DEPTH CHART ANALYSIS: Week 9

Sorry this is later in the week than I normally like it to be, but I figured the pressure to deliver on time is diminished somewhat since we're 2-4 and these never change anyway. So I took an extra long bye-week vacation.

The seventh official depth chart for the 2013 season was unveiled Tuesday. Have a look:

Well, I lied a little. There was one change. Ian Patterson was added to the kicker depth chart in an "OR" pairing with backup place-kicker Matthew McCrane, a true freshman who has yet to actually play.

This effectively makes Patterson the backup kicker, which is validated by the fact that he's the only person other than Jack Cantele to kick it off this season. It also makes me question why sophomore Dillon Wilson is on scholarship.

Also, both Chris Brown and Matt Seiwert have been dropped from this latest depth chart, seemingly indicating the former will make next to no impact this season and the latter will redshirt after all. Those backup battles are over.

I made no other changes, although the depth chart continues to list Marquel Bryant as a starter over Alauna Finau (who's actually started the last four ballgames) and Jake Waters over Daniel Sams (in name only at this point).

Finally, an observation: The recent injuries to Tyler Lockett and Tramaine Thompson have given us some insight into how the pecking order at wide receiver stands, despite what the chart might say. To wit:

1. Tyler Lockett — unavailable against Baylor;
2. Tramaine Thompson — unavailable against Baylor;
3. Curry Sexton — actually has one more start than Thompson now;
4. Torell Miller — four starts so far;
5. Kyle Klein — two consecutive starts;
6. Stephen Johnson — made his first career start against Baylor;
7. Deante Burton — no starts yet, but has played in five consecutive games.

So, it seems we can read the chart as Starter A (Lockett), Starter B (Thompson), Starter C (Sexton), Backups A (Miller and Klein), Backup B (Johnson) and Backup C (Burton). In years past, the backups have been inverted.

Also, it says a lot about how far Burton has to go to receive significant playing time. He's clearly behind a walk-on who didn't really see the field until this season, although Johnson is having a great senior year on special teams.