DEPTH CHART ANALYSIS: Week 5

The fifth official depth chart for the 2014 season was unveiled today. Have a look:

By way of analysis, I'll hit the high points for each major position grouping. There was just a few minor changes to the official depth chart this week, so I took the opportunity to continue making more minor adjustments of my own.

Offense

Very little happened against UTEP that was notable, really. We didn't go deeper than second string on receivers, so nothing was learned there. Same with QBs. We did learn, however, that Levi Morss is the fourth-string running back.

As for the offensive line, when the mass substitutions began,  we went with Brager-Ash-Liddle-Najvar-Bennett.

It seems that Liddle, who's almost a co-starter at right guard, eventually came out in favor of Bergstrom, but all else was unchanged, so on the second string, I moved Najvar ahead of Hostrup, who did not play at all.

One other note: Small finally saw his first career action, which I took to mean he now is at least the third-string tight end. That should allow the coaches to preserve Dayton Valentine's redshirt this season.

Finally, Robinson moved back ahead of Jones on the official depth chart. That comes as a surprise to nobody.

Defense

Geary clearly has moved ahead of Hood at defensive tackle, given that he started for an apparently injured Coleman. But Hood, Roberts and Seiwert all played considerably, so I left things as they were.

Terrell Clinkscales finally saw the field for the first time late in the fourth quarter, but did nothing notable that I saw.

The official depth chart has been updated to remove Charmachealle Moore, who is out for the season. I have updated this to reflect the subsequent shuffling at strongside linebacker.

Keeley also saw his first action of his career, which is more than Isaiah Riddle has seen, so that substitution was made at third-string weakside linebacker.

I'm pretty close to removing Derricott, too, as a redshirt nears, but I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger on it just yet.

Injuries to Johnson and Burns throw things into flux, but until I hear they are out for a significant period of time, I will leave them penciled in as starters. Just don't be surprised if Davis and/or Nate Jackson start against Texas Tech.

Speaking of Jackson, I thought he acquitted himself well in Burns' absence, but Saturday will be an entirely different can of worms. McDaniel did not play in the second half last Saturday, allowing Mack to see his first playing time.

Special Teams

The "OR" remains on the official depth chart, but not here. Cantele is done and McCrane is the bright, shining future.

Cantele did come in late for Patterson on kickoffs, however, so I moved him up to reflect that role.

I will keep Walsh ahead of Lochbihler for obvious reasons, and I hope and pray the only reason the latter saw the field was for much needed development time, and not because the former is hurt after being run into roughed.