What do y'all think about this article?

I think that dude is dumb if he thinks we can maintain our past two years level of play with all the talent we lose. We have plenty of very talented young guys but there will be a learning curve (curb?).

I don't think it's out of the question for us to continue to contend as long as Kelly makes it back and we hit on some of our possible recruits this year.

Whether you like to admit it or not, our OL came on strong at the end of the season and the meat of it will be back next season (Patterson, Conyers, Taylor, Sims, Rawlings). Replacing the bookends will be tough, but if we get Little and combine that with Kelly elusiveness we'll be ok there. Judd, Wilkins, and Brazley will be a solid backfield and our wideouts will be just as deep as this season - Addaboy, Pack, String, Lodge, Jefferson and DK. DJ looked like he's coming on at times, too.

Defense will be a question, but Bridges finished strong. If Webster makes similar strides to Golson (remember he went stellar until his senior year), then he and Ordway will be big for us next year. Throw in the possibility of a talent like Carter and the corners should be fine.

LB will once again be a weakness. That sucks. But Gates is a fricking beast and a huge upgrade from Denzel. Woods showed flashes, too. MLB will continue to be a weak point which will really be our struggle.

DL will lose some depth, but the starters will still be amazing. Haynes, Jones, Gross, Brown - come on, mannn! Throw in Speaks ( who really is a more efficient Rob, IMO) and the hope that Evans and McDowell progress. They will be good again. We also had a few that showed s lot of promise in spring didn't we? Robinson and Donnelly? Hopefully Big Herb turns a corner.

Safety is a problem, though. I'm not sure how we replace Hilton and Elston. This has me worried. Hampton has to step up and I'm assuming Linton will play a bigger role next season. This is a problem area for sure. We will have to be more aggressive on the DL and bring pressure to compensate for the back end of our D.

Tony Conner is likely coming back. That's just fricking huge.

I think we can absolutely have a good year. The front end of our schedule is murder, but look at the state of those programs we face.

FSU - who knows? They're always good but not unbeatable, IMO.
Bama - replacing Smart will hopefully be hard for them. Plus they lose the bulk of their stud front 7 in Ragland, Reed and I think 3 other DL? They have depth and it's always next man up, but getting them early and at home is huge. Hopefully they won't be gelled yet.
UGA - new HC and coaching staff and who knows who will play QB. If it's Eason, he's good but once again we get them early, at home, and he's a true freshman.
Memphis - likely losing Lynch and Feunte is gone. At home. No excuses here.

We will know a lot about our team once we but that first bye week, but I don't see why we can't once again take advantage of what's in front of us. I'm definitely NOT predicting a MNC run, but another season where we're in the conversation to win the West in November again isn't that far fetched.

Freeze showed a lot of maturity by loosening his grip on playcalling and turning Werner and Kelly loose. Luke also redeemed himself, IMO, once we saw what the guys he recruited could do.

We just need to hope Freeze allows Wommack and Kiffin to stay aggressive on D with big leads. We saw way too many of those evaporate this year.

Rivers McCown is the authors name. Tell me that is not the most punchable name you have ever heard.

All that at 5:38 AM? Dang.

quote:

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snark towards Freeze at the end?

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Always nice to be highly thought of. That's about all I can say at this point.