Barrett Sallee SEC power rankings

[ShotgunDawg]

I saw these this morning, but am having trouble linking from my phone.

MSU is 10th, Ole Miss is 3rd, and LSU is 9th.

It got me wondering, considering Ole Miss' brutal road schedule in 2015, does Chad Kelly have the highest expectations and hype of any transfer QB in history?

I realize Jacob Coker probably had more, but at least he had taken some college snaps and wasn't a prison liability. Why is the media expecting so much from Kelly? Ole Miss can't run the ball. So Kelly will have to be outstanding in 4 road games for Ole Miss to have a chance.

Secondly, and to not make this about MSU since we've already spoken, why is Ole Miss ahead of LSU?

Isn't LSU better at most positions and has a returning QB? Why is Kelly assumed to be better? Again, I don't understand why the media assuming Kelly will be great.

What am I missing?

[Coach34]

It's based on them being very good on defense, plus returning starters on the OL and WR. Fredo 2015 is going to be Auburn-2014. Good team with too much schedule

[thf24]

How can you do an off-season/preseason power ranking? That's practically a contradiction in terms.

[ShotgunDawg]

It's based on them being very good on defense, plus returning starters on the OL and WR. Fredo 2015 is going to be Auburn-2014. Good team with too much schedule

True, but they already had the best defense in the country this year. With a worse schedule and 1st year QB, why would they be better next year than this year?

How much better can their defense realistically get?

[EAVdog]

It's the Offseason. They are the perennial champs of Offseason every year. Usually the higher they are rated the worse they do.

So expect a dumpster fire in Oxford. All the pieces are in place for it for sure.

[Political Hack]

next year is their year to make a push. We had our shot this year, and could be a darkhorse next year too, but the west is more wide open in 2015 than any other year I can remember in the last decade and change.

[CadaverDawg]

True, but they already had the best defense in the country this year. With a worse schedule and 1st year QB, why would they be better next year than this year?

How much better can their defense realistically get?

Exactly. They are losing 2 key members of their D. Their D will be worse in 2015

[Political Hack]

Exactly. They are losing 2 key members of their D. Their D will be worse in 2015

I don't think so. Conner may be the best safety in America next year. The experience and depth they'll have will overcome two big losses IMO.

[TrapGame]

True, but they already had the best defense in the country this year. With a worse schedule and 1st year QB, why would they be better next year than this year?

How much better can their defense realistically get?

If what I've heard is true their D may take a step or two backwards next season. I've heard that Allen was a hell of a coach that was the Xs and Os guy behind Womack. Losing him is going to show next season. Which to me makes sense because Womack has been a horrible DC everywhere he's been except Arky State and ole miss both of which Allen was on staff.

[msstate7]

I don't think so. Conner may be the best safety in America next year. The experience and depth they'll have will overcome two big losses IMO.

All American safety and the ncaa leader in ints will be tough to replace.

[GreenheadDawg]

All American safety and the ncaa leader in ints will be tough to replace.

Sshhh.. They have Connor and Nkemdiche.. That's all they need to have best defense in history* I think it's funny that they lose 3 very key players to their defense in prewitt, Bryant, and golson but somehow will be better, we lose the same amount and drop to the bottom of the SEC again. Makes sense

[Covercorner2]

Sshhh.. They have Connor and Nkemdiche.. That's all they need to have best defense in history* I think it's funny that they lose 3 very key players to their defense in prewitt, Bryant, and golson but somehow will be better, we lose the same amount and drop to the bottom of the SEC again. Makes sense

They lose DT Shackleford as well.

[starkvegasdawg]

But they have Tee I'm Gonna Screw MSU at the Last Minute Shepard next season. That is all Sallee needs to see I'm sure to think their defense will be the reincarnation of the 86 Bears.

[GreenheadDawg]

They lose DT Shackleford as well.

Exactly. They lose some key players and are breaking in a new QB who nobody knows how good he actually is.

