How would you define "belong on a PAC 12 roster"?
Neither Baktiari, Lepsis nor Solder would have belonged on a PAC 12 roster coming out of HS with the rankings and offers they had. Nor would that kid from Central Mich. who was the overall No 1 draft choice of KC a couple years back! Yet,in contrast, look at where those Stanford OLs with all the accolades were drafted this year: 4th round and later!
OL quality is a function of maturity, development and coaching more than anything; (unless you're an SEC freakazoid who "red-shirted" three years in junior high school and walk on campus as a 6'5" 340lb 20 yr old, frosh!) And CU doesn't have the luxury of recruiting the latter as they need kids who can read at an 8th grade level.
To start with I'm not talking about recruiting rankings out of HS, I'm talking about ability to play now or in the future at this level.
Secondly the idea that Solder was some guy who came out of nowhere is a myth. He was not a hot prospect out of HS but he did have options. He was a tall kid with a huge frame but in need of filling out. He did fill out while maintaining his quickness and agility and became a pro prospect. Lepsis was a similar situation but people forget that he didn't play OL at CU, he was mostly a TE in heavy formations.
Bak was a bit under the radar but he was a kid that developed into the player he is now.
The problem is that people look at guys like these three and think that you can go out and sign a bunch of kids that other programs don't want and develop them into NFL linemen. Remember that these guys are the rare exceptions, not the rule.
I will ask you honestly, how many of the OL we currently have on the roster (and Calahan isn't here yet) would start for more than 2-3 other PAC teams. How many of the guys on the current roster would ever start for more than the very bottom teams in the PAC.
I am optimistic about the young guys we have coming into the program this year. I am less so about the guys who are were on last years roster.
Nembot is a physical specimen but even with significant time to develop he is still hazardous to the QBs health.
Crabb looks to be a quality player with some versitility, not outstanding but also not a guy to worry about.
Munyer has played but not impressed, if he hasn't gotten better yet it isn't likely to happen now
Mustoe is a kid who should be a key player for us but has dealth with health issues, will he ever become a solid starter
Kelley is a guy who I am optimist about. Still needs more development physically but could be a solid player for us.
Irwin we have heard good things about but he has yet to show it on the field
The rest of last years freshman class are guys that we can hope about but remember that they weren't exactly in high demand from other programs.
Again you can live in the fantasy of living off the under the radar guys and the we will develop them guys but simply put there aren't that many kids who slip through the cracks. If you think that all the other coaching staffs out there are stupid because they pass on a guy the stupid is probably you. These guys are paid to figure out who can become contributors and they don't miss that often.
Now this years group may be somewhat of a change.
Sully has shown that he can play at the JC level, it isn't PAC but he has competed against quality players on film.
Calahan I've discussed before
Miller didn't have a lot of offers but I think this is in large part due to him being so solidly committed so early. He isn't going to play for a while but has a high ceiling.
Kaiser I don't know a lot about but he did have an Oregon State offer and that staff has a good record.
Holland has been discussed but could be good in the future.
Bottom line is that this year looks like a good year for us but doesn't solve the problem. We need to do this every year for a number of years if we want to be a quality team.
It's easy to say about the guys already here "They are Buffs and I'm behind them" but we have to be willing to admit to ourselves that we have guys on the roster who don't belong on a quality PAC roster. I know that isn't nice or what we want but the results on the field have been the evidence. The fact that we can go out and play hard and have a good game plan, and I believe we have had that under M2, and still end up getting blown out eventually when the talent difference takes over shows what we have.
