SB Nation - Rich Ohrnberger

Potential Penn State Problem #2: Musical Chairs For Dancing Bears

Run Up The Score — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:00:12 -0000

We're down to the last two possible pitfalls for Penn State in 2009, and neither will be a surprise to anybody. It's the offensive line and the secondary, and based upon the fact that the secondary will have all new starters and, you know, the Rose Bowl, the shuffling and replacing along Penn State's offensive line lands that unit at #2 on the list.

Okay, take a look at this picture of last year's offensive line. That would be, from left to right, Dennis Landolt, Stefen Wisniewski, A.Q. Shipley, Rich Ohrnberger, and Gerald Cadogan.

Photo credit: readingeagle.com

Now realize what has been done in the offseason. Landolt switches from RT to LT, Wisniewski moves from RG to C. The other three guys are currently in NFL training camps. Consequently, Penn State's 2009 offensive line will feature five players who are either starters for the first time or starters learning a new position in 2009. This...this is not good.

Truth be told, Landolt and Wiz should be just fine. Landolt (Sr., 6'4" 303) has practiced at LT in the past (as Levi Brown's backup), and Wisniewski (Jr. 6'3", 302) is acknowledged as being so damned good that he's showing up on pre-season All-American and All-Conference teams as a center. So let's take a look at the new guys.

Right Tackle: DeOn'tae Pannell (So. 6'5" 313) is the starter. He was originally penciled in as the left tackle until the coaching staff decided that moving the more experienced Landolt to LT was a better insurance policy for Daryll Clark's blindside. The coaches like his footwork, but obviously don't trust him that much yet.

Right Guard: Lou Eliades (Jr. 6'4" 305) appears to have nailed this one down. Just when it looked like he might make a run at a starting position on the offensive line in 2007, injuries held him back. He's healthy now, and gained experience in last year's Rose Bowl, when he played 31 snaps in place of an injured Landolt (knee sprain)

Left Guard: Most people expected Johnnie Troutman (So. 6'4" 322) to win this position, but Joe Paterno was less than impressed with Troutman's conditioning and rehab of a hamstring injury. Consequently, it seems that redshirt freshman Matt Stankiewitch (6'3" 290) is the guy.

The concerns about the offensive line aren't just with respect to the relative inexperience and lack of familiarity. There is an alarming lack of depth, as well. The primary backups appear to be the aforementioned Troutman, along with...well, not much. And we don't really even know if Troutman can play. Ako Poti (Sr. 6'3" 303) and Nerraw McCormack (Sr. 6'5" 279) were junior college transfers a few years ago. They appear to be the emergency plan at tackle barring any hasty rearrangments such as sliding Eliades out to tackle and inserting Troutman at guard (unless true freshman Eric Shrive (6'6" 298) is ready to go). The backup at center is...Quinn Barham (So. 6'3" 290), maybe?

So, yeah. Depth and inexperience are issues here. Penn State was lucky with a general lack of injuries along the line last year, and had an experienced, versatile guy like Mike Lucian to step in when necessary. They'll need to be even luckier this season.

Inside-Outside is Sick of The Tebow

BSD — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:52:29 -0000

More photos » by Butch Dill - AP

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow could totally bang that chick in the third row if he wanted to. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

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It's Friday, so we're back with another edition of Inside:Outside. This week we discuss all of the Penn State preseason hype. Is it justified? Then we look ahead to next week's Big Ten Media Days with the questions we would ask if we were there.

Inside: Okay, let's be honest. Penn State is replacing three offensive line starters, moving another guy from guard to center, and replacing three starting wide receivers. The secondary is all new, and the depth at defensive end is practically non-existent. Why are so many people automatically assuming that the Nittany Lions will be a top-ten team in 2009?

RUTS Says...There are really two possibilities here -- either it's assumed that the players we're plugging into these spots are comparable or better than last year's, or the Lions are somehow being rewarded for the combination of their confectionery schedule, the conference's awful reputation, and the dearth of acknowledged, legitimate Big Ten championship contenders.

The former possibility is counterintuitive at best (if they were better players, where were they last year?). I don't think anybody legitimately expects the wide receivers to be better than the trio of Norwood, Williams, and Butler. That's just stupid. A.Q. Shipley was the best center in the nation, Rich Ohrnberger was drafted in the fourth round by New England, and Gerald Cadogan was an excellent left tackle who is hoping to catch on with the Carolina Panthers. Do you really think the offensive line will be better this season?

