#1 – Improved Offensive scheme and Offensive play calling by new coordinator Chip Lindsay. Our offense last year was entirely too predictable. We ran the ball on first down, right into the teeth of a defense that loaded up, because they knew we were going to run on first down. This new offense offers a balance we have not had.
#2 – Significantly improved Quarterback play this year with the Jarrett Stidham addition and Sean White backup. If we have a QB injury by Jarrett, we have a very capable backup in a healthy Sean White. I think Jarrett will win the starting job, but I have every confidence in a HEALTHY Sean White being a championship QB. Even our #3 QB is capable and better than the backups from last year. QB play will finally be a strength this year.
#3 - We are loaded with experience and talent at the skill positions of tailback and wide receiver. We go about 9 deep at WR and have plenty of depth at tailback. The one guy we don’t want to lose, and need to keep healthy though is Kamryn Pettway. We have other tailbacks that can play, but none have the tough as nails skill set of Kamryn.
#4 - We have a talented and experienced Offensive Line. Austin Golson and Darius James are 5th year seniors and Braden Smith is a 4th year senior with 3 years starting experience. We are adding 2 graduate transfer seniors, and have a group of about six 3rd year guys that we have developed. We have a talented 5 star guy coming in that may be ready to play. That gives us about 9 legitimate options to find 2 replacement starters. I also think the new offensive scheme and more balanced play calling will make it easier for our O-Line to be successful.
#5 – We have the best field goal kicker and kick-off man in the nation, in Daniel Carlson. Hopefully, he can make some key kicks to help us win some of those close big games on the schedule.
#6 - We are getting a 2nd year in a defensive system, under the same defensive coordinator. This in a defense that was a top 10 scoring defense last year. That means that our defensive players are experienced and comfortable in this defense. For various reasons we have had a lot of turnover in our Defensive coordinator position, but not this year.
#7 - We are returning virtually ALL of our linebackers and safeties. We have 3 senior players who have started games and played a lot of snaps, at the two Safety positions. We usually only play 2 linebackers and return both starters and the 3 talented backups that got most of the backup snaps last year. These linebackers and Safeties are the guys making tackles, and we return practically all of them, to their 2nd year in the same defensive system.
#8 - We return one of our two starters at Cornerback, Carlton Davis. Carlton is an experienced 2 year starter, that played injured last year. His game should be much improved this year, just by being healthy. We lost starter Josh Holsey last year, but Javaris Davis played a lot as a backup and I believe even got a start or two, when Josh was injured. Big, fast and talented Jamel Dean should provide excellent depth and it looks like he is going to finally stay healthy.
#9 – We have a lot of talent and depth returning on the defensive line, even though we lost to the NFL two great pass rushers and leaders in Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams. We add A-Day MVP Paul James III to the buck position. We also add a big, strong, quick, talented Nick Coe to the defensive line. Coe will backup Marlon Davidson at strong side defensive end but will go inside to DT on some passing downs. We return 2 of the 4 Dline starters in Davidson and Montavius Russell. We also return Derrek Brown, Andrew Williams and Jeff Holland who all got a lot of playing time as backup and rotation guys. All 3 will play a lot more this year this year and all are capable. Getting a pass rush is the biggest question for our defense, and I think this group can step up and do this. I agree with BMatt, that Nick Coe is going to be an impact player this year, and will see time relieving Marlon and will get a lot of passing down reps at DT. I also think a healthy Paul James III will step up and either start of get a lot of rotation reps at the Buck position.
#10 – We get what look to be our two toughest opponents, UGA and bama at home. That’s a big deal. The away games at Clemson, LSU and aTm will be tough, but I don’t think those teams will be as tough as bama and UGA.
#2 – Significantly improved Quarterback play this year with the Jarrett Stidham addition and Sean White backup. If we have a QB injury by Jarrett, we have a very capable backup in a healthy Sean White. I think Jarrett will win the starting job, but I have every confidence in a HEALTHY Sean White being a championship QB. Even our #3 QB is capable and better than the backups from last year. QB play will finally be a strength this year.
#3 - We are loaded with experience and talent at the skill positions of tailback and wide receiver. We go about 9 deep at WR and have plenty of depth at tailback. The one guy we don’t want to lose, and need to keep healthy though is Kamryn Pettway. We have other tailbacks that can play, but none have the tough as nails skill set of Kamryn.
#4 - We have a talented and experienced Offensive Line. Austin Golson and Darius James are 5th year seniors and Braden Smith is a 4th year senior with 3 years starting experience. We are adding 2 graduate transfer seniors, and have a group of about six 3rd year guys that we have developed. We have a talented 5 star guy coming in that may be ready to play. That gives us about 9 legitimate options to find 2 replacement starters. I also think the new offensive scheme and more balanced play calling will make it easier for our O-Line to be successful.
#5 – We have the best field goal kicker and kick-off man in the nation, in Daniel Carlson. Hopefully, he can make some key kicks to help us win some of those close big games on the schedule.
#6 - We are getting a 2nd year in a defensive system, under the same defensive coordinator. This in a defense that was a top 10 scoring defense last year. That means that our defensive players are experienced and comfortable in this defense. For various reasons we have had a lot of turnover in our Defensive coordinator position, but not this year.
#7 - We are returning virtually ALL of our linebackers and safeties. We have 3 senior players who have started games and played a lot of snaps, at the two Safety positions. We usually only play 2 linebackers and return both starters and the 3 talented backups that got most of the backup snaps last year. These linebackers and Safeties are the guys making tackles, and we return practically all of them, to their 2nd year in the same defensive system.
#8 - We return one of our two starters at Cornerback, Carlton Davis. Carlton is an experienced 2 year starter, that played injured last year. His game should be much improved this year, just by being healthy. We lost starter Josh Holsey last year, but Javaris Davis played a lot as a backup and I believe even got a start or two, when Josh was injured. Big, fast and talented Jamel Dean should provide excellent depth and it looks like he is going to finally stay healthy.
#9 – We have a lot of talent and depth returning on the defensive line, even though we lost to the NFL two great pass rushers and leaders in Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams. We add A-Day MVP Paul James III to the buck position. We also add a big, strong, quick, talented Nick Coe to the defensive line. Coe will backup Marlon Davidson at strong side defensive end but will go inside to DT on some passing downs. We return 2 of the 4 Dline starters in Davidson and Montavius Russell. We also return Derrek Brown, Andrew Williams and Jeff Holland who all got a lot of playing time as backup and rotation guys. All 3 will play a lot more this year this year and all are capable. Getting a pass rush is the biggest question for our defense, and I think this group can step up and do this. I agree with BMatt, that Nick Coe is going to be an impact player this year, and will see time relieving Marlon and will get a lot of passing down reps at DT. I also think a healthy Paul James III will step up and either start of get a lot of rotation reps at the Buck position.
#10 – We get what look to be our two toughest opponents, UGA and bama at home. That’s a big deal. The away games at Clemson, LSU and aTm will be tough, but I don’t think those teams will be as tough as bama and UGA.
