S&P+ is a believer in our defense

[msstate7]

I think they're too high on our defense, but pretty cool to see us listed that high.

They really like tenn's offense

[dantheman4248]

DL has always been plug and play for us. I couldn't tell you the last time we had a weak DL. So even though we lose every starter, I'm not worried. We return 3 bigtime LBs for us. Return Dantzler and Smitherman for the outside CBs. Have a lot of talent to replace the two safeties we lost. It makes sense. Dropping from otherworldly level at #1 to back to a normal elite top 7. Makes sense if you look at it as pods of teams. 1-7 come across as interchangeable with this metric.

[ShotgunDawg]

I'm telling ya, if Tommy Tippy is a level better than Fitz at pushing the ball down the field, this team will be better than last year's.

QB - better
RB - better and better used
WR - Better
OL - equal

DL - worse
LB - better
Secondary - equal

Punter - better
Kicker - equal

[msstate7]

I'm telling ya, if Tommy Tippy is a level better than Fitz at pushing the ball down the field, this team will be better than last year's.

QB - better
RB - better and better used
WR - Better
OL - equal

DL - worse
LB - better
Secondary - equal

Punter - better
Kicker - equal

I think equal in secondary is to be determined. Abram is a big loss

DL was by far the strength of our team last year and it goes to probably one of the biggest question marks on the whole team. Simmons and sweat were a freakish combo. We won't have that that insane inside/outside combo... how much did those 2 help our back end? Hard to say, but I do think they did

[Todd4State]

I think our fans forget that other teams lose players too. Or they overvalue the other teams players.

Our season isn't decided on whether our defense is as good as last year's or (probably) not. If we take care of business the first four games and then find a way to beat Auburn we are going to potentially have a special season.

[Todd4State]

I think equal in secondary is to be determined. Abram is a big loss

DL was by far the strength of our team last year and it goes to probably one of the biggest question marks on the whole team. Simmons and sweat were a freakish combo. We won't have that that insane inside/outside combo... how much did those 2 help our back end? Hard to say, but I do think they did

People forget that Courtney Rivers, Kobe, Spencer, and Adams have been productive when they played. Autry may be a day three pick and is a solid senior at DT. And while we lack experience at DT we have several former four star guys there- Lovett, Pickering, and Crumedy. So there is talent there and they will be flanked by guys with experience.

So while we won't be Sweat and Simmons good we won't fall off the face of the Earth either. And we have the linebackers who we can blitz and use to apply pressure more to take some heat off of the defensive line. We'll see if Shoop does it.
Dan has persistent common sense issues with personnel where he didn't take advantage of our talent or strengths usually to play someone like Zach Jackson or Kivon Coman who was an upperclassman. We'll see if Shoop has better common sense.

[bulldawg28]

I think equal in secondary is to be determined. Abram is a big loss

DL was by far the strength of our team last year and it goes to probably one of the biggest question marks on the whole team. Simmons and sweat were a freakish combo. We won't have that that insane inside/outside combo... how much did those 2 help our back end? Hard to say, but I do think they did

Cole is better than Abrams. Watch how many more game changing plays he makes this year.

[ShotgunDawg]

Cole is better than Abrams. Watch how many more game changing plays he makes this year.

I'm not sure if he's anywhere close to the same type of tackler or has the instincts, but he is absolutely more explosive

[Todd4State]

Cole is better than Abrams. Watch how many more game changing plays he makes this year.

I'm a big believer in Cole too. And Landrews and Morgan were solid last year. I can see Cole getting more INT's than Abram for sure. Not sure about big hits though!

I'm curious to see how much we get out of Marcus Murphy and Jarrion Jones next year as far as our secondary goes. Both could be key reserves.

[MetEdDawg]

They should be pretty high. We've got somewhere around 8 starters on our defense that are gonna get drafted before they leave MSU. This unit is talented.

I think our fan base is overreacting to the regression. Oh yeah we won't be the best defense. Maybe not Top 30. That's just nuts. We lost 3 guys who were freaking solid. Yes they will be missed and we won't have the defensive line disrupters that Simmons and Sweat were. But we had very talented guys not getting reps because of talented guys in front of them.

Best LB group in the SEC. Secondary improved as a whole and potentially a Top 5 CB in the country in a Dantzler. DL
Won't be as talented but we've got talented youth. Plus Rivers is really good. Gonna help set the edge and contain offenses.

I will be shocked if we aren't a Top 25 defense. And our offense being better will help some too.