Even the secondary, tenderized beyond recognition during and after the Rose Bowl, doesn't look to be a candidate for addition by subtraction. A.J. Wallace has been an enigma throughout his Penn State career, and especially since his switch to defense. He was decisively beaten out by Lydell Sargeant last year. Now he's supposed to be our #1 cornerback?

So it's gotta be the schedule, right? Anyone care to talk me down on this? I keep reading predictions for 12-0, 11-1, or 10-2, and I'm just not seeing it from this group of players. Not yet, at least.

Mike Says...A big part of it is the laziness of the Media. "Hey, Penn State went to the Rose Bowl last year. Daryll Clark is coming back. They'll be a top ten team!"

But Penn State does have a lot going for them. Besides returning Clark, they also return Royster, Wisniewski, Odrick, and Bowman who all earned All-Big Ten honors last year. Plus Sean Lee is coming back, and he earned All-Big Ten honors in 2007. No other team can claim that much proven star power at this point. And really, when you step back and look at the Big Ten, what other team besides Ohio State looks like they have potential to dominate the league?

Kevin Says...Basically you need to look at (1) who is going to be taking over for the departed, and (2) what teams on the schedule will be able to take advantage of weaknesses.

The o-line loses a lot of players but Steele still has three of the current guys on his list of the Big Ten’s best. Clark, Royster and Green all return, obviously, so the offensive attack should be less intimidating but still capable.

The defensive line was incredibly deep last year and I think that helps in 2009. One or two injuries could devastate the unit, but with perhaps the best set of LBs in the nation backing them up I don’t worry about being run all over, which is how you die in the Big Ten (anecdotal evidence but still: the bottom five teams in the conference finished 10th, 6th, 11th, 9th and 8th in rushing defense, going last to seventh).

I don’t anticipate having any debilitating voids to fill other than receiver and secondary, but with the running game I don’t worry so much about being killed on offense and no one in the conference has proven yet that they are capable of torching even a mediocre set of corners and safeties.

People will argue that I’m overlooking the losses on the o-line, which is fair, but you can never tell how good an o-line is going to be anyway. Ohio State’s completely let them down last year despite returning what I think was the entire unit, and Penn State ended up with the best center in the nation last year even though the kid was playing (or, not playing) d-line the first two years of his career at Penn State.

It’s obviously the million-dollar question, but having three extremely capable players and two highly recruited ones isn’t a bad place to start when your first three games are glorified practices.

Outside: At SEC Media Days, Tim Tebow said he was a virgin and saving himself for marriage (a hilarious question asked by Tennessee blogger and author Clay Travis). What probing, personal question would you ask at Big Ten Media Day?

RUTS Says... I'd ask Mark Dantonio if he's recovered from the hypothermia that obviously set in toward the end of last year's Michigan State v. Penn State game. It's the only possible explanation for him calling two consecutive timeouts with nine seconds remaining in a 49-18 blowout, other than being an enormously stubborn and grumpy dicktard.

Mike Says...The SEC media days are a circus. I was expecting a big push on their part for a college football playoff system or some big announcement on an all new SEC Network or something. Instead the big question of the week is "Who didn't vote for The Chosen One?" Thank God we got that sorted out though.

Seeing all of these bloggers getting press passes to the Big Ten Media Day kind of makes me kick myself for not thinking about flying to Chicago next week. I'd love to run into JoePa kicking back a bourbon in the hotel bar and strike up a conversation. But if I had access here are some questions I would ask.

To Jim Tressel: You have struggled in big games against southern teams the last few years. This year you're lagging behind Penn State and Michigan in recruiting. More and more Big Ten teams are putting together SEC-like offenses that have given you fits. Do you feel like your grip on the Big Ten might be slipping a little bit?

To Brett Bielema: Don't you kind of regret that intentional offsides kickoff stunt you pulled on JoePa a few years ago? I mean, he's completely kicked your ass 86-14 in the two games since then.

To Rich Rodriguez: Penn State will be pretty tough for your young squad this year. Then they rotate off the schedule in 2010 and 2011. Do you think you'll be around to get another shot at beating Paterno in 2012?

