SEC post-spring position rankings: Wide receivers, tight ends

dorkmeister

Junior
Oct 25, 2006
6,668
396
0
That's a very fair assessment. Top 5 in the SEC means you are top 10 in the nation. That's impressive!!!!
 

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,121
10,850
113
Top half. Not bad. I'll take that any day. Similar assessment for secondary? I will guess top 3.
 

BigBluePhantom

All-Conference
Dec 13, 2012
1,649
1,369
113
Wow. #6 in receivers, #6 in running backs and #7 in quarterback. More importantly, in the East, #1 in receivers, #3 in running backs and #3 in QB. Only UT averages better than us for offensive skill players in the East. I don't think these rankings take into consideration play calling and line play so don't expect us to be the 2nd best offensive unit in the East. On the other hand, having great skill players across the board keeps defenses honest. If Barker can develop into a QB with a real ability to read defenses, we could be a nightmare to contain.
 

hmt5000

Heisman
Aug 29, 2009
26,976
82,650
0
I guess it is a matter of perspective but to me, going from #13 to #6 is more of a giant leap than a baby step. Now, lets just hope they can walk the walk.
i was referring to having talent upgrades and not the wins yet. just saying that now we have some talent and depth at some positions we can start to win those close games instead of losing them and maybe even knock off a team we shouldn't the next couple of years. if we get to where the ol and dline are top 8 consistently then we can get excited about football around here in earnest.
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,381
37,124
113

I think that's a pretty fair ranking of groups right now. This time next year, I expect our WR group to take a giant step forward, unfortunately our RB group will take a giant step backwards. In the 16 class of WR/TE we are bringing in 2 5*, maybe 3, 3 4* and a 3*. None are expect to RS. Most talented group we have ever signed. But the returners haven't done much, 8th is pretty generous to us.
 

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,121
10,850
113
I think that's a pretty fair ranking of groups right now. This time next year, I expect our WR group to take a giant step forward, unfortunately our RB group will take a giant step backwards. In the 16 class of WR/TE we are bringing in 2 5*, maybe 3, 3 4* and a 3*. None are expect to RS. Most talented group we have ever signed. But the returners haven't done much, 8th is pretty generous to us.

I read this and wondered why UK's RB's would take a step back when we have Boom, Horton, King, and the two freshmen in wait. I need to look for your name before I panic like that. [smoke]
 
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seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
14,030
21,868
113
I read this and wondered why UK's RB's would take a step back when we have Boom, Horton, King, and the two freshmen in wait. I need to look for your name before I panic like that. [smoke]
Boom will leave early for the NFL after this year. RBs have a short life span in the league and he will want to get his started ASAP as injury prone as he is.
 

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18

Very generous when you consider the tremendous inconsistency this group has shown. Baker is hands down the poorest route runner on the team. Bone, Timmons and Badet have been manhandled at times by SEC DBs at the LOS. Only Timmons and Badet have anywhere near upper end speed. The potential is there for being a good group but they're going to have to get with the program. IMO the best of the group is Johnson. Don't forget the JUCO Ross. May not figure in early but will contribute by year's end.
 

ukalum1988

Heisman
Dec 21, 2014
12,123
31,318
113
Top half. Not bad. I'll take that any day. Similar assessment for secondary? I will guess top 3.
Looks like we're ranked 8th in the DB category per a subsequent post on the SEC blog. We've got a legit SEC rotation but I don't think we're in top 3 (yet). No doubt the talent level is improving, just want to see more wins on the field of play.
 
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Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,381
37,124
113
Boom will leave early for the NFL after this year. RBs have a short life span in the league and he will want to get his started ASAP as injury prone as he is.

More than likely, and it seems the NFL is starting to put more value on top RBs now, after what 3-4 years with none taken in the first round, 3 have been taken in the last 2 rounds in the last 2 drafts. So if he has a good year I think he leaves early, be the smart thing to do for his future.
 

Levibooty

All-American
Jun 29, 2005
26,547
7,667
0
Wow. #6 in receivers, #6 in running backs and #7 in quarterback. More importantly, in the East, #1 in receivers, #3 in running backs and #3 in QB. Only UT averages better than us for offensive skill players in the East. I don't think these rankings take into consideration play calling and line play so don't expect us to be the 2nd best offensive unit in the East. On the other hand, having great skill players across the board keeps defenses honest. If Barker can develop into a QB with a real ability to read defenses, we could be a nightmare to contain.

Don't look at the front seven assessment by ESPN if you want to remain optimistic. When I warned of this a few months ago several posters tried to make me look foolish but as the season nears and the national analysts start to reveal their thinking they seem to be much closer to my assessment. We are pretty weak up front. We will need the offense and ST's to improve a good deal to offset the step back we are about to witness on the front seven. That's where my hope lies.
 
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zcats

Heisman
May 29, 2001
38,065
40,256
98
Nobody knows how this team will perform at this point. New coaches and coordinator on offense and maturing talent across the board would seem to predict a big upgrade and I feel that way too but who knows.
 
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oboroCATfan

All-Conference
Sep 17, 2003
4,229
1,768
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Don't look at the front seven assessment by ESPN if you want to remain optimistic. When I warned of this a few months ago several posters tried to make me look foolish but as the season nears and the national analysts start to reveal their thinking they seem to be much closer to my assessment. We are pretty weak up front. We will need the offense and ST's to improve a good deal to offset the step back we are about to witness on the front seven. That's where my hope lies.

