2005 pre-season rankings....

JMO, but I think Mandel was attempting to promote the idea that LSU could've done better..... an opinion widely shared on this board. But the fact remains that Saban left the cupboard fully stocked with blue-chip talent. CLM won't have any excuses, that's for certain.

Regarding AU's ranking, most folks, including Mandel, see the exit of 18 seniors as an indication that Auburn won't be competitive. I think all of us, Mandel included, recognize the lack of validity that preseason polls have - especially those conducted prior to the completion of spring drills.

AU will be fine if Borges can develop a QB to backfill the departure of Jason Campbell. IMO, it will be either Brandon Cox (pure pocket passer) or Calvin Booker (athlete, cannon).... both of which require further tutelege. The good news? Most experts agree the west coast O takes about two years to fully integrate, so there may be further production that can be gained from the "system" in '05.

On the positive side, AU's D could potentially have the best front 7 in the conference and plenty of depth due to the frequent playing time they saw this season. Groves and McClover could be the best DE tandem in CFB next season, and they'll only be sophomores.

IMO, Auburn will be a top 10 team next season and the SECC will be won by either LSU, Auburn, or UT.


Auburn will be pretty good nextyear, due to the fact the only good teams you all play is LSu and UGA. I dont think you will beat us or UGA. UGa is jsut like LSU always re-loading on talent. UGA gets a bi-week before they paly you all and you better beleive they will make you pay for what you all did this year.

 

unless you struggle in your very first game against a mediocre pac-10 team (despite being the only top 25 team to play a BCS-conference team on your opening date)

 

With 4 new coaches in the SEC next year, it is pretty hard to figure out what the end results will look like.

I'm kind of glad that everyone is writing off Georgia in 2005.

 

Chip, not to hijack the thread, but with Odell Thurman's departure and the seniors that are graduating, what do you think UGA's status will be at the follwing positions: QB, DE, O-Line

 

UGA

I think uga will be pretty good, du e to the fact that they have great coaches and they have recrutied well over the years. I think they will definetley conted for the east and I am sure they will beat Auburn

 

I think UGA is being written off as Auburn was this year.

The year after syndrome.

 

LSU was not expected to do anything in 2003 and they were great, Auburn 2004 and they were great who will be the Cinderella story in 2005?

 

Georgia has a lot of unproven talent lined up. Perhaps more than any other team in the SEC East.

The entire O line is back that has been starting for the last two years.
(unless Anderson and/or Jean-Giles decide to go pro, but they have not indicated that as yet.)

All the young running backs are back including Lumpkin, Brown, Ware and Browning.

VanGorder has a bunch of good linebackers to fill in. Thurman was suspended for the first three game of this season. The other guys did pretty good before he came back.

The corners will be the same. Could be better, but better than average.
Will Thompson and Richard Cook will fill in the DE positions. They were both highly ranked recruits. Fulmer wanted Cook real bad.

Same with the wide out situation. Highly touted recruits.
Georgia will have the fastest wide out group that it has ever had.

So, the biggest reason for the sleeper ranking is because of Shockley, Bryant and Barnes at the QB position.
If they do well, Georgia will do very well.

 

They'll have DJ Shcokley at QB next year, who can be defined as inconsistent at best.