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.Stoops first few years were bottom 2 in everything. Baby steps.
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.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 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.
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.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]
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.Top half. Not bad. I'll take that any day. Similar assessment for secondary? I will guess top 3.
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.
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.
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.
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.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.
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.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 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]
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.
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.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, is going to have to play instead of RSing. That's a shame.