🏈 Who will win the SEC West in 2009?

[bamatommy]

I predict it will be the Ole Miss Rebels. Bama will finish right behind them.

 

[Guest]

I predict it will be the Ole Miss Rebels. Bama will finish right behind them.

Ole Miss loses as much as we do.
They have 3 starting OL graduating, and a TE, along with a smattering of others on offense. They have some good skill players returning, and Snead is very good, but there offense was not unstoppable in 2008.

On defense, they lose 7 players off of their 2 deep, but they do return a solid group.


Given that we do not play the Rebs util the 10th of October, our OL should be settled by then. With the players we have coming in, and those returning, our offense should be solid, if not spectacular.

Our defense will be one of the best in the country.

The Rebel's recruiting and depth are not as good as ours. They are currently ranked 29th by both Scout and Rivals in recruiting, so the number of immediate impact players is likely not very high, while we have guys coming in like JUCO James Carpenter, who will be able to contribute on the OL right away.

Another year in the S&C program, and another year in the system... I am not overly worried about Ole Miss.
Saban > Nutt

 

[Guest]

I would agree that you have the top 2. However, both CNS and CHN will have another class added to their system, and for me a mature Saban system at Alabama has more potential than a mature Nutt system at Ole Miss. Circle 10 OCT Boys ;br .

 

[TerryP]

West is decided Nov. 7th in BDS.

1) Bama
2) LSU
3) Ole Miss
4-5) Auburn - Arkansas
5) State

Biggest question mark on the West, for me, is Auburn. In all seriousness, they could start the season 0-3 heading into a game with Ball State.

 

[jdpas29]

it will be a tight race between Alabama, Ole MIss, and Ark.

I think Alabama has the edge over Ole Miss next year due to the running game. Otherwise the teams will be about as evenly matched as they could be.

 

[TerryP]

You guys are seriously under-estimating LSU.

 

[Guest]

You guys are seriously under-estimating LSU.

Yea they are going to be really tough team. They have a QB now, this will be a good football team!

 

[Guest]

You guys are seriously under-estimating LSU.

To say that LSU's qb situation was a mess last year is a serious understatement. I expect it will be straightened out. There is a lot of talent down on the bayou. They will be very tough, and anxious to do away with the bad taste from last season.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

You guys are seriously under-estimating LSU.

They've continued to recruit very well, but how do you see their D-line next year?

 

[Guest]

I think Alabama has the edge over Ole Miss next year due to the running game. Otherwise the teams will be about as evenly matched as they could be.

Hmmmm, how can you possibly arrive at that? Our only returning RB may be Mark Ingram. Roy Upchurch's injury really has me concerned, and it may be best to prepare ourselves that he might not play next year. Then we have Griffin who got a few carries along the way. Is there anyone else who got significant playing time? I don't know that you can consider Goode's time vs. Western Kentucky significant.

Then compare that to Ole Miss. They have Cordera Eason returning as well as Enrique Davis. They also have the wildcast dude, Dexter McCluster, as well as Brandon Bolden. Any of those could do plenty of damage along the way. I see that as one of their strengths, and a much more proven group than ours. :?

 

[Bamaman37]

I see the west playing out like this:

1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Ole Miss
4. Arkansas
5. Auburn
6. Miss St.

Like Terry said, the west will come down to the BAMA/LSU game, and we have home-field advantage.

As for the bottom of the West....it could very well be another 3-2 game between the barn and State with the loser ending up dead last in the rankings.

Ole Miss will be good, but they are losing a lot of players, and I just don't think they will be able to handle BAMA or LSU. LSU is bringing in some serious talent. Now that they have a talented QB, they will be a hard team to beat.

 

[alagator]

^^^LSU is making a huge upgrade to their defensive staff as well.

Not only did the dual-coordinator concept not work for them, they had the unique distinction of both coordinators being ill equipped for the job (in partnership or solo). Chavis alone will be a huge upgrade for them.

And if whomever their QB turns out to be decides to throw more TD passes to his own team instead of opposing defenses, they will make a huge offensive upgrade alone.

I still argue that the "Les-is-Less" theory will continue to apply. The further away the Saban influence has on their roster and the more influence Les has on his own players the "less" their incredible talent will perform to its potential over the course of the season.

 

[IllinoisTideFan]

You guys are seriously under-estimating LSU.

Agreed. And many are slightly to moderately overestimating Ole Miss.

 

[jdpas29]

I think Alabama has the edge over Ole Miss next year due to the running game. Otherwise the teams will be about as evenly matched as they could be.

Hmmmm, how can you possibly arrive at that? Our only returning RB may be Mark Ingram. Roy Upchurch's injury really has me concerned, and it may be best to prepare ourselves that he might not play next year. Then we have Griffin who got a few carries along the way. Is there anyone else who got significant playing time? I don't know that you can consider Goode's time vs. Western Kentucky significant.

Then compare that to Ole Miss. They have Cordera Eason returning as well as Enrique Davis. They also have the wildcast dude, Dexter McCluster, as well as Brandon Bolden. Any of those could do plenty of damage along the way. I see that as one of their strengths, and a much more proven group than ours. :?

