Athlon is out

[hotdogface9]

They have 5-7 and ranked in the mid-50's, one spot worse than Ole Miss, who is projected togo 6-6.
Of note, they think we have the worst running backs in the conference; that Anthony Dixon made all of his yards in spite of our poor offensive line; and that Mississippi State is just about the worst coaching job you can get in the SEC (thank you, Vandi). All in all, about what I expected.

 

[patdog]

But I've always thought Athlon was the most useless of all. I think a lot of people are really overlooking our running game. Running behind a good, experienced offensive line is going to be a big help to our new RBs. As will having a second running threat in the backfield in Chris Relf. I'll be shocked if we don't finish in the top 4 in the SEC in rushing yards per game.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I like Phil Steele's magazine. He does a great job and gets very indepth.

 

[hotdogface9]

But I still buy them.

 

[KurtRambis4]

and just going by your post, I can tell you Athlon's did no research. How can they think we'll have the worst running game in the SEC with Relf at QB and our whole OL back? Man I'm as big of an AD fan as anyone, but AD did not single-handedly carry our team last year. People are really underestimating Mullen and our offense next year. It's not going to be UH throw for 700 yards a game, but it's going to be some good smash-mouth football.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

[No message]

 

[jakldawg]

and making as much money as possible off those bandwagon-jumping simpletons.
Except Phil Steele. He's legit.

 

[KurtRambis4]

doubt, but anyone thinking we're going to be the worst team in the league in rushing (following the year that we were the best) is a moron.

 

[graddawg]

doubt, but anyone thinking we're going to be the worst team in the league in rushing (following the year that we were the best) is a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> moron</span>.

Dude, learn to spell.

Signed,

This Guy:

 

[Oxford Godfrey]

13 days....

 

[Coach34]

when he wasnt even touched until he was 5 yards past the LOS...

Dixon was a good back but we will be fine...and most probably a top 3 rushing team...Relf is going to rush for 800-900 yards this year by himself before you even get to the TB's..our OL will be even better blocking in this offense now that they have a complete understanding of it and a year of experience under their belt

 

[DerHntr]

our OL will be even better blocking in this offense now that they have a
complete understanding of it

our previous coach said it takes way more than a year and half to learn an effective offense

 

[markymark.sixpack]

I was lead to believe otherwise.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Losing AD isn't a good thing. However, we have enough capable backs, return our OL, and have Dan in charge. I don't think we're all of the sudden going to suck running the ball.

 

[Coach34]

I'll give you a hint- it wasnt #1...neither was our OL

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

when he wasnt even touched until he was 5 yards past the LOS...

Dixon was a good back but we will be fine...and most probably a top 3 rushing team...Relf is going to rush for 800-900 yards this year by himself before you even get to the TB's..our OL will be even better blocking in this offense now that they have a complete understanding of it and a year of experience under their belt

I agree with you. None of these publications will be taking Relf into account as an added weapon in our running game, nor that we have more depth at the OL than we have had in a very, very long time. Like you said, we should be in the top 5 in the conference rushing, I just wish I felt better about our WR corps.

 

[HumpDawgy]

Didn't Florida win a national championship with a reciever playing running back (Harvin)?

 

[Fratrebel]

But fourth in total rush yards. I get your point though and I agree, you definitely won't have a poor rushing game. Passing may be another story.

 

[markymark.sixpack]

i just think it's a ludicrous statement that "we won't miss AD". yes, we may have the same production between 4 guys this year, but that's not really the same thing.

That's like me saying we won't miss Bost next year b/c our team as a whole will still average the same amount of points per game. It's just stupid.

 

[JohnDawg]

<table style="FONT-SIZE: xx-small; BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><tbody><tr style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; BACKGROUND: #00008b; COLOR: white"><th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" colspan="2">RUSHING OFFENSE</th><th>G</th><th>Att</th><th>Yards</th><th>Avg.</th><th>TD</th><th>Yards/G</th></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Miss. State </td><td>12</td><td>555</td><td>2731</td><td>4.9</td><td>21</td><td>227.6</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Florida </td><td>14</td><td>555</td><td>3105</td><td>5.6</td><td>30</td><td>221.8</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Alabama </td><td>14</td><td>601</td><td>3011</td><td>5.0</td><td>31</td><td>215.1</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Auburn </td><td>13</td><td>550</td><td>2756</td><td>5.0</td><td>24</td><td>212.0</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Kentucky </td><td>13</td><td>551</td><td>2486</td><td>4.5</td><td>26</td><td>191.2</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ole Miss </td><td>13</td><td>503</td><td>2387</td><td>4.7</td><td>22</td><td>183.6</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Georgia </td><td>13</td><td>447</td><td>2093</td><td>4.7</td><td>17</td><td>161.0</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Vanderbilt </td><td>12</td><td>451</td><td>1920</td><td>4.3</td><td>12</td><td>160.0</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Tennessee </td><td>13</td><td>477</td><td>2043</td><td>4.3</td><td>19</td><td>157.2</td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Arkansas </td><td>13</td><td>395</td><td>1713</td><td>4.3</td><td>23</td><td>131.8</td></tr><tr><td>11.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">LSU </td><td>13</td><td>435</td><td>1596</td><td>3.7</td><td>15</td><td>122.8</td></tr><tr><td>12.</td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">South Carolina </td><td>13</td><td>435</td><td>1576</td><td>3.6</td><td>12</td><td>121.2</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Coach34]

i just think it's a ludicrous statement that "we won't miss AD". yes, we may have the same production between 4 guys this year, but that's not really the same thing.

That's like me saying we won't miss Bost next year b/c our team as a whole will still average the same amount of points per game. It's just stupid.

You are talking about different things (of which I'm not surprised)...saying we won't really miss AD because we will get the same production by committee is not like saying we will score the same amount of points in basketball- it's saying we will get the same production by committee at the PG position in basketball (and we aren't getting that in basketballby the way).

If you get the same or even more rushing yards, same amount or more TD's, and the same amount or less on turnovers at the position- then no, you really didnt miss him. And I think we will get that with Relf and the TB's.