Barrett Sallee goes full-retard, again, this morning

[Goat Holder]

Agreed, and they are going to struggle because of it. It's going to be hilarious to watch. Then, in 2015 when they lose Wallace, they will REALLY struggle. They don't seem to want to give him the credit he deserves.

[PassInterference]

I think Kinkaide could be Bo Dirt level or better. But OM doesn't have a staff that can develop QBs. So expect more of the same.

[BulldogBear]

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Just because we came close doesn't mean anything. Until we're in the win column of some of these big games, we won't garner any respect or expectations from writers and analysts. OM deserves more respect because they upset LSU last year and have recruited at a higher level (according to those, whose opinions matter).

OLE MISS - proving you can spin the results of any one game on the schedule since the JV era to come to the logical conclusion that your own squad is a powerhouse or the other squad is a fluke, whichever suits your purpose

[smootness]

Moncrief is starting to slip into the 1st round in some mocks now. You guys are right, Treadwell could potentially have a similar impact to Moncrief, but their WR corps as a whole was better last year than it will be this year; to me it's hard to argue that.

And Dodson/Wilkins as their power backs? Ha. Dodson is no power back, and if Wilkins was good enough to carry the load, it seems like they wouldn't have redshirted him last year.

No matter what, their offense will struggle. Very thin on the OL, a QB without a lot of zip or good decision-making, a big question mark at RB, and a downgraded WR group.

Their defense should be very good. Their safeties will be a game-changing unit, their LBs are small but are effective, and their DL could be very good. But will it be better than our defense? I would tend to doubt that.

[Boodawg]

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Just because we came close doesn't mean anything. Until we're in the win column of some of these big games, we won't garner any respect or expectations from writers and analysts. OM deserves more respect because they upset LSU last year and have recruited at a higher level (according to those, whose opinions matter).

I disagree about having close games means nothing. If all our losses last year were blowout losses, I'd feel much worse about the team that I do right now.

[BulldogBear]

#1 Alabama - probably, Auburn could sneak in here, maybe LSU if (a big if) their freshman make it through the first half without getting killed or losing more than 1 and gain enough confidence/experience to amp it up second half. Will require talent as well!

#2 Auburn - mainly b/c I don't have the confidence to just put anybody else directly here. Could be LSU for above reasons. MSU also but would be our ceiling I think, even if Bammers not #1

#3 LSU - really just because I don't wanna put us here and ask for a jinx. Could see MSU. An Ole Miss team that surprises us or a TAMU that really surprises postJF. Ceiling for TAMU & UM

#4 MSU - gotta take out Bama or LSU before I'll ever put us officially predicted higher than halfway. Really, OM, TAMU, LSU or Auburn could find themselves here. Probably lowest Auburn will finish

#5 Ole Miss - don't want to admit the problems they could have. Probably no lower than this unless TAMU steps up. LSU's basement is here (wouldn't that be sweet) if they a real rude awakening that they are no longer simply reloading

#6 Texas A&M - life after Johnny gonna be harder than anybody thinks. Could find Arkansas here if TAMU just tanks

#7 Arkansas - long way to go yet in the Natural State

[BulldogBear]

1,475 views...

That's nice of all the Bears readers to come over here to see our reaction.

[smootness]

I don't see any way LSU could possibly win the West this year. I won't believe a true freshman can step in at QB, especially in a system like LSU's and be good enough to beat all the other teams in the division until I see it, given the West's current state.

I think the only two real legitimate possibilities to win the West next year are Bama and Auburn; I would like to say State, but no one outside of a State fan would. I do think it is actually possible for us, but that could just be bias.

I think the best bet to win the division is Auburn. Alabama will reload for the most part, but we just don't know what they'll have at QB and that is a huge question mark for them. This is the first time in a real long time they don't have a guy already lined up to take over.

[DapperDawg]

I disagree about having close games means nothing. If all our losses last year were blowout losses, I'd feel much worse about the team that I do right now.

We were blown out by OK ST and LSU. USCe beat us fairly easily (by 18), Bama by 13, A&M by 10 (hung 51 on us in that one). But hey, we almost beat Auburn..... almost. But don't forget about us squeaking by Bowling Green in our Homecoming thriller. We had to hold off KY on a late drive, to seal that victory. We also had to put up a late comeback to beat a terrible AR team in OT.

If we scream about close games, then we have to include our close victories of games that our opponents had no business being in.

Until Mullen pulls an upset and beats a power team that he's not supposed to, we won't get much respect or attention.

[spiritual_machine2005]

We were blown out by OK ST and LSU. USCe beat us fairly easily (by 18), Bama by 13, A&M by 10 (hung 51 on us in that one). But hey, we almost beat Auburn..... almost. But don't forget about us squeaking by Bowling Green in our Homecoming thriller. We had to hold off KY on a late drive, to seal that victory. We also had to put up a late comeback to beat a terrible AR team in OT.

If we scream about close games, then we have to include our close victories of games that our opponents had no business being in.

Until Mullen pulls an upset and beats a power team that he's not supposed to, we won't get much respect or attention.

This is true. We GOT to take care of business this year. We have to destroy the teams we are supposed to beat, play the big boys close and upset at LEAST one of them, and keep the Egg in Starkville. If we can do all of those, then we will start to earn respect. It will not be given to us.

[Coach34]

I totally agree we have to play better in big games- I am convinced this season you will with a veteran team.

Last season was very typical of a young team- especially one that had some injuries as we did early in the season- making us even more inexperienced.

