Football Season Is Upon Us

[StarkVegasSteve]

Well gentleman....we've almost made it. Exactly one month from today we will be watching CFB once again and 5 weeks from today I will be in The Junction about 4 vodka drinks deep pontificating how we're going to go 9-3. It's wonderful to even think about. With all that being said I thought we'd get to talking about the players you are most excited to watch, who will be our best, and some stat projections:

Players Most Excited to Watch:

Offense: Kevin Coleman

Defense: Kobi Albert

ST: Someone who can make a 35 yd FG

Our Best Players:

Offense: Blake Shapen

Defense: John Lewis

ST: Again, anyone who can kick a 35 yd FG


For some statistical projections:

Shapen: 3400 yds passing, 350 yds rushing, 30 Tds total

Booth: 700 yds rushing, 8 TDs

Akharaiyi: 65 receptions, 700 yds

Coleman: 45 receptions, 500 yds

Whittemore: 55 receptions, 600 yds

[ScoobaDawg]

Offense. Offense. Offense. especially passes over 20 yards.

And hopefully that the defense surprises us.

[Young dawg]

Very interested to see if creed gets used the way drake stoops did at Oklahoma.

[Goldendawg]

Looking forward to seeing the new "O" & especially more downfield pass attempts beyond a majority of check downs. Long passes with touch looked good with Shapen and young/new portal receivers. Want to see if this can translate against our opposition. Also hoping to see a steady "D" that can get off the field on 3rd and long especially. BTW, what about our new punter? I feel good about returning kickers.

[CaptainObvious]

1st game State will run for 350 yards and complete 10-13 passes for 140 yards and make a 45 yd FG. Score 52-14

[starkvegasdawg]

35 yard FG's? That's borderline heretical talk right there. We have our buttholes pucker airtight on extra points and we like it. We love it.

[Coach34]

I am looking forward to seeing the offense for sure

[Todd4State]

I think we're very underrated. We basically have a completely new team. I think Shapen is going to be very good as well as Kelly A. Booth was a really good pick up at RB. Traore I think could surprise a lot of people as well.

I think we'll be better on defense than a lot of people think too. Deonte Anderson and Demonte and DonTerry Russell aren't bad. John Lewis and Stone Blanton are going to be pretty good. I thought Branden Jennings had a good spring game. I think Isaac Smith emerges this year at safety. Hopefully some of the portal guys pick it up at corner.

All in all I think we win our OOC games, beat Florida and Arkansas at home and then upset someone.

I'm just looking forward to us being well coached again period. Arnett was so far in over his head it was pitiful.

[GoDawgz]

The offence will need to carry this team. If the O "cant go" (Homage to Jack) then I'm not sure the defense has the depth to keep the game close.
Hopefully we are all in for a big surprise the year, which I'm sure someone will still have something to complain about.

[DawgFromOxford]

Most excited to watch an offense with an identity where I don?t feel like the game is over if we are down 7 points

[bigbub50]

Keys to 6 wins are staying healthy (specifically Shapen and OLine) and Huztler out coaching his inexperience.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Keys to 6 wins are staying healthy (specifically Shapen and OLine) and Huztler out coaching his inexperience.

Shapen and the O-Line staying healthy are by far the biggest. We're going to have to win shootouts to win ballgames this year. That's just how it is. Our hope defensively needs to be how OM was in 20 and 21. Give up a TON of yds and points, but get opportunistic TOs.

[Santiago]

Ready to watch mindlessly on a Saturday, as an escape. What football should be.
Hopefully we do run up some scores, and allow PT for our backup QB.
Let me be the first to say the "the backup is better"....now that is out of the way ***

[viverlibre]

I realize we have a bunch of negative fans who hate our university, but I'm fired up, can't wait for the season to start!

[HeCannotGo]

The offence will need to carry this team. If the O "cant go" (Homage to Jack) then I'm not sure the defense has the depth to keep the game close.
Hopefully we are all in for a big surprise the year, which I'm sure someone will still have something to complain about.

