Snipits of ESPN's SEC WEST Preview

[the Prodigy]

Ratings for SEC West teams by ESPN.


LSU
Offense A-
Special teams B+
Defense A-
Intangibles A-

Alabama
Offense B
Special teams B+
Defense C
Intangibles B-

Arkansas
Offense B-
Special teams B-
Defense B-
Intangibles B-

Auburn
Offense B
Special teams B+
Defense A-
Intangibles B+

Ole Miss
Offense B
Special teams C
Defense B-
Intangibles B-

MSU
Offense B-
Special teams B+
Defense B-
Intangibles B-

[rolltide192]

Ouch! A "C" rating on defense. I don't like it, but I kind of agree with it. :glare:

[GeauxTo]

Not bad, not bad at all. As a matter of fact, pretty much right on target.

[WayzUp]

Ouch! A "C" rating on defense. I don't like it, but I kind of agree with it. :glare:

Is that C before or after Jimmy Johns got booted? He was to start at LB, right?

[azamugg]

he wasnt penciled in as a starter

[WayzUp]

he wasnt penciled in as a starter

But he was s'posed to be at LB right? I honestly don't know how y'alls depth was there which is why I'm askin... :confused:

[rolltide192]

But he was s'posed to be at LB right? I honestly don't know how y'alls depth was there which is why I'm askin... :confused:
our depth at linebacker sucks.

[the Prodigy]

But he was s'posed to be at LB right? I honestly don't know how y'alls depth was there which is why I'm askin... :confused:

LB is where Alabama will be most suspect on defense next season. They had no depth there WITH JJ.

[azamugg]

well, if Hall comes in from Sabans doghouse, he and McClain will be hell plus add Jerrell

but that is the chink in our armor

[the Prodigy]

well, if Hall comes in from Sabans doghouse, he and McClain will be hell plus add Jerrell

but that is the chink in our armor

Chink? It's more like a gaping hole that severely compromises the structural integrity of your entire defense. I've got bama second in the west next season, but even you have to admit that this is true. Bama's LB core sucks balls.

[BAMAPERRY]

In Sabans own words on Jimmy Johns:

"I've been asked about this over and over and over," he said, referring to the constant high expectations surrounding the former "Mr. Football" from Mississippi. "This guy did not play a significant role on our team last year and he had not solidified a significant role on the team we're about to have this season. So I don't know what the concern is."

Jerrell Harris, Donta Hightower, Chris Jordan, Courtney Upshaw, Chavis Williams & Mark Barron will wreak havoc on the SEC!

[the Prodigy]

In Sabans own words on Jimmy Johns:

"I've been asked about this over and over and over," he said, referring to the constant high expectations surrounding the former "Mr. Football" from Mississippi. "This guy did not play a significant role on our team last year and he had not solidified a significant role on the team we're about to have this season. So I don't know what the concern is."

Jerrell Harris, Donta Hightower, Chris Jordan, Courtney Upshaw, Chavis Williams & Mark Barron will wreak havoc on the SEC!

You wake up in a new world every day don't you?

[BAMAPERRY]

You wake up in a new world every day don't you?

More Saban:

“It’s going to be an opportunity for someone else to play," Saban said. "We’ve got some good young players, good freshmen. If we end up starting two or three freshmen who really want to play, really want to do things the right way, really want to represent the organization in a first-class way, I think we’ll be far better off in the long run.”

[AUBURNFAN24]

not bad, but lets see if they translate onto the field.

[CRUSTY]

It looks about right all over except LSU offense there QB has never played a down.

[DEHIII]

As people have pointed out we are very weak at LB. Who knows how much Prince Hall will contribute considering he is always in trouble with Saban. And honestly, I think a lot of people have a much higher opinion of him then I do. I think he is slightly above average at best. But he would obviously help with us being so thin there.

McClain is a stud and will be a starter again this year.

I think we could have as many has 3 freshman playing LB. Look for Jerrell Harris and Hightower to play immediatlly. Also Mark Barron might end up playing LB or Safety, and he could start at either.

There is no doubt that by far the weakest part of our team is the LB group. However we will have some talent coming to us in the fall. Of course that will be young talent which is prone to mistakes as we saw with Florida's defense last year.