Auburn? Young team couldnt find a way to win
LSU? Young team got tired as well as green Secondary getting torched
SC? Dak found out his Momma was near the end before that one- and he played his worst game of his career. We actually played well on D in this game
A&M? Game the Saturday after Dak's mom died. He was emotionally spent but gave a helluva effort. Defense had some critical breakdowns- but some of that was because they had 2 top 10 draft picks on offense
Bama? Wilson catches the pass that hits him in the helmet and it's a 6 point game.

I get bothered when people try to discredit the UPig win. A&M struggled to beat UPig and won a close one. UPig went to Baton Rouge and was leading in the 4th Q. They had 2 weeks to get ready for us and we played them in Arkansas- where we had yet to win. That was a good win for us.

Egg Bowl? Enough said.

Last year's team was a young team that was injured early, not to mention played 3 top 15 teams in it's 1st 5 games...- they got experience and got healthy- and was a decent team the last 1/3 of the season. 2014's team is experienced and has depth. It has weapons. Unless we are just really unfortunate with injuries- this team should have a great year. Time to get it done with an LSU, Auburn, or A&M in 2014.

[PassInterference]

Arkansas is going to have a respectable team sooner than later. They looked decent at times last year.

More importantly, as defenses get lightweight and fast to stop spread offenses, somebody is going to waltz in and dominate with smashmouth big uglies football. It might be Arkansas.

[Pollodawg]

I totally agree we have to play better in big games- I am convinced this season you will with a veteran team.

Last season was very typical of a young team- especially one that had some injuries as we did early in the season- making us even more inexperienced.

Auburn? Young team couldnt find a way to win
LSU? Young team got tired as well as green Secondary getting torched
SC? Dak found out his Momma was near the end before that one- and he played his worst game of his career. We actually played well on D in this game
A&M? Game the Saturday after Dak's mom died. He was emotionally spent but gave a helluva effort. Defense had some critical breakdowns- but some of that was because they had 2 top 10 draft picks on offense
Bama? Wilson catches the pass that hits him in the helmet and it's a 6 point game.

I get bothered when people try to discredit the UPig win. A&M struggled to beat UPig and won a close one. UPig went to Baton Rouge and was leading in the 4th Q. They had 2 weeks to get ready for us and we played them in Arkansas- where we had yet to win. That was a good win for us.

Egg Bowl? Enough said.

Last year's team was a young team that was injured early, not to mention played 3 top 15 teams in it's 1st 5 games...- they got experience and got healthy- and was a decent team the last 1/3 of the season. 2014's team is experienced and has depth. It has weapons. Unless we are just really unfortunate with injuries- this team should have a great year. Time to get it done with an LSU, Auburn, or A&M in 2014.

Dak was 28-43 for 235 yards. If it wasn't for the fact that his head was nowhere near that game, he had one helluva day. There were times in the Croom error I would have killed to see a QB with those kind of stats. We held Connor Shaw to less than a 150 yards, and the only plays we gave up in the secondary just happened to be big ones.

[Johnson85]

Yep, I laugh my ass off when I see people saying this. It's about as football ignorant as you can possibly be. They lost Mike Wallace and their offense could do SHIT against anybody decent for 3/4 of the year. That's what this will be like. I'll say it....Moncrief is better than Paidwell....and they'll find out after this season.....for them and whatever team drafts Moncrief.

Well, they lost Mike Wallace and I believe an NFL OT that they did a poor job of replacing.

Not that their line is looking to be in better shape this year, bu it wasn't just Wallace leaving that hurt them.

[Goat Holder]

Arkansas is going to have a respectable team sooner than later. They looked decent at times last year.

Respectable, maybe. They'll never be the power they were under Petrino again, unless they obviously hire another guy like him. Petrino has a way of overinflating fans sense of team worth.

More importantly, as defenses get lightweight and fast to stop spread offenses, somebody is going to waltz in and dominate with smashmouth big uglies football. It might be Arkansas.

Sort of like Alabama already does? Arkansas will never have the means to put that type of team together.

[blacklistedbully]

We beat ourselves versus SCar. Even Spurrier admitted it in the post-game. "Turnovers were the biggest factor". Easily DP's worst game, a game he played at his mother's request, knowing she was lying in her death-bed. Took a lot of guts, but I just can't fault the young man for losing his focus that day, or the following week versus TAMU, after his mother had died.

We had 5 turnovers versus a SCar team that wasn't exactly known for creating a ton of t/o's outside our game. MSU 23 first downs to SCar's 12. We had more total yards, 6-13 on 3rd down, versus 1-11 for them. We beat them statistically in the categories that typically spell victory, except for the t/o's. We beat ourselves in that game.

[Pollodawg]

We beat ourselves versus SCar. Even Spurrier admitted it in the post-game. "Turnovers were the biggest factor". Easily DP's worst game, a game he played at his mother's request, knowing she was lying in her death-bed. Took a lot of guts, but I just can't fault the young man for losing his focus that day, or the following week versus TAMU, after his mother had died.

We had 5 turnovers versus a SCar team that wasn't exactly known for creating a ton of t/o's outside our game. MSU 23 first downs to SCar's 12. We had more total yards, 6-13 on 3rd down, versus 1-11 for them. We beat them statistically in the categories that typically spell victory, except for the t/o's. We beat ourselves in that game.

If all you looked at where the stats, we dominated that game. Start to finish dominated. And I am with you. I don't fault Dak at all for that game, and it pisses me off when people say he isn't a good QB after that one performance.