Kevin Says...I would try to get Tim Brewster to spill the beans on any type of punctuation clinic he might have been checked into during his younger days. Dude has serious exclamation issues and was my pick for the John L. Smith Award this year.

We're All Growns Up, And Making Bryce Paup References

Kevin HD — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:32:06 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

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I've always found the draft a bit of an odd thing. On one hand fans typically like to see their players to get drafted early and take pride in how many players were taken by teams in The League. But then again, fans dread and seethe scorn when a player jumps for the cash, and also can't feel good about so many talented players not being around for the next college football season.

Anyway, five Penn State players were taken in the seven round draft, second most in the conference to Ohio State, and another nine guys were signed as of the time of this post.

Aaron Maybin - Pick 11, Round 1 (11) - Bills

Project Mayhem, who came out of nowhere in 2008, did The Pass Rush Factory well on Saturday, confirming the jump was indeed a pretty good move.

There were early rumors that Maybin could go as high as five with the Browns looking at so many holes, but most of the recent projections had him in the 10-12 range. The 'experts' can score this one as correct, and Buffalo Rumblings is pleased:

On paper, Buffalo has its most explosive pass rusher since Bryce Paup...What makes this pick better is the fact that they took the right player. No DE displayed a quicker first step in college or at the Combine than Maybin. I had him rated as the top DE on the board the moment he declared for the draft, and the Bills clearly followed suit, if only at the most critical juncture. I think he's the best pass rusher in the draft. The Bills, too, think he's the best pass rusher in the draft, and his upside is tremendous.

Derrick Williams - Pick 18, Round 3 (82) - Lions

No one deserves a little draft luck like Williams, the former #1 rated recruit in the land was taken in the third round and, for the second time in his career, will be tasked with helping to rebuild a program in distraught.

The Pride of Detroit gives the pick a D+, which is, well not even a real grade if I remember right. Regardless, they didn't like the pick, although I think that had a lot to do with Williams not really filling one of their copious amounts of needs like some of the other players who were still on the board.

The Lions have a history of dismissing important needs and picking wide receivers, and as bad as a D+ is, I have to give him credit for his optimism. If I was cursed with being a Lions fan for the past several years, every decision that organization made would get an F- by default until something dramatic happens. I would probably just be that bitter.

The Free Press has a couple of quotes about the pick:

Kiper's response:

"He came into Penn State and he was supposed to wow everybody. He didn't initially, but came on. ... He doesn't have the great 40 time, but he's quick out of his burst, out of his cuts. He has that burst you look for and has the ability to score in a lot of ways -- in the return game, on reverses, catching the football. He's very good after the catch in the open field."

You hear things like this all the time and I gave up a long time ago trying to argue about it. Williams was no Reggie Bush or Tim Tebow, but he was important, in a way that the occasional observer wouldn't recognize. I don't blame anyone for this, I completely understand how his stats can be seen as underwhelming, but let's drop the whole "never lived up to the hype" thing, because to be frank it's a stupid comment.

Mayock's response:

"II thought he had an excellent Senior Bowl, but he followed it up with a poor Combine, running a 4.67 -- very slow for an elite receiver. Great Senior Bowl, but too many drops in his career. ... I watched him catch punts one day (at the Senior Bowl) and this is supposed to be an elite punt returner and that day if the football had been a harpoon, he'd have been dead. It'd have pierced his chest."

He was reportedly pretty sick the week of the combine and told by his agent to sit the thing out. He worked out anyway, which was indeed a bad decision, but as we've talked about before here at BSD looked great in the Senior Bowl.

And I have no idea where he's going with that harpoon analogy.

Deon Butler - Pick 27, Round 3 (91) - Seahawks

About four picks before Butler was drafted by Seattle, a commenter who shall remain nameless set the over/under at pick 114 in the open thread, a fourth round choice. I too was a bit surprised to see him go so early, but his blazing 40 at the combine apparently helped the draft stock of one of the most under-the-radar receivers in the nation last year.

Seattle loves them some record setting Penn State receivers, of course, and so we all saw this coming:

"He has some of the same traits as far as route-running goes," Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said when asked to compare Butler to his fellow PSU alumnus. "He's not as polished, obviously, as Bobby is."

