Socon 2011 preseason prognostications

[youngterrier]

I don't care if there's already a thread on this.

After reading some posts on the Wofford board, I think we'll win the Socon this year. I might be just being a homer right now, but from what I hear Tarek Odom, our highly recruited DL is going to be a stud. I won't compare him to Russell yet, pair him with Ameet Pall and the DL is going to be hard to block. Not to mention the fact that the LBs were probably the strength of the defense going into the preseason with their depth, talent, and experience. Our secondary took the (relatively) biggest hit last year by losing 2 players out of the 2 deep but I believe we've recruited well enough and are returning enough players from injury to where we have as much talent and experience to be just as well or better than we were last year. Bottom line, I think our already stellar top-2 defense should even improve.

Offensively we seem to have 2 of the 3 RB spots filled with Eric Breitenstein and Donovan Johnson, both talented and all conference caliber players. Our OL, though losing many starters from last year, appears to be embedded enough for us to be successful (like we are every year on OL). Our Wideouts should be good enough to get the job done as usual. If Mitch Allen manages the game and reads the option as well as senior QBs in the past we should have a great offense.

I think GSU will be second, Their defense will be on the same level as Wofford's defense with neither one being clearly superior (outside of stats ). I think they're offense wasn't really good last year and in a lot of cases they depended on their defense to put them in a position to win. Wofford has a step forward offensively and they have a better schedule (not leaving SC until November), so I give Wofford the edge for the conference crown

I think Chattanooga and App will fight for 3rd. I think this is App's year to be knocked off the mountain. They have lots of talent, but very few teams lose 17 starters and are on the same level as the year before, they didn't seem like they were head and shoulders above the conference either (with the exception of Wofford's annual brain fart in Boone).

Elon and Furman will fight for 5th. Too many question marks to evaluate either one on the surface. They'll definitely play spoiler to at least one of the teams ahead of them and will be competitive in every game they play.

Samford and Western should fight for the title of not being the citadel.

Citadel will finish last. Goodbye Kevin (and we're not talking about Citdog).

So overall IMO
Wofford
GSU
Chatty
App
Furman
Elon
Samford
Western
Citadel (they have not earned the "the")

The top 4 are really interchangeable, as are the bottom 3. App should be picked to win it again because they are king but I really doubt that they will. I think we will get 2 teams in the playoffs again this year for sure, with a possibility of 3 or 4. 5 may be unlikely, but there's the slightest possibility.

Discuss

[rebla 49er]

After reading some posts on the Wofford board, I think we'll win the Socon this year. I might be just being a homer right now

Special emphasis added. I would consider leaving this out as it will improve the likelihood others will pay attention.

[phoenixphanatic21]

My predictions:
1. Georgia Southern - Tough to pick against them with all the talent they have coming back
2. App - Too many questions with this team. At the same time, still wouldn't be surprised to see them win it
3. Wofford - Everyone's favorite sleeper pick this year
4. Chatty - Should break the 6-win plateau this year
5. Furman - Like youngterrier said, questions surround this team
6. Elon - See Furman. Though I think if we get some good QB play, we could finish as high as 3-4
7. Citadel - I think they'll be very improved from last year. Another year in the triple option and actually having more players suited for the system should help a lot
8. Western - Well, they should beat Samford if nothing else
9.Samford - No Chris Evans or Bryce Smith? That'll be a problem

[youngterrier]

After reading some posts on the Wofford board, I think we'll win the Socon this year. I might be just being a homer right now

Special emphasis added. I would consider leaving this out as it will improve the likelihood others will pay attention.

<facepalm> I thought Wofford was going to be a contender for the conference crown going into the preseason, after reading reports about scrimmages and what not I'm sure they'll be a contender. Tarek Odom will be a force hopefully

[Skjellyfetti]

I think this is App's year to be knocked off the mountain. They have lots of talent, but very few teams lose 17 starters and are on the same level as the year before, they didn't seem like they were head and shoulders above the conference either (with the exception of Wofford's annual brain fart in Boone).

We didn't lose 17 starters...

