[socalstanfan1]

I view the rumor that Spain is leaning towards Stanford to be more important than Chryst committing, except in that Chryst may pull some other guys. Chryst may never play a meaningful down, as we saw with Nottingham, but top OLine recruits, especially with our jumbo package, are almost certainly going to play a role in the two-deep.

I half agree with this sentiment.  Ever since watching the Dallas Cowboys dominate the NFL in the 1990s with pro-bowlers across the OL, I've believed that the OL is the single most important area of a football team.  It can make RBs and QBs look better by opening holes and providing protection, and can even help the Defense by giving it time to rest with a grind-it-out offense.  But, the single most important player on the field is still the QB, and without one who is above average it will be difficult to have sustained success.  With an excellent QB, along with the great OL, the sky is the limit.

I don't agree that all top OL recruits will play a role in the two deep.  Like all other positions, sometimes injuries will take a toll (Dillon Bonnell was ranked about where Spain is ranked, though as an OG, but has not been able to contribute much), or sometimes they just don't develop as much as others (there is still time for Brendan Austin to come along, or injuries may give him a chance, but right now he seems to have lost out to more recent recruits).  I'll still tend to get a bit more excited by a top notch QB, but if Bentley Spain and Casey Tucker want to join Chryst in the 2014 class, it will certainly add to the excitement.

[socalstanfan1]

I view the rumor that Spain is leaning towards Stanford to be more important than Chryst committing, except in that Chryst may pull some other guys. Chryst may never play a meaningful down, as we saw with Nottingham, but top OLine recruits, especially with our jumbo package, are almost certainly going to play a role in the two-deep.

I half agree with this sentiment.  Ever since watching the Dallas Cowboys dominate the NFL in the 1990s with pro-bowlers across the OL, I've believed that the OL is the single most important area of a football team.  It can make RBs and QBs look better by opening holes and providing protection, and can even help the Defense by giving it time to rest with a grind-it-out offense.  But, the single most important player on the field is still the QB, and without one who is above average it will be difficult to have sustained success.  With an excellent QB, along with the great OL, the sky is the limit.

I don't agree that all top OL recruits will play a role in the two deep.  Like all other positions, sometimes injuries will take a toll (Dillon Bonnell was ranked about where Spain is ranked, though as an OG, but has not been able to contribute much), or sometimes they just don't develop as much as others (there is still time for Brendan Austin to come along, or injuries may give him a chance, but right now he seems to have lost out to more recent recruits).  I'll still tend to get a bit more excited by a top notch QB, but if Bentley Spain and Casey Tucker want to join Chryst in the 2014 class, it will certainly add to the excitement.