Rich Ohrnberger - Pick 23, Round 4 (123) - Patriots

Ohrnberger was probably the biggest surprise from a Penn State perspective, who many thought wouldn't go until after Shipley and Cadogan. Not true, of course. Ohrnberger will be buried on the depth chart this season, but was part of an effort to hedge against an aging line:

Ohrnberger, a player who took a pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium, adds youth to the interior of the offensive line and provides a fallback, longer-term option with starting guards Logan Mankins (left) and Stephen Neal (right) entering the final year of their contracts.

PatsBlog likes the pick, even if it did cost them a well respected cornerback in Ellis Hobbs:

Ohrnberger is a guy I actually like. Although he is undersized, he plays with a good motor, is quick out of his stance, and is good in pass protection and pulling. Solid pick who could eventually take over for Stephen Neal at right guard.

A.Q. Shipley - Pick 17, Round 7 (226) - Steelers

There was a time when I though A.Q. might not get drafted, and at that time I was thinking it would be the most bewildering event (or non-event?) of the weekend.

He is undersized, and probably slid because of it, but once picked I found it hard to feel bad for a guy who gets to play for his hometown team. The Steelers earned overall "grades" as low as an F and as high as an A+, further lending credibility to the practice of grading drafts.

Naturally the local papers loved it. Not everyone was sold, though:

Can't say I'm too big a fan of Big 10 football so I can't comment on whether or not Shipley is so adored for his local product status, his ability on the field, or some combination of the two. Probably headed for the practice squad as well, but there's an interesting discussion to be had about the future of our offensive line - especially for those who have an opinion one way or another as to whether or not Shipley legitimately could be a better than average starting center....

I'm not sure if he's upset the Steelers picked a kid from the Big Ten or if he simply doesn't know much about A.Q. It's not like the Big Ten hasn't produced some decent linemen in the last five years. Besides, as far as risk and reward go, there's nothing wrong with picking the conference's best center in the seventh round and hoping it works out.

Quickly: Signed but undrafted...

It's easy to pile on Maurice Evans at this point; he goes undrafted but signs with the Giants. As disappointed as I am in his 2008 production and decision to leave, I can unconditionally say I wish him all the best.

Jordan Norwood will join the Browns, and Facebook Stalking H/T to NittanyWhiteOut, who was all over this one.

Gerald Cadogan was a major surprise as an undrafed free agent. He'll go to Carolina.

Lydell Sargeant will move north to help build Penn State another satellite campus in Buffalo. Front page promotion for the best photoshop of this one in the comments.

Tyrell Sales signs with the Colts.

Josh Gaines stays in-state with the Eagles.

Dan Lawlor signs with the Redskins.

Mark Rubin signed with the Rams.

Anthony Scirrotto signs with the Panthers.

With the 123rd pick, the New England Patriots select OG Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State

MaPatsFan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:44:33 -0000

With the 123rd pick, the New England Patriots select OG Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State

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Stocking up on the big men is always a good thing. The wear and tear on these guys is outrageous and it never hurts to have a collection of 300 pounders around. A work in progress, he won't grab a starting role right off the bat, but can be developed and will provide rotation for starters. From Reiss's Pieces:

Ohrnberger, a player who took a pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium, adds youth to the interior of the offensive line and provides a fallback, longer-term option with starting guards Logan Mankins (left) and Stephen Neal (right) entering the final year of their contracts.

The Patriots’ top backups at center/guard – Russ Hochstein and Billy Yates – also have contracts expiring after the 2009 season.

draftcountdown.com says:

A three-year starter for the Nittany Lions...Has experience on both the right and left sides...Was named 2nd Team All-Big Ten as a junior and 1st Team as a senior...Could project to either guard or center at the pro level...Best fit will most likely come in a zone blocking scheme.

Again, a work in progress, but it's good to have another young guy in the pig pile.

Chicago Bears Draft Update

Adam T — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:00:45 -0000

With the Cutler deal over most it is a bit harder to project what and where the Bears will go with their 2nd round pick (#49 overall). Most think that wide reciever is a must, but what if all the guys worth this pick are off the board? Do they go safety, defensive line?

Here is a look at known or expected visits and workouts .

