I'm expecting the SEC to be up this year on the national scene, no rhyme or reason other than the tremendous recruiting classes pulled in my so many teams over the past few years, mostly just a gut feeeling that usually works well for me where the SEC overall is concerned.
WR: potential All-SEC in Courtney Taylor, Prechae had great catches last year, and Montez Billings is increasing in strength and skill. TE: Probably one of the show pieces during the spring game. Trott, McKenzie, etc... Coaches had nothing but praise for these players during spring training. T: See previous post. Doesn't hurt to have pre-season all-sec Tim Duckworth to help out on the guard position, who was also named to the Outland Trophy watch list. DT: I guess it could be a question mark, but having 2 potential All-SEC's on the ends doesn't hurt. FS: The move from Herring from FS to LB and putting Tristan Davis (former RB) at FS has shown nothing but great results. Muschamp praised both players during the spring.
This is pretty much what I was saying. They are talented, just havnt played. I believe the inexperience will cost Auburn a couple of games. Not saying yall go 7-5, but maybe 10-2 or down to 8-4. Also, you have "potenetial" All-SEC talent ( ie, Taylor) all over the field. Not all of them will pan out as expected. I can promise you that if you are relying on people like Gabe McKenzie you will be in trouble. A lot of teams take for granted the stability yall had at a lot of positions the last few years...it just isnt there this year.
TB3, you could not have picked a worse example that Courtney Taylor. If you don't consider him to to be all-SEC before the first snap of the season, then there isn't much point in using the term at all :lol: CT's very much like Bowe .... same size and wingspan, but CT has a half-step on Bowe. Both are big game, big play, receivers that execute precise route running ..... in traffic .......in the clutch ..... and especially in the red zone. Receivers like Calvin Johnson and Sydney Rice use their speed and size to make dramatic, NFL-like receptions that get tons of hype. But for my tastes, give me a possession-receiver like CT or Bowe that catch in double-coverage and then be tough to bring down .... a guy in the mold of Josh Reed.(although Reed was in a class by himself, IMO) That's what Bowe and Taylor are to the SEC, perhaps more than any other 2 receivers that return. My biggest wish for Auburn, above all other wishes this season, is the hope that the LSU coaching staff will agree with your assessment, Tigerbait3. Taking Auburn lightly in Jordan-Hare was a lesson Steve Spurrier and Bob Stoops learned the hard way. IMHO, you're dead-on in questioning FS and Tackle - two real unknowns in two very key areas. And in fairness, I believe you can add FB to that list. Here's where we disagree: DE - au IS solid, deep, and more experienced than you may realize. They may again vie for top tandem honors in the conference. TE - i predict a big season for Auburn's TE's. this may end up being the most productive TE-unit we've had in more than 10 seasons. WR - I call straight BS. :hihi: This will be the first crop of receivers that has been fully steeped in Borge's offensive scheme and it will be Cox's 2nd year as a starter. I have a healthy respect for LSU's receivers, but without X Carter and with a healthy Taylor, I wouldn't straight-up-trade Auburn's receiver corps for LSU's (unless you threw in Keiland Williams to sweeten the deal :hihi: )
FWIW CAD ATT, I was referring to the others not not making it to their potential, not Taylor. I think all of us LSU fans can say Taylor "made it" at some point of his career... Damn you
You may have considered LSU better, but every other AU fan thought that they were invincible... Either way, the winner of the LSU vs AU game will be #1 in SEC West, and have to get by Georgia to win the SEC...
I agree... good recruiting classes came for ole miss... and kentucky slightly improved... And SEC top dogs have kept up with each other.
Personally, I don't think the SEC is ever truly "down". Different teams have, over time, their place in the sun (some-AU, LSU, FLA, UGA, etc.-more frequently, some-Ole Miss, Ark, etc.-more occasionally), but the "good" SEC teams are always among the nation's best, IMO. The names at the top change, but the quality is the same--among the very best in the country. And, yes, I'm very biased on this, so take it FWIW. Geaux SEC!
