Give us your preseason top 10 or more and a little reasoning. I know these rankings are kinda meaningless until October but it is fun and can put some good info on the table.
Here is mine:
1. Miami: Have to like a team that won the title last year, has Ken Dorsey at Qb and a ferocious front 7. Their schedule is wicked, but since when has Miami not played a tough sched??? Slight weakness could be in the secondary and a thinner than expected backfield without an injured Frank Gore. Keep this team off the cover of SI and they have a fighting chance.
2. Oklahoma: I give them #2 over Texas for these reasons:
1. Bob Stoops vs. Mack Brown 2. Have won last 2 meetings over Texas in convincing fashion. Losing Roy Williams and Rocky Calmus hurts, but Lance Mitchell and Pasha Jackson will shore up some of those holes. Any defense anchored by Jimmy Wilkerson and Tommy Harris is going to be stellar. Their downfall could be that they do not have a proven kicker and they need to find their offensive consistency. (keep in mind they signed the architecht of the Northwestern offense Kevin Wilson).
3. Texas: So much talent. So much Mack Brown. If Chris Simms can put out in a big game Texas can go all the way. Hard to bet against an offense that has Cedric Benson and a slew of talented receivers. Defense will be supreme. Kory Redding, Lee Jackson and Nathan Vasher should all be All-Americans. Potential road block for this team is once again Oklahoma and a very tough road schedule (Nebraska, Kansas State, North Carolina)
4. Tennessee: Came on very strong at the end of the year and then stubbed their toe vs. LSU. QB Casey Clausen is very solid and they will reload thier running machine with Jabari Greer and Cedric Houston. They do need to find a guy to complement Kelley Washington but TE Kelly Witten can be a major-league weapon. Big concern along the DL as they lost their entire front four but since when has finding capable defensive linemen been a problem at Tennessee? K Alex Walls should help them squeeze out a few tough games. Tough Sched could be a pothole (Miami, Florida and Georgia among others)
5. Florida State: Took their lumps last year and now return 19 starters. Chris Rix really put up some tremendous numbers last year and now has Anquan Boldin and Robert Morgan. Don't try to tackle RB Greg Jones. The patented pass rush still has a few question marks surrounding it, but the talent is there and it is a year older. Having a PK like Xavier Betita don't hurt. A 13 game schedule could take its toll but there is little not to like about this team.
6. Georgia: Don't laugh. I see a down year for Florida just by losing the o'l ballcoach alone. Ron Zook vs. Bobby Bowden and Larry Coker probably equals 2 losses alone. This team has beaten Tennessee 2 years in a row and returns 16 starters. The secondary play must step up if they want to beat the Vols and Gators but confidence abounds again in Athens as well as the talent. QB David Greene is solid and WR Terrence Edwards is a first rounder.
7. Washington: Ok, kinda a reach but this team has some serious talent. 15 returning starters among them: Qb Cody Pickett whom threw for 2403 yards as a true freshman with a shoulder injury. Gave us a taste of what they could do vs. Texas in the Holiday Bowl last year. Scoring points will not be a problem for this unit. The defense up front needs to grow up fast and the secondary needs to put last years melt down behind them. November schedule will make or break this squad.
8. Michigan: On the strength of their defense alone, this team should be able to sniff a victory in any game they play this year. The offense looks to be devoid of their typical playmakers but didn't we say that in 97??? This team needs to find a QB that can keep them from crashing and let their defense take over. Lots of changes among the assistants. Playing in the Big 10 does not hurt their cause. Huge opening game vs. Washington will set the tone of their season.
9. Florida: Ok, losing Steve Spurrier is a huge loss. Ron Zook and Ed Zaunbrecher take over. However talent abounds and Rex Grossman is a stud. What could undo this squad (beside playing Miami, FSU and Tennessee) will be holes in their Offensive and Defensive Line.
10. Colorado: For now. Their schedule will be tough. QB Craigh Ochs is very very good. 4 headed tailback monster will be hard to hide from. However their secondary which sucked last year; lost both safties. There is no depth behidn QB Ochs so hold your breath every time he gets hit buff fans. O-line and D-line will be very good. Note to Gary Barnett: don't fake anymore punts in your own territory.
