I'm pretty much in line with this. 9-3 is my pick, I think a better shot at 10-2 than 8-4, but both are possible. I would have picked LSU #13, 11 based on talent alone, knock them down a couple of notches because of how they played last year. The defense has not shown they can shut folks down. They may, but they will have to earn a higher ranking, none higher can be given to them in pre-season. I think the #8 slot is too high for this club, unless JJ has a sterling season. I expect a solid season, but not sterling. I would love to proven wrong on this! He's just a true soph with 2 starts. I love the way he plays, he looks cool under fire, and I like the way he looks so attentive to the game. Maybe it was because he was a frosh last season and he HAD to concentrate so hard, but whatever, I was impressed he didn't make silly mistakes of inattention. The look in his eyes looked real focused, and that's good.
Considering last years play, all the new staff, and several new position players, I would say that a mid teen ranking is in order. I sorta like it, a bit under the radar and probably better than some might think. I think this team is going to give us some exciting games with some surprising victories. I wouldn't be totally shocked by an 11 win season. Although that is not what I anticipate. I woul go with the 9-10 win predictions.
How quickly some seem to forget that we ended the season unranked. Considering the corrections to our major issues are still largely unproven, I would consider us fortunate to be ranked as high as number 17...even if that were the highest we'd seen. RANKED is the key word...that's all these Tigers can expect after last season's debacles. Anything higher will have to be earned!!
JJ had a field presence, and he reminds me most of Herb Tyler, who also became a starter as a freshman. However, I feel like JJ is probably more talented than Herb, and he definitely is more physically imposing than Herb. With that being said, had Herb Tyler had the supporting cast that JJ will have, who knows what heights he'd have reached as Tiger QB?
I agree and disagree with that reasoning. I agree that we sucked last year, right up until the bowl game, when we finally played with the fire and intensity we've come to expect from Les Miles' teams. It was curiously missing the rest of the year (save the 2nd half of the AU game, and the entire Bama game.) I disagree because other teams seem to get by on past reputation alone in their rankings each year. For example, Ohio State didn't do anything spectacular last year, and with our schedule would've done well to have matched our '08 record, but they'll be ranked highly in the preseason, based on what--besides past reputation? Winning a BCSNCG in '02? Because they were a power when Woody Hayes coached there over 30 years ago? What, exactly? We've won 2 BCS titles since '03, and I believe that should garner some respect and "benefit of the doubt" from the media. It seems to work for others. Watch for the preseason ranking that ND will come out of the gates with--because they beat that powerhouse Hawaii team convincingly in a bowl (the first bowl they'd won since Lou Spitter was their coach.)
I understand this reasoning but I also know that most fans of college football will look at the Ohio States of the world and laugh because they HAVEN'T earned that ranking. I'm a firm believer in ranking on merit...not past achievement. This is in almost no way (starter-wise) the team that won the trophy in '07 and definitely not the team from '03. I still say that weighing last year's regular season with the bowl performance and our offseason moves averages out to be a mid-teens team in the preseason. I'm okay with that. They can accomplish everything they want without the burden of pressure. Plus, if we stay there for a little while, we might actually get some night games! :hihi:
Way to early to make this comparison, but he reminds me of Vince Young, even to the quirky throwing motion. That crossed my mind when he scored on that end run against Georgia Tech. I thought, hmmmmm! Little smaller than VY, but JJ is still a growing boy. If he picks up where he left off we could have a very good season. Hope I'm not jinxing him.
I would have to disagree with the statement of this team isn't as talented as the 2007 National Champ team. This team could be more talented, it just hasn't been tested yet. I would argue this team could turn out to be more talented and surprise a lot of people. The biggest hurdle is that the SEC is deeper than it was then and in 2003, for that matter. Should this team have a 10 + win season, win the SEC or not, it will have done it going thru a tougher SEC than we did in 2007 & 2003.
