Okay, I know it is way, wayyyy too early to start talking about the '09 season, but there's not much else to discuss right now so we might as well. Personally, considering our schedule (we typically do better in odd years because our tough SEC game are at home) & recruiting, I was expecting '09 to be a special season. However, after thinking about the depth chart, I'm not so sure. Off the top of my head, we look to lose our entire starting DL, half our OL, a WR, Safety, FB, and a LB - not to mention several key back-ups. I think we can adequately replace all of these positions, but we lose a whole lot of star power and depth. Thoughts?
Re: 2010 Season :huh::huh::huh: 2010: Sat, Oct 09 Florida * at Gainesville, Fla. (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) TBA Sat, Oct 23 Auburn * at Auburn, Ala. (Jordan-Hare Stadium) That year is going to be rough. 3 game stretch: Tennessee @Florida @Auburn
Re: 2010 Season 2009 has a killer stretch too: @UGA Florida Bye Auburn @Tulane @Bama (The only reason those last two are added on is that the expectation from Bama fans that '09 is when they are going to win the West/SEC/NC).
There's always next year! This year will definitely be a rebuilding year and this year will also show how well CLM's can really coach!:lol: Did that make any sense? No matter what happens this year, last year was a tough act to follow! You could say the same about college football in general though! I've never seen or witnessed a year like last year throughout college football. But the good thing is that we all are fans and will live and die with every play! That is the only thing in sports that will never change!:yelwink2: Another good thing is that football is fun, especially college!:grin::helmet:
The 2007 team had a lot of Senior leadership to go along with the truck-load of talent. The 2008 team won't have that many Seniors, but will be close in talent (I think). I expect a lot of rough spots this year with the young QB, DB and LB situation. I do still believe we'll be strong. We return a lot of players that saw significant playing time on a NC team. 2009 could be another special season for us Tiger fans. Next year, we'll have a large number of Seniors, and the depth chart will be full of guys that'll get significant playing time from 2008. Plus, there will be several big-time freshman come in. I believe the 2009 team will win the SECC, and finish with a Top 5 ranking. We'll have to beat Auburn and Bama, plus Georgia or Florida in order to get to Atlanta. It won't be easy. :crystal::geaux::crystal::geaux::crystal:
Dig up every thread discussing the 08 and 09 seasons and this is exactly what I have been alluding to. The 08 season has a good possibility to be something special with our strong O-line and D-lines. Also, teams like Arky, Bama, Auburn and Ole Miss are going to be much tougher to deal with in 09 than 08. 09 could be a tough transition for us.
In 09 we will be good at QB, WR, CB, LB, DL, S, the positions that worry me are the OL and RB. If the RB's come back for their senior season plus RM will still be here we could have one hell of a season in 09. I think there is so much depth on the DL that we will be fine there and we have recruited very good at the OL position where I think CLM takes pride in having a very good OL.
I think you are assuming too much in thinking we'll be fine at QB & CB. We could very well still be having issues at those positions a year from now if players don't step up tremendously this year. At WR, our top 2 should be good (LaFell & Toliver), and I think a solid #3 will have emerged by then. Chad Jones moves over to Free Safety - may be an improvement, DT should be fine with Nevis & Woods, DE I'm not so sold on, but DLine depth is what is really concerning (we lose 6 strong players off the line). OLine depth is also a concern, as is the LG spot. I don't see any RB going pro early, but even if one did it would only be one and I'm not concerned.
After a year of playing in the SEC if we still have issues at QB and CB, yeah we are in big trouble! I think that CLM will have them ready and we will be fine. I am 100% positive the PJ will be a damn good one.