[maroonmania]

All American safety and the ncaa leader in ints will be tough to replace.

Exactly, Conner next year will be roughly equivalent to this year but there will be no Golson or Prewitt back there and their replacements definitely won't be as good. They also lose some great experienced guys in Shackelford and Bryant off the defense. Their defense really has nowhere to go but down next year since they were the best statistical defense in the nation this year. They certainly won't be any better and I don't see how their offense will be as good unless Kelly is the second coming.

[Coach34]

They will be good on D...can they be as good as this past year? Doubtful. Road games in the SEC make you or break you though. And their road is tough as hell

[msstate7]

I think OM's defense will be really good, but will step back some. Prewitt and golson's ball hawking is what made them lethal on defense this year imo. Those 2 were great at creating TO's

[maroonmania]

But they have Tee I'm Gonna Screw MSU at the Last Minute Shepard next season. That is all Sallee needs to see I'm sure to think their defense will be the reincarnation of the 86 Bears.

I have NEVER seen any college football analysts so eaten up with recruiting rankings as Barrett Sallee. He puts way more stock in that than what he sees guys actually do on the field. Recruiting stars is the only reason he has OM at 3rd and MSU at 10th. LSU is still dealing with a lot of attrition must be his reasoning on them.

[notsofarawaydawg]

This is how they hype the media during the off-season and it tends to spread like wildfire and then turns into a dumpster fire about mid-season and then the excuses start flowing. Same ole shit, just different year.

[Johnson85]

next year is their year to make a push. We had our shot this year, and could be a darkhorse next year too, but the west is more wide open in 2015 than any other year I can remember in the last decade and change.

But it's more wide open because there are so many good teams without a great team, not because it's actually weak. On the one hand, next year could certainly be a year where a two loss team goes to Atlanta, but they're going to have to have a lot of stuff go right to win 6 SEC games relying so heavily on defense.

The one thing they ahve going for them is that it doesn't take a great QB for their offense to be good against bad defenses and serviceable against good defenses. But while Wallace had some major issues as far as being a QB, he also was a good fit in that offense (including having had experience with it at Ark St.) so I'm not sure he's that easily replaced.

[EAVdog]

Headcase QB - check

Bunch of Juniors who feel entitled to an NFL spot - check

Hype from the best year they have had in 50 years - check

Next year is either going to be very good for them or very bad. Just my pre-season prognostication.

[HoopsDawg]

Barrett Sallee picked South Alabama to beat us this past year.

[HoopsDawg]

As far as the OM D. They are pretty loaded with talented players. I really like their D-line:

DE: Haynes
DT: DJ Jones
DT: Nkemdiche
DE: CJ

Then they have Gross, Fadol Brown, Hamilton, and Speaks who will all rotate through.

In the secondary they have Elston, Hilton, Conner, Bridges, Shepard, and CJ Hampton. That's a whole lot of recruiting stars.

[Tbonewannabe]

Do they get cj Johnson back? Did he get a medical waiver?

[HoopsDawg]

Do they get cj Johnson back? Did he get a medical waiver?

Yes, he is back. He and Haynes are excellent speed rushers on the edges.

[msstate7]

Yes, he is back. He and Haynes are excellent speed rushers on the edges.

I wish we would go after a smaller, fast pass rushing specialist

[RougeDawg]

I say OM finishes 5-7th in west next season, depending on how well Arkansas and A&M play. It will be an all around battle but when I look at SEC west teams "overall" and schedule, I can't put them in the top 4 any way I look at it. They squeaked out some close wins this past year with their most talented team ever. Why would anyone think they will not take a step back, after they lose their all time leading passer, and two of their Jewel recruits will be returning from devastating injuries and subsequently playing not to have another before their big pay day on April.

One can not logically look at their situation next season and out them in the top 4 in west. I didn't even mention their head case, AK carrying new QB. They will not finish above Bama, LSU,Auburn, or is next year. Book it.