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Biggest ? for each top 25 team (ESPN)
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:20 pm
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:20 pm
1. Alabama: Secondary
Alabama didn't lose just one or two defensive backs. It lost all four starters in the secondary, plus its top reserve. Oh, and it also has a new position coach in Karl Scott. -- Alex Scarborough
2. Clemson: Secondary
3. Ohio State: Linebacker
4. Georgia: Linebacker
It will be a bunch of fresh, unproven faces at linebacker this season in Athens. Replacing Roquan Smith in the middle of the defense is the top priority, of course, but don't forget about outside linebacker, where Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy are both gone. -- Scarborough
5. Oklahoma: Safety
6. Washington: Wide receiver
7. Wisconsin: Secondary
8. Miami: Offensive line
9. Michigan State: Pass rush
10. Michigan: Offensive line
11. West Virginia: Defensive line
12. Notre Dame: Brandon Wimbush's poise
13. Penn State: Tight end
14. Stanford: Secondary
15. Virginia Tech: Wide receiver
16. Mississippi State: Wide receiver
The most underperforming group of receivers in the SEC the past two seasons hasn't improved overnight. At least not yet. Donald Gray is gone, and the hope is that the return of Malik Dear from injury and the addition of No. 1 juco prospect Stephen Guidry help pick up the slack and then some. -- Scarborough
17. USC: Quarterback
18. UCF: Defense
19. Auburn: Wide receiver
Jarrett Stidham was in need of playmakers at receiver before Eli Stove and Will Hastings both suffered serious injuries this spring. Now the outlook will be even more ominous if someone such as Nate Craig-Myers doesn't step up. -- Scarborough
20. TCU: Offensive line
21. Boise State: Wide receiver
22. Texas: Running back
23. Texas A&M: Wide receiver
It's a good thing Trayveon Williams is back and Jimbo Fisher likes running the football because there aren't many difference-makers at receiver to turn to now that Christian Kirk has moved on to the NFL. Jhamon Ausbon and Kendrick Rogers could develop into solid starters, but they'll need time. -- Scarborough
24. Oregon: Cornerback
25. South Carolina: Tight end
When All-SEC tight end Hayden Hurst walked out the door for the NFL, South Carolina didn't have a clear option or two to replace him. Only Jacob August, K.C. Crosby and Kiel Pollard had catches last season, and even then they combined for just nine. -- Scarborough
Mash here for full article and write-up for non-SEC teams
Alabama didn't lose just one or two defensive backs. It lost all four starters in the secondary, plus its top reserve. Oh, and it also has a new position coach in Karl Scott. -- Alex Scarborough
2. Clemson: Secondary
3. Ohio State: Linebacker
4. Georgia: Linebacker
It will be a bunch of fresh, unproven faces at linebacker this season in Athens. Replacing Roquan Smith in the middle of the defense is the top priority, of course, but don't forget about outside linebacker, where Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy are both gone. -- Scarborough
5. Oklahoma: Safety
6. Washington: Wide receiver
7. Wisconsin: Secondary
8. Miami: Offensive line
9. Michigan State: Pass rush
10. Michigan: Offensive line
11. West Virginia: Defensive line
12. Notre Dame: Brandon Wimbush's poise
13. Penn State: Tight end
14. Stanford: Secondary
15. Virginia Tech: Wide receiver
16. Mississippi State: Wide receiver
The most underperforming group of receivers in the SEC the past two seasons hasn't improved overnight. At least not yet. Donald Gray is gone, and the hope is that the return of Malik Dear from injury and the addition of No. 1 juco prospect Stephen Guidry help pick up the slack and then some. -- Scarborough
17. USC: Quarterback
18. UCF: Defense
19. Auburn: Wide receiver
Jarrett Stidham was in need of playmakers at receiver before Eli Stove and Will Hastings both suffered serious injuries this spring. Now the outlook will be even more ominous if someone such as Nate Craig-Myers doesn't step up. -- Scarborough
20. TCU: Offensive line
21. Boise State: Wide receiver
22. Texas: Running back
23. Texas A&M: Wide receiver
It's a good thing Trayveon Williams is back and Jimbo Fisher likes running the football because there aren't many difference-makers at receiver to turn to now that Christian Kirk has moved on to the NFL. Jhamon Ausbon and Kendrick Rogers could develop into solid starters, but they'll need time. -- Scarborough
24. Oregon: Cornerback
25. South Carolina: Tight end
When All-SEC tight end Hayden Hurst walked out the door for the NFL, South Carolina didn't have a clear option or two to replace him. Only Jacob August, K.C. Crosby and Kiel Pollard had catches last season, and even then they combined for just nine. -- Scarborough
Mash here for full article and write-up for non-SEC teams
This post was edited on 5/31/18 at 10:21 pm
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Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:27 pm to Che Boludo
That is a bad take on UGA. Our OLB unit is arguably the deepest on the team and is far from unproven with Deandre Walker and Walter Grant returning after playing a lot of meaningful minutes last year. Same with Monty Rice and Natrez Patrick and Juwan Taylor at ILB.
What they should have said was Defensive Back where our FS, Star, and CB spot opposite Deandre Baker and JR Reed are going to be filled by relatively unproven but talented guys.
What they should have said was Defensive Back where our FS, Star, and CB spot opposite Deandre Baker and JR Reed are going to be filled by relatively unproven but talented guys.
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:29 pm to Che Boludo
quote:OL
19. Auburn: Wide receiver
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:30 pm to Che Boludo
Our biggest question is OL. That is the most crucial question needing to be answered to win this season.
WR won't matter if we don't protect Stidham.
WR won't matter if we don't protect Stidham.
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:32 pm to Che Boludo
I’m guessing whatever moron ranked Mississippi State over Auburn is the same moron that thinks WR is our biggest question mark.
