While August is typically a time for position battles and the hazing of freshmen, it has also become a crucial time for programs in the injury department. With stars like running back Darren Evans of Virginia Tech and center Kris O'Dowd of USC falling by the wayside weeks before game one, the 2009 season has gotten off to a bad start in this regard. While the elite teams have depth at every position, the Hokies are turning to a trio of inexperienced backs to replace Evans's production: sophomore Josh Oglesby and freshmen Ryan Williams (RS) and David Wilson. Oglesby rushed for only 88 yards last year, 1180 yards less than Evans. With Alabama's terrific defense lurking week one, the pressure is really on quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
O'Dowd's injury, a dislocated kneecap, is not as severe as the torn ACL suffered by Evans. USC has incredible depth along the offensive line, returning its two-deep across the board. Guard Alex Parsons is expected to slide over to man center until O'Dowd's return early in the season. The Trojans need the O-line to carry the team in the beginning of the season while breaking in a new quarterback and several new starters on defense. That Dowd could miss crucial games against Ohio State and Cal--both on the road and both featuring teams with excellent D-lines--is significant.
Injuries are one of the reason the top programs seem to over-recruit positions on an annual basis. Both Georgia and Clemson had promising 2008 seasons falter thanks in a large part to a lack of experienced depth among their respective blocking units. Penn State, on the other hand, had so much depth along its defensive front seven, that injuries and suspensions suffered by expected defensive leaders hardly fazed a unit that excelled all season.
That Nittany Lion depth has already been challenged this summer by the knee injury that will knock out rising soph linebacker Michael Mauti. But Penn State has a host of returning talent at the position, including senior Sean Lee who spent last season recuperating from his major knee injury. So whenever you notice a program like Penn State landing a number of hotshot recruits at the same position, just remember that the problem of too much talent is an easier one to solve than not having enough.
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