Friday - Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma

Pre-draft visits

Al Afalava, Safety, Oregon State
ADDED APRIL 4 Aaron Brown, Running back, TCU
Jason Chery, Wide receiver, Louisiana-Lafayette
Maurice Crum Jr., Linebacker, Notre Dame
Derek Kinder, Wide receiver, Pitt
T.J. Lang, Offensive lineman, Eastern Michigan
ADDED APRIL 4 Ellis Lankster, Cornerback, West Virginia
Henry Melton, Defensive end, Texas
Brandon Myers, Tight end, Iowa
Rich Ohrnberger, Guard, Penn State
Anthony Scirrotto, Safety, Penn State
Jamaal Westerman, Defensive end, Rutgers
Nathan Williams, Linebacker, Murray State

Private workouts

Russell Allen, Linebacker, San Diego State
Eben Britton, Offensive tackle, Arizona
Kenny Britt, Wide receiver, Rutgers
John Gill, Defensive tackle, Northwestern
~~Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide receiver, Maryland~~ canceled
ADDED APRIL 4 Juaquin Iglesias, Wide receiver, Oklahoma
Phil Loadholt, Offensive tackle, Oklahoma
Lance Louis, Guard, San Diego State
Sherrod Martin, Safety, Troy
Mohamed Massaquoi, Wide receiver, Georgia
Michael Mitchell, Safety, Ohio
Hakeem Nicks, Wide receiver, North Carolina
Richard Quinn, Tight end, North Carolina
Mike Wallace, Wide receiver, Ole Miss*

Get together (we're not sure if these will be visits or private workouts)

Todd Boeckman, Quarterback, Ohio State*
Brian Robiskie, Wide receiver, Ohio State

Rich Ohrnberger To Visit Chicago

Adam T — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:20:15 -0000

Penn State All-Big Ten Conference offensive guard Rich Ohrnberger is scheduled to visit Chicago for a private workout. At this point the Bears need help along the entire offensive line. Even if they have solidified the starters with the signings of Omiyale and Schaffer, they still need to look for depth late in the draft.

Being Billy Devaney - G

Tackle Box — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:10:51 -0000

First let me say, sorry for getting the BBD up so late. This has been a rough week and I've had absolutely zero time to myself. It's going to be border-line hectic for the next couple of weeks so I'm just going to have to ask you to hang in there with me. Deal? I hope so...

Now, at this time, I've come to the conclusion that we need to take the BBD series in a slightly different direction. As far as positions that are an immediate need for someone who can step in and provide an impact (or at least step in and be a starter), we've covered them. MLB, OT, WR, SS, CB, and DT are all major areas of need for the Rams and while it might not be realistic to think we can solve all of those positions in one off-season, I'd like to think the team is determined to either solve or patch those areas with a focus on the remainders next year. But that doesn't mean the job is done. There's still areas of depth and future that need a little tending to so that's what we're going to look at today when we dissect the Offensive Guard position.

So, now the change. Before, I was breaking down the roster, then a look at what was available in free agency, and finally what the top picks in the draft would look like in regards to that position. Now, since we're not necessarily looking for a star at these positions, it's probably safe to say they won't be looking to free agency to fill these needs, so I'm going to forego looking at free agency. Now there might be someone cut loose during training camp that would come in at a bargain price, but right now most of that is simply speculation. Plus, we are at the point where spending money on a free agent to fill one of these backup positions would have to wait on getting draft picks signed.

Also, I'd like to point out, I'll no longer be looking at what is available in the first 4 rounds of the draft. I think it's safe to say, the Rams won't be drafting a Guard in the 2nd round. The top 4 draft picks are probably spoken for and will shake down among the positions listed above, so it's pointless to even consider any of the top guys in the draft.

So, with that being said, let's take a look at the Offensive Guards.

So, as far as the Guard position is concerned, the Rams are fairly healthy. The guys on the roster may not exactly be the future, but they're definitely good enough to count on for a season or two. So, let's look at the roster.