1. Mark Ingram is a better running back than either of the above named Ole Miss backs by a longshot.

2. Ole Miss didn't win games this year on their running game. They were a passing team primarily mixed in with the wild rebel and some power running. Snead carried their team in 08 which he will attempt to do again. Ole Miss doesn't have the kind of game changing back that we do period.

--- as far as underestimations go... i think a lot of you are underestimating Mark Ingram. i'm not going to plan on him being injured. that's another story. He can be an every down back for Alabama next year. btw... isn't Richardson supposed to be phenomenal? certainly at least as good as Coffee? then where is the drop-off?

Our LOS on offense is the biggest problem going into next season. that isn't really arguable. well... the same problem exists for Ole Miss. So a good comparison may be to look at who will be stepping up for Ole Miss and how much experience do they have vs. who will be stepping up for Alabama and how much experience to they have.

with the addition of Fluker as a starter which is pretty much a given, the other guys that will fill 2 spots have game experience and aren't slouches either. i can't say the same for Ole Miss. Their Line problems are worse than ours.

 

[alagator]

with the addition of Fluker as a starter which is pretty much a given, the other guys that will fill 2 spots have game experience and aren't slouches either. i can't say the same for Ole Miss. Their Line problems are worse than ours.

Then you saw some offensive production NO ONE else saw when we substituted on the OL.

I cannot think of a single time we substituted a reserve into the OL while the opponent still had their first line players in the game that our run production ground to a halt and a sieve developed when we tried to pass.

It appears Saban and staff saw the same thing we did, hence the aggressive pursuit of around eight offensive linemen recruits despite a huge number of underclassman already on board - on board for now that is.

 

[IllinoisTideFan]

I think Alabama has the edge over Ole Miss next year due to the running game. Otherwise the teams will be about as evenly matched as they could be.

Hmmmm, how can you possibly arrive at that? Our only returning RB may be Mark Ingram. Roy Upchurch's injury really has me concerned, and it may be best to prepare ourselves that he might not play next year. Then we have Griffin who got a few carries along the way. Is there anyone else who got significant playing time? I don't know that you can consider Goode's time vs. Western Kentucky significant.

Then compare that to Ole Miss. They have Cordera Eason returning as well as Enrique Davis. They also have the wildcast dude, Dexter McCluster, as well as Brandon Bolden. Any of those could do plenty of damage along the way. I see that as one of their strengths, and a much more proven group than ours. :?

1. Mark Ingram is a better running back than either of the above named Ole Miss backs by a longshot.

Maybe not just better than either. Maybe better than both combined. Take a look at the 2008 stats:

Eason & Davis combined - 891 yds and 6 TDs
Mark Ingram alone - 728 yds and 12 TDs

Definitely with jdpas29 on this one.

 

[Guest]

Houston Nutt's teams have had an unusual pattern both at Arkansas and Ole Miss. Each season he plays the best teams on his schedule very well, and usually bags one or two of them. The season just past he beat Florida and Texas Tech and certainly gave us all we could handle. His teams usually come up with ways to lose to teams they should not lose to as well. See the defeats last year to Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and South Carolina and the close call versus the barners. I expect them to hold true to form next year. I hope the upset special isn't us, but I'd be surprised if the Rebs did not lose three SEC games.

 

[TerryP]

Maybe not just better than either. Maybe better than both combined. Take a look at the 2008 stats:

Eason & Davis combined - 891 yds and 6 TDs
Mark Ingram alone - 728 yds and 12 TDs

Definitely with jdpas29 on this one.

You left our one very important stat there.

Eason and Davis had those numbers on 204 carries.

Ingram had his on 143 attempts.

 

[TerryP]

On the flip side of the coin...

They do have a hell of a defensive line for next season. Even with Hardy going to the NFL, they have some great talent along that line.

Lockett and Tillman did very, very well for them on the ends this year. Laurent, the NT, is one of the best in the SEC. Every bit as good as Chapman...

 

[jdpas29]

with the addition of Fluker as a starter which is pretty much a given, the other guys that will fill 2 spots have game experience and aren't slouches either. i can't say the same for Ole Miss. Their Line problems are worse than ours.

Then you saw some offensive production NO ONE else saw when we substituted on the OL.

I cannot think of a single time we substituted a reserve into the OL while the opponent still had their first line players in the game that our run production ground to a halt and a sieve developed when we tried to pass.

It appears Saban and staff saw the same thing we did, hence the aggressive pursuit of around eight offensive linemen recruits despite a huge number of underclassman already on board - on board for now that is.

i'm not sure that it's so much a matter of quality of player as it is gelling and playing together as a unit. the line has to play together. that doesn't come overnight and in the spur of the moment or even over a week of practice before a bowl game. that comes over spring, fall camp... if it comes in that short a period of time. no doubt it would be great if we had 2 Alonzo Ephraims 1 Antoine Caldwell and 2 Andre Smiths we'd be better off, but it doesn't take a line made of all-stars to have a great line.

one thing for sure... the Bama ole miss game in 09 is going to be a game to watch.