re: SEC teams, better, same or worse next year?

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IMO our defense may drop slightly, but our offense should improve over 2012, minus any unforeseen major injuries...

The biggest hit to any unit on defense is our entire 2-deep at LB as well as our starter at Spur is graduating. At LB, we have some talented players to step up that the coaching staff is high on (Cooper, T.J. Holloman, Kaiwan Lewis, Mason Harris), but they were all either RS frosh or true frosh this year, and they are very inexperienced. We will also have some pretty talented kids incoming in this class (Turner and Bryant specifically) who may factor into the depth there. DeVonte Holloman was a big contributor for us at Spur - IMO he wasn't as effective as Antonio Allen was, but was close - but we'll have Golightly, Diggs, and Roberts to compete for the spot. None of them are as big as Holloman, but are all quicker...

Losing Swearinger will also be a huge loss, and I'm not sure who we'd replace him with, but we have plenty of depth at both the FS and SS positions, so we'll find someone.

Our corner spots are secure with both starters returning in Hampton and Legree, and with depth behind them in Christian, Elder, Moody, McWilliams, and incoming Martin. SS is also solid with Brison Williams returning as well. Overall despite the question mark at Free, our secondary will be solid and experienced with good depth for 2013...

The DL should also be strong again next season. We lose a top DE in Taylor, but Sutton should more than fill his spot opposite Clowney, and we have good depth in Dixon, English, Green, and incoming former Bama DE Alfie Hill. We lose DT Jerideau, but have Surratt, as well as Dixon Jr. and Dukes to take the NT spot as well as back up returner Quarles. We'll still be using the "Rabbit" package on passing downs, so the interior DTs will get substantial rest during games any ways...

I say due to the big loss at LB, Spur, and FS we may be a bit softer in the middle next season. Our front 4 and secondary should still be pretty strong. I see possibly a top-30 or 40 defense next season, instead of a top-10 or 15...

The offense should improve enough to compensate for the defensive drop IMO:

The obvious loss for next season will of course be RB Lattimore, and there's no denying that. He brings leadership to the team in more ways than just when he runs the football. But we've had to deal with not having ML in the lineup more than our share unfortunately: we are 10-1 overall in games where Lattimore did not dress over the past 3 seasons, the lone loss being to a top-10 ranked Arkansas at their place in 2011.

We will bring back Wilds who redshirted this season, and also return Davis, Carson, and will have RS-Fr. Kendrick Salley. A number of those have dealt with ACL injuries, so we'll need to see how they have recovered. Carson's was back in '11, and he's dealt with a hand injury this season, so he's had time to fully heal his knee. Wilds had an ankle injury earlier this season and has been 100% and dressed for the past 2-3 games, but they kept him down...

We lose all-time program record-holder in consecutive starts and overall starts in C T.J. Johnson, and the loss of experience there is big, but we have several candidates to replace him. All other OL starters return, including 1st-time starters this season in OTs Robinson and Shell, and OG Patrick. Their experience this season will replace the lost experience of Johnson's.

We lose starting TE Cunningham who was a big surprise as a receiver the past 2 seasons, but we are over-stocked IMO at the TE with even better talent potentially in Anderson, Adams, Owens, and Rainey.

We only graduate 1 WR in D.L. Moore, and he was mostly a 1 token reception a game receiver the past 2 seasons anyways. All our top receivers return in Sanders and Ellington, and we have huge depth at the position. Shaq Roland did not meet the expectations Gamecock Nation had for him this season, but he's gained experience and RS freshmen Jody Fuller and Kwinton Smith join him on the active roster...

At QB, we should only continue to improve. Shaw will be a senior and if he can stay healthy, has a better chance at a successful season in '13 than he did in '12. Still, he is a very efficient passer who didn't move the offense very well this season but still found ways to score points. He should return to the effective rusher he was in '11 if he can remain healthy, but now we have a very experienced and confident back-up in Thompson that we didn't think we had when this season started...

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