What to expect from this team in the fall?
- Thread starter leogator
- Start date
- Jun 24, 2014
- 10,107
- 7,389
Founding Member
8-4 this year would be a +4 improvement! But would mean he went 1-4 or 0-4 vs ranked teams with losses to FSU and UGA.
He's gotta surprise a lot of people and opponents. I don't think he's ever beaten Smart.
- Jun 19, 2014
- 9,556
- 15,653
Founding Member
I'm still sticking with 8-4, losing one we shouldn't (UK, VU) and winning one we shouldn't (UGA, FSU).
- Aug 28, 2014
- 16,541
- 26,096
I expect vast improvements. I expect we will win the games we should, a vast improvement, but lose the games we care about. I expect we'll have a vast improvement in QB to the level of non-embarassing. I expect a functional offense like say, Kentucky or Minnesota. Again a vast improvement.
- Jun 12, 2014
- 772
- 897
Founding Member
Why would anyone think the OL will be improved? We just do not have the OL on scholarship to be improved and, I am not sold on Hevesy being a great OL coach. He was demoted under Meyer. The Daz became the OL coach, with Hevesy coaching under The Daz. The Daz was actually a good OL coach - amazingly...
- Jun 19, 2014
- 9,556
- 15,653
Founding Member
Saw us projected to play Northwestern in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, which is being played on New Years Eve night at 7:30 this year.
- Jun 9, 2014
- 78,480
- 110,924
Founding Member
That is a strange interpretation. Daz was TEs and Tackles. Hevesy was Gs and Cs. Daz wasn't the brains of the operation. Or any operation.
Hevesy has made a solid OL everywhere he has been. Our OLs (and especially recruiting for OL) took a "dive" once Daz took over when Hevesy left, though many blame him being stretched too thin between OC and OL.
The weird part was that Daz was definitely the better recruiter, ie more able to bring home a target, and yet Daz' last two classes only had two OL in each class.
Last edited:
- Aug 29, 2015
- 1,805
- 3,236
I actually expect half-vast improvements, but improvements none the less.. Should be about 8-4...
- Jun 12, 2014
- 3,459
- 6,139
Founding Member
I expect for us to be an average SEC team this year followed by a slightly above average teams the next 2 years, then a year 4 let down, and then improvement on year 5. How much improvement will be determined by how good the 2020 recruiting class is. If there's no improvement in year 5, then we'll have a new coach in 2023.
- Jun 13, 2014
- 12,702
- 22,997
Founding Member
I agree. We've heard this for 9 years. And each year they lead the league in some category of suck.
If you ain't got it you ain't got it. Our line will be OK at best.
lizardbreath
Well-Known Member
- Nov 5, 2016
- 3,341
- 6,323
Several things stand out:
1. We have been so bad on the OL and at QB for so long, that I would embrace "averagely good" at those positions as a stroke of Devine intervention. I am fairly confident that better conditioning and competent coaching will bring about significant, if not mind-blowing, improvement in both areas.
2. Even with the departure of Eddie P. and Big Townsend, ST should be better overall. Other aspects were beyond sucky. Little Townsend and the #1 HSPK should be OK.
3. If the O comes around, the D will improve almost by default. Throw in the S&C and better coaching and I think we are in the top half of the league on this side of the ball.
4. I see between 8 and 10 wins (including a bowl), depending on just how well the big questions are answered.
5. Recruiting will be profoundly influenced by the quality of play on the field. We've got a lot to prove to the top-tier recruits. To think otherwise is folly, IMHO.
6. Trask plays well enough to seize the position and hold it until EJ is ready. The donkey's head explodes, and we all observe a moment of reverent silence - immediately prior to a keg party for the ages.
1. We have been so bad on the OL and at QB for so long, that I would embrace "averagely good" at those positions as a stroke of Devine intervention. I am fairly confident that better conditioning and competent coaching will bring about significant, if not mind-blowing, improvement in both areas.
2. Even with the departure of Eddie P. and Big Townsend, ST should be better overall. Other aspects were beyond sucky. Little Townsend and the #1 HSPK should be OK.
3. If the O comes around, the D will improve almost by default. Throw in the S&C and better coaching and I think we are in the top half of the league on this side of the ball.
4. I see between 8 and 10 wins (including a bowl), depending on just how well the big questions are answered.
5. Recruiting will be profoundly influenced by the quality of play on the field. We've got a lot to prove to the top-tier recruits. To think otherwise is folly, IMHO.
6. Trask plays well enough to seize the position and hold it until EJ is ready. The donkey's head explodes, and we all observe a moment of reverent silence - immediately prior to a keg party for the ages.
- Jun 9, 2014
- 78,480
- 110,924
Founding Member
Well, I define terrible as bottom 30. I'd call 60 ish to be below average. That's where I suspect we will be with any improvement on OL and a QB who can at least run the option with some proficiency.
