DEPTH CHART ANALYSIS: Week 2

The second official depth chart for the 2014 season was unveiled Tuesday. Have a look:

By way of analysis, I'll hit the high points for each major position grouping. There were no actual changes to the official depth chart this week, so I took the opportunity to make a few minor adjustments of my own.

Offense

Rather than continue to list a true freshman as the third-string left tackle, I moved Bennett over there to reflect that the coaches put him, and not Brager, in as Whitehair's immediate replacement when the latter was injured.

I took the liberty of adding an "OR" in between Liddle and Hayes because I noticed the coaches were quick to pull Liddle after he allowed a sack. Hayes also saw the most playing time of any backup offensive lineman.

Allen remains projected as the third-string right tackle in hopes that he eventually gets his act together, but he was not suited up for the first game and may have an injury or eligibility situation, so this is subject to change.

The coaches clearly prefer to play senior fullback Nemechek at his old position as a tight end rather than blow Valentine's redshirt until they know if Cody Small will return to health, so I updated the chart to reflect that situation.

I moved Robinson ahead of Jones to reflect the former's start, but this clearly is a position where either man could start on a given day depending on personnel and formation. I also though Jones did a little more (such as score) with his carries than Robinson, but the difference between the two was minimal at best.

Kyle Klein was not suited up and clearly is injured, so I replaced him with Hilgers, who was the ninth wide receiver to see snaps in the Stephen F. Austin game.

Defense

All six defensive tackles and all five scholarship defensive ends played, so no real changes on the defensive line.

Godinet probably played mostly on special teams, but I decided to throw him a bone since it's clear that Lee only will line up a defensive end in the third-down jet package.

The utter failure of Derricott and Riddle to get on the field in any capacity against an over-matched opponent does not bode well, but I left them on there for now in the hope that they will put things together.

Besides, who else would I put on there? The only other linebackers who played were Colborn Couchman and David Smith, and they were exclusively on special teams.

I flipped Hiebert and Newlan since Hiebert seems more like Schellenberg in playing style and I didn't like the idea of Newlan competing with Prewett for snaps when they're both more likely to be running mates in future seasons.

McDaniel remains ahead of Jackson on the official chart, but as with Liddle and Hayes, he was pulled pretty quickly after a mistake. I thought both did some very positive things, but both also made some bad mistakes. Jury's out.

Special Teams

I'll leave the "OR" between Cantele and McCrane for a while, even though it's obviously Cantele's job barring injury.

As I expected, Patterson will continue as the kickoff specialist even though they removed that position from the depth chart for some inexplicable reason.

Converse did not suit up and Scott handled all of the long snaps. He acquitted himself very well, so this could be a position battle in the future, but for now, I'll leave it as Converse's job to lose after he is able to play again.