http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/co...-post.html

decent write up I thought

who is left on the list? Southern, App, and ULL?

Didn't research us a ton. I think they looked at our defense last year, saw we're losing most of our starters on that side and decided we would be awful over there again.

I'd argue that losing most of the starting defense was great for us because it allows us to basically replace our weakest spot with fresh players. But we'll see I guess.

(06-17-2015 09:11 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Didn't research us a ton. I think they looked at our defense last year, saw we're losing most of our starters on that side and decided we would be awful over there again.

I'd argue that losing most of the starting defense was great for us because it allows us to basically replace our weakest spot with fresh players. But we'll see I guess.

Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking also. When you replace an under-performing group sometimes you improve. If stAte get's it's defense up to speed I think you could run the table in the conference this year.

(06-17-2015 09:21 AM)Georgia_Power_Company Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 09:11 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Didn't research us a ton. I think they looked at our defense last year, saw we're losing most of our starters on that side and decided we would be awful over there again.

I'd argue that losing most of the starting defense was great for us because it allows us to basically replace our weakest spot with fresh players. But we'll see I guess.

Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking also. When you replace an under-performing group sometimes you improve. If stAte get's it's defense up to speed I think you could run the table in the conference this year.

We are going through the same thing, changed entire defensive staff and majority of the starters. Towards the end of last year our freshman were taking seniors spots, I'm interested to see how it works out but I think we will actually improve a good bit. Our last 2 classes have been very big and athletic on the defensive side of the ball.

List of guys who have been solid starters before their injuries/coaching change, who should start this year on defense:

CB Rocky Hayes (preseason all SBC going into last year)
S Chris Humes
S Money Hunter
S/LB Charleston Girley
LB Xavier Woodson
DE Chris Stone
DE Ja'Von Rolland Jones (freshman All American)

So basically that is 4 new guys who'll be starting - two interior DL (our HUGE problem last year) a LB, and a CB.

So OS lists 6 Defensive Starters lost - but we've got 7 solid starters with experience returning.

2 big JUCO DTs and a 300 pound Sr UAB Transfer at DT plus all the sophomores who had to play too early last year will shore up the D Line and it will probably be the strength of the defense this year. Guys who were starting/playing DT last year have moved to end - Odom and Rosser. Plus Auburn Transfer at DE.

Offense will be best in the Sun Belt, and the best A-State ever had production wise. The two OL we lost will be replaced by better ones, and we'll have much better OL depth unless there are massive injuries again.

And hey, we actually have the same exact coaching staff two years in a row. Can't remember the last time that happened.

Who is Joel Ross?

Yeah, it is hard for an outsider to examine our defense. They list Rocky Hayes as one of our top returning players but he didn't start at CB last year and will be in that role this year. We were okay on defense through the first half before we lost Javon Jones (DE), Charleston Girley (LB) and Chris Humes (S).

When you plug those three guys back in and add Hayes as a starter you get this returning:

DE- J. Jones (FR All-American)
DT- Chuks Ota (SO) or Marcus Hudson (RS FR)
DT- Jake Swalley (JC) or Waylon Roberson (JC)
DE- Chris Stone (SR)
Wolf LB- Girley (SR)
MLB- Q. Heath (JR)
OLB- X Woodson (JR)
CB- Hayes (SR)
S- C. Humes (JR)
S- M. Hunter (JR)
CB- B. Taylor (SO)

Almost all of those guys are starters or starters who are coming back from injury and we added a number of Jucos that will play a lot. The second half of last year we moved a 240 lb DE along side a walkon at DT to try and stop the run.

Basically, you will see something closely resembling the team that gave Tennessee a decent game on the road and beat Utah State plus some three 300 JC guys that were added to shore up the middle on the DL. Coupled with 9 starters returning on offense, we should be able to compete for the title.

Joel Ross was one of our DB's last year that's in Cowboys camp now.

I think the Sentinel does a good job given the limited time they have to put something together on everyone and lack of program access in most cases.

(06-17-2015 11:20 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think the Sentinel does a good job given the limited time they have to put something together on everyone and lack of program access in most cases.

Myerberg's countdown/previews were quite a bit better.

(06-17-2015 11:33 AM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 11:20 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think the Sentinel does a good job given the limited time they have to put something together on everyone and lack of program access in most cases.

Myerberg's countdown/previews were quite a bit better.

When is that going to start? Or has it?

(06-17-2015 02:32 PM)OsageJ Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 11:33 AM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 11:20 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think the Sentinel does a good job given the limited time they have to put something together on everyone and lack of program access in most cases.

Myerberg's countdown/previews were quite a bit better.

When is that going to start? Or has it?

Not doing a countdown this year. Will do team previews later in the summer per his tweet.

Countdown is at 59 today. Still no UL, no Appy, no GaSo.

(06-30-2015 07:45 AM)Vobserver Wrote:  Countdown is at 59 today. Still no UL, no Appy, no GaSo.

I'm willing to bet there hasn't been too many times when 3 Sun Belt teams are in the top 60 of any pre-season publication.... now let's work on getting at least 3 teams in the in the top 60 at the end of the season.

(06-30-2015 07:45 AM)Vobserver Wrote:  Countdown is at 59 today. Still no UL, no Appy, no GaSo.

AWESOME . . the SBC football playing schools need you guys ranked as high as possible . . we are all in this together.

Go SBC !!

crazy. teams like Texas, VT and WVU have already been ranked.

Time to step up our OOC games play fellas.

Sun Belt will finish dead last as a conference in the Orlando Sentinel Countdown. The good news is that by virtue of putting Arkansas at #70 - and NOBODY hates those %&#@&!#%$ more than I do - the countdown has zero credibility.

Projected Countdown Conference Averages

Look on the bright side, stAte. You made it to #7 in year 4 of my NCAA 14 Dynasty. And you beat me in this game 60-58 in 3 OT and moved to #4 the next week!

(06-17-2015 07:07 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 02:32 PM)OsageJ Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 11:33 AM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(06-17-2015 11:20 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think the Sentinel does a good job given the limited time they have to put something together on everyone and lack of program access in most cases.

Myerberg's countdown/previews were quite a bit better.

When is that going to start? Or has it?

Not doing a countdown this year. Will do team previews later in the summer per his tweet.

Kinda pisses me off - USAToday basically ruined a good thing replacing a labor of love with their unreadable site.

I hope they're paying him well.

USAToday couldn't have him do his usual run down because they have a publication they sell also.

(06-30-2015 08:19 AM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  Sun Belt will finish dead last as a conference in the Orlando Sentinel Countdown. The good news is that by virtue of putting Arkansas at #70 - and NOBODY hates those %&#@&!#%$ more than I do - the countdown has zero credibility.

Projected Countdown Conference Averages

Couldn't agree with you more. This list has no credibility whatsoever, but none of them ever do.