Richie Incognito - 6'3" 330 - Signed through 2009 - Well, I guess he's not officially signed, but the team did make a tender to the restricted free agent and it would cost any team signing him a third round draft pick so it's safe to say he'll be with the Rams this season. Anyway, Richie is everyone's favorite football player around here, right? Umm... Well, he's got amazing talent, is ornery as all get out, but also often displays the maturity of a 4-year old. He has some versatility in that he can play either Guard position as well as Center. Hopefully the new coaching staff can harness this creature and he becomes a mainstay on the Line (he is only 25 years old and has a lot of service time ahead of him). If not, it's probably Siyanora before the 2010 season rolls around.
Jacob Bell - 6'4" 295 - Signed through 2013 - When the Rams made this signing last off-season, many of us loved it. Then Bell had a bit of a disappointing 2009 campaign which resulted in some talk of him being a bust. Put me in the camp of those who are still optimistic about Bell. He's only 28 and with the addition of Jason Brown as Center, I think we'll all see a much improved version of Jacob Bell next season......that is unless he's playing Right Tackle.
John Greco - 6'5" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Talk about a man of mystery. As a thrid round pick last year he rarely played last season, when he did it was near the end of the season when no one was watching, and Rotoworld.com doesn't even have a picture of him. Add this to his almost cult like following here (well, sortof) and I'm starting to think Mr. Greco is the Rams version of Brain Barton. All signs point to a guy who's young and who has talent. If Bell actually does play RT, then Greco's probably the man to start at Guard, but even if Bell doesn't make the switch, it's probably safe to say Greco might still be in the running to start if he impresses in the pre-season.
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Sure, Goldie's probably more of a Tackle, but he's kind of a utility man for the Rams line in that he can play (and pretty much has) every position on the line. He's not a Pro-Bowler by any stretch of the imagination, but he's an important piece to the depth and stability of the Offensive Line. He can start in a pinch and not be a disaster. Actually, that's probably a little harsh. Adam is more than competent at every position he's asked to play and it seems as if he's accepted his role in the NFL, which makes him even more valuable.
Roy Schuening - 6'4" 308 - Signed through 2010 - Schuening is a depth guy. He's probably not going to start, but he's young, got attitude, and does a decent job at Guard.
Mark Setterstrom - 6'4" 314 - Signed through 2009 - Setterstrom is a guy that lends depth and flexibility to the offensive line. He's cheap and young but he's had plenty of issues with injuries. Strictly a depth guy at this point.

So, there you have it. There's top talent and there's plenty of depth and versatility. Not too shabby especially after looking at positions like Cornerback and Wide Receiver the past couple of weeks.

As far as the draft, it wouldn't be the worst thing for the Rams to look to add someone in the later rounds who might have some upside. Is there anyone who fits that bill? Who really knows when you're looking toward the last few rounds of the draft and you don't know who's going to slip through the cracks and whatnot. But let's see what's projected to be there after the 4th round.

(Here's MockingDan's Offensive Guard rankings)

Louis Vasquez - Texas Tech - 6'6" 335 - Vasquez might not quite be there in the 5th, but there's always a possibility. If he is, the Rams would be hard pressed not to draft him (if they've satisfied their more pressing needs and really want a backup Guard with potential). He's big and really impressed in the combine putting up 39 reps (more than any other Offensive Lineman. Vasquez excelled as a pass protector but can also get after it when run blocking as well. Can be a bit of a mauler.
Anthony Parker - Tennessee - 6'3" 300 - Parker played 39 games for Tennessee. He might project out more as a Center due to his size,which is a position he's played in the past, but he's probably a better Guard. He's faster than the average lineman (5.08 40-yard). Was 2nd Team All-SEC in 2009.
Ray Feinga - BYU - 6'5" 331 - Is actually pretty quick on his feet with great lateral movement and has great size. He was named to the All-Mountain West First Team and was part of a very successful BYU offense where he was used primarily in 1 on 1 situations. Has shown the ability to succeed in both pass and run blocking.
Andy Kemp - Wisconsin - 6'6" 315 - Was named a All- Big Ten Honorable Mention and at one point started 20 consecutive games for the Badgers (broken hand). Some scouts prefer Kemp to teammate Kraig Urbik (projected as high as the 3rd round) since he is a "typical Wisconsin power football player. He won't start but he'll be a good backup."
Travis Bright - BYU - 6'5" 329 - Named to the All-Mountain West Second Team. Another part of the powerful BYU offense. Is older than the typical draftee (26) since he served on a Church Mission and while his potential is somewhat limited, he should be able to step in and play right away as a backup. Might be able to sign Bright as an un-drafted free agent.
Rich Ohrnberger - Penn State - 6'2" 291 - Was named as an All-Big Ten First Teamer and AP All-America Third Teamer. Had a good senior campaign at Penn State. Doesn't have great size but makes up for it with improved technique and great physical play. Extremely talented and considered to be a great teammate.
C.J. Davis - Pittsburgh - 6'3" 310 - All-Big East First Teamer. Started at Left Guard his entire career at Pittsburgh until a late injury caused a vacancy at Center where Davis finished out the season. Made 42 consecutive starts and is considered an accomplished run blocker.
Cedric Dockery - Texas - 6'4" 320 - All Big XII Honorable Mention two years after tearing his ACL. Played well after coming back from the injury.