WR was the one position we could afford to have a few injuries. And we expect both of those guys back at some point. Auburn is loaded at WR. The questions are OL and RB.
WR was the one position we could afford to have a few injuries. And we expect both of those guys back at some point. Auburn is loaded at WR. The questions are OL and RB.
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:33 pm to tylerdurden24
quote:
That is a bad take on UGA. Our OLB unit is arguably the deepest on the team and is far from unproven with Deandre Walker and Walter Grant returning after playing a lot of meaningful minutes last year. Same with Monty Rice and Natrez Patrick and Juwan Taylor at ILB.
What they should have said was Defensive Back where our FS, Star, and CB spot opposite Deandre Baker and JR Reed are going to be filled by relatively unproven but talented guys.
I agree.
I don't think UGA expects to replicate what Roquan Smith did.
But guys like Walker and Grant on the edge can be devastating. And Patrick and Rice do return good experience (I'm not sold on Juwan Taylor getting any meaningful minutes in a big game).
The DL is top heavy with upper-classmen.
I think DB is solid with Deandre Baker, JR Reed, and Richard Lecounte. But the other 2 starting DBs and depth are a huge concern for me.
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:39 pm to Che Boludo
quote:
the addition of No. 1 juco prospect Stephen Guidry help pick up the slack and then some.
I remember him from Morganza maybe. I hope he makes the grade at Moo State.
Posted on 5/31/18 at 10:45 pm to BarnHardU
quote:I felt the team was rather solid coming back.
quote:
19. Auburn: Wide receiver
OL
For biggest AU ?, I would have thought it would have been road performance.
Tough matchup in ATL to kick it off. Then, getting LSU and potentially a revamped Arky O early in Sept (home or no) is tough. But, catching MSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama on the road is potentially the difference in repeating as West Champs or fighting for 9-3.
This post was edited on 5/31/18 at 11:16 pm
Posted on 5/31/18 at 11:02 pm to Che Boludo
quote:
For biggest AU ?, I would have thought it would have been road performance.
Good point. Auburn was under .500 win percentage away from home in 2017. And they are happy with the way that season went (gus extension). 2018 won't be impossible. But it will be a huge challenge that might tilt the fanbase if the season gets sour on the road again.
Posted on 5/31/18 at 11:31 pm to Che Boludo
quote:
25. South Carolina: Tight end
If that's our biggest concern then we'd be fine but TE is not really that big of a concern for us ... we've got three or four very serviceable TEs. Getting KC back is huge too.
I'm more concerned about our secondary honestly. We'll probably be fine there given it's Boom and T-Rob but we're going to be young. Even then I'm not too concerned about run support, they'll be physical ... but pass coverage and not getting sucked-in on some RPO UGA is sure to run a ton of ... that concerns me.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 12:09 am to Che Boludo
Every year it seems that writers question Bama's secondary and every year it is good.I also have news for this guy, Nick Saban coaches db's at Bama.
Everybody knows Auburn has big shoes to fill at rb.
I don't think he put much research or effort into this article. I would fire him.
Everybody knows Auburn has big shoes to fill at rb.
I don't think he put much research or effort into this article. I would fire him.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 12:12 am to Che Boludo
double post
This post was edited on 6/1/18 at 12:13 am
Posted on 6/1/18 at 2:09 am to Che Boludo
quote:
It's a good thing Trayveon Williams is back and Jimbo Fisher likes running the football because there aren't many difference-makers at receiver to turn to now that Christian Kirk has moved on to the NFL. Jhamon Ausbon and Kendrick Rogers could develop into solid starters, but they'll need time. -- Scarborough
The most productive returning wide receiver for A&M was Sophomore Camron Buckley, not Ausbon nor Rogers (who only had 2 catches all of last season). They also failed to mention the performance of JR TE Jace Sternberger during the spring game.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 2:12 am to meansonny
Walker was more disruptive on a down by down basis than anybody on the team on passing downs. Question mark there is will he be able to maintain the edge like Carter did and force those guys into our MLBers.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 2:13 am to viceman
Been awhile since you've replaces this amount. And guys like MF don't come around that often, even in Tuscaloosa. Special player.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:13 am to Che Boludo
They got OU wrong. Answer is always Mike Stoops.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:15 am to Oklahomey
#33 Arkansas - Biggest question mark is the Offense. Second biggest question mark is the defensive unit. Third biggest question mark is can new coach Chad Morris drink enough redbull to actually turn his eyeballs orange.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:27 am to meansonny
quote:
And they are happy with the way that season went (gus extension)
But yeah, WR is no concern. Does this idiot know that Auburn has signed the top WR class the past 2 years? Not to mention, he listed a walkon as one of the people out. And Eli Stove, which was primarily a jet sweep runner, didn't have many catches. Now I do agree Stove was a weapon running the jet sweep, but there is a freshman RB, Shivers, that was tailor made for that role. Also, Ryan Davis and Darius Slayton were the two main targets at WR last year. I don't see that changing this year.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:38 am to Oklahomey
quote:
They got OU wrong. Answer is always Mike Stoops.
True. But part of the defenses problems last season might have been due to your offense scoring so easily and quickly. Without looking, I would think your "D" stayed on the field a good bit.
That's just a guess, but just going by how quickly your offense scored.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:45 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
And Eli Stove, which was primarily a jet sweep runner, didn't have many catches.
Had to check this out. Stove had the 6th most carries on the team, and had the second most catches on the team. He didn't have many yards, but still had the 2nd most catches.
I know against us he did run a couple of jet sweeps, but was the target for several behind the line screens.
Were some of those runs counted as passes, maybe? (Flips to him coming across in front of the QB?)
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