[99jc]

Cole is better than Abrams. Watch how many more game changing plays he makes this year.

Yeah ...he is better than a 1st rounder..ok

[bulldawg28]

I'm not sure if he's anywhere close to the same type of tackler or has the instincts, but he is absolutely more explosive

Watch the games before his injury. Abrams wasn't making those explosive plays it was Cole. Cole only played 3 1/4 games and rated 80% defensive grade by pro football focus in 2 of those games. He also had 3 sacks in 3 games along with an interception. Abrams had 3 sacks the entire year after moving to the Star position with 2 interceptions. Cole is a bigger, more athletic, and faster Pig Prather with the ability to cover.

[msstate7]

They should be pretty high. We've got somewhere around 8 starters on our defense that are gonna get drafted before they leave MSU. This unit is talented.

I think our fan base is overreacting to the regression. Oh yeah we won't be the best defense. Maybe not Top 30. That's just nuts. We lost 3 guys who were freaking solid. Yes they will be missed and we won't have the defensive line disrupters that Simmons and Sweat were. But we had very talented guys not getting reps because of talented guys in front of them.

Best LB group in the SEC. Secondary improved as a whole and potentially a Top 5 CB in the country in a Dantzler. DL
Won't be as talented but we've got talented youth. Plus Rivers is really good. Gonna help set the edge and contain offenses.

I will be shocked if we aren't a Top 25 defense. And our offense being better will help some too.

Our LBs aren't better than Bama's

[HoopsDawg]

I still have that vision of the walk-on cutting right thru the middle of our defense in the spring game with Autry and Lovett at DT.

Our young DT's have to grow up in a hurry. I really like our back 7 though.

[bulldawg28]

Our LBs aren't better than Bama's

What? As a group they are. Leo is the only probable. I wouldn't trade Errol or Willie for anybody in the SEC. If Leo ever plays to his potential the group would be the best in the country.

[MetEdDawg]

Our LBs aren't better than Bama's

Yes they are and I've heard multiple folks that know the SEC say that our LB group is the best LB group in the conference.

We've got 3 insanely good LBs. All 3 get drafted this year if they enter the draft and I would guess they all get drafted day 1 or 2.

And as a matter of fact I've not heard one taking head mention Bama's LB group as being the best. Us or Georgia are the groups people are mentioning.

[msstate7]

What? As a group they are. Leo is the only probable. I wouldn't trade Errol or Willie for anybody in the SEC. If Leo ever plays to his potential the group would be the best in the country.

Moses is the best lb in the sec. I'll take Jennings, Moses, and Lewis over our guys all day, every day... and I like our guys, but come on mane

[HoopsDawg]

Our LBs aren't better than Bama's

I wouldn't trade Erroll, Willie or Leo Lewis with any trio in the country when you also consider the experience factor.

[Todd4State]

They should be pretty high. We've got somewhere around 8 starters on our defense that are gonna get drafted before they leave MSU. This unit is talented.

I think our fan base is overreacting to the regression. Oh yeah we won't be the best defense. Maybe not Top 30. That's just nuts. We lost 3 guys who were freaking solid. Yes they will be missed and we won't have the defensive line disrupters that Simmons and Sweat were. But we had very talented guys not getting reps because of talented guys in front of them.

Best LB group in the SEC. Secondary improved as a whole and potentially a Top 5 CB in the country in a Dantzler. DL
Won't be as talented but we've got talented youth. Plus Rivers is really good. Gonna help set the edge and contain offenses.

I will be shocked if we aren't a Top 25 defense. And our offense being better will help some too.

Here's something to think about. Remember 2014 when we could obviously tell when the 1B defense was in because there was an obvious drop off? Did anyone notice when the back-ups were in on defense last year? I didn't. Most of those guys are back. People can say "yeah- but we're going to miss Cory Thomas"- meh. He was a good player but he's not irreplaceable.

What? As a group they are. Leo is the only probable. I wouldn't trade Errol or Willie for anybody in the SEC. If Leo ever plays to his potential the group would be the best in the country.

I think Leo could be in for a big year. Especially if we do indeed ask him to blitz even more. I know some people are going to say that they've been "disappointed in his career" but he has been a very solid contributor for us and a starter for most of his career.

[Todd4State]

Moses is the best lb in the sec. I'll take Jennings, Moses, and Lewis over our guys all day, every day... and I like our guys, but come on mane

You would take someone else's players over our players no matter what the position.

I haven't forgotten how much you pumped up Ta'Amuu.