We only lost 1 more starter than Wofford did.

[Skjellyfetti]

I think we will get 2 teams in the playoffs again this year for sure, with a possibility of 3 or 4. 5 may be unlikely, but there's the slightest possibility.

We had 3 teams in the playoffs last year and I really doubt we only have 2 in this year. We should have 3 or 4.

[youngterrier]

I think this is App's year to be knocked off the mountain. They have lots of talent, but very few teams lose 17 starters and are on the same level as the year before, they didn't seem like they were head and shoulders above the conference either (with the exception of Wofford's annual brain fart in Boone).

We didn't lose 17 starters...

We only lost 1 more starter than Wofford did.

according to ASUG8 you lost 17 starters.

[ASUG8]

I think this is App's year to be knocked off the mountain. They have lots of talent, but very few teams lose 17 starters and are on the same level as the year before, they didn't seem like they were head and shoulders above the conference either (with the exception of Wofford's annual brain fart in Boone).

We didn't lose 17 starters...

We only lost 1 more starter than Wofford did.

That might have been my mistake - I think I told YT last night that we lost 17 I heard it somewhere

[youngterrier]

I think we will get 2 teams in the playoffs again this year for sure, with a possibility of 3 or 4. 5 may be unlikely, but there's the slightest possibility.

We had 3 teams in the playoffs last year and I really doubt we only have 2 in this year. We should have 3 or 4.

and how does that contradict what I said?

[Skjellyfetti]

That might have been my mistake - I think I told YT last night that we lost 17 I heard it somewhere

I should have made the trip down to Greenville to set you guys straight.

We have 5 returning on offense and 7 returning on defense.

8 on defense if you count Tanyi... who was an all conference DE before getting injured before Montana and sitting out last year. Now he's an inside LB.

[eagleskins]

You see the GSU of old this season. Big blowouts on inferior opponents and the swagger to beat everyone.

[youngterrier]

Another key factor to watch this season for GSU: I believe they lost their defensive coordinator did they not? Should be interesting to see how well the defense performs

[CID1990]

Take away all the QB-Center exchange problems we had last year, and we look a lot better than we were (at least on paper).

I think we will be better than two, and possibly three teams in the SoCon this year. Practices have already shown that we will be putting the ball on the ground much less than last year. The kids are also much more comfortable in the TO, and that is as it should be at The Citadel, where we never should have left the option in the first place.

Our season opener is against Jacksonville, which will be telling. Jacksonville looks like they would be in the middle of the pack if they were in the SoCon. I think if we compete with them (or even win), then we will exceed expectations. If they blow us away in our house then I think 2011 will be more of the same for us.

I like Chatty as a dark horse this year, but then every time they have ever been picked to break out it seems to be the kiss of death for them. If they exceed expectations just a little bit, you can put them in second place ahead of ASU and Wofford.

Also, I think GSU blew people away last year, and there will be a certain "you're not sneaking up on us this year" factor. I think they will still be ok, but it will be their defense that needs to carry the day against ASU and Wofford. Any hiccups there and they could wind up in 3rd looking for the at-large.

Here's how I see it realistically:

GSU
ASU-Wofford toss up; default to ASU
Chatty
Furple
The Citadel-Elon toss up; default to Elon
Samford
WCU (another new offense- gasping for breath up in Cullowheeeeee)

Also, I think that if we do finish in the bottom three, Kevin might well be gone. That said, we have a sizeable cabal of alumni who still think he is the guy for us.

[catamount man]

1 - Georgia Southern
2 - Wofford
3 - Appalachian State
4 - Chattanooga
5 - Furman
6 - Western Carolina
7 - Elon
8 - Samford
9 - The Citadel

[CID1990]

1 - Georgia Southern
2 - Wofford
3 - Appalachian State
4 - Chattanooga
5 - Furman
6 - Western Carolina
7 - Elon
8 - Samford
9 - The Citadel

[alvin kayak]

1. Georgia Southern
2. App State
3. Wofford
4. Chattanooga
5. Furman
6. Elon
7. Citadel
8. Samford
9. Western Carolina