Disclaimer: I am not a Jordan Jefferson lover. Somehow, I'm thinking Jordan Jefferson will be greatly improved. A new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach with a simplified system and more one on one coaching, a highly touted juco transfer to push him, and the fact that this is his last year to shine, I think he turns it up. Plus the fact that he's had 2+ years of starting experience in the SEC west, this is JJ's year.
I honestly thing the offense as a whole is going to shock a lot of people….uhm…in a positive way unlike the shock we were in last year. Ware and Blue will be running behind an O-line with 4 big returning starters. I think Rueben and Shepard are primed for a breakout season. Of course, it all centers around the QB. If JJ can pull it together, or another leader emerges, it will be a very special season next year. With the toughest schedule in the NCAA we will be a one loss (maybe even two loss) contender for the NC. I’ll warn y’all now though. Don’t expect a lot of spread and deep passes next year. We will have A LOT of running and play action passes. Which is fine by me. That style of offense is exactly what got us the 2007 national championship.
I agree with a lot of the names mentioned but will go with Brockers just to pick someone different. Not sure if he'll end up starting with all of the new guys coming in but seems to have the athleticism and time in the system to make another leap forward. I think sometimes we get spoiled with the continued strength of the D-Line. It seems like we've had a top-5 (nationally) D-Line for a decade and it continues to always have a lot of depth and NFL-type talent. When that unit is performing well, it makes life so much easier for the LBs and secondary.
All great guesses and anyone of them could do it. Who can tell which of those mentioned or any have the special ability to be the in the right spot AND be the maker of key plays as TM did. That is a rare talent and few have it. It doesn't happen every year even though we have great atheletes in every class. Treasure them when they appear.
Tharold Simon at CB Alfred Blue will continue to turn heads. Deangelo Petterson will become a regular target. Not sure if Eric Reid can be considered a surprise but he is going to be the smartest man on defense. And a complete beast like usual.
I'll go with Michael Ford. Ware has gotten all the press since the Cotton, and I think that will motivate him to get where he needs to be. On defense, I'll also go with Simon. A 6'3" DB can present serious problems for any WR/QB. I'll never forget his first play (?) as a Tiger. Came in off the bench and McElroy/Jones went right after him. Dude reached clear around Jones and swatted that ball right out of the air. Jewleo didn't know what the hell had just happened. It was a beautiful thing. They left him alone after that.
