Why do people think we are going to suck this year?

[ShotgunDawg]

This is something I don't understand, after reading the South Carolina thread, I am under the impression that there are many people, media, our own fans, etc... that expect us to suck this year.

However, after reading the depth chart, I just don't get it. We have more than enough talent to be competitive and win most every game we play in this year, with the exception of Bama. If we aren't very competitive with the talent and don't play hard , then heads need to role.

For the people who are worried about how hard we played last year, if our coaches are so unaware that we still don't play hard this year or show energy, then they need to be gone as well.

All this to say, I think we are gonna be pretty good this year, and our coaches are going to come through. I think our coaches are going to have this team playing with a chip on their shoulder, and our talent level is good enough to win games. I guess I understand why the media feels the way they do, but I don't understand how our fans can look at our depth chart and the intangible factors, and not feel some sort of quiet confidence.

I like being the underdog, but this woe is me shit, just isn't indicative of the type of team we have.

[Dallas_Dawg]

I agree and hope that the support we have had from our fanbase under Mullen continues this year. Hope there is a lot of maroon in Houston and that we continue our home sellout streak.
However, if our fans don't bring it 100%, we cannot expect our team to.
We have a lot of depth and some of the best overall talent we have ever had. I look forward to a good solid year where we exceed expectations

[Jacksondevildog]

I feel that we messed up scheduling okie state. I understand its time to elevate the program and stop playing pushovers, but we need to remain bowl eligible. I would hate to go 5-7 and wish that we played Tulane instead.

I feel that the fanbase is frustrated on our lack of identity on offense. I feel that we will try to throw the ball and get out of our persona versus okie state, when we should be running the ball at will.
I also think that russell limits our balance on offense. Mullen needs a running quarterback. I don't care what type of yards we out up last year. I was frustrated with our offense and we forced the passing game too much. We couldn't move the ball against any big teams except LSU and we lost by 3 TD's there.

If we have a bad peeformance vs okie state, It will spiral downwards after that. We need to find a way to be 2-1 after our first 3 games. People are chalking up @ Arkansas as a win, but we've never won in little rock. We won't beat LSU or Bama in Starkville and we are not winning at AtM or South Carolina. We will probably have to beat ole miss to get to 6 and that won't be easy.

[Coach34]

Because most fans are simply uninformed and for some reason listen to their Rebel counterparts who tell them we are going to suck

1. Ole Miss won the last Egg Bowl- so that automatically means they will win this year in Starkville
2. Quay Evans and Nick James didnt play as well as Goss did as Freshmen- so that automatically means they are busts. Not to mention that Wilson played Cherry ahead of them
3. Our offensive line struggled to run block at times so there is no way they will be better with all of them returning this year. Players dont get better or develop cohesion the longer the play together
4. Our defense struggled last year even with two 2nd round picks playing CB- so with them gone, obviously the defense is going to be worse.

I could go on and on- but I'm running low on sarcasm

[Coach34]

I feel that we messed up scheduling okie state.
.

2.2 million dollar payday
National TV exposure in the 2:30 time slot
Playing a team we have matched or even bettered in the recruiting rankings the last 4 years

What are you going to say when we win?
Wonder if Arizona thought it was bad idea to play them last year when they drubbed them 59-38 last year?

[Jacksondevildog]

I understand the perks of playing them. I also understand that going possibly 5-7 with our in state rivals going bowling will hurt the momentum that we have been building for 4 years with an enlarged stadium about to be completed. It's a very attractive game for us, but I don't give a shit how good the schedule looks. I want to win.

If we win, I'll be as happy as any state fan. There's a reason why we are 2 TD underdogs right now. Vegas is kind of good at these things.

[ShotgunDawg]

I feel that we messed up scheduling okie state. I understand its time to elevate the program and stop playing pushovers, but we need to remain bowl eligible. I would hate to go 5-7 and wish that we played Tulane instead.

I feel that the fanbase is frustrated on our lack of identity on offense. I feel that we will try to throw the ball and get out of our persona versus okie state, when we should be running the ball at will.
I also think that russell limits our balance on offense. Mullen needs a running quarterback. I don't care what type of yards we out up last year. I was frustrated with our offense and we forced the passing game too much. We couldn't move the ball against any big teams except LSU and we lost by 3 TD's there.

If we have a bad peeformance vs okie state, It will spiral downwards after that. We need to find a way to be 2-1 after our first 3 games. People are chalking up @ Arkansas as a win, but we've never won in little rock. We won't beat LSU or Bama in Starkville and we are not winning at AtM or South Carolina. We will probably have to beat ole miss to get to 6 and that won't be easy.

First of all, playing OK State or not playing OK State doesn't determine how good we are, and has nothing to do with how we will play at SCAR. As for the rest of your statement, if our coaches our dumb enough to continue to try and bang a square peg into a round hole like a preschooler, then we have far bigger problems than scheduling OK State.

I think Mullen is a smart guy that implemented some coaches and schemes into situations that just didn't work. However, he is also smart enough to make off season adjustments. If you think we will continue to do the same things this year that we did last year, then you are basically saying that Mullen lacks awareness, intelligence, and feel for the game of football.

Good coaches experiment and try different things. Sometimes things don't work like you hoped. When that happens, it doesn't mean that the coach is bad or dumb. The key will be if he makes adjustments, and I think its a very tough argument to believe that he is so dumb that won't.

I mean, Coach 34, Engie and all these other message board guys know their football. However, I choose to believe that Mullen knows at least as much, if not more than them. If they can figure it out, then why can't Mullen? The answer is: yes he can.

