Way too early 2022 2 deep

I'm not worried about retaining Gattis.  I think he (or whomever has been calling plays) has been solid this year, and will wish him well if he leaves, but all signs point to this being a situation where Harbaugh reasserted himself into the run game and that Matt Weiss had significant influence. Maybe Gattis magically got better after two poor years, but I don't think that's the case.  I think this was a committee approach and that we'll be fine.

Also, if Weiss isn't the replacement, which seems like a worst case scenario that I'd be perfectly happy with, who wouldn't want to take over this offensive roster?  Joe Brady perhaps?

Is there anyone who could be a surprise early draft entry? I am thinking that All could make the jump with the good finish to the season he is having.

I thought Gray was already a senior. He's been much improved but I'd rather see him move on and make room for the younger guys, like Will Johnson, Zeke Berry and Kody Jones. This staff is not afraid to play true freshman. 

I have a feeling Gemon Green and Vincent Gray may move on with degrees in hand. Will Johnson will come in immediately gunning for Gray’s spot, DJ Turner has already taken Green’s starting role, and neither Green nor Gray are suited for nickel. If I had to guess we would be looking at:

Boundary CB - Will Johnson

Field CB - DJ Turner / Jaden McBurrows

Nickel - Rod Moore / Jordan Morant

FS - Makari Paige

SS - RJ Moten 

Moody is gone. 

Biggest nitpick: why would Keegan and Zinter switch guard positions?

Guys like Welschof and Barrett are getting critical snaps now so I have to imagine they will continue to see the field quite a bit next year. Definitely excited about Jenkins’ development though and it will be very intriguing to see how far Benny comes along next season.

I think Moody will be in the NFL.

The WR room is going to be crowded in a good way next year. I hate to say it, but I can’t help but wonder if it leads to a transfer along the way. I know it’s different, but part of it reminds me of the 2020 RB room where we attempted to please everyone with a handful of carries and it ended up being a detriment to the team. I know it’s working great right now, but when you add a Ronnie Bell back into the mix and have a player like Anthony ascend like I expect him to, there’s only one ball to go around. One last thing I’ll add on this is that I now know how valuable Sanristil is to this group. He’s made a couple circus catches this year, but his blocking is winning football.

Overall, there’s much to be excited about next season. Our offense has so much potential. Haskins’ tough yards will surely be missed, but we’ll see if Edwards can step into that role after another year in the weight room. The QB battle will be the big question mark as we all already know.

On defense, edge rushers are going to be the big question. Harrell’s looked solid and promising, but you’re not going to find 25 sacks between two new guys and you certainly don’t have a potential #1 pick there. So we’ll truly find out just how valuable those two were this year when the secondary has to stay in coverage a bit longer next year.

Looks great.  The big losses are edge rushing and the backfield.  But with the freshmen DB class coming in I think the backfield will improve from last year. Also, this will be year two of McDonalds defense so they should improve.  The offense is solid. 

That's a very potent-looking 2-deep, aside from the edge rushers. The edges appear weak-ish. But the rest looks really great.

Offense will be unstoppable next year. Almost as unstoppable as the hundreds of QB competition threads that will be posted to this board in the off-season. 

If Im reading the depth chart by class correct, the following players could come back for a covid year:

Bowman, Baldwin, Honigford, Stueber, Filiaga, Jeter, Ross, Moody, Robbins.

Bowman, Jeter, and Moody would be 5th years, the rest 6th years. You only include Moody, but I think there's some odds you get another 2 or so of those guys back. 

I think the defense next year will be better than this years bunch but will go about it in a very different manner. D-line seems like it’ll be a deeper group that will allow for my schematic and tactical variance which will be hell on opposing offenses. LB and Safety are in great spots bringing back first year starters across the board and probably Paige who played as a true freshman as well. 
 

Corner is the most interesting spot to me by a mile. DJ Turner is a lock to start in my book but they have bodies across the board here that look like they could be serious contributors. Seldon could be finally healthy next year, Will Johnson is a 5*/Blue Chip. Green-Warren was a 4 star. We could get Gray back which would be great since he’s arguably the most improved player on the roster. Germon Green not a bad player at all and contributed big time this year but may be in a battle for time but has proven capable. 
 

This team top to bottom feels deeper than it has ever in my fandom. Pretty cool. Can’t help but enjoy this year and still be excited about all the guys busting ass looking to be next years breakouts. 

Only issue I noticed is that you have Keegan and Zinter’s positions flipped. Unless there’s some reason you think they’ll swap guard spots. 

Amazing this offense that is coming back, and our D getting another year under our DC. 

Also crazy how the WR are made by the QBs and not so much vice versa.

Chesson/Darboh before Rudock/Harbaugh

Cant miss Collins/Black/Jones with Shea

A WR squad that loses Bell and still looks this good with Cade and JJ

Whether or not he's the (nominal) starter at RB, my goodness there are a lot of possibilities for Edwards next year - RB, slot receiver, wildcat QB...  

I mean this in the best way possible… holy shit we lose some key players but on paper we look absolutely loaded.

Some of those guys who are behind someone in the same class as them are going to transfer out but overall looks like a solid team to me. Will likely have to blitz more to make up for losing Hutchinson and ojabo but hopefully improved linebacker play covers that up a little 

I think McGregor is going to a stud. 

I have to say, it was nice looking at this with excitement and not a pit in my stomach!  Sure, holes to fill, need an uptick in recruiting but player buy in, development and balance on the roster sure looks a ton better!  

Not going to lie, 2018-2020 DT just made me ill seeing the depth chart…. Hoping for miracles guys would transfer in, move over from oline, step up big on roster, ie Jeter. 

Corner depth will be young and a lot of growing and might be addressed with the portal..and Will Johnson coming in is big time!  

Time to clean up in recruiting and take the momentum into next year for a real pay off!  

Given how many NFL teams missed important field goals this season, I fully expect to see Moody on Sundays next year.

Roster looks good but this will be one of very few years in the past couple decades that I will feel settled/confident in the staff. 
 

My immortal BPONE tells me that means one or two will be gone…?

While the defense may take a step back, as many have mentioned, the offense could be lights out, thus giving the defense time to get things ironed out before Big Ten play. 

Nobody mentioned losing Josh Ross 

Zinter currently plays RG and Keegan plays LG...

I also wouldn't count out Dax returning.

Mullins should be Mullings, and he's had transfer rumors around him, but no need to count him out. 

Robbins can also return (if you're counting on Moody, may as well count Robbins as well).

...excellent 2 deep, I think Moten is going to be too heavy to hold up a S.  I'm hoping Paige is ready or maybe we move Gray to S and Green back in at CB.

Last, if Crippen isn't ready (I think he will be)...maybe Zinter at C and Barnhart at RG.