re: Who’s your surprise East team?

Hoping it's Fla behind a strong run game with Richardson stacking crazy highlights week after week. Not thag far fetch the dude is super talented.

Here is my "trying not to be a homer" take on all 3 options listed:

Kentucky - Really good coaching and very talented QB. Last year they had a very good offense. They have 5 starters returning from that offense, so their year will totally depend on replacing the OL protection they lost with players like Fortner (C) and Kinnard (OT). Bringing in Auburn transfer Tashawn Manning is a pretty good start...but they still have 2 Redshirt Freshmen likely to start on the left side of the ball. Eli Cox is on the Outland Trophy Watchlist...but we will have to see how his move from Guard to Center goes. As for skill players...(from their projected depth chart), they have 5 Freshmen in their 2 deep rotation at WR (2 True Fr, and 3 RS Fr). Their offensive success could make or brake on the productivity of Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson. It just seems like there are a lot of changes to adjust to on offense, with a lot of opportunities for things not to mesh.

Florida - The SEC has become a league that leans a lot on high powered offenses. Florida has as much talent as anyone in the East outside of Georgia, but with Napier in his first year and Toney as his OC...I'm wondering how much of the offense Toney will actually call vs Napier. Napier's Louisiana teams made a big jump in year 2 and a giant leap in year 3. A lot depends on how Richardson's ability to run a new offense under this regime. I think they will be good defensively...defenses adapt to new schemes quicker than offense, and I like their coordinators.

Tennessee - Should be very good on offense because they have so much coming back...defense was below average last year and will likely be the determining factor for how good their season goes. As fast as the offense scores, the defense is hung out to dry with TOP...so they need a lot of quality depth. They didn't have it last year, and there hasn't been much talk about any significant changes they've made since then. No team can afford a lot of injuries...UT is even more vulnerable than most on defense, because of how much they will need to rely on rotation to keep players fresh with as many snaps as they are likely to see on the field.


My homer take would be Tennessee...but a true "surprise" would be Florida. Tennessee and Kentucky both are positioned to make moves...but somehow Florida is coming in under the radar. I could see them surprising a lot of people.

Any team that doesn't start with M and rhyme with zoo.

Vandy for sure.

quote:

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Kentucky
Tennessee
Florida

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Now looking at the depth charts (ourlads.com) to compare Offensive age (class listed regardless of RS):

Tennessee's offense 2-deep has:
0 Freshmen
5 Sophomores
7 Juniors
9 Seniors
1 Grad

Kentucky's offense 2-deep has (24 listed since they show 2 TE set option):
8 Freshmen
3 Sophomores
4 Juniors
7 Seniors
2 Grad

Florida's offense 2-deep has:
5 Freshmen
3 Sophomores
8 Juniors
6 Seniors


This is one of the reasons that I think Kentucky could struggle offensively this season...especially in Gainesville in week 2.

Tennessee. If they can stay healthy.