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How much do you think your team has progressed or regressed since last season?

Posted on 4/25/13 at 7:36 am
Posted by Poxxxx says GFR
Franklinton, LA
Member since Aug 2011
7958 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 7:36 am
The off-season sucks, and I'm going through football withdrawals. It's always fun to see how teams will be different the following year after graduation, the draft, and the incoming impact freshman. I'm just curious, with spring games wrapped up, where you do you see your team upgrading/downgrading? Should be another interesting year in the SEC. Can't frickin' wait!

OC: Cam Cameron is a huge improvement

QB: Improvement over last year with Mett having a year under his belt, and I expect LSU to mix it up a little with freshman Anthony Jennings.

RB: I think we'll be just as good, if not better than last year. We get Blue back after he missed last season, plus the return of Kenny Hilliard and Jeremy Hill.

FB: Wash. We got the beast J.C. Copeland coming back for his senior year, and neighbors is a very solid 2.

WR: Improvement. Solid core or WR's returning, and the addition is Leslie should give us a really nice passing attack.

TE: Improvement. With the way CC uses his TE's, I think we see a massive improvement at TE. With Travis Dickson getting better, and the guys coming in from this past class. I'm excited about our TE situation.

OL: Slight improvement. My only concern is having one senior on the OL. LSU is very young, but after Faulk, Hurst, and Williford being injured last year, a lot of young guys got some very important PT.

DL: Slight decline. We lose Logan, Montgomery, and Mingo. We're reloading the D-Line, but I don't think we will be quite as good as we have been in recent years. Freak Johnson, and Ego will be a force inside, with Rasco and Allen on the outside. Depth will be our weakness.

LB: Slight decline. Losing Minter to the draft will hurt us at LB. I think we're fine everywhere, except MLB. We have pretty good depth with a solid group of young guys.

DB: Improvement. We return Mills, Collins, and Loston, and reload at other positions.

P/K: Decline. This is the first time in a long time where special teams is a big concern for LSU.

This post was edited on 4/25/13 at 9:04 am
Posted by CGSC Lobotomy
Member since Sep 2011
81303 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 7:57 am to
QB - improvement. Manziel now can make the calls at the line, which offsets the inexperience at center.

RB - improvement. 5 > 3

WR - slight decline. Lose Swope, McNeal, Johnson, and Nwachukwu. Gain Williams, Parker, Pope, Larue, Gonzalez, Tabuyo, and Seals-Jones.

TE - improve. Lose Lamothe, gain Clear

OL - wash.

DL - decline in experience, improvement in talent

LB - decline. Porter ans Stewart are not easily replaced.

DB - improvement. Return all key starters + add depth and talent

P - TBD

K - decline. Bertolet is still the kicker
This post was edited on 4/30/13 at 7:58 am
Posted by mwlewis
JeffCo
Member since Nov 2010
21237 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 7:59 am to
The only real set back Bama is facing is Oline but they will gel and will still be top notch. Everything else has either reloaded or will improve by getting players back from injury. Chris Black, Jalston Fowler, Deandrew White, Kenny Bell... Bama's has got some lethal WRs.
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
99896 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 8:04 am to
Well, we can only go up.

In all seriousness, I think you'll see marked improvement on offense. Largely because we have our full stable of backs healthy, our QBs healthy (we ran with our 3rd and 4th stringers most of last season), and they looked pretty good adapting to the spread. I'm most excited about Josh Clemons return at RB because he showed a lot of promise his freshman season before going down. At first glance I don't know how much improvement there will be on defense, but we started one of the youngest squads in the country on that side of the ball last season and all of those guys have a SEC season under their belt. Stoops runs a different scheme so they'll be adjusting to that and it'll take longer for that then the offense adjusting to the spread. But there's some talent there, especially on that line with the addition of guys like Za'darius Smith.

I don't expect a whole lot of improvement in the W/L column, but I think you'll start to see the foundation of a solid squad in the next few seasons just in guys picking up schemes, improving technique, and etc. It just might not show until later in the season and we start our SEC slate with Florida, @ USCe, and Alabama right off the bat.
Posted by Pigimus Prime
Arkansas
Member since Feb 2012
4090 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 9:17 am to
HC: No matter your opinion on BB he see beats the hell out of Johnelle.

Staff: Far superior at all positions, one of the best around from top to bottom

QB: Major decline with the loss of Wilson

RB: I expect improvement and much more depth

FB: Kiero "truckabitch" Small is back, major improvement

WR: I expect improvement from the group but not anyone will be as productive as Hamilton last year

TE: None currently as good as the past two but the depth is better and they may get more action under this staff

OL: Much improved, because of development, coaching, and experience

DL: Best unit on the team and one of the most experienced in the conference

LB: I expect more depth and improvement from last year, but untested so far

DB: Major improvements are expected and the depth is better

P: Lost a good one, now being replaced by the place kicker so we shall see

K: same guy, more experience, probably better
Posted by Riseupfromtherubble
You'll Never Walk Alone
Member since Jun 2011
38402 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 9:37 am to
quote:

The off-season sucks, and I'm going through football withdrawals


Me too. My dick is raw from fapping to highlights
Posted by RockyMtnTigerWDE
War Damn Eagle Dad!
Member since Oct 2010
105547 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 10:34 am to
I feel the new coaching staff is doing a solid job in changing the attitudes and culture of the players.