And the list goes on and on. After Dockery, you start to see a common theme. Guys who can excel in at least one aspect of the position, great size, and usually played in systems where there was great success either running or throwing the ball. Some other names to consider are Jaimie Thomas (Maryland), George Bussey (Louisville), Roland Martin (Michigan State), Paul Fanaika (Arizona State), Greg Isdaner (West Virginia), Roger Allen (Missouri Western), and Seth Olsen (Iowa). All of these men would provide depth, but I'm not sold on their potential.

For the Rams to get potential along with one of these picks they're really going to have to do their homework, pick someone who matches up perfectly with their coaching staff, and simply get lucky to some extent. If I were trying to do this a safely as possible, I'd probably target Travis Bright of BYU. He's not going to be a starter for you 4 or 5 years down the road (probably), but he is mature and extremely reliable and could step in and spot start in a second.

However, if I were determined to add someone with real potential, I'd have to target Vasquez, Parker, and Feinga. All three of those guys would be good late picks and you could probably get Parker or Feinga a round or two later than you'd find Vasquez.

So, there's your late round look at the Guard position. Honestly, the Rams probably have enough depth at this position, but as we've seen before, you really can't have enough quality depth on your offensive line. There is great value in knowing your backups can step in and not miss a beat if and when they're called upon.

Not having quality depth at the Center position caused a lot of problems for this team last season (and probably in the season before) and I don't see this regime allowing that to happen again at Center or any of the other Offensive Line positions.

It's just too costly and can absolutely wreck your season.

Jordan Norwood, Lydell Sargeant, and Rich Ohrnberger Scouting Reports

BSD — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:32:49 -0000

Just a few tidbits from the Texas vs. the Universe (or whatever it's called) college All Star game. Jordan Norwood, for some reason, is playing for the Texas team and doing pretty well.

Jordan Norwood (WR-Penn State) - Norwood missed Monday’s practice because he was participating in a skill competition soon to be aired on ESPN, but he showed up Tuesday in mid-season form. His game was indistinguishable from teammate Deon Butler’s at the Shrine Game practices on the whole. Norwood flashed terrific natural quicks and speed, efficient, tight breaks in his routes, and exceptional body control. Norwood sinks his hips low on comebacks, and also uses head and shoulder fakes to create extra separation in his routes. He also gets his head around to locate the ball in flight very quickly and makes most everything look easy. Like Butler, he plays at a high speed, but still completely under control. Most of the defensive backs that tried to cover him were left befuddled, and he capped off the goal line drill with a one-handed, both-feet-in catch in the end zone that no defensive back on earth could have defensed. Norwood is in a class of his own among the WRs in El Paso.

Meanwhile, Rich Ohrnberger, who is playing for the Nation team, is doing ok too.

Rich Ohrnberger(OL-Penn State) - Ohrnberger gave max effort on every snap, just like he did yesterday, and he showed especially good ankle flex to absorb the pass rush. He’s not a high upside prospect, but guys like Ohrnberger hang around the league for a long time.

That was from the day two practice. This was day one.

Rich Ohrnberger(OL-Penn State) - Ohrnberger handled himself very well in the pit, easily dismissing Demonte Bolden and showing good fight, strength, and a strong base throughout.

And then there is this about cornerback Lydell Sargeant.

Lydell Sargeant (CB-Penn State) - Sargeant was very aggressive, physically challenging the wide receivers and making a good bid to break up most every pass thrown in his direction. Sargeant is anything but tentative when the ball is in the air.

And they think that's good, just wait until they see him sit back like a tree in Cover-3 defense. He's really at his best when the wide receiver is given an eight yard cushion to work with. Excuse me while I go slam my head in a door somewhere.

Grading the Offense Against the Iowa Hawkeyes

BSD — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:15:38 -0000

(AP Photo by Charlie Neibergall)

This isn't going to be pretty. Let's just get to it.

