Bet it now--if it gets at 6' I'll bet A/M? They will need every win they can get being in the SEC now. They have 13 starters back. Big difference in level of recruits and competition. But htier next gam is Fla? Interesting game--gl. Sumlin and intersting hire:shrug:
Week 1 Discussion
- Thread starter Corley1011
- Start date
I wouldn't touch a&m even at -6. I think La Tech has a very good chance to win the game. The ags are going to struggle big-time on offense for the first several games, IMO.
#cruncher, I like the under 60 in this game. IMO, A&M is going to struggle on offense for the first several games until they can get some chemistry going on offense with Sumlin's spread offense.
I'm going to be playing La Tech plus the points, La Tech M/L and the under.
I'm going to be playing La Tech plus the points, La Tech M/L and the under.
The really interesting thing is that both teams should be well prepared on the defensive side.(doesn't mean they'll stop each other)
Both of these teams essentially will be running the same offense. Sonny is an Air Raid guy and Kliff Kingsbury was the first QB for Leach at Tech. The difference is that La Techs D has been getting to see this offense for the last year in practice.
La Tech being at home and returning QB gives them the edge to me. Aggs breaking in too many key players.
What can't be overstated is that Aggs will switching defensive schemes. I'm not sure the Air Raid is an offense you want to be going against in your first game testing out this defense. They don't have a lot of talent on that side as it is and really struggled last year. They have talent from a couple of good years in recruiting but those guys are still young.
I think this thing goes down to the end and wouldn't be suprised to see La Tech win.
Both of these teams essentially will be running the same offense. Sonny is an Air Raid guy and Kliff Kingsbury was the first QB for Leach at Tech. The difference is that La Techs D has been getting to see this offense for the last year in practice.
La Tech being at home and returning QB gives them the edge to me. Aggs breaking in too many key players.
What can't be overstated is that Aggs will switching defensive schemes. I'm not sure the Air Raid is an offense you want to be going against in your first game testing out this defense. They don't have a lot of talent on that side as it is and really struggled last year. They have talent from a couple of good years in recruiting but those guys are still young.
I think this thing goes down to the end and wouldn't be suprised to see La Tech win.
Thanks guys, my thinking was as follows. I know the Aggies are breaking in a new QB but heard their OL is supposed to be one of the best anywhere, and read their secondary gave up a lot of yardage last year with no relief in sight. That's what had me leaning over because I think Tech can hang.
Agree with others in thread about
LaTech
Bama
Nebraska
looking at: UF -29 over Bowling Green
Any reason to think BG would score a touchdown in this game? UF bringing back a solid defense. Only BCS school BG played last year was WV and they got beat 45-10. Playing in the swamp on opening weekend is not gonna be comforting. No way UF's offense is as bad as it was last year right? right?
LaTech
Bama
Nebraska
looking at: UF -29 over Bowling Green
Any reason to think BG would score a touchdown in this game? UF bringing back a solid defense. Only BCS school BG played last year was WV and they got beat 45-10. Playing in the swamp on opening weekend is not gonna be comforting. No way UF's offense is as bad as it was last year right? right?
decided to throw in a preseason AU evaluation after seeing a couple more in this thread. Trying to be as objective as possible. Not expecting AU to all the sudden go back to being a 10+ win team, but changing coordinators and the players we lost from last year's team all point to us being much better this year. here goes nothing:
Gus's system required a Cam Newton to be successful in games vs. good competition. Going back to a pro-style offense is the best thing that could have happened to us. VanGorder is a stratosphere above Ted Roof in coaching ability and philosophy on defense. Early feedback from fall camp so far is that the LBs are having trouble picking up the complexity of the calls / lining people up / etc. This could actually be a good thing...
Worst player on our Defense last year was Neiko Thorpe, safety. He's gone thank TebowJesus. But our 2nd worst player was a white MLB - jake holland. He is absolute trash, but he was the default starter bc he knew the old defense. Not the case now, and VanGorder has opened up LB depth chart. TrueFr Cassanova McKinzy could take the spot if he learns the plays. Would be huge the guy is a beast. WLB was out leading tackler last year: Bates. He's alright. SLB is between a mediocre Garrett and RsFr Kris Frost - also a beast but young and doesn't know the defense. LB is a scary position for us. But I'd much rather have the two Fr's out there than two bad athletes w/ seniority.