QB- We are nowhere closer to finding our starter and most likely will come down to the new ones coming this summer.

RB- Cam Artis-Payne looks to be a Ben Tate clone with better moves in space and very excited about him. Tre Mason will be a big contributor. Cory Grant will take on the speed role that OMac had. Good possibility for two 1000 yd guys.

WR- Still a lot of work to be done, but a slight improvement and they are blocking again. I think they may be one of the biggest improvements by opening game. Hopeful at least.

TE/H/FB: Good solid group and TE's improving

OLine: This group is looking good and our two deep seems to be solid as well except at center. Bigger improvement over last year.

DL: Outside of Ford they didn't show a lot of confidence imo. I think the addition of some of the new guys will go a long way in helping us there. Remains to be seen overall improvement vs last year.

LB: Inconsistent but more talented. Not deep and a concern imo

Star: Garret and Therezie will be play makers and will be huge for our defense.

CB: Looks to be an improvement

S: Not deep and with D McNeal uncertain future we need big help from incoming players.

ST: They looked better in 2011. Did okay in 2012, they didn't leave a lot of confidence at A-Day Game.

QB will obviously be a key to how this season ends up. I feel if that position strengthens offense will score points. Defense is my worry and might put up a fight, but unless some of the new guys coming in give big help it will be a tough going. It will be an improvement over last year. Their tackling looked improved at A-Day.
This post was edited on 4/25/13 at 10:57 am
Posted by WhistlinDixie15
I make people sleepy
Member since Oct 2012
7784 posts
Posted on 4/25/13 at 11:04 am to
QB - Improvement - With Bo having a season in the SEC in his résumé, he should be more effective and efficient next season

RB - Improvement - we still have Jeff Scott but will see more play from Mathers and possibly Jordan Wilkins, playing the role as our big back

WR - Improvement - Moncrief, Sanders, Logan, while adding Q. Mireles, Treadwell, and Adeboyejo

FB - Decline - Lose HR Greer which had some leadership and he could catch fairly well. Not too sure about his replacement

TE - Decline - we lost our starters and are replacing them with true Freshman. Granted this may end up better but since they have not proven themselves, I'll assume it's decline.

OL - Wash - lost some key seniors but had young starting talent behind them and also adding Tunsil and Golson

DL - Improvement - Kept our star linemen (CJ Johnson, Ward, Gross) and added RN, Lavon Hooks. Those guys are backed up by some talented Rotational guys.

LB - Improvement - Lost no-one and we get DT Shackleford back. Improvement based on the players actually improving in offseason

DB - Improvement - lost almost no one and with Senquez dropping baseball to focus on football, I see him getting much better. We also are getting Snoop Brassell back and adding Tony Connor. Prewitt and Elston return at safety and hopefully Elston can become disciplined and get over his freshman frick ups

ETA: Charles Sawyer is overrated

P/K - HUGE Improvement - We get Andrew Ritter and Tyler Campbell back to replace broadway (sucked dick) and Noble (not near as good as Ritter)
This post was edited on 4/25/13 at 11:07 am
Posted by CayceCock13
Braves / Hornets / Rams Fan
Member since Oct 2012
17543 posts
Posted on 4/26/13 at 2:13 am to
Carolina (Note I haven't followed football at all during the spring so I might be off a little)

QB - Slight improvement, Shaw was recovering this entire spring from his foot & Thompson got some valuable snaps in the spring taking all the 1st team reps. Both were very good last year so I doubt either made a huge leap.

RB - Slight improvement, will be allowed to dish it inbetween 3 different backs instead of just Latty/Miles, Davis is going to be a really good one he showed flashes last fall & had a really good spring from what I've heard then Wilds is a proven RB (replaced Latty in '10 after 1st knee injury) & finally Shon Carson is finally healthy

TE - Improvement, Jerrell Adams & Rory Anderson will most likely be 2 of the best TE's in the SEC imo they are going to be really good

OLine - Slight Improvement, I believe 4 out of the 5 starters are back this season so there is experience & we need them to be improved in order to make a run at Atlanta less pressure on Shaw the better

WR - Regressed, losing Ace hurt us & I'm not sure if we're going to have that #1 guy, I don't think Bruce can fill that role he's much more like a slot wide out we need a big guy to develop & have a good season hopefully Shaq Roland will finally be as good as advertised. Overall this will most likely be the weakest part of our Offense imo going into the season.

DLine - Slight Improvement, pretty much everyone's back I believe losing Taylor hurts but we have guys that have been in games & that are experienced & very talented, plus having Clowney isn't all that bad amirite?

Secondary - Even, some are back from last year but this unit doesn't have a ton of depth experience I expect Legree, Hampton, & Williams all to improve however.

