2. LSU – If the QB situation were less muddied, I might have LSU at number one. Nick Saban definitely left the cupboard chock full ‘o players, now it’s matter of HBC Les Miles getting all of them to play at a consistent level all year long. The Flynn-Russell tete-a-tete will be an interesting one, but if Alley Broussard can return in solid shape, the running game should continue to batter opponents, as they did this year when Joseph Addai was healthy. LSU has offensive line holes to fill as well, four of them to be exact, so they’re not immune to offensive line issues in the slightest. The defensive line loses Kyle Williams, Claude Wroten and underrated Melvin Oliver, but with Glen Dorsey and former blue chipper Marlon Favorite waiting in the wings, the line should progress nicely. LaRon Landry should be a pre-season first team All-American safety, and could be the “Mike Doss of 2006” (Doss stayed for his senior season in 2002 to help Ohio State to the national championship). Plus, only four road games will help…well, three of those four are Tennessee, Florida and Auburn. Pete Fiutak Q: Give your ridiculously early pre-pre-pre-preseason top three. A: 1. Texas – Bring back Vince Young and the Longhorns are the slam-dunk preseason number one, but now things are a little iffy. However, there isn’t a team out there without some major flaws, so because everything else is in place, UT has a very tenuous hold on the top spot. The nation’s best crew of running backs will carry things for a little while, but that Ohio State game comes up awfully quickly (September 9th) on the slate. 2. Florida – It’s year two of the Urban Meyer era, and that only means good things if history means anything. In 2002 in his second season at Bowling Green, his Falcons cranked out an impressive 9-3 season. In 2004, in his second year at Utah, the Utes rolled to a 12-0 record and a win over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. Even with the early departures of WR Chad Jackson and CB Dee Webb, the Gators are loaded and experienced. As good as the team might be, road trips to Tennessee, Auburn and Florida State will likely prevent a shot at the national title. 3. Florida State – This was a very, very young team in 2005 with a variety of injuries and it still came within a steady kicker of beating Penn State and winning the Orange Bowl. Remember, the Noles did win the ACC title. Now QB Drew Weatherford has a year of experience, RB Lorenzo Booker is back, and despite some mega-losses on defense, as always, Bobby has reloaded. Opening the season at Miami will test just how much the team has matured. Have a TQ? E-mail us with your ideas. 2006 Questions - Was the Rose Bowl the best game ever? Richard Cirminiello Q: Give your ridiculously early pre-pre-pre-preseason top three. A: 1. Florida – The Gators sort of remind me of the 1999 Oklahoma team, Bob Stoops’ first in Norman. They, too, were a flawed group that took some lumps in year one, while a feisty, young head coach installed a new system and culture. Year two under Stoops brought a national championship. Year two under Meyer might also be pretty special. Quarterback Chris Leak looked most comfortable in impressive, season-ending wins over Florida State and Iowa. 2. Notre Dame – The Irish return 17 starters to a team that really grew up in 2005. The headliner will be quarterback Brady Quinn, but a return trip to a BCS bowl game will hinge on the development of the defense. Don’t be surprised if Charlie Weis breaks the seal immediately on some blue-chippers, such as defensive backs Darrin Walls and Raeshon McNeil. Michigan will travel to South Bend in September and Penn State and USC figure to be down a couple of notches from last fall. 3. Texas – Yao Ming has smaller shoes than the ones freshman incumbent quarterback Colt McCoy will try to fill next fall. Vince Young’s decision to forego his final year of eligibility changed the entire landscape of the Longhorns and the 2006 season, however, this remains a very talented and confident team that doesn’t figure to fade into obscurity anytime soon. The margin on Oklahoma has narrowed, but Texas is still the class of the Big 12, which means they’ll spend most of the year hanging around the Top 5. John Harris Q: Give your ridiculously early pre-pre-pre-preseason top three. A: In most years, picking 1-2-3 in the pre-season isn’t really that difficult, but this year, it just seems like every time I’m ready to put someone at number one, a NFL draft defection takes place. But, since this is ridiculously early, let’s just get the paint up on the canvas. 