[Coach34]

I understand the perks of playing them. I also understand that going possibly 5-7 with our in state rivals going bowling will hurt the momentum that we have been building for 4 years with an enlarged stadium about to be completed. It's a very attractive game for us, but I don't give a shit how good the schedule looks. I want to win.

If we win, I'll be as happy as any state fan. There's a reason why we are 2 TD underdogs right now. Vegas is kind of good at these things.

If we go 5-7 with the talent we have been gathering, then we need to change coaches. Our talent level is never going to be much higher than it is now

[BeastMan]

I'm excited as hell about this year and it starts with OSU. I don't think we'll suck it all. I think we're a much better team than last year but have a tougher schedule. I see no reason we shouldn't be in a bowl again.

[Coach34]

I agree- there is no doubt we will be better football team- we just have a tougher schedule. We're better than Auburn or UPig- we have to handle business on the road....we'll be about the same with Mississippi- we have to hold serve at home.

That's why we play the games

[HancockCountyDog]

I'm excited as hell about this year and it starts with OSU. I don't think we'll suck it all. I think we're a much better team than last year but have a tougher schedule. I see no reason we shouldn't be in a bowl again.

Totally agree.

There are going to be a lot of so called experts that are going to look foolish after we curb stomp OSU.

[ShotgunDawg]

Again, I understand why the media feels the way they do. They write about perception,not reality, and to sell magazines; thats fine. However, our fans have to be smarter than this.

If you disagree with me, then please take the time to read Beastman's depth chart at the top of the board, think about it for a while, and then come back to me and tell why we are going to suck. The key is that we have experience and talent at the MOST important positions on the field. QB, OL, DL, and LB. These are the most valued positions in the NFL for a reason.

We don't have a lot of star power this year, but I'll be damned if we don't have a chance to be a very fundamentally sound team, like Wisconsin or Tim Duncan, that finds ways to win games. We have enough talent and experience for that.

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

Some of y'all are going to be disappointed...yes we've been building good talent, but most of the teams on our schedule have been building great talent. I hate saying it, but it's the truth

[Quaoarsking]

If we go 5-7 with the talent we have been gathering, then we need to change coaches. Our talent level is never going to be much higher than it is now

So you want Mullen fired if we go 5-7?

I don't think we'll be 5-7, but I certainly won't be calling for Mullen's head if we do. Not yet at least.

[ShotgunDawg]

So you want Mullen fired if we go 5-7?

I don't think we'll be 5-7, but I certainly won't be calling for Mullen's head if we do. Not yet at least.

This is a short sighted argument. You can't look at it as 5-7. There are different kinds of 5-7s. Did we get blown out, or did we lose on the goal line to Bama, LSU, TAMU, and Scar? Did we get screwed on a back breaking, game deciding play by the refs?

It matters more how we got to 5-7 than it matters if we are 5-7 or not.... at least to me.

I could be different though. I watch games with my eyes and decide whether or not we are good or bad. I evaluate players, schemes, and competency. I know thats a tough argument to make on a message board, but its the best way to do it if you can.

[HancockCountyDog]

So you want Mullen fired if we go 5-7?

I don't think we'll be 5-7, but I certainly won't be calling for Mullen's head if we do. Not yet at least.

5-7 with our schedule would be a massive underachievement with all of the talent on our roster. Massive underachievement.

People are vastly underrating our talent.

[Coach34]

So you want Mullen fired if we go 5-7?

I don't think we'll be 5-7, but I certainly won't be calling for Mullen's head if we do. Not yet at least.

I'm saying that if Mullen goes 5-7 with:

5 starters returning on the OL- one a likely 1st rounder
A potential draft pick at QB
A potential draft pick at RB
A draft pick at DE- with 2 more future draft picks in the 2 deep
A 5-star and three 4-star DT's
A future draft pick at MLB
A likely draft pick at F/S

Then we need to figure out something- because our talent level will almost never be any higher than it will be in 2013

[Political Hack]

So you want Mullen fired if we go 5-7?

I don't think we'll be 5-7, but I certainly won't be calling for Mullen's head if we do. Not yet at least.

No, but Strick should be if we go 5-7. scheduling Okie State because he was dumb enough to believe Mike Slive that we'd get to play Vandy instead of S. Carolina was foolish. LT helps with SEC scheduling. Anyone with half a brain knows he wasn't going to do us any favors. So instead of having Vandy and Tulane, we get S. Car and Okie State. Getting bent over by the SEC office again and again a la LT is getting old. The Ninja didnt "accept our place" and we did just fine.

[bluelightstar]

No, but Strick should be if we go 5-7. scheduling Okie State because he was dumb enough to believe Mike Slive that we'd get to play Vandy instead of S. Carolina was foolish. LT helps with SEC scheduling. Anyone with half a brain knows he wasn't going to do us any favors. So instead of having Vandy and Tulane, we get S. Car and Okie State. Getting bent over by the SEC office again and again a la LT is getting old. The Ninja didnt "accept our place" and we did just fine.

So Stricklin should be fired for not lining up another patsy? Not Mullen for not being able to beat a team he's outrecruited?

[Political Hack]

So Stricklin should be fired for not lining up another patsy? Not Mullen for not being able to beat a team he's outrecruited?

if we miss a bowl because of Strick's boneheaded move and for bowing down to the SEC office, then yes.

Just for the record, this whole "out recruited" thing is irrelevant. OM "out recruits" us every year and we've got more talent than them right now.