Basketball season leaves a lot to be desired this season...and baseball is still a few weeks away...SOOOOO...let's talk FOOTBALL!!! I know a lot of people look at who we're losing, and assume it'll be a "rebuilding" year next season...especially with the "even year" schedule. But I just don't see it that way. I'm VERY optimistic! We will face fewer top 25 teams this season than we did last season...and the fact that DMac and Jones are gone doesn't hurt at all. Also, the road trip to USCe just isn't very scary to me. Sure we go to The Swamp, and The Barn...but other than those two, we really don't have a tough road schedule. We get UGA and Bama at Death Valley, and our OOC is cupcake city. The most encouraging thing to me though is what we RETURN. Defensive Line Jackson RJF Favorite Alexander Woods Nevis Alem Secondary Taylor Jones Coleman Eugene McCray Ron Brooks Francois Clemons Patrick Johnson* Phelon Jones LB Beckwith Cutrera Riley Sheppard Foyil Offensive Line Big Herm Helms Barksdale Ciron Black Hitt RB Charles Scott Keiland Williams Richard Murphy Holliday Ridley Receivers Byrd:wave: Lafell Toliver Tolliver* Dickson The Mitchells QB Ryan Perrilloux Jarrett Lee Jordan Jefferson* *indicates commitment...incoming true freshman Offensively, it was downright FUN to write this list out...as was most of the defense. There are questions in the secondary, but there are also very talented guys back there...with game experience. Linebacker is more of a question mark...but Beckwith should emerge as a team leader, and hopefully help mold those around him into better players. Defensive line is just SICK...even losing Dorsey! They should do enough to help out the entire defense...while the offense puts enough points on the board to help the 'D' out as well. Thoughts? Feel free to correct any mistakes, or add anything you think I left out.
Only questions on offense seem to be: 1. how badly we miss Hester (ball security, short yardage, toughness) and 2. whether RP is as good as he has looked, which I admit isn't much of a question based on the SECCG. Defensively, I thought the corners and safeties were the cornerstone of the unit, so I think that's a big question. Many of the sacks seemed to me to come more from coverage than a good pass rush - by design or by talent, I don't honestly know. I don't see our run defense falling off much on the front four, but the LB and Corners are a huge set of questions I think. I'm hoping for a huge learning curve and some big surprises, especially at CB. Could PJ start as a freshman? I'm far more comfy with the safeties. Man - if RP and the RBs step in as advertised, the offense will be great, and that's saying something after this year's production.
< looks for snoring emoticon > That's just it...I'm BORED! edit---Sorry Crunch...this was in response to the "name game" comment by CLIC...I should've quoted him first. Wasn't talking about your response.:thumb:
Big time programs don't rebuild, they reload...However, we lose a bunch of defensive guys, 3 of them being defensive backs which is the last line of defense so that worries and I won't be convinced otherwise until I see these young players handling their new roles as starters.
I guess the main reason I wanted to bring this up is that I keep reading about how our schedule is gonna be so brutal this season...and I just don't see it being even as tough as LAST season...and certainly not as tough as '06. I know that the even years are usually toughest...but this year, with Arky likely being down, and AU bringing in a new offense that they don't currently have the personnel to run...I just don't see it being too tough. Am I wrong here??:huh:
I think Auburn and Florida will be great tests this year on the road. So, in that way, our SEC road schedule is much tougher. But, since we don't have a VT on the schedule - that's about it. Everything else is looking very doable. Great chance to go 11-1 and possibly win the West again. Georgia at home will be a war, though. And Saban back in Death Valley will be interesting as well, to say the least. SEC-wise, this is a tougher road than last year I think.
Oh, I'm gonna make it. And I'm hopeful I can find a way to stay married along the way as well. She's losing her sense of humor with every key stroke... Guess I should go wash some dishes or something...
Fla. Auburn on the road and Georgia at home are going to be tough. I think how healthy we stay will have a big influence on how we make out next year. Way early, but I look for something like the 2006 season. If we get some breaks, back in the SECCG.
