shsdawg said:
the OL has proved it on the field already have they? That's good to know. I never said we were a 6-6 team, or better, or worse. I honestly don't know where we are. All I know is that if we are todo better than last year the OL has to be better. I'll wait to see where we are against Auburn before I get my hopes up, or let them down, for this year. Predictions of future draft picks are just that. You are SO old MSU that I sometimes wonder if your first name is Larry.
The only logic that you possess in your entire being is circular logic. Seriously. Look up that definition, since you probably have an illegitimate alternate meaning for it, just like you do for "talent." This has been proven here many times, so I don't know why I'm bothering to point it out again right now.
Coach34 says we will be good, the OL play will be improved. Maybe not great, but better. You say "that's so Old MSU and so YOU." You must've known a different old MSU than the rest of us did. Optimism in what we CAN accomplish is not something that is historically abundant in Starkville. Of course, you wouldn't recognize any of that, because you are the exact definition of old school Starkville.
You then call Coach34 Larry Templeton for saying we will be improved up front(an argument supported by a **** ton of circumstantial evidence). Meanwhile, you argue this point with "wait and see." Basically, meaning that you haven't been paying enough attention to recognize the circumstantial evidence. Again, employing circular logic. "We're poor ole MSU and until we beat Auburn, I'm going to assume it won't and can't happen...wait and see." That's a very LT attitude you have there.
IF the fans had taken your approach...IF we hadn't bought in fully to Mullen's goals...into the ideal that we CAN be something more BEFORE he's really "proved" a dang thing...We'd still be a half empty stadium that doesn't raise enough in private donations to pay the coaching staff. Instead, we're expanding, and we're raising private donations on the same tier as the big boys. That's public record and fact. Look it up.
Here's what I know. Auburn has a pretty nasty DL. Their starting front 4 will all be drafted. Lemonier is a future first round DE. As good as any we will see in this league. Their linebackers and secondary are young and suspect. Tyler Russell WILL get hit in that game. If your basing the level of improvement of our OL solely on THIS early game, you should probably prepare to be disappointed. Our OL can play well, we can double team Lemonier, and Russell is still going to get hit. They will get pressure sometimes. IF your expecting us to dominate them up front, like we did to Arky, OM, and Michigan late in 2010, you will be VERY disappointed. That said, we've got 2 OL with ABSOLUTE NFL talent(Gabe and Tobias) and a bunch of guys in their "step up" year(3rd season for a State/OM OL) with potential. Clausell improved greatly toward the end of last year. Day was a beast after a few games. Both will be improved again. OL is the singlemost position where you see an almost linear progression with age and experience. VERY few OL don't improve from one year to the next. I'm concerned about the tackle positions. I'm not worried about guards or center. They will be motor graters in this game. IF we can jump out to any kind of lead, we are going to line up, and run it right down their throats ala Florida in the Swamp.
The thing your overlooking is that they've got to take an (anemic for everyone other than us LAST year) offense, changed from spread to pro-style, on the shoulders of a dual threat qb trying to be a pocket passer that has never thrown a meaningful pass, particularly on the road, and they've got to score on a(I'm calling it RIGHT NOW based on the abundant circumstantial evidence) top 15 scoring defense that could EASILY jump into the top 10. We are going to hit Frasier and McCalebb in the mouth as well.
It is going to come down to a defensive slugfest. Can they adjust to a brand new scheme, in game 2, and shut us down? I say NO. They've got a ton of talent stockpiled on that team, but I say it won't be clicking yet due to youth and scheme changes. IF we played them in week 8, I might feel differently. In week 2, we're going to beat them, and it's not going to be a nail biter either.