Ahem. My username compels me to correct this to "cannot go." Carry on.

[confucius say]

I think we're very underrated. We basically have a completely new team. I think Shapen is going to be very good as well as Kelly A. Booth was a really good pick up at RB. Traore I think could surprise a lot of people as well.

I think we'll be better on defense than a lot of people think too. Deonte Anderson and Demonte and DonTerry Russell aren't bad. John Lewis and Stone Blanton are going to be pretty good. I thought Branden Jennings had a good spring game. I think Isaac Smith emerges this year at safety. Hopefully some of the portal guys pick it up at corner.

All in all I think we win our OOC games, beat Florida and Arkansas at home and then upset someone.

I'm just looking forward to us being well coached again period. Arnett was so far in over his head it was pitiful.

Is demonte going to be allowed to play? Suspended?

[TaleofTwoDogs]

A couple of things that will put a smile back on my face:

1) Play to win, not to lose
2) Play like you have read the playbook and understand your role
3) Play hard nose football, make them hate playing at DWS
and finally:
4) Play for the love of the game, not the money

[Extendedcab]

A couple of things that will put a smile back on my face:

1) Play to win, not to lose
2) Play like you have read the playbook and understand your role
3) Play hard nose football, make them hate playing at DWS
and finally:
4) Play for the love of the game, not the money


I wish, but I think that ship sailed with NIL and the messed up transfer portal!!

[Coach34]

Our DC has worked under Saban. And Lebby as a first time HC- is very unlikely to hire a doorknob to coach the D. I just dont think we have the Joe's.

The schedule is ridiculous and we have to stay healthy.

[bulldawg28]

I wish, but I think that ship sailed with NIL and the messed up transfer portal!!

Not true. The majority of players are not paid to the extent most think.

[SpaceBully]

Offense springs eternal.
Defense springs afterthought.

[bulldawg28]

I'm excited about the offense as others have said. I'm getting Dan Mullen offense excitement and there's not really any defense we'll face that should be able to stop us other than potentially Georgia. However, man defense against this offense is risky. Hailstate!

[maroonmania]

While I do have high hopes for an improved offense I am trying to keep my expectations tempered. We have a guy performing head coach duties for the first time while also serving as his own OC and calling his own plays. That is a LOT of responsibility for one man. Then on the other side we have a Special Teams coordinator moving into his first DC assignment in the SEC and calling defenses for the first time. He will have the former Memphis DC assisting him which should help but there is going to be a LOT of OJT going on this year on both sides of the ball.

[KOdawg1]

Basically our entire offense is transfers.

QB: Shapen (Baylor)
RB: Booth (Utah State), Lee (Penn State)
WR: Akharaiyi (UTEP), Coleman (Louisville), Hudson (NMST)
TE: Traore (Colorado)
OL: Miner (North Texas), Pounders (Memphis), Jackson (Texas Tech), Martinez (LSU)

Only non-transfers will be Albert Reese, Leon Bell, and a couple of the younger WRs. The talent on offense is there, but how quickly can a pieced together offense gel, especially on the OL?

[CaptainObvious]

Nothing to worry about. 7 of our 8 SEC opponents are predicted to "finish" in the Top 25. Only Arkansas (predicted finish of 41 but ahead of us {54}, is not.

[Goldendawg]

Basically our entire offense is transfers.

QB: Shapen (Baylor)
RB: Booth (Utah State), Lee (Penn State)
WR: Akharaiyi (UTEP), Coleman (Louisville), Hudson (NMST)
TE: Traore (Colorado)
OL: Miner (North Texas), Pounders (Memphis), Jackson (Texas Tech), Martinez (LSU)

Only non-transfers will be Albert Reese, Leon Bell, and a couple of the younger WRs. The talent on offense is there, but how quickly can a pieced together offense gel, especially on the OL?

Lots of programs are "rebuilding" in today's NIL/Portal world. It's the HC and coaching staff that can turn them into a team in a very short window of time that will be successful. Even Primetime couldn't do it last year.