I do think the LBs have a lot of potential and could turn into a pretty good unit, lots of athleticism gives me the hope I have for that group. The DL, on the other hand, looks like a mess to me. They are certainly not SEC caliber and anyone that tries to convince you otherwise is just being a homer.
 
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Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
Don't look at the front seven assessment by ESPN if you want to remain optimistic. When I warned of this a few months ago several posters tried to make me look foolish but as the season nears and the national analysts start to reveal their thinking they seem to be much closer to my assessment. We are pretty weak up front. We will need the offense and ST's to improve a good deal to offset the step back we are about to witness on the front seven. That's where my hope lies.

Yeah, we've pretty much agreed from the get-go. Seems to me the only real hope this D has in stopping people is to hope the DL can keep the opponent's OL off the LBs and to hope the LBs are as good as they're being touted. Otherwise, just about everybody will move the ball on them.
 
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ukalum1988

Heisman
Dec 21, 2014
12,123
31,318
113
I do think the LBs have a lot of potential and could turn into a pretty good unit, lots of athleticism gives me the hope I have for that group. The DL, on the other hand, looks like a mess to me. They are certainly not SEC caliber and anyone that tries to convince you otherwise is just being a homer.
Pretty much agree with this. DL is definitely the biggest question mark on the team. We will certainly get an idea as to how Stoops, Eliot, and Brumbaugh can develop and coach these guys up. Right now they are clearly the weakest rotation on the team.
 

SDcatfan13

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2003
50,039
3,725
113
Don't look at the front seven assessment by ESPN if you want to remain optimistic. When I warned of this a few months ago several posters tried to make me look foolish but as the season nears and the national analysts start to reveal their thinking they seem to be much closer to my assessment. We are pretty weak up front. We will need the offense and ST's to improve a good deal to offset the step back we are about to witness on the front seven. That's where my hope lies.
While the front 7 is weak, I like the young talent at defensive end and linebacker. I think linebacker play will be the best it's been in a while, and there's definitely better depth. Defensive tackle is a position they need to continue to address through recruiting, though I'd say that has been upgraded since 2012.
 

Levibooty

All-American
Jun 29, 2005
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I agree there is some talent in our front seven but the problem for this year is almost all our talent are projects in various stages of development or inexperienced altogether.
 
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jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
60,631
18,638
0
I read this and wondered why UK's RB's would take a step back when we have Boom, Horton, King, and the two freshmen in wait. I need to look for your name before I panic like that. [smoke]

Yeah, pretty obvious that Grumpy's dual fandom caught (and I do consider him a fan of both, Georgia obviously first by a lot) up with him there, speaking of "we" while speaking of Georgia. Just wish we had some more of the type of talent they sign every year, but we are getting there.
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,381
37,124
113
I read this and wondered why UK's RB's would take a step back when we have Boom, Horton, King, and the two freshmen in wait. I need to look for your name before I panic like that. [smoke]

Sorry man no harm meant. But UGA's RBs are likely to take a big step backwards, if Chubb is back, regardless of who we sign next Feb. Sony proved he could be a 1000 yard rusher and so has Chubb, losing both of them will set us back and we are recruiting some pretty good backs, but don't have any on the commit list.
 
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Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,381
37,124
113
Yeah, pretty obvious that Grumpy's dual fandom caught (and I do consider him a fan of both, Georgia obviously first by a lot) up with him there, speaking of "we" while speaking of Georgia. Just wish we had some more of the type of talent they sign every year, but we are getting there.

I do watch and pull for UK when we aren't playing at the same time. Wanting better talent is something every fanbase wants, we want to sign classes like Bama. We got one more for 16 deciding about lunch today for 16 which would be a huge get for us and a major letdown if we miss, would put us at 5 for 16 and give us 4 5* for first time ever in a class, but the state had 4 for 16 and we already missed on 1.
 

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
I agree there is some talent in our front seven but the problem for this year is almost all our talent are projects in various stages of development or inexperienced altogether.
That's true but another problem is the DL is very, very thin. And unfortunately it's looking like the freshmen, Looney and/or Cross, are going to have to play instead of RSing. That's a shame.
 
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Levibooty

All-American
Jun 29, 2005
26,547
7,667
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That's true but another problem is the DL is very, very thin. And unfortunately it's looking like the freshmen, Looney and/or Cross, is going to have to play instead of RSing. That's a shame.

Correct and all that does is extend the problem. When we have to play recruits that sorely need a RS year, we have not improved the line nor have we increased depth with developed players. For example even if Elam make a huge improvement in his weight, condition and technique his back-up will most likely be in a period of major adjustment providing no quality support. That is a less desirable situation to Lewis and young Elam last year. That's just one position and we lost all our starters last year who were also our best players in that group.

In order to improve we will have to rely on luck with several players over-performing this year. Long term we need luck in recruiting some highly regarded freshmen that the entire nation wants as much as we. That is a shame also because the DL is the only group that Stoops and company haven't already greatly increased the talent on our roster since they got here. We had just two years ago two DL that went into the NFL fairly high in the draft I don't see those prospects for any current linemen save possibly Elam but even he doesn't appear to be on the same track as Bud was. Here's hoping Matt has a great summer and he transforms his body while learning proper technique. We could use a dominant DL or two that demands an OC on the opposing team having to strategize on how he will contend with them during a game.