Rank the SEC After Week 1

you sure?

they beat a "top-10" team by a ton and they are far younger than LSU, meaning they will only get better as the year goes on.

Having that game in BR helps . . . A LOT

 

I think y'all definitely have the upper hand this year in BR not only with the home field advantage but simply with the better team. If we can get past the mental hurdle of having major let down games and get a bit more consistent I think that will go A LONG ways in preparing us to do more than just "give y'all a good game" next year. But this year I just don't see us being able to jump the hurdle and beat y'all with what we've got right now, though they appear to be developing fast.

But who knows with kids man. They can get in a fight with their girlfriend before the game and that can be a major contributor in how they play. You just can never tell with college kids.

 

I don't think that the AU game will tell us much this season as far as who is the power in the West. Both teams have young QBs who will improve as the season goes on. I think that the loser of this game will still be right in the thick of it (though with an uphill climb). I think that the games against the teams in the east will have a major impact on who will win the West (with us playing FL, USC, and UGA, I think that we have a disadvantage this year).

By the middle of the season, we will have a better idea who will be the dominate team in the West. I think that it will be AU or LSU because of their depth. Bummer does not have enough depth. By the end of the season, they will be nicked up and worn down. LSU will be hitting on all cylinders and our QB will be settled in. I am glad that we aren't Arky or Georgia having to play Bummer in September... I much rather getting AU early and Bummer late.

 

I'm with you. I just don't see it. I've been saying all summer that Bama would be better than most people expect, and Auburn will not be as good. Two offensive TDs against a team like ULM is pathetic; 85 yards passing is pathetic. The have a strong defense and a good punter, so they will be able to stay in games. I just wouldn't feel warm and fuzzy about relying on that offense to put together a 2 minute drive to win the game at the end.

 

Tony Franklin's offense takes time to adjust to. Especially if you're coming from a traditional power I/pro set offense like the barn is doing. It is a drastic change in philosophy. The most important position (outside the OL) of this offense is the qb. The qb is what makes or breaks this offense. A lot like West Virginia's offense. The qb has GOT to be a very good athlete and able to make quick reads and decisions

Go to youtube or google and see if you can find some of Troy's games last season. Watch a few plays and see for yourself. I expect the barn will struggle offensively through a lot of this season trying to learn the in's and outs of this offense. However, their defense is so good that it will keep them in and possibly win them some games.

 

hopefully, franklin was propped up because of hoagabook. sort of like curley was to favre.


i feel better about the auburn game because of their abysmal passing agaisnt ulm, but they will still have a great D, have us at their place and we have very green qbs. regardless of their O, itll be a tough game.

 

I've watched several of their games over the last few years, so I definitely understand what that offense is capable of. I'm just not sure that adjusting is all they need. Can those QBs get it done? I don't know.

After the opening weekend, I feel better about the Auburn game, too, though I never feel very comfortable about going TO Auburn. We just can't seem to get it done there.

 

That "top 10" team isn't even in the top 25 anymore...which shows the foolishness of putting them at 9 anyway. Further disrupting the validity of preseason polls. *That was my "intellectual" version of this comment.

Clemson sucks. The preseason poll's suck. *That was the "real me" version of this comment.

Bama looked good...Clemson looked horrible. Bama being "younger" is not an upside. I have never know any analysis that used a college team being "younger" as an advantage.

Mostly, the team that is more aged and experienced in college has the advantage. I mean...in the pros...if a team has an average age of 35 - 45 then the team that has the average of 25 - 35 probably has an advantage. But the difference in age being from only 18 - 22?? Not an advantage in my opinion.

If you are implying that they may "gel" together better...maybe. But so will we. So will Clemson for that matter. In other words...I am not buying into your reasoning. All except for the game being in Baton Rouge helps...it always does.

 

"Being young" in and of itself isn't necessarily a "good thing". But "being young" and those young players being extremely physically talented is another thing. Logical thinking (doesn't always pan out this way) tells you that the more they play the better they'll get. So by the latter part of the season they are much better than at the beginning.

I believe John Madden said that after the first half of the season "they're not rookies anymore." And I hoping that by the end of the season the 7-8 freshmen that are getting all this playing time will "not be rookies anymore" and will be in the first stages of their college career as "veterans". Because it doesn't matter who we play these same 7-8 freshmen WILL BE PLAYING. We have no other choice. So development and learning will be forced not spoon fed.

I think staying healthy and the development of these young players as the season goes on will heavily dictate how "good" we are when we roll into BR. If we're banged up and these guys have taken steps backwards then odds are we're getting our arses whooped. But if we're healthy and these kids have developed into young veterans by November then we might be in for one helluva game.