Ranking the Hardest Games of the 2014 Schedule

[Darth_Shiveman]

I am pretty sure that Maggitt and AJ started as OLB's on that team in every game with Austin Johnson at MLB.


The starters were actually Brewer, Randolph as a Fr, Lanier, and Waggner. Coleman may have started some as a Fr and did play. At the very worst, the DB's are a push.


The only way I can explain this comment is by suggesting that you may be conflating some other rosters with the '11 roster. I am going back and using the UTSports.com archives to check my memory.

You might want to fact check this too.

I'll save you the trouble of fact checking me. Here is our depth chart week 1 2011. You were right about the LB corps starting Maggit, AJ, and Johnson. There were 2 walk ons in the 2 deep at this point (Propst and Reveiz).

However, by week 8 our 2 deep had no walk ons in it. By this point, the depth was Vereen, Mitchell-Thornton, and Sapp (all scholarship players).

This was also true by the end of the season.


Worth noting is that the depth at CB went back and forth between guys like Lanier, Art Evans, Teague, and Coleman (all scholarship players). Gordon was somewhere behind all of them at that point. The starting safeties for most of the season were Randolph and Wagner with Brewer and Rod Wilks backing them up. Again, all scholarship players.

I understand comparing the experience of these squads, but when it comes to comparing depth there's really no argument. The 2011 squad at least had scholarship players in the two deep at all positions. The 2014 squad was razor thin depth wise.

Those guys played ahead of scholarship players. That is either them earning it or else a coaching decision to hold some guys back for development or likely... both. But from what we've heard so far, Swafford isn't just giving up this year. He actually played pretty well last year as a FR.

I don't really buy they "those guys played themselves ahead of others" line of thinking. Swafford and toney played because we had no other scholarship nickels. The only scholarship player Max Arnold beat out was a true freshman Lemond Johnson, who has since passed him on the depth chart.

As for Swafford, I think he played well last season given the circumstances, but he just wasn't athletic enough. He had the pick six against Florida, but he was burned later because he wasn't quick enough to make a tackle on a WR screen. The move to Safety this spring is indicative of that lack of athleticism, I think.

I love Swafford's contribution on ST, but once Kelly, McDowell, and Gaulden arrive on campus, his chances of meaningful PT will likely decrease year by year.

 

[sjt18]

You are still wrong about '11 v '13 but we're getting nowhere.

BTW, Propst was a scholarship player.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

You are still wrong about '11 v '13 but we're getting nowhere.

BTW, Propst was a scholarship player.

No, I just disagree with you. Which in your world makes someone wrong.

How exactly am I "wrong" about 2011 vs 2013?

 

[sjt18]

No, I just disagree with you. Which in your world makes someone wrong.

How exactly am I "wrong" about 2011 vs 2013?

I've already told you. There were many of the same contributors... just younger. Of the players that moved on, most were replaced by more guys with the size and athleticism to play in the SEC.

You for some reason seem intent on denying that. If nothing else, just consider the DT position. The '11 squad had one true DT, Couch, who couldn't earn the job outright. The best player they had at the position was a natural DE.

Neither was a great roster or one without holes. But even if you could make the argument that they were roughly equal, Wilcox still got more out of the '11 squad.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

There's value in that. I still need proof for Jancek though. The coaching just from eye-balling it in '10 was better from Wilcox than from Jancek in '13.

The 2010 defense gave up 29 points to UAB, 41 to UGA and BAMA, 31 to Florida, 48 to Oregon, and 30 to UNC.

The only teams they held in check were LSU, Ole Miss in the Missouli days, Vandy, Kentucky, Memphis, and UTM.

That's very similar to the 2013 defensive season, just with an easier conference schedule.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I've already told you. There were many of the same contributors... just younger. Of the players that moved on, most were replaced by more guys with the size and athleticism to play in the SEC.

You for some reason seem intent on denying that. If nothing else, just consider the DT position. The '11 squad had one true DT, Couch, who couldn't earn the job outright. The best player they had at the position was a natural DE.

