re: Upgrades/Downgrades in the SEC...

This will be fun.


QB -

AJ will only get better. Scary to think about, because he had a 10:1 TD-INT ratio last year, he may take more shots to try and prove a point, but if he keeps it cool and plays smart, he could improve that ratio by a bit.

RB -

Losing Lacy hurts, but Yeldon will get better, Fowler will be back, Drake gets better, Hart will be back, we add four of the top RB recruits in the nation.

WR -

We return everyone, add Falkins and Foster. Could be the best unit in the nation talent wise.

TE - Push

Losing BMW hurts big, his blocking was amazing for a TE. Vogler can block well, but not on BMW's level. Will be fun to see if Faciane steps up. Howard should be a great weapon in the passing game.

OL -

I don't think our pass pro falls off as much, but the run blocking will definitely take a hit. Good news is the line should gel quickly based off of what we've heard/seen.


DE -

Stinson returns, Pagan moves into being a starter after basically sharing the WDE spot with Square last year, and he's probably better than Square. Fanning and Tomlinson (with MAYBE a dash of Dickson) makes for a very solid second unit DL. We also lost Dial who was in the two deep. The gain isn't that big though, but there is a gain.

DT -

We lose Jesse Williams, and that hurts. Ivory has the potential to be decent, better than Chapman, not on the level of Jesse or Cody. Lake has a lot of upside, but we have to see how far he has come. Those two will likely split snaps, but expect a drop off.

LB -

We only lost Nico. CJ is back, he's the Butkus front runner and a sure first rounder. DePriest had a solid year, he'll be improved too. Hubbard has a lot of upside and flashes last year, had a bum elbow for a lot of the year. Played better than Upshaw did as a first year starter. Dickson and Devall are both back and will both be working at Jack. We add Reuben Foster and Jon Allen, Tana Patrick will prove ILB depth if someone gets hurt, and Reggie Ragland will see PT late in games. Best LB unit in the nation.

CB - Push

Losing Dee hurts, yes. Returning three guys who had a good bit of PT last year (after Fulton got hurt I don't think he played D again all year, Belue started every game and looks to be making the second year jump, and Geno saw PT in garbage time and then after the A&M game he was the Star) and will all improve makes this a push.

Star -

Geno > Sunseri at Star, Geno played Star from after the A&M game on and played fairly well. He'll only get better.

Money -

Vinnie will likely play Money, and should play it well. He played it last year in Dime sets, and the year before after Will Lowery got hurt. Jai Miller and Jarrick Williams could potentially see time here.

S -

HaHa is back, he had five INTs last year and played really well covering deep. LC26 will probably be a Safety in Dime, or just give Vinnie a breather if he ever needs one. LC is probably the most athletically gifted player the SEC has had since PP7. Vinnie is back and at Safety last year he actually played fairly well, he's a prototypical Strong Safety.

LOL

quote:

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QB- Down
RB- down, young and not very deep

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Not a good combo IMO

QB: - Both Shaw and Thompson head into 2013 with improved confidence in the gameplan and their abilities within it...

RB: - Have to say downgrade at this point due to loss of veteran backs in Lattimore and Miles: last season had a bit of turmoil due to injury that saw a decrease of around 40 rushing yds per game from 2011. We've dealt with great injury turnover at the position the last 2 years, and that will really determine how well the position performs in 2013. However there is still great depth there with Davis, Wilds, Carson and incoming Williams and Smith. If we can remain healthy, we could see an improvement over last season's stunted production. If not, expect more of the same...

OL: - our starting unit will be returning more experience and combined starts than any in the past 3 seasons that led the team to a 31-9 record in that span. The 2nd team and down will be pretty young and raw, however...

TE: - Losing veteran starter Cunningham to the NFL draft would normally be considered as a big hit, but IMO we should see improved production from the TE position, as all 3 on the depth charts are more talented receivers. The size takes a hit, so blocking along the OL might downgrade...blocking downfield should be as good as before and yardage and scoring should take a bump up...

WR: - Sanders departing early was a blow, and he takes a lot of leadership and experience. We still return a leading receiver in Ellington however, and have a solid mix of experience and talent in Byrd, Jones, Roland, Fuller, and Smith stepping up. This is a position IMO that will turn into a "" before the season is over with...


DE: - We lost a talented All-Conference DE in Taylor, plus a veteran contributor in Fordham, but return All-Universe Clowney plus 5th-yr. Sr. Sutton who's very talented himself. Backups in English and Dixon are a bit green but talented as well...

DT: - Quarles is a All-Conference caliber interior tackle who IMO is ready to have a career season. We have a ton of talented depth as well in Surratt, Dukes, Dixon Jr., and incoming Kelcy Griffin...

LB: - Lost too much experience and leadership at this position...bringing in some great talent and athleticism and the depth overall will improve, but they will start 2013 too green. I'm hoping that at best they learn and gel fast and get close to what we've had the past 2 seasons at the position, which was solid but not great to begin with...

CB: - Returning experienced corners in Hampton and Legree, and will have solid depth in Christian, McWilliams, Martin, and incoming Groves...

S: - SS Williams will be solid to even borderline All-conference this season IMO, but replacing departed FS Swearinger will be a hit. Could very easily be close to what we've seen the past 2 seasons, if freshman sensation T.J. Gurley heals fast enough or Chaz Elder settles into the position...

ST: - Returning Punter Hull and KR Ellington, but lost the top PR in the SEC (IMO) in Sanders, and will be replacing FG kicker Yates. Yates also performed the KOs, although Ard kicked off some too and his numbers were similar to Yates...

quote:

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It's Christmasy!

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Mississippi State

QB - Upgraded
RB - Upgraded
FB - Same
WR - Downgraded
TE - Upgraded
OL - Upgraded

DE - Upgraded
DT - Same
LB - Upgraded
CB - Downgraded
S - Same

quote:

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Robert Foster

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His grades are piss poor . I don't think he qualifies.

QB- up
WR- Up
RB- same
OL- same
TE- up
FB- same

DL down
LB- down
DB- down

P same
K down


1-7 SEC. Win over MSU.

QB - Up
RB - Up
FB - Up
WR - Up
TE - Up
OL - Up

DE - Same
DT - Same
LB - Down
CB - Down
S - Down
ST - Up