[confucius say]

Nothing to worry about. 7 of our 8 SEC opponents are predicted to "finish" in the Top 25. Only Arkansas (predicted finish of 41 but ahead of us {54}, is not.

I'm surprised Florida will be picked to finish in the top 25. I do think they are better than the 4-8 many think, but their schedule is the toughest in America so 7-5 would be good.

[Todd4State]

Lots of programs are "rebuilding" in today's NIL/Portal world. It's the HC and coaching staff that can turn them into a team in a very short window of time that will be successful. Even Primetime couldn't do it last year.

To be fair Colorado was even in worse shape than we were when Arnett left. 4-8 was actually a pretty significant improvement.

[THE Bruce Dickinson]

To be fair Colorado was even in worse shape than we were when Arnett left. 4-8 was actually a pretty significant improvement.

Yep. Deion is a larger than life figure that people seem to love or hate. The haters will bash him for going 4-8 but it was 3 games better than the previous season. Obviously 4-8 isn't what the fans are hoping for, but people need to have some perspective. Simply improving is what I am always looking for.

[GoDawgz]

Ahem. My username compels me to correct this to "cannot go." Carry on.

ah yes, that is correct.

[BrunswickDawg]

To be fair Colorado was even in worse shape than we were when Arnett left. 4-8 was actually a pretty significant improvement.


Yep. Deion is a larger than life figure that people seem to love or hate. The haters will bash him for going 4-8 but it was 3 games better than the previous season. Obviously 4-8 isn't what the fans are hoping for, but people need to have some perspective. Simply improving is what I am always looking for.

Yeah, Colorado is not a good place to try to win. As bad as we have been at times, I don't know that even Tech and 10 was as bad as where Colorado was. Think about this - In this century, we have had only 1 season close to as bad as Colorado in 2022 - our 2-10 in 2003. Our last 1 win season was 1988. Prior to that you have to go all the way back to 1971 for a 2 win or less season for MSU.

Colorado has had 4 seasons of 2 or fewer wins this century; and 3 more going back to 1971. They've had some horrific teams in spite of their 1990s glory years.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yeah, Colorado is not a good place to try to win. As bad as we have been at times, I don't know that even Tech and 10 was as bad as where Colorado was. Think about this - In this century, we have had only 1 season close to as bad as Colorado in 2022 - our 2-10 in 2003. Our last 1 win season was 1988. Prior to that you have to go all the way back to 1971 for a 2 win or less season for MSU.

Colorado has had 4 seasons of 2 or fewer wins this century; and 3 more going back to 1971. They've had some horrific teams in spite of their 1990s glory years.

The day they fired Gary Barnett was the day that program took a downturn. Barnett won 7 or more games in five of his seven years. Since Barnett.....one 7 win season SINCE 2005

[RockyDog]

Yep. Deion is a larger than life figure that people seem to love or hate. The haters will bash him for going 4-8 but it was 3 games better than the previous season. Obviously 4-8 isn't what the fans are hoping for, but people need to have some perspective. Simply improving is what I am always looking for.

Well, to be fair, Deion's constantly running mouth is what caused the lofty expectations. He thought he could pile up the points on anybody with Shadure and Travis while completely ignoring the issues of his Oline. Sure they put up some points but getting put on your butt 50+ times in a season can slow down that offense. Prime learned a hard lesson that you have to pay attention to Oline and defense or you won't win in D1 football.

[SpaceBully]

Nothing to worry about. 7 of our 8 SEC opponents are predicted to "finish" in the Top 25. Only Arkansas (predicted finish of 41 but ahead of us {54}, is not.

If there is a year to throw caution to the wind, it's THIS year. GO FOR BROKE LEBBY!!

[StarkVegasSteve]

If there is a year to throw caution to the wind, it's THIS year. GO FOR BROKE LEBBY!!

It's a lot like Mullen's year 1. I think we played 6-7 ranked teams that year.