Secondary will be most improved group on the entire team. Partly to do with Neiko being terrible and graduating. Partly to do with the rest of the guys that were fr/so last year being more experienced. Neiko's replacement is a badass also - Whitehead. Biggest help to this group with be change in D schemes. Roof - soft zone, no blitzing. BVG - multiple coverages, blitzes, aka NFL defense. With our DLine and a real coach, QBs won't have all day to sit back for 10 seconds and pick us apart every pass play - see: UGA game '11
DLine will be one of the top units in the SEC. Lemonier was one of the top DEs in the conference last year. Dee Ford back from injury and looks like he's 30 years old. Also have Nosa Eugua who stepped in when Ford got hurt and looked pretty solid. Have a 4 man rotation at DT with tons of talent. Angelo Blackson and Gabe Wright will turn some heads this year inside.
So saying our D will be improved from last year is an understatement considering that garbage we saw in 2011. Barring major injuries, and a white kid at MLB, our D should be in the top half of the SEC this year.
Offensively we lost 3 guys:
1)Barrett Trotter = who lost us the Clemson game last year at QB. He was trash, but our TrFr QB Frazier couldn't learn Gus's gimmick system fast enough so we had to play him. Frazier will be better than him with a blindfold on. With a much simpler pro-style offense that doesn't put 100% pressure on the QB, I think Frazier will excel. He has a good arm, not great, and good wheels.
2)Dyer - already discussed. I think someone touched on this already - McCaleb isn't gonna be the starter. He's going to be a slot guy, like you said too small for a power run game. Mason up to 205 from 170 ly, Grant has tons of talent, as does Blakeley. Also TrFr Javon Robinson is a beast at 6'2" 220 and could see some PT. Also already mentioned is the all-world FB Prosch. Real excited to see this guy lead blocking. So AU's RBs shouldn't see much, if any decline this year - and could be better since we can keep fresh legs in there all game
3) AJ Greene - worst OL (RT) from last year. Glad to see him go. Nothing but penalties and missed assignments. Our OL look so much bigger than they did last year it's not even funny. Glad Yox got them serious in the gym because they looked like kids against men in some games last year. Having a beast FB to help block and a QB with running ability will help with a - still pretty young - OL. Our LT, Greg Robinson, looks like refridgerator perry.
WR/TE - Three main contributors coming back - Blake wr, Lutz te, Bray wr. and Additions of Sammy Coates who is all around the most talented/fastest and somewhere around 6'3". Melvin Ray is another big addition - signed with Bama out of HS, played baseball with Dodgers I believe and is built like an NFL wr. Excited to see what Coates and Ray can do.
Defense is going to depend on how good of a squad we can put together at LB, minimize blown assignments in early games, tackling philosophy that Roof implemented (throw your body at the ball and don't worry ab wrapping up) is gone as well.
Offense will depend on Frazier being a game manager and probably making a few big throws a game. The rest of our offense doesn't worry me at all.
Shouldn't be getting blown out by LSU/Bama/UGA but it will take everything going our way to win those games. Pretty much expecting Auto-Ls there. Clemson, MSU, Arkansas are very evenly matched up. Clemson without Watkins + losing most of their OL/DL makes that game very winable if we win the trenches. Arkansas I see as much of a "who knows" as anyone.... defense has been suspect for years. Lost their HC and replaced with a lame duck. I understand they still have the OC, but a powerful, headstrong HC goes a long way.
I say we're an 8-4 team with a chance to be 9-3.
As for week 1 vs. Clemson, liked us getting 4.5. If line opens up at 3, I'll take a FG in this game but wouldn't be a big wager at all.
:0008
You too mayne. Look forward to some good, level-headed, SEC discussion that you can't really find anywhere else.
What are your expectations for Metten? Hype is getting built up by journalists in the southeast
What are your expectations for Metten? Hype is getting built up by journalists in the southeast
I think he will be an all-sec honorable mention this season. Mett is clearly a step up from Lee and Jefferson, but I don't like that his weakness so far has been less than stellar accuracy on quick routes. He has a strong OL and a slew of good RBs to take off the pressure, but no bigtime receiving threat at TE. Plus, the WRs, while talented, are young. Mett has apparently matured some since he arrived on campus, but not sure that translates to the mental toughness required to win football games in the SEC, particulary away from home. Everyone knows if he makes sound decisions and avoids turnovers, then LSU will be tough to beat this season. The question is how he will react to the raucous crowds at auburn, Florida, aTm and Arkansas.
Even though Newton recently pulled it off, and all I hear locally is BCS title or bust, I do not expect a first year D1 qb to run the table. Here's to Mett proving me wrong one game at a time:toast:
Even though Newton recently pulled it off, and all I hear locally is BCS title or bust, I do not expect a first year D1 qb to run the table. Here's to Mett proving me wrong one game at a time:toast:
