Todd4State's football thoughts.

[sbcmortgageman]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Kendrick Market at safety. I pretty excited about him.

[smootness]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Kendrick Market at safety. I pretty excited about him.

Todd and I both did. I really like him. To me, he's the world's best backup, and I certainly mean that as a complement. He may not be somebody who's going to play all game and decide it for you, but he's going to always be exactly where you've taught him to be, and as an opposing offense, you know you have to account for him.

When he's called on to play, which will be a lot this year, you're not going to worry that he'll get you beat.

[War Machine Dawg]

A few thoughts for Todd:

1. You don't think Chris Jones will start on the DL?
2. I think safety is the position I'm most excited about this year. Obviously there are some unknowns, but if Hughes can be ready to go at least by a few games in, I love the combination of him and Cox, one physical and one an elite athlete ballhawk, with a seasoned, smart, tough guy like Market ready to fill in where necessary.
3. If any kicker in the country makes 75% from 50, they're almost certainly the best kicker in the country. I think a lot of people expect way too much from kickers.
4. And yes, I think Gerri Green plays, too. A lot.

This is what I'm talking about with our fans and Market. It's like they can't comprehend Market might actually be as good or better than Hughes and is one hell of a football player. Hell, all the guy did last year was finish second on the team in tackles to B-Mack.

[War Machine Dawg]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Kendrick Market at safety. I pretty excited about him.

You clearly haven't read WMD's Season Preview: Defense. Do the link. I swear I've been the lone voice crying "Market will start over Hughes."

[War Machine Dawg]

Todd and I both did. I really like him. To me, he's the world's best backup, and I certainly mean that as a complement. He may not be somebody who's going to play all game and decide it for you, but he's going to always be exactly where you've taught him to be, and as an opposing offense, you know you have to account for him.

When he's called on to play, which will be a lot this year, you're not going to worry that he'll get you beat.

[smootness]

This is what I'm talking about with our fans and Market. It's like they can't comprehend Market might actually be as good or better than Hughes and is one hell of a football player. Hell, all the guy did last year was finish second on the team in tackles to B-Mack.

I don't see where anything I said is incorrect or off-base. I love Market as a football player and would have no issue with him as a starting safety all year. He played great last year, and the fact that he was 2nd on the team in tackles is no surprise. Again, he's always where he's supposed to be. He made some big plays for us last year, the Kentucky tackle being the biggest.

[DudyDawg]

Gotta agree with smoot. I think Hughes is a better player and leader. I think Market will play, but there's a reason Hughes started last year and went to media days. I think the job is his unless market takes it, and I don't think he will, at least not by the time we play southern.

[CadaverDawg]

Gotta agree with smoot. I think Hughes is a better player and leader. I think Market will play, but there's a reason Hughes started last year and went to media days. I think the job is his unless market takes it, and I don't think he will, at least not by the time we play southern.

Agree with you and Smoot. Leadership is the key. Unless Hughes has completely lost a step or isn't 100%, he Should and Will start. He is a big time leader of this defense. Mullen and several team members said losing him last year was huge because he was the leader of the D. You don't stick a guy like that on the bench unless he is a liability or Market is just far and away better. I would hardly say Market is far and away better....he's probably not even equal at this point. And Market is really good...just says a lot about Hughes.

But that's just my opinion

[DudyDawg]

. Unless Hughes has completely lost a step or isn't 100%, he Should and Will start.

For sure. If he's not healthy, I won't lose any sleep over Market filling in. If he's back to 100%, he will be starting.

[Coach34]

4. And yes, I think Gerri Green plays, too. A lot.

Where? Whose reps is he going to take?

[smootness]

Where? Whose reps is he going to take?

Good question, and I don't really know, to be honest. But I think he has enough ability to push some guys aside. I don't think we'll redshirt him because there's not much point, and I could see he and Dez Harris battling each other for PT. Or I could see him playing in place of Zack Jackson eventually in some packages. I know they technically don't okay the same position, but Green is plenty fast enough to do the things Jackson is asked to do.

