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With the release of Thursday's preseason Coaches Poll, official expectations have been set. Every team inside the Top 10 has national championship aspirations and any one of those teams has a list of reasons why this is the year.
But for the sake of discussion, here's one pressing concern for each top-10 team — a possible reason why it might NOT be their year.
1. Alabama
Area of concern: Defensive depth
Specifically here, I'm talking about the backups on the defensive line and the backups in the secondary. Alabama's front line guys are as good as Nick Saban has ever had. When you get past that first four up front though, that leaves Alabama with guys like Johnny Dwight, OJ Smith and freshmen. Can those guys step forward and add depth without drop-off?
What about in the secondary where the nickel and dime spots are still undecided? With the loss of Maurice Smith, Alabama needs to find someone it can count on from the freshman class or the veteran backups who can keep Alabama sound on the back end.
6. LSU
Area of concern: Offensive scheme
LSU can win nine games calling 'off tackle right' and 'off tackle left' with Leonard Fournette. If it wants to win a national title though, that offense needs to transform. I don't know whether to pin it on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron for the playcalling or on quarterback Brandon Harris for failing to earn his trust but something has to change.
It's certainly not a talent issue with Harris who has one of the best arms in the country. It's not a wide receiver issue either. LSU is stacked on the outside. When the eight and nine-man boxes start coming for LSU or when the Great Wall of Alabama is bottling up the run game, LSU needs to have more in its pass game than two-receiver routes and sideline fades.
10. Tennessee
Area of concern: The passing game
Who is Tennessee on offense? Is the team just going to embrace a spread-option style attack, treat Josh Dobbs like Tim Tebow and ride its talented running back duo as far as they can carry them?
They don't have to. They have the pieces to be much more explosive and much more versatile than that with a downfield passing game. But they haven't shown it.
No Volunteer had more than 409 yards receiving last year and Dobbs was glorified running back at times during the season. This roster is loaded with four and five-star talents at receiver and Dobbs is at worst a capable thrower. This is a national-title ready roster if the pass game can get off the ground.
Finding the hole in each top-10 team
But for the sake of discussion, here's one pressing concern for each top-10 team — a possible reason why it might NOT be their year.
1. Alabama
Area of concern: Defensive depth
Specifically here, I'm talking about the backups on the defensive line and the backups in the secondary. Alabama's front line guys are as good as Nick Saban has ever had. When you get past that first four up front though, that leaves Alabama with guys like Johnny Dwight, OJ Smith and freshmen. Can those guys step forward and add depth without drop-off?
What about in the secondary where the nickel and dime spots are still undecided? With the loss of Maurice Smith, Alabama needs to find someone it can count on from the freshman class or the veteran backups who can keep Alabama sound on the back end.
6. LSU
Area of concern: Offensive scheme
LSU can win nine games calling 'off tackle right' and 'off tackle left' with Leonard Fournette. If it wants to win a national title though, that offense needs to transform. I don't know whether to pin it on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron for the playcalling or on quarterback Brandon Harris for failing to earn his trust but something has to change.
It's certainly not a talent issue with Harris who has one of the best arms in the country. It's not a wide receiver issue either. LSU is stacked on the outside. When the eight and nine-man boxes start coming for LSU or when the Great Wall of Alabama is bottling up the run game, LSU needs to have more in its pass game than two-receiver routes and sideline fades.
10. Tennessee
Area of concern: The passing game
Who is Tennessee on offense? Is the team just going to embrace a spread-option style attack, treat Josh Dobbs like Tim Tebow and ride its talented running back duo as far as they can carry them?
They don't have to. They have the pieces to be much more explosive and much more versatile than that with a downfield passing game. But they haven't shown it.
No Volunteer had more than 409 yards receiving last year and Dobbs was glorified running back at times during the season. This roster is loaded with four and five-star talents at receiver and Dobbs is at worst a capable thrower. This is a national-title ready roster if the pass game can get off the ground.
Finding the hole in each top-10 team