Neither was a great roster or one without holes. But even if you could make the argument that they were roughly equal, Wilcox still got more out of the '11 squad.

So who were the guys with "size and athleticism" to play in the SEC? On the DL we traded Jackson (who's proven himself in the NFL) for a behemoth with no motor.

Idk how you can argue that a LB corp of Maggit, AJ, and Austin Johnson isn't better than AJ, Sapp, and Brewer.

The secondary had Coleman, who should be a nickel playing outside and 2 good players in Randolph and Sutton.

You're either just too stubborn to admit those squads aren't equal or have a terrible judgment of talent.

From seeing how often you've written that our 2013 squad had "as much talent as any in the SEC," I'm gonna have to lean towards the latter.

 

[Vol865]

I think you just helped make my point for me. If ASU and USU are better than WKU or USA... then that really shouldn't matter much. UT should pretty much always beat mid-majors unless there are REALLY big problems... like an iconic coach being fired before the game.

I do not think OU is necessarily a very winnable game... but it should be more competitive than Oregon. Auburn was much more talented overall than Ole Miss will be.

And you are right, everyone in the East has issues. UT's chances of resolving theirs are as good if not better than the others.

So on the bottom line... this schedule and situation isn't as difficult as last year.

I wadnt arguing against your point was just saying the 2 smaller teams are a little better and the 2 bigger teams are a little worse

Should be an interesting year

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

bama should be a win if the fans are loud enough. Bottom line. Alabama should come away from that game with a loss and half the team going deaf or with at least permanent hearing loss.

I think this probably gives a better perspective on your post.

 

[sjt18]

So who were the guys with "size and athleticism" to play in the SEC? On the DL we traded Jackson (who's proven himself in the NFL) for a behemoth with no motor.

Idk how you can argue that a LB corp of Maggit, AJ, and Austin Johnson isn't better than AJ, Sapp, and Brewer.

The secondary had Coleman, who should be a nickel playing outside and 2 good players in Randolph and Sutton.

You're either just too stubborn to admit those squads aren't equal or have a terrible judgment of talent.

From seeing how often you've written that our 2013 squad had "as much talent as any in the SEC," I'm gonna have to lean towards the latter.

Sorry. If you can't see it then you won't. Yes. AJ, Sapp, and Brewer as Jr, Sr, Sr are a better situation than Austin (Sr) plus AJ and Maggitt as true Fr.

OPEN YOUR EYES. You diss Coleman... You think Teague was better? Really? You think Waggner and Brewer as a pair were more physically talented than Randolph and McNeil? One corner with Lanier is the only position even in question.

If you can't see that the '13 had several players with DT bodies... McCullers, Hood, Saulsberry, O'Brien, et al... then there's really just no use talking to you about anything. You are willingly blind. Miller, Walls, Smith, Williams... funny thing about those guys is that according to you they "sucked" in '13... but were able to contribute in '11.

The '11 roster had ONE... ONE DT when they played UK with SEC size. Whether the '13 team played to its potential or who you blame if they didn't is a separate matter. Fact is that while neither had great situations, Jancek had more to work with.

 

[sjt18]

Oh... wasn't Wilks the Nickel in '11?

 

[sjt18]

I wadnt arguing against your point was just saying the 2 smaller teams are a little better and the 2 bigger teams are a little worse

Should be an interesting year

that's a very good way of saying it.

 

[sjt18]

You guys are just in such a big hurry to "feel good" about the staff that you work double time to provide them with outs. No one will be any happier than I am if Jancek proves himself to be an SEC level DC. But he just hasn't done it yet. He didn't do it at UGA and he didn't do it last fall.

 

[sjt18]

The 2010 defense gave up 29 points to UAB, 41 to UGA and BAMA, 31 to Florida, 48 to Oregon, and 30 to UNC.

The only teams they held in check were LSU, Ole Miss in the Missouli days, Vandy, Kentucky, Memphis, and UTM.

That's very similar to the 2013 defensive season, just with an easier conference schedule.

That's a good point concerning the 2010 D. If Jancek makes the year 1 to year 2 progress that Wilcox made then that will be a very good sign.