[Coach34]

Sometimes talented 4-star players RS- ask Bennie and Ritchie Brown. Hell, McKinney RS'ed and he is going to be a 2nd rounder most likely

[smootness]

Sometimes talented 4-star players RS- ask Bennie and Ritchie Brown. Hell, McKinney RS'ed and he is going to be a 2nd rounder most likely

Yes, but I think this staff will RS fewer guys going forward. Did redshirting McKinney help us? We won't get his 5th year and almost didn't get his 4th. And I think Mullen sees that if a guy is likely not to stay 5 years, you might as well let him play early.

I'm not sure Beni or Richie are sure-fire guys to be gone after 4 years. I think Green is. Guys with his size and athletic ability just don't stay for their RS senior year.

Same with RBs. The really good ones won't stay 5 years because they're trying to reduce wear and tear, even if they aren't a high draft pick. We didn't RS Shumpert and probably won't RS Williams, despite little benefit from playing them their true freshman year.

[HoopsDawg]

Sometimes talented 4-star players RS- ask Bennie and Ritchie Brown. Hell, McKinney RS'ed and he is going to be a 2nd rounder most likely

Green ain't redshirting. He's going to be a big factor on sp teams and he's better than Dez already.

[DudyDawg]

Sometimes talented 4-star players RS- ask Bennie and Ritchie Brown. Hell, McKinney RS'ed and he is going to be a 2nd rounder most likely

Apples to oranges. I don't think they were as ready physically as Gerri is now.

[Todd4State]

Yes, but I think this staff will RS fewer guys going forward. Did redshirting McKinney help us? We won't get his 5th year and almost didn't get his 4th. And I think Mullen sees that if a guy is likely not to stay 5 years, you might as well let him play early.

I'm not sure Beni or Richie are sure-fire guys to be gone after 4 years. I think Green is. Guys with his size and athletic ability just don't stay for their RS senior year.

Same with RBs. The really good ones won't stay 5 years because they're trying to reduce wear and tear, even if they aren't a high draft pick. We didn't RS Shumpert and probably won't RS Williams, despite little benefit from playing them their true freshman year.

I don't think we will redshirt fewer because we're a developmental program and we have more depth than ever.

You're going to have to be either Chris Jones freakishly good or we're going to have to have a gaping hole for someone that is straight out of high school to contribute immediately.

If you look at RB last year- we had Perkins, Robinson, and then Milton who I think was sort of on thin ice to a degree with his fumbling issues at this time last year, and then Griffin coming off of a knee surgery. Meaning we had two fairly reliable RB's at this time last year. That's why we didn't redshirt Shumpert.

[Todd4State]

Apples to oranges. I don't think they was as ready physically as Gerri is now.

If Green doesn't get hurt last year in high school, he probably goes to some All-Star games. Ole Miss tried real hard to get him to flip despite his injury. So, he's under the radar to degree because of his injury.

[DudyDawg]

If Green doesn't get hurt last year in high school, he probably goes to some All-Star games. Ole Miss tried real hard to get him to flip despite his injury. So, he's under the radar to degree because of his injury.

Ahh. Forgot about that. Still think he's well above them athletically than they were.

[Todd4State]

Ahh. Forgot about that. Still think he's well above them athletically than they were.

From all accounts I have heard, he is healthy. Essentially he will replace Deontae Skinner this year. I don't have any questions about his athleticism. At this point it's just a question of how quickly he will transition to the college game. He will be an All-SEC type player as long as he stays healthy.

[bulldawg28]

From watching him run with pads he doesn't look 100%. Didn't he run a supposed 4.3 or 4.4 in highschool? If this is true he looks about 85%. Then again he appears to be a long stride guy. I just haven't seen explosion that suggests he's totally back.