re: Freeze talks recruiting, depth, and season expectations

You don't think size was a problem in that game? so you don't think the Rebs had an undersized D last year? maybe that was just my paranoias

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I'm honestly expecting 5 or 6 wins.

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I honestly think that's a horrible prediction

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Here's the thing, Tup. Managing expectations is a HUGE component of a new coaching era. We (OM fans) are notoriously short fused and irrational when it comes to coaching issues. With that said, we have a proper AD now who appears to fully understand the unique challenges faced by OM Ath Dept staff in controlling, motivating and aligning her fanbase. So, I think we'll get better at being reasonable, logical, level headed fans, but until we really get some experience under our belt, each one of us MUST do our best to be objective about what we expect from HF and our football team. If we are talking about winning 7 or 8 next season, prepare yourself for a negative swing up to 3 games if things go horribly wrong. To go into season 2 expecting 7 or 8 regular season wins is just unrealistic.


tl;dr cliffs. Overachieving in year one and a top 10 recruiting class should not and will not automatically translate to more than 7 wins in year 2. Anyone who actually EXPECTS more than that is an idiot and is hurting the program.

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I just want to be competitive

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Yup!

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win some games we aren't supposed too because if history repeats then we will lose a game or two we where supposed to win

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See I actually view this differently than you ... I want to win the games we are supposed to first, consistently (*lay a foundation*), then look toward taking out those ahead of us.

Agree to disagree I guess. I see us getting to 7 or 8 wins. Call me nieve or an idiot that's just my honest guess. Why do I think this?
at Vanderbilt- We were up on Vandy 17 points last year (and very well could hav been by about 4 touchdowns but we had 4 inside the 15 yard line field goals. Not only did Vandy lose an All SEC quarterback and running back, their offensive line have up 8+ sacks in the spring game. This matches up perfectly because our main strength is getting to the passer. You might say well, that means that Vandy has a reall good DLine if they had 8 sacks in the spring game. They do, but once again, look how we match up against that. We have our entire OLine back with an exception if Hawkins. We weren't too bad at pass protection last year, and with another year under everyone's belt we will only be better. 1-0

Southeast Missouri- Obvious win. 2-0

at Texas- I honestly think we lose this game. Texas returns a whole lot of guys from last years team, including much if their offense. The game being in Austin will decide it IMO. 2-1

at Alabama- only OBVIOUS loss on our schedule. 2-2

at Auburn- I think this could be up being a trap game for us. However, Auburn still has no quarterback, and still has a defense that has struggled. Yes they did recruit well, but you can't expect every true freshman to come in and play SEC caliber football right away. Our offense is one of our stronger parts so we matchup well against a below average defense. It could be a high scoring game but I think we get the W. 3-2

Texas A&M- I'm expecting another great game here. A&M returns much of their OLine with an exception of 2 guys, a Heisman winning QB(he will be good this year Idc what other people say), their leading rusher, and their leading reciever. While I think we will be improved I just think that will be a little to much for us. 3-3

LSU- This will be the biggest game of the year at Oxford. The Vaught will be packed with 60,000+ so it should be a pretty tough environment for LSU. As we all know, LSU is losing a good bit on defense (DLine, Secondary). I think their team last year was a whole lot more talented than this years team mainly on the defensive side of the ball. We were a special teams miscue away from probably beating them last year at DV. I don't see us losing to a less talented team than a team we had lost to by 6 points last year. Especially at our own place. 4-3

Idaho- Speaks for itself, 5-3.

Arkansas- They lose most of their play makers from a team that went 4-8 last year and once again, we return all of ours and add a few. I don't see us losing to a team like Arkansas in Oxford. 6-3

Troy- Troy is a good team, so we don't need to overlooking them. 7-3

Missouri-I think Missouri will be much improved this year. They return James Franklin, and their star running back who was out last year with injury will be back too. I still think we are the better team but this could be one of those games that we choke away. 8-3

at MSU- Alright, MSU. They are going to be very young and inexperienced at the CB spot, matching up perfect for us and all of our play making WR's. They are losing some guys on the OLine, once again matching up perfectly with our talent of rushing the passer. Russell is losing most of his go to guys at the WR spot. They will be very young at that position, whole we return guys like Charles Sawyer, Cody Prewitt, Dhendric Collins, Trae Elson(who I think will be much improved), and as guys like Tony Conner, and possibly Snoop. Those are 3 huge matchup wins for us that I think gives us the W. 9-3

This is best case scenario. Honestly, we could slip up in one of the Missouri, Auburn, or Arkansas games, I just don't know which one. So 9-3 or 8-4 give or take. Please tell me how you only 5 wins on that schedule. I don't think we do improve if we only win 5 games because I see atleast 7 games on here that we should win.

Freeze>HDN. All I have to say to that

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I don't think we do improve if we only win 5 games because I see atleast 7 games on here that we should win.

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Why I said we should focus on this type of games first. Bama, aTm, LSU & Texas games where nice if we when shouldn't as much as a priority as making sure we learn to CONSISTENTLY BEAT those that we should. After we established ourselves then take the next step.

Now in saying that ... that doesn't mean we just forget to play those four team or don't gameplan for them. My statement is FIRST we take care of business THEN when the likes of those teams come into play we GIVE THEM A DOGFIGHT but don't give up because we didn't win, but use that as a tool to become better for the next year.

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GIVE THEM A DOGFIGHT but don't give up because we didn't win, but use that as a tool to become better for the next year.

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Exactly. We gave them a dog fight last year and I think we will use it as tools to be better this year.