11-20. we shall explain later:
11. Washington State
12. Nebraska
13. Virginia Tech
14. Ohio State
15. Oregon
16. LSU
17. Marshall
18. Michigan State
19. NC. State
20. Louisville
21. Oregon State
22. Auburn
23. Georgia Tech
24. Texas A&M
25. Penn State
Here is mine:
1. Miami: Have to like a team that won the title last year, has Ken Dorsey at Qb and a ferocious front 7. Their schedule is wicked, but since when has Miami not played a tough sched??? Slight weakness could be in the secondary and a thinner than expected backfield without an injured Frank Gore. Keep this team off the cover of SI and they have a fighting chance.
2. Oklahoma: I give them #2 over Texas for these reasons:
1. Bob Stoops vs. Mack Brown 2. Have won last 2 meetings over Texas in convincing fashion. Losing Roy Williams and Rocky Calmus hurts, but Lance Mitchell and Pasha Jackson will shore up some of those holes. Any defense anchored by Jimmy Wilkerson and Tommy Harris is going to be stellar. Their downfall could be that they do not have a proven kicker and they need to find their offensive consistency. (keep in mind they signed the architecht of the Northwestern offense Kevin Wilson).
3. Texas: So much talent. So much Mack Brown. If Chris Simms can put out in a big game Texas can go all the way. Hard to bet against an offense that has Cedric Benson and a slew of talented receivers. Defense will be supreme. Kory Redding, Lee Jackson and Nathan Vasher should all be All-Americans. Potential road block for this team is once again Oklahoma and a very tough road schedule (Nebraska, Kansas State, North Carolina)
4. Tennessee: Came on very strong at the end of the year and then stubbed their toe vs. LSU. QB Casey Clausen is very solid and they will reload thier running machine with Jabari Greer and Cedric Houston. They do need to find a guy to complement Kelley Washington but TE Kelly Witten can be a major-league weapon. Big concern along the DL as they lost their entire front four but since when has finding capable defensive linemen been a problem at Tennessee? K Alex Walls should help them squeeze out a few tough games. Tough Sched could be a pothole (Miami, Florida and Georgia among others)
5. Florida State: Took their lumps last year and now return 19 starters. Chris Rix really put up some tremendous numbers last year and now has Anquan Boldin and Robert Morgan. Don't try to tackle RB Greg Jones. The patented pass rush still has a few question marks surrounding it, but the talent is there and it is a year older. Having a PK like Xavier Betita don't hurt. A 13 game schedule could take its toll but there is little not to like about this team.
6. Georgia: Don't laugh. I see a down year for Florida just by losing the o'l ballcoach alone. Ron Zook vs. Bobby Bowden and Larry Coker probably equals 2 losses alone. This team has beaten Tennessee 2 years in a row and returns 16 starters. The secondary play must step up if they want to beat the Vols and Gators but confidence abounds again in Athens as well as the talent. QB David Greene is solid and WR Terrence Edwards is a first rounder.
7. Washington: Ok, kinda a reach but this team has some serious talent. 15 returning starters among them: Qb Cody Pickett whom threw for 2403 yards as a true freshman with a shoulder injury. Gave us a taste of what they could do vs. Texas in the Holiday Bowl last year. Scoring points will not be a problem for this unit. The defense up front needs to grow up fast and the secondary needs to put last years melt down behind them. November schedule will make or break this squad.
8. Michigan: On the strength of their defense alone, this team should be able to sniff a victory in any game they play this year. The offense looks to be devoid of their typical playmakers but didn't we say that in 97??? This team needs to find a QB that can keep them from crashing and let their defense take over. Lots of changes among the assistants. Playing in the Big 10 does not hurt their cause. Huge opening game vs. Washington will set the tone of their season.
9. Florida: Ok, losing Steve Spurrier is a huge loss. Ron Zook and Ed Zaunbrecher take over. However talent abounds and Rex Grossman is a stud. What could undo this squad (beside playing Miami, FSU and Tennessee) will be holes in their Offensive and Defensive Line.
10. Colorado: For now. Their schedule will be tough. QB Craigh Ochs is very very good. 4 headed tailback monster will be hard to hide from. However their secondary which sucked last year; lost both safties. There is no depth behidn QB Ochs so hold your breath every time he gets hit buff fans. O-line and D-line will be very good. Note to Gary Barnett: don't fake anymore punts in your own territory.
11-20. we shall explain later:
11. Washington State
12. Nebraska
13. Virginia Tech
14. Ohio State
15. Oregon
16. LSU
17. Marshall
18. Michigan State
19. NC. State
20. Louisville
21. Oregon State
22. Auburn
23. Georgia Tech
24. Texas A&M
25. Penn State
kurby :bigear:
