While KOIII doesn't post on here anymore I thought I would bring this through breakdown of the rosters when both of the two previous coaches left and let his good perspective shine on this board and plus I would plug his excellent twitter feed for great SU football opinions.
King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Who left a better roster behind Marrone or GRob? My breakdown:- King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
QB Marrone: Hunt So, Loeb Sr, Wilson Fr GRob: Nassib So, Dantley Sr Advantage: GRob. This is a little TBD as we haven't seen Hunt yet - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
RB Marrone: Smith Jr, PTG Sr, Morris II Rf, McFarlane Rf, Rene Sr GRob: DC3 Jr, Bailey So, Collier Rf Adv: GRob. Top guys better, less depth - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
FB/TE Marrone: Cleveland Sr, AAM Jr, Burke Jr, Wales Sr, Parris Rf, Moore Fr, Batton Fr, Provo Fr, Green So - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
GRob: Nieves Sr, Owen Sr, Provo Jr, Cutler Rf, ARob Sr, Catalina So Adv: Marrone. More depth - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
WR Marrone: West Jr, Broyld So, Flemming Sr, Kobena Jr, Clark Sr, Funderburke Jr, Hale So, Cornelius Rf, Lewis Rf, Kinder Jr - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
GRob: Williams Jr, Davis Sr, Lobdell Sr, Sales So, Chew So, Jones So, Lemon Fr Adv: GRob. Both have lots young talent. Mike W unmatched. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
OL Marrone: Mackey Sr, Hickey Jr, Trudo So, Foy So, Robinson So, Palmer Rf, Knapp Rf, Emerich Rf, Anyaebunam Sr, Burton Fr, Miller So - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Correction on TE Batten & Moore not Marrone guys - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
GRob: McKenzie Sr, Bart Jr, Baumbach Sr, Rosner Sr, White Jr, Speller So, Meldrum Jr, Allport So, Phillips Fr, Pugh Fr, Lowery So, Lepak So - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Adv: Marrone but closer than expected. Depth biggest diff. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Overall the O is pretty similar. We don't have a Mike Williams or a DC3 but we didn't have a Hickey back then. Marrone did leave more depth. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Have to say that O talent is a push though. Marrone didn't leave it better than when he got it. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
DT DM: Bromley Sr, Crume Jr, Jones Sr, Raymon So, Sloan So, Coleman Rf GRob: Art Sr, Lewis Jr, Perkins Jr, Tribbey Jr, Haney Jr, Boatman So - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Adv: GRob. Marrone better size but Art Jones is Art Jones.
King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
DE DM: Welsh Jr, Micah Jr, Thompson Rf, Johnson Fr, Trejo Jr, Manley Rf, Simmons So GRob: Jones So, Marinovich So, Kimmel Sr, Battles Jr- King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Adv: Push. More depth Marrone. Don't know how Sugar Bear or Zeke will turn out. Could end up like Chandler. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
GRob: Smith Jr, Hogue Jr, Vaughan So, Gillum Jr, Stenclik Sr, Kimmel So Adv: Marrone. Too much depth difference even though.. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
LB DM: Spruill Sr, Davis jr, Lynch Jr, Luke Jr, Kirkland Jr, Vigille So, Hodge Fr, Coker Sr, Washington Rf - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Smith & Hogue waaay better starters than what Marrone left. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Also back to FB/TE make that a push as I forgot Stevens for GRob. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
CB Marrone: Lyn Sr, Anderson Sr, Reddish Jr, Whigham So, George So GRob: Merk Jr, Kev Jr, Nico Sr, Mayes So - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Adv: Marrone a lot better and depth to boot. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
S DM: Wilkes Sr, Esk So, Morgan So, Desir Jr, Kelly Jr GRob: Holmes Jr, Suter Jr, McKinnon Jr Adv: Marrone. Depth again. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
WR forgot Graham for GRob - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Front 7 is pretty much a push. GRob starters are better but Marrone has a lot more depth. However the DBs are a lot better and deeper - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
It is funny that this is the best DB unit we have had in years yet they are struggling so bad. Gotta blame coaches there. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
K/P Marrone: Krautman SR, Norton So, Fisher Jr, Dixon So GRob: Long Jr Adv: Marrone. We have a mess currently but at least we have bodies. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
No doubt the program is in better shape than when Marrone took over. He stabilized the program & changed the culture/perception - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
He also added a lot of quality depth. But in terms of starting talent we are worse in many areas. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
We lack playmakers like DC3, Mike Williams, Darrell Smith, Hogue, Mike Holmes. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Overall only area of improvement is at DB. Every other unit is on par. I give Marrone credit for what he did but not what he thinks he did. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
He acts like he rebuilt the program & left it in good shape. We should all be grateful & bow to him. Reality is he stabilized the program... - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
But still left lot work to be done. Also left in major year of transition: lost talent & ACC change. Timing couldnt have been worse. - King Otto @KingOttosWorld 9 Sep
Lots of holes in roster. Lack playmakers. Took all of the staff. He didnt finish the job & left Shafer in tough spot.