The fact is if one of our O-lineman or linebackers get hurt we are in trouble. I'm sure other teams have some depth concerns, but it doesn't take away the fact that our depth is not where it should be and I believe multiple coaches have touched on that point.
The same people who are discounting depth are probably the same ones who are saying how important it is that we get recruits in who can play right away.
And stop comparing our depth or lack thereof to other ACC teams. We should be comparing our depth to top 5, top 10 teams.
And saying our team does not have much depth at some positions isn't an indictment on our football team. Me saying we don't have depth does not mean I don't think we will win the coastal or beat FSU, etc. It's just an observation.
We can agree to disagree.
People are trying to compare our depth to our actual opponents because that's all that matters. Our depth compared to Alabama doesn't matter because we don't play them. We can only beat the teams we play, and our depth is only a concern against the teams we play.
You're overplaying the depth issue at OL and LB. We have a couple serviceable backups at each position. UNC, on the other hand, is forced to play a walk-on LB for an entire game because they have NOTHING.
Tell me about our actual opponents and how they're deeper across the board than us.
I usually agree with you but if either Shaq, Mike,or Zach goes down, who's going to play near or even above their level? Darrion Owens is barely 50% and Charles Perry isn't better. Mike Smith and Terry McCray both belong with their hands in the dirt or at least at SAM to defend against the run; they are in no shape or form --middle linebackers.
Again, that's why those guys are the starters. They're better than their backups. Of course, that's the same at every program in the country.
I can't quantify by percentages how much better the freshmen are than Owens (who was a starter last year), Perry and Smith. The key here is that a guy like Owens, while not fully trusting his knee yet, is still a very good talent. The other two are also talented capable guys.
Now, look at a team like UNC, who is a future opponent. They start a walkon LB, who plays almost every snap.
Focus on our opponents, and tell me why they're deeper across the board than we are. Tell me why they have better backups at LB than a former starter like Owens.