Mike Shula had to be the worst recruiter of all time when it came to LBs and that has us in our current position. He struck out on most true LB recruits. And then hardly any of his safeties he was going to turn into LBs panned out. Thanks Mike. :dry:

[BAMAPERRY]

As people have pointed out we are very weak at LB. Who knows how much Prince Hall will contribute considering he is always in trouble with Saban. And honestly, I think a lot of people have a much higher opinion of him then I do. I think he is slightly above average at best. But he would obviously help with us being so thin there.

McClain is a stud and will be a starter again this year.

I think we could have as many has 3 freshman playing LB. Look for Jerrell Harris and Hightower to play immediatlly. Also Mark Barron might end up playing LB or Safety, and he could start at either.

There is no doubt that by far the weakest part of our team is the LB group. However we will have some talent coming to us in the fall. Of course that will be young talent which is prone to mistakes as we saw with Florida's defense last year.

Mike Shula had to be the worst recruiter of all time when it came to LBs and that has us in our current position. He struck out on most true LB recruits. And then hardly any of his safeties he was going to turn into LBs panned out. Thanks Mike. :dry:


we're a 100x better off this year going into the season on Defense than we were last year. Last year we had ONE LB with any experience, Prince Hall who was a Freshman the year before and players who had never played the position...Mustin, Saunders, and Knight. We really didn't HAVE any backups.

We're also light years better off on the DL and Secondary going into the season than we were last year. Saban & co. did a good job last year with what they had to work with. I expect us to be much improved on Defense this year.

[DEHIII]

we're a 100x better off this year going into the season on Defense than we were last year. Last year we had ONE LB with any experience, Prince Hall who was a Freshman the year before and players who had never played the position...Mustin, Saunders, and Knight. We really didn't HAVE any backups.

We're also light years better off on the DL and Secondary going into the season than we were last year. Saban & co. did a good job last year with what they had to work with. I expect us to be much improved on Defense this year.

I don't think we are that much better. We still have a ton of question marks at LB. The only difference is we have questions about new players. What gives me comfort is the fact these freshman have tremendous talent which will hopefully be realized over time. I don't think you can say that about Prince Hall or Saunders last year. I doubt it will happen but if Zeke could play this year, that would be a good boost. I thought he did a real quality job last year and suprised the hell out of me.

I am in complete agreement with you about the DL. We are about 10 times better there. No comparison.

I think we have some holes in the secondary this year but I also think they will get filled fairly well. I didn't see many holes in our secondary going into last year. I am really hoping Alonzo Lawerence is as good as advertised and will lock down the other corner. Kareem Jackson IMO does not get the respect he deserves. I really think the world of him. If Woodall can have a good year, we will be pretty good in the secondary. Like I said, we have question marks but I think they will be answered in a good way.

[UAdan]

we're a 100x better off this year going into the season on Defense than we were last year. Last year we had ONE LB with any experience, Prince Hall who was a Freshman the year before and players who had never played the position...Mustin, Saunders, and Knight. We really didn't HAVE any backups.

We're also light years better off on the DL and Secondary going into the season than we were last year. Saban & co. did a good job last year with what they had to work with. I expect us to be much improved on Defense this year.

I have to admit, that's actually a very good point, BP. LB was supposed to be a big "weakness" for us last year, as Prince was the only proven player returning. The rest of the cast was made up of guys who had never played the position before, or hadn't started. Depth was a major issue. Sound familiar?

Fortunately for us, the guys like Mustin, Knight, and McClain (who were in their first year as starters) stepped up and performed well. If we can have that from the guys like Chavis Williams, Jerrell Harris, etc...then that will certainly pay off.

Now, I wouldn't go as far as to say that we are better off than last year at LB, but the situtation is very, very similar. And hey, it was supposed to be a "weakness" last year, yet it turned out to be a pretty solid aspect of the defense by season's end.

We have good defensive coaches and good talent, and I think by season's end, our LB core will hardly be a weakness.

What concerns me, though, is that our LB unit is gonna get thrown into the fire right away against a Clemson team with outstanding offensive skill players. We will have some growing pains.

[nooneLT]

ugh, personally I think we should get a B- for defense. A C just looks bad lol. We have problems in our LB this is true, but we have a good secondary coming back and a decent line (just need a premier pass-rusher).