Quarterbacks

Daryll Clark had his game of the season. There is no other way to put it.

vs Iowa / 11.8.08	Passing						Rushing
	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD	INT	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD
Daryll Clark	9	23	39.1	86	0	1	5	6	1.2	0

From the opening series he seemed tentative and unsure of himself. He seemed like he was struggling with his reads, his timing was off, and he often overthrew his receivers. This is a problem that has plagued him all season. This week it finally bit him with the interception in the redzone. Jason Avant had an eleven-foot-tall imaginary friend named Tacopants. Derrick Williams must have an eleven-foot-tall imaginary friend as well. Any ideas on what we should call him?

You have to feel sorry for the kid. It was hard to watch him being interviewed after the game. He manned up and took all the blame for the loss. You have to admire him for that. Sadly, he's correct in that his play was a large part of the reason we lost.

Final Grade: F

Running Backs

It's hard to really find anything wrong here. Royster did the most he could with what he was given. There were some plays where the offensive line completely broke down and there was nothing he could do. He just buried his head and got what he could. At least he didn't fumble the game away.

Stephfon Green was a pleasant surprise gaining 31 yards on 3 carries. Makes me wish he had more. And of course Derrick Williams looked good gaining 53 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

vs Iowa / 11.8.08	Rushing				Receiving
	Rush	Yards	Avg	TD	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD
Evan Royster	26	90	3.5	1	0	0	0	0
Stephfon Green	3	31	10.3	0	1	9	9.0	0
Derrick Williams	12	53	4.4	1	4	43	10.8	0

Final Grade: B

Recievers

You can't help but feel bad for Derrick Williams. Since the day he committed to Penn State back in 2005 no player had been more committed to this program. He promised to bring Penn State a national championship and everything he did on and off the field was committed to that end. He played his heart out last night, and he deserves better. His name won't be plastered all over the record books when he leaves, but he should go down as one of the greatest Penn Staters of all time.

Everyone else sucked. Butler couldn't get open. Norwood dropped the few opportunites he had. And then he walked back to the bench like he didn't care. If I don't see Andrew Quarless on the field again I'll be ok with that. I don't think there is a player on this team whose performance has failed to live up to their God-given athletic ability like Quarless. He's a waste of a scholarship as far as I'm concerned. Mickey Shuler does three times as much with one-third of the physical gifts.

Final Grade: F (except for Williams who gets an A for his all-around performance)

Offensive Line

They just looked out of sync all night. Gerald Cadogen looked slow on his pulls. Shipley and Wiz were releasing their men and advancing to the second level too quckly leaving Royster to get swallowed up in the backfield. Ohrnberger was getting pwned by Mitch Kin. Landolt and Ohrnberger each got called for holding that killed two PSU drives in Iowa territory. The run blocking was ok in the first half, but Iowa adjusted at halftime and we had no answer for it. The pass protection was terrible all day. Iowa had seven tackles for loss (one sack) and seven QB hurries.

Final Grade: D

Offensive Coaching

I'm still trying to figure out what our gameplan was. I'm sure they were on the field before the game started, so they must have known they were starting out heading into a 34 degree 25 mph wind. So why do we come out trying to throw the ball on the first three plays? It was a colossal failure to observe the conditions and adapt. We came in with a script and by-Gawd we were going to stick to it.

All day long I couldn't figure out which part of the Iowa defense we were trying to attack. We came out throwing. Then we ran the ball with success, but kept stalling in the redzone. In the second half we got away from the power running game that worked in the first half and started throwing the ball again. It was like they spent the bye week just putting in gimmick plays for Derrick Williams instead of examining Iowa and developing a game plan to attack their defense. This wasn't the Penn State offense we saw all year long. When Williams wasn't taking the snap they ran up the middle and threw to the sidelines. Where was the originality? Why did we limit ourselves?

The decision to switch Stefen Wisniewski and Rich Ohrnberger on the offensive line completely backfired. Mitch King was owning Ohrnberger all day. I don't understand why they didn't adjust and try switching them back. I'm also disappointed they didn't pull Clark in the fourth quarter and give Pat Devlin a shot. It was pretty obvious Clark was struggling and the offense needed a spark. Maybe Devlin could have provided that. I certainly doubt he would have overthrown Williams that horribly on our final drive.

Final Grade: F