Alright, my wife started in last week e-mailing some crap from CBS sports that aTm was the clear cut #1 heading into next season. It go me thinking about how we heard Arky was going to be THE TEAM to challenge LSU & UA for top dog in the SEC this past season.
Now, I don't forsee Sumlin laying down a Hog while getting his knob shifted by a young co-ed but, I do see similarities between on-field talent... Arky the stud QB, stub RB coming off of injury, & an O-line that was to be above average. The receivers are young but, Tyler is such a good QB he will make average look all-pro. The defense was "supposed" to at least imitate an SEC defense.. Unless they were trying to imitate Auburn or ND in the BCS game, they failed...
Fast forward to aTm in 2013. Heisman QB, pre-season All American, some stupidly think may leave aTm after this year which he can since he is a RS Soph. Solid RB at starter with minimal experienced depth, an O-line losing its Center and All American LT, a receiving corp losing 3 of its top 4. Yes, Mike Evans is a stud but, if he has below average SEC receivers with him, he will be contained by most SEC defenses. The aTm defense will be a step below this season losing 4 of their front 7 and 1/2 of its secondary.
IMO Alabama and LSU will beat aTm. I think teams will be more apt to try (a big job), to keep Manziel in the pocket and make him throw the ball. Not having his experienced Sr Center and LT and minimal RB depth along with inexperienced receivers will IMO lead to teams being able to shut down the running game and Manziel scrambling relative to this season. If that is the case, Manziel's arm is not good enough to stake the offense upon. (Especially since they may have to out score teams this year. Yes, they did that last year but, the 24 points per game they allowed last year will be hard to duplicate, that number can easily jump to 27-30 points.)
Unless the O-Line is able to replace the C & LT, and some receivers step up, I see them losing 3-4 games in the SEC. (Should they drop a game @ Arky or Ole Miss that could easily spiral to a 5 loss team...)
Now, I don't forsee Sumlin laying down a Hog while getting his knob shifted by a young co-ed but, I do see similarities between on-field talent... Arky the stud QB, stub RB coming off of injury, & an O-line that was to be above average. The receivers are young but, Tyler is such a good QB he will make average look all-pro. The defense was "supposed" to at least imitate an SEC defense.. Unless they were trying to imitate Auburn or ND in the BCS game, they failed...
Fast forward to aTm in 2013. Heisman QB, pre-season All American, some stupidly think may leave aTm after this year which he can since he is a RS Soph. Solid RB at starter with minimal experienced depth, an O-line losing its Center and All American LT, a receiving corp losing 3 of its top 4. Yes, Mike Evans is a stud but, if he has below average SEC receivers with him, he will be contained by most SEC defenses. The aTm defense will be a step below this season losing 4 of their front 7 and 1/2 of its secondary.
IMO Alabama and LSU will beat aTm. I think teams will be more apt to try (a big job), to keep Manziel in the pocket and make him throw the ball. Not having his experienced Sr Center and LT and minimal RB depth along with inexperienced receivers will IMO lead to teams being able to shut down the running game and Manziel scrambling relative to this season. If that is the case, Manziel's arm is not good enough to stake the offense upon. (Especially since they may have to out score teams this year. Yes, they did that last year but, the 24 points per game they allowed last year will be hard to duplicate, that number can easily jump to 27-30 points.)
Unless the O-Line is able to replace the C & LT, and some receivers step up, I see them losing 3-4 games in the SEC. (Should they drop a game @ Arky or Ole Miss that could easily spiral to a 5 loss team...)