We aren't going to be anywhere NEAR good.
As for Trash, I do hope he gets on the field at some point. It will be fun just to see the look on his face when he realizes this isn't middle school anymore and those 290-320 LB DL get to hit him in a second or two from the snap.
- Jul 29, 2014
- 22,201
- 23,461
- Jan 2, 2018
- 7,032
- 10,100
While I suspect you might be right, consider that the classes impacted by a good season this year are 2020 and beyond - assuming performance is sustained. Mac’s classes didn’t start looking better until he had back to back 10 win seasons and even then it was the next class, not current. Good recruiters are worth their weight in gold and you’d be hard pressed to identify one on the current staff. If Mullen can consistently win big, recruits will come... eventually. If Mullen can hire a few plus recruits, recruits will come... quickly, which makes winning big easier and more likely.
- Jun 9, 2014
- 78,480
- 110,924
Founding Member
- Jun 14, 2014
- 7,400
- 9,062
Founding Member
What we expect and what actually occurs is two different things.....Looking at the schedule 8 wins should be attainable. So with that:
1. MacNussy is gone = Improvement
2. If we hit 8 wins we're +4 = Improvement
3. S & C is better because it was virtually non existent before = Improvement
4. For what its worth and not sure how much better, anyone has to be better than Butter Teeth and Pussmeier so we should have somewhat of a coaching improvement. I state, cautiously optimistic, SHOULD.
5. Effort is there with Mullen, but it has to trasnlate to W's
6. I expect (praying) Franks never walks on the field other than holding a clipboard.
7. OL to be better just from sheer improvement in conditioning.
8. WR & RB are loaded on the offensive side.
9. And as we've been saying for years.....It hinges on a QB. Get EJ some reps soon.
10. Did I mention that MacNussy is gone.
We're at a point of lowered expectations. At this point if you offered 8-4, an offense that is not miserable to watch, and bowl, hell any, I'd take it right now. Recruiting is the major thing going now IMO. Just ready for some football.
1. MacNussy is gone = Improvement
2. If we hit 8 wins we're +4 = Improvement
3. S & C is better because it was virtually non existent before = Improvement
4. For what its worth and not sure how much better, anyone has to be better than Butter Teeth and Pussmeier so we should have somewhat of a coaching improvement. I state, cautiously optimistic, SHOULD.
5. Effort is there with Mullen, but it has to trasnlate to W's
6. I expect (praying) Franks never walks on the field other than holding a clipboard.
7. OL to be better just from sheer improvement in conditioning.
8. WR & RB are loaded on the offensive side.
9. And as we've been saying for years.....It hinges on a QB. Get EJ some reps soon.
10. Did I mention that MacNussy is gone.
We're at a point of lowered expectations. At this point if you offered 8-4, an offense that is not miserable to watch, and bowl, hell any, I'd take it right now. Recruiting is the major thing going now IMO. Just ready for some football.
- Aug 11, 2015
- 8,316
- 15,956
While I appreciate and agree with Leo’s take on our roster at WR & RB, at this point it is all “gonna” and almost no “did”.
Special teams has to improve greatly with better coaching and emphasis, assuming the new K & P are at least solid.
The defense should bounce back to being very good if not great.
Depth is likely to be an issue either from injuries or getting worn down in the grind.
But on balance, without the major distractions of the credit card mess, major injuries to key starters and an imploding and fired HC, this team should be able to win 8 or more games. The main thing is improvement. I’ll be fine with absorbing some short term struggles for long term benefits.
It all comes down to QB. If Franks doesn’t make a quantum leap forward, do whatever is best to prepare Jones.
Special teams has to improve greatly with better coaching and emphasis, assuming the new K & P are at least solid.
The defense should bounce back to being very good if not great.
Depth is likely to be an issue either from injuries or getting worn down in the grind.
But on balance, without the major distractions of the credit card mess, major injuries to key starters and an imploding and fired HC, this team should be able to win 8 or more games. The main thing is improvement. I’ll be fine with absorbing some short term struggles for long term benefits.
It all comes down to QB. If Franks doesn’t make a quantum leap forward, do whatever is best to prepare Jones.
Last edited:
- Jun 14, 2014
- 25,397
- 29,513
Founding Member
IMHO, pundits trace Bama's success to great WRs Jones & Cooper, or great RBs Lacey, Richardson, Ingram, etc or wonderful game-manager QBs, I'm thinking they overlook that Bama has dominating OLs. They have weightier, stronger blockers that "win". Lord, I'd love us to have dominating OL.
- Jun 14, 2014
- 25,397
- 29,513
Founding Member
- Jun 12, 2014
- 4,949
- 6,013
Founding Member
With Jefferson & Grimes, they have the speed & experience to beat man to man coverage.
