re: Rank the top 5 defenses going into 2013 (SEC related)

It all depends on how you're ranking.

Is it Total Defense, Scoring Defense, or just perceptual ranking?

South Carolina will probably be near the top for TFL's and Sacks, but they might not be in the Top 10 for Total yards allowed.

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Ole Miss

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I think we'll be a top 20 D if all of the pieces fall into place. We really need Snoop to make his grades.

1) Alabama

I would have gone Florida had one or two more of their Juniors stayed. We return half our three deep on the DL, all of our LBs sans Nico, and yeah we lose Dee and Lester, but HaHa > Lester, Vinnie won't be playing Star, Geno will, Belue will have the second year jump, and LC26 is a stud.

2) Florida

Elam, Floyd, and Jelani. If two of them stay, Florida is at the top. That secondary should still be solid though. Purifoy and Watkins could both be All-SEC. Easley is back, and Fowler is one bad MOFO.

3) Stanford

No real explanation for them, but playing lolPac offenses will help them.

4) Ole Miss

They return a lot of a decent defense, and they add a great recruiting class. No brainer that they could make a leap.

5) LSU

Les Miles. John Chavis. Freak. Jalen and Jalen. Kwon Alexander. The new guys will step up. Hard to not expect a top five D from them.

YOU FORGOT ARKANSAS

WOOOOO

PIG

SOOOIEEEE

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Stanford is built like an SEC team

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Are we all being serious here? Like seriously serious? Serious question.

I mean, I think Oregon has had better athletes on defense in recent years. I just don't get it. They remind me of perhaps Notre Dame's defense last year (well... I guess Notre Dame was supposed to be a great defense outside the SEC.... )

Can someone break them down for me? What beasts anchor their D-line that are top-notch SEC quality? How deep do they go? How many 1st rounders do they have in their back 7? Somebody feel me in.

I know I risk sounding like a typical fricking arrogant/ignorant SEC redneck ****, and I absolutely hate that, but I just don't see it in Stanford. I do claim ignorance on them.

They're one of those teams I hope to learn more about during the season. I'll be tuning in to their games.

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I'm pretty sure Purifoy switched over to receiver in the offseason.

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No..

He practiced with the offense a little bit in the spring, thats about it.. He'll probably get some play at WR but he did not switch sides.

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Return 10/11 starters, most of the 2s, they have size, speed, athleticism, experience, good scheme and well coached, etc. Of all the teams listed they have the fewest question marks because they have NONE. Oh, yeah, there is Skov, Gardner and Murphy to give them star power.

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I hear ya Bison. One step ahead of me. About that star power... can you feel me in on those guys? What about D-line? How deep are they there? They must be deep, athletic and big to be a top 5 defense in the country.

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South Carolina is trending backwards.

I don't know anything about Michigan State other than that they lost Golston.

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lulz ... how is it physically possible for SCAR to be trending backwards at this point?

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bisonduck

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Thanks. I look forward to watching them. I have noticed that they are very sure tacklers. That jumps out at you. They all form tackle very well. They seem like a very disciplined unit and that can take them a long ways.

I don't see that depth that would make them an elite group, but again I'm fairly ignorant on their individual talent.

As far as defenses, I would at this point rank them:

1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Florida
4. South Carolina
5. Notre Dame


LSU will be in there by the middle part of the season, hopefully.

Some of you guys need to look closely at your rosters....UGA & LSU lost a lot on defense and Bama over the past two seasons has l;ot a lot of defensive star power, but is still going to be competing because of a soft schedule courtesy of Slive & Co.

Florida will have the best defense in the SEC, the LBs arent as depleted as some think...we do have Michael Taylor who has been under study for a while...ditto Darrin Kitchens & Neiron Ball, plus Alexander Morrison was better than a lot of SEC LBs as true frosh last year....high level energy packing a punch...just ask EJ Manuel.

DL will be very tough...Jon Bullard and Dante Fowler both logged a lot of snaps last year and we have two highly sought after JC DTs Damien Jacobs, who played last year and Darious Cummings went through spring. # 44 Leon Orr can do standing backflips and is a weight room lizard, coupled with # 2 Easley returning, plus Ron Powell, former #1 recruit in the nation back from injuries...we can have an eight man rotation upfront.
Secondary? Sick. Embarassment of riches.