I think it's a semantics debate.
How many men can realistically make it to worlds from the USA: Jeremy, Adam, Josh, Ross, Jason, Armin, Stephen, Johnny, Evan and Richard. Depends on who skates well. This is a very broad field. There are a number of people who, if they step it up and others have poor skates, can make it to Worlds. The reason it's not a deep field, in my mind, is that it's not a field that'll win medals at Worlds. Of those skaters, only one is a podium level contender (Jeremy Abbott). The last three world medalists from the USA were Lysacek, Wier and....Timothy Goebel. On the other hand, how many of the aforementioned skaters have placed top ten at worlds? Jeremy, Adam, Richard, Johnny, Evan and Carriere.
How about Japan? Well, I'd argue only four men can realistically make worlds: Oda, Kozuka, Hanyu and Takahashi. Machida makes five, Mura six (really stretching it). That's still a pretty broad field. The reason it's deep, however, it that three of them are world medalists, and a fourth one would've been but for a double toe. You can imagine a medal sweep in Tokyo in 2014. Machida's posting short program scores that would get him in the final group at Worlds, but we're all but certain he won't qualify due to the depth of field. That's deep.
Yes, a matter of semantics, because in my perspective, the meaning of "depth of talent/ deep field" has nothing to do with whether the U.S. men sent to Worlds will medal or not. Deep field means that at least 1 - 8 or more U.S. guys can realistically reach the U.S. Nationals podium. Now that's deep! You seem to feel that just because the U.S. does not now have a proven male veteran who in recent years has been on the Worlds podium, that it means they don't have "depth of talent." I disagree.
Everyone who enters a competition is competing for a medal (of course realistically the top six to eight competitors in terms of talent, reputation and politics actually have a chance to medal at Worlds, and obviously the Japanese guys can sweep podiums). Politically, there is less chance they will sweep the Worlds podium in 2013 unless Chan is injured, but two medals out of three for the Japanese men at 2012 Worlds ain't bad and they have the chance to achieve that again, though there will be spoilers. If Jeremy ever gets his mojo working consistently in competition he could be one of those spoilers. With more experience, confidence, rep (and consistently landing their jumps) IMHO, even Richard, Adam and Ross have as much chance to compete for a Worlds podium as anyone else (if they are able to make the Worlds team). It is quite presumptuous of any fan to feel that because of the U.S. men's relatively poor competitive showing in recent years they don't and won't in the near future be able to match the best that Japan and the world have to offer. But fine, maybe it behooves for everyone to keep thinking the U.S. men lack talent and are such underdogs.
Clearly, when they were still competing circa 2005 - 2010, both Evan and Johnny were always threats to make the podium (Johnny less so circa 2009 - 2010 than Evan mainly because Johnny was strangely CoP-challenged and was not receiving the same kind of political backing that Evan received from U.S. fed, not because Johnny had less talent or competitive ability, but because he's such an outspoken nonconformist).
The main difference is that in recent years while Johnny and Evan have not been on the scene, the Japanese men have come into their own with Dai becoming World champion in 2010 (he should have been in 2012 as well), and of course Patrick Chan has been dominating the top of the podium post 2010. Last season, Hanyu began proving his mettle and his skills are absolutely amazing. Kozuka grabbed silver in 2011 and is showing improvement from his less successful showing last season. And now there's Fernandez putting up a head of steam as well. Reaching the Worlds podium will be a difficult enterprise for anyone outside of Chan, Dai, Hanyu, Kozuka, Fernandez -- also Evan if he returns with strength (he may or may not), and possibly either Richard, Jeremy, or Johnny if they make the team, skate lights out at Worlds and others falter.
At this point, the Worlds podium appears to be out of reach for Joubert (but I wouldn't necessarily count him completely out). Brezina has seemed to show little improvement from last season. Unfortunately, Amodio appears to be a necessary evil (he can be entertaining and he has good jumping ability, but I find the direction his skating has taken to be rather annoying). Gachinski seems lost (but he has time to recover), sadly Verner has seen his best days and Menshov and Voronov are journeymen who seem to be like lesser versions of Plush. But once again, Menshov and Voronov have enough jumping ability that if others with more all-around skills falter they can place well (but likely not as far as the Worlds podium). Nan Song and Denis Ten are highly competitive, and Kevin Reynolds is also in the mix.
ETA:
Edited out references to Plush since his focus is reportedly Europeans and 2014 Olympics.
