[socalstanfan1]

I don't want to sound blasé about the DL situation, but particularly with college football, this lack of developed talent is not an unusual situation, and when we have players possessing the talent of Solomon Thomas, who can leave early and be the #3 pick in the NFL draft, the situation will arise more frequently.  (If Thomas was just a little less talented, we might have both Phillips and Thomas back, and we would feel quite differently about this part of the team.)  Our situation with the defensive backs (a tremendous amount of depth, and a good amount of experience) is really the exception. 

Time for one or two DL to step up and develop into at least serviceable, regular players.  This is one of the things that makes college athletics so compelling, IMO.  I have very little doubt that this development will happen, and that the emergence of a couple of DL, along with coaching schemes that make maximum use of a bevy of back seven players will get us through.

[socalstanfan1]

I don't want to sound blasé about the DL situation, but particularly with college football, this lack of developed talent is not an unusual situation, and when we have players possessing the talent of Solomon Thomas, who can leave early and be the #3 pick in the NFL draft, the situation will arise more frequently.  (If Thomas was just a little less talented, we might have both Phillips and Thomas back, and we would feel quite differently about this part of the team.)  Our situation with the defensive backs (a tremendous amount of depth, and a good amount of experience) is really the exception. 

Time for one or two DL to step up and develop into at least serviceable, regular players.  This is one of the things that makes college athletics so compelling, IMO.  I have very little doubt that this development will happen, and that the emergence of a couple of DL, along with coaching schemes that make maximum use of a bevy of back seven players will get us through.