes before this, so this isn’t exactly the same as his earlier crops of freshman just playing because they had to.  Also, three of the defensive players are in the front 7, and that is one area (the other probably being a lack of difference makers at wide receiver) that Weis did have trouble recruiting his first couple years.  Quarterbacks? Check.  Running Backs?  Check.  Offensive lineman?  Check.  Defensive backs?  Check.  All of these groups had top 100 recruits, but this past year he finally got some lineman and linebackers (and potential game breaking wide outs), so let them play!

His View

Having Eight freshman ready to go from day 1 is a sign of trouble brewing!  The team was weaker in 2006 than it was in 2005, and the biggest difference was that there were more young guys playing.  Sam Young getting introduced to speedy d-lineman at Georgia Tech, and Darrin Walls getting burned playing Purdue come to mind.

Also, Charlie’s first full recruiting class was highly regarded, why aren’t they stepping up to become players?  Sam Young hasn’t fulfilled his potential, both quarterbacks transferred (Frazer and Jones), Matt Carufel and Konrad Reuland were passed by before they left, and the one who actually flashed his potential-Darrin Walls, is gone as well.  The program is still in a rough spot, and a large part has to do with the seeming failure of a class who should be turning it around.  This also begs the question of that class being overrated or the coaches not developing talent.

2 opposing views.  Which one needs a clue?