LBs - Regressed, hardly any experience here I'm worried about this unit as we hardly have anyone coming back if I remember right, hopefully this unit will develop & become a really good unit, weakest part on the Defense side of the ball for sure.

Kickers - Regressed, new FG guy so I'm skeptical on how he'll be this year would be nice to have another Succop come around.

Return guy - Regressed, losing Ace is going to hurt we haven't had that good of a Return man in the past 10-12 years there will most likely be a drop off in this department.
This post was edited on 4/26/13 at 2:16 am
Posted by ConwayGamecock
South Carolina
Member since Jan 2012
9121 posts
Posted on 4/26/13 at 4:14 am to
OFFENSE:

QB: We went into 2012 with only Shaw having experience beyond mop-up duty. Even still, Shaw had legitimate questions as to how capable a passing QB he'd be. For 2012 Shaw improved in most every passing category despite dealing with various injuries throughout the season. Thompson develops into a very dependable QB that can be relied on to perform in the most crucial of situations. IMPROVEMENT

RB: No one will replace the leadership that Lattimore brought to the team. However, USC has a wealth of depth at the RB position to make an attempt. The issue here is, we had this wealth the previous 2 seasons, and in each case were whittled down to depending on true freshmen backs in the final weeks of the season. If our backs can remain relatively healthy IMO we could see substantial production, even better than what we saw last season due to an injury-depleted corps: with Lattimore as a national leading rusher in '11 we averaged 200 ypg, but after he was injured Wilds and Shaw combined to keep the run game at 185 ypg. So they can produce post-Lattimore, but they need to stay healthy. STATUS QUO/IMPROVEMENT

WR: We went into 2012 with only 400 yd/2 td Ace Sanders as our top returning WR. We will go into 2013 with 600 yd/7 td Ellington plus 400 yd/3 td Byrd returning, so the experience at the position will be improved. We'll also have a more experienced Roland who's shown improvement during spring camp, plus Fuller and Smith who were red-shirted last season. IMPROVEMENT

TE: Losing Cunningham means losing a physical blocking TE. Anderson has shown he can block, but mostly as a down-filed blocker as opposed to a line blocker like Justice. But where Anderson is a stride above Cunningham is as a receiver option: his first 2 seasons Busta has 459 yds and 8 tds in 22 receptions. He along with Adams and Owens combined won't provide the LOS blocking that Cunningham did, but they will be a very dangerous receiving option on offense. IMPROVEMENT

OL: We lost our most experienced OL from '12 in Johnson, but return as many as 4 starters from the previous season for the first time under Spurrier. The new center will be inexperienced, but the unit as a whole will gain 14 total starts over what it had with Johnson to start 2012. IMPROVEMENT

DEFENSE:

DL: Returning Clowney will be huge. Quarles will also be one of the top DTs in the SEC. We'll have a very experienced Sutton or a Devin Taylor v.2 in English opposite Clowney, plus either Surratt or Dixon Jr. on the interior. Sutton, Surratt, and Dixon all have game experience and starts to their credit, but obviously won't match what Taylor and Jerideau took with them. STATUS QUO

LB: Not much to sugar coat here - lost a TON of experience at the position. What we're replacing the losses with will be more talented, quicker, and more athletic. There will be a loss in physicality and size. DECLINE

DB: We entered the '12 season after losing CB Gilmore, plus platooning CBs Whitlock and Markett. We replace them with backups Hampton and Legree who are starting at CB for the first time. SS Holloman is moved to Spur, and replaced with youngster Williams. Only Swearinger is the returning regular starter in the secondary. For '13, Swearinger has moved on, but Hampton, Legree, and Williams all return with a season of experience and starts. In Swearinger's place highly rated prospect Chaz Elder has impressed during the spring camp. The loss of Swearinger will be felt in 2013, but overall as a unit the secondary should be more experienced and stronger. IMPROVEMENT

S/T Return: Sanders was one of the top punt returners in the nation last season. We'll have options for his replacement, but they won't be Sanders. DECLINE

S/T P/K: We return both Hull and Ard who have experience with punting and kick-offs, but lost our FG kicker. DECLINE

This post was edited on 4/26/13 at 4:21 am
Posted by cbi8
Nashville
Member since Mar 2012
6801 posts
Posted on 4/30/13 at 1:36 am to
Didn't see a State one yet, so here goes:

QB: Decline. fricking Russell is a head case. Could be improvement if dak gets starts

RB: Wash. Perkins is back but nick griffin is hurt again. Most solid corps on team.

WR: Decline. Bumphis is gone. need younger players to step up

TE: Decline. Marcus Green finally graduated after 14 years playing for State.

OL: Improvement. Returning boku starters.

DL: Improvement. Need to develop raw talent, though.

LB: Decline. Losing Cam Lawrence means a loss of a leader, even if he was terrible at times.

DB: Major decline. Lost Banks, Slay, and Broomfield. Returning Nickoe "Hit or miss" Whitley

P/K: Only way to go from the bottom is up, right?

ETA: this is the most homer thread I might have ever seen.

ETA again: This made me realize how bad we are going to be

This post was edited on 4/30/13 at 1:42 am
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