The House of Blue

I usually start out every year then go to after the first few practices. Then after a few games it settle into a mindset. After about the 3rd game of the SEC schedule i turn to . Then at the end of the year . Its like a vicious cycle. Heres to hoping you are right!

Sorry if my post sounded argumentative wasn't the intent. I do happen to agree with you about the looks overall. I went to fan day a came away fairly impressed with most of the guys. Just don't want to get to pumped to be let down later.

I think there is enough talent in the program now that you're not going to see the huge drop-offs from year to year like you've seen in the past. Going to be more consistent IMO.

Great post Sarg! That pretty much pegs a lot of us.

I thought last year we passed the look test. Not to compete with the big boys in the SEC but to dominate our nonconference schedule and beat the lower and middle of the pack SEC teams. It didn't work out but I still hold out hope for this year. The one negative I see is that we are very young an inexperienced a key position. Plus I believe to be successful this year it must start wit a win September 2. That will be hard to do with so many key players playing thier first live snaps.

We have had teams that "looked" various ways over the years going into a given season, with varying results.

The thing I was most disappointed in last year or so was the lack of aggressive physical play. You can look great, but if you aren't physical ... they you're just a pretty player that plays weak. I'd rather have ugly players that smack somebody than that.

Obviously, we would all prefer players that both look and play the part.

This is the best SEC loom we have had since the Fran Curci days, but the kids are so young. The future looks bright.

Plus sun, don't forget that we had NO punt return or kickoff return yardage to talk about, that hurt that we could not come up with some cheat touchdowns last year.

True. I suppose young wasn't the correct word; I should've said inexperienced. Neloms and Benton have quite a bit of time under their belt, and Rice as well, although he was a back up last year iirc. Lowery has seen limited time...and beyond that is a very, very young group in the secondary. Simmons, Faulkner, Tyler and Dixon have seen extremely limited time. Toss in 8 frosh on scholly, and it adds up to a lot of inexperience and youth outside of our starters.

Looks certainly don't win games but are a good indicator of athleticism and strength. We have been physically outmatched every SEC game for the last million years, so it is a positive to have a team that finally is "looking" like all the other teams we play. Also, it must be a form of psychological torture to be on a team that just "looks' physically inferior, especially when we are talking about kids. I guess my point is while it may not win games by itself, it certainly plays a factor, because 99% of the time you don't "look" a certain way without "being" a certain way.

I agree the season could go either way (from about 4 wins to 7), and all the points I agree with.

I would add the D-Line as a bright spot. I would also say that you are incorrect as a whole about Joker and his "conservative" play calling. When he has the personnel, not only has he shown the ability to not play conservatively, but has had some of the best offenses in the SEC (WITH inferior talent). Look at 2007 and 2010 for examples. His play calling tends to go the way of his teams strengths (as does every coach in America), but if he has no strengths to work with then......

I believe the offense will be improved, but how much is still an unknown. Most who have had the ability to view the practices this week have had positive things to say. I think this year consistency may be an issue due to inexperience, but I believe there will be big plays. I would say the same thing about the defense...big plays given up and in our favor as well. IMO we will have a 5 or 6 win team who will be shooting itself in the foot a bit early, but by the end of the year has the potential to be above average (SEC standards) on BOTH sides of the ball. The bad thing is that we are supposedly playing "our most important game of the year" (totally disagree but oh well) in our first game and we have a young team.

Lastly, we NEED receivers other than King to make plays this year so we go into 2013 with some proven play makers at the position.