SI's Preseason Top 25. Cards are 14th.
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Well, well.
SI says:
"Nonconference games against Purdue (Sept. 2) and at Kentucky (Nov. 25) should be easy,........"
I guess they didn't get the memo about uk being bigger, faster, and stronger.
Of the last three games, two haven't been easy wins for sure, and we had to work extremely hard to give it away last year.
I still can't see them beating us this year.
But I'd have lost the house last year had I bet.
SI says:
"Nonconference games against Purdue (Sept. 2) and at Kentucky (Nov. 25) should be easy,........"
I guess they didn't get the memo about uk being bigger, faster, and stronger.
Of the last three games, two haven't been easy wins for sure, and we had to work extremely hard to give it away last year.
I still can't see them beating us this year.
But I'd have lost the house last year had I bet.
I think 14th is pretty generous. Last season ended with blowout losses to Houston & LSU, and losing at home to a very bad UK team. This season begins with questions at OL and at defense as a whole (new DC); those questions might be answered very favorably but they are questions. Because of Lamar alone, the team is worthy of a Top 25 ranking, but I think 14th is very generous.
This may all "feel" a bit disappointing, mostly because we were in the CFP discussion until the Houston loss. But big picture, the program is set to be Top 25 every year while competing in the toughest division in NCAAF. Compare that to being in the "Others getting votes" group while competing against Temple in half-full stadiums in the 'Murican Cawnfurnce.
This may all "feel" a bit disappointing, mostly because we were in the CFP discussion until the Houston loss. But big picture, the program is set to be Top 25 every year while competing in the toughest division in NCAAF. Compare that to being in the "Others getting votes" group while competing against Temple in half-full stadiums in the 'Murican Cawnfurnce.
11-1 regular season. I think the OL issues are solved with the talented and big newcomers. Lamar will be better just because of his humble attitude and desire to be the best. He has tons of receivers and we won't miss Quick or Staples. We haven't had a real dominate RB since Michael Bush and as long as we have a good group of backs we will be fine.
On defense, we still have several playmakers and our secondary is deeper than many teams. We have two awesome pass rushers in Young and Hearns. We still don't have the depth on the D-line we need but still have very good players.
Of course injuries could derail us like any team. If the Cards can stay healthy at key positions (both lines, QB) I think we'll see a similar start as last season but with a very different ending.
Like I said, I have questions that I or you or anyone else cannot answer right now.
So:
Ceiling of 11-1 (OL improved, a simplified defense continues to perform well but doesn't give up huge plays, a green defensive line performs well)
Floor of 7-5 (OL doesn't improve, a simplified but less aggressive defense still gives up big plays but also doesn't get turnovers to help mask them, the thin DL turns opposing RB's into Barry Sanders).
Anonymous rival coaches reveal scouting reports for SI's top 25. Interesting. Very interesting.
https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/08/10/preseason-top-25-teams-rival-scouting-reports
https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/08/10/preseason-top-25-teams-rival-scouting-reports
Two things stand out that is the talking point of pre-season coverage. Below average OL and adequate receivers. It's understandable why the OL is so maligned after those last three games but I think it's obvious that the OL will be much better with the newcomers. Louisville will have one of the tallest and biggest OL's in the ACC and the country. And with Summers back on, the OL will no longer be below average.
Calling the receivers adequate is off base though. Jaylan Smith, Seth Dawkins, Traveon Samuel along with the newcomers make the Cards receiving corps much more than adequate. In fact, it's a loaded position. But the Louisville name is not Michigan or Clemson so the Cards player losses mean much more than these other schools. I think we all agree we're still looked at as all Lamar Jackson to most of the media. It seems like we're always having to prove ourselves worthy of being a top 25 ranked team or serious challenger in the pre-season.
I have a hard time seeing a future Cards team losing 18 starters yet being ranked in the top 10 pre-season like Michigan. We wouldn't even receive votes in the polls.
Calling the receivers adequate is off base though. Jaylan Smith, Seth Dawkins, Traveon Samuel along with the newcomers make the Cards receiving corps much more than adequate. In fact, it's a loaded position. But the Louisville name is not Michigan or Clemson so the Cards player losses mean much more than these other schools. I think we all agree we're still looked at as all Lamar Jackson to most of the media. It seems like we're always having to prove ourselves worthy of being a top 25 ranked team or serious challenger in the pre-season.
I have a hard time seeing a future Cards team losing 18 starters yet being ranked in the top 10 pre-season like Michigan. We wouldn't even receive votes in the polls.
I would like to add that our depth at RB and our kicking game are also question marks or eyebrow raisers.
I found the quotes about Petrino and his effect on the team when they are facing adversity to be interesting. I felt last year there were times where he got overly aggressive with play calling due to his own impatience when things weren't going real well. I think that really contributed to the closer than expected games with Duke and Wake, the huge loss at Houston and the unexpected loss to U.K. I like red-faced Bobby but sometimes that can be his own worst enemy.