1. Ohio State – Although I don’t think teams can be number one without an experienced and solid offensive line, with guys like Troy Smith, Antonio Pittman and Ted Ginn Jr. coming back, not to mention stud power RB recruit Chris Wells, there’s no question Ohio State will be mighty fine. The line must fill massive holes left by the graduation of Nick Mangold and Rob Sims, but the explosiveness at the skill positions should make up for their loss. On defense, the back seven is gone. All of them. Ouch. But, the Buckeyes have recruited well in those areas and even if they’re not the best defense in the Big Ten, they’ll still be quick and aggressive, if not young. A trip to Austin to face the defending national champs (wow, that’ll take some getting used to) will tell this team where they’ll be long term, but Vince Young and Texas used their win in Columbus to catapault them to a national title last year. QB Smith and the Bucks can do the same. Michigan comes to Columbus, but by that time, this offensive line should be solid and the secondary and linebackers will be in good shape as well. 2. LSU – If the QB situation were less muddied, I might have LSU at number one. Nick Saban definitely left the cupboard chock full ‘o players, now it’s matter of HBC Les Miles getting all of them to play at a consistent level all year long. The Flynn-Russell tete-a-tete will be an interesting one, but if Alley Broussard can return in solid shape, the running game should continue to batter opponents, as they did this year when Joseph Addai was healthy. LSU has offensive line holes to fill as well, four of them to be exact, so they’re not immune to offensive line issues in the slightest. The defensive line loses Kyle Williams, Claude Wroten and underrated Melvin Oliver, but with Glen Dorsey and former blue chipper Marlon Favorite waiting in the wings, the line should progress nicely. LaRon Landry should be a pre-season first team All-American safety, and could be the “Mike Doss of 2006” (Doss stayed for his senior season in 2002 to help Ohio State to the national championship). Plus, only four road games will help…well, three of those four are Tennessee, Florida and Auburn. 3. USC – Sure, the personnel losses at USC are piling up like chicken bones at a local Hooters on Bikini Night, but think about the talent still residing in the building. Center Ryan Kalil, WR Dwayne Jarrett and WR Steve Smith could honestly be first or second team pre-season All-Americans to start the year. The running backs will be rookies, ala 2003 when Thunder and Lightning showed up, and the QB, well, it’s either one former high school All-American or the other one – John David Booty or Mark Sanchez. Defensively, the early declaration to the NFL draft of safety Darnell Bing is a tough one to swallow, but the linebackers should be much improved and a valuable asset, when all are healthy. The worst thing about 2005 was injuries to the defense, but that might be the best thing that happened to the 2006 team – injuries to key players allowed some young guys to get reps, especially Brian Cushing at linebacker. The offense will still be powerful, just not as last year’s 11, but the defense should be a bit better with the experience and players returning in the front seven (Lawrence Jackson, Oscar Lua and Keith Rivers, in particular). Matthew Zemek Q: Give your ridiculously early pre-pre-pre-preseason top three. A: 1 Ohio State 2 West Virginia 3 Auburn http://collegefootballnews.com/2006/TQ/Tuesday_Question.htm
They make an interesting point about Meyer's progression from his 1st to 2nd year at Utah... It definitely makes you think about Florida for next season. I'm suprised to see Auburn on Zemek's list, but I guess Tubby really impressed people this year, so the expectations are going to get cranked up a bit.
Zemek is a complete moron... he seems to have a particular distaste for LSU... He worships Spurrier..
Florida as usual is incredibly over-rated. They will lose 2-3 games in 2006. WVU is incredibly over-rated thanks to a lucky Sugar Bowl win. I will take Miami, LSU, and Michigan as my Top 3. Everyone is down on UM but I think they come back in 2006 with a vengence and a great O and better D than 2005
You also have to consider who they play... If they were in a decent conference, I'd agree. But given the situation, I'd say that WVU atleast has a good chance at it.
True. I still think that in that easy schedule they find a way to blow 1-2 of those games. Without going undefeated, they haven't a shot in hell of making the NC game. Marshall, Miss State, Maryland, Syracuse, Rutgers, Louisville, UConn, and Pitt are all games I think they could lose. Now, I am sure they win all but 1-2 but overall...
