re: 92 Days till Football - Athlon Breakdown getting me amped

quote:

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I don't see your guys having more yards and TDs than our guys in terms of rushing and REC combined.

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Don't blame you for asserting this based on team bias/alliance, but what needs to be factored in is the quality of opponent-faced and other factors compared to 2011 (if that is your basis for asserting Bama has a better chance at out producing the LSU running game).

Start with 2011 and adjust were needed:
1) LSU 2011 schedule was universally-agreed as being more difficult than Bama's. 2012 is MUCH more comparable.
2) TR was the best back in the country in 2011 - gone.
3) Kenny Hilliard played only a small portion of the 2011 campaign.
4) LSU's 2012 offensive line is unquestionable better than 2011.
5) Bama's Oline will be possibly as good in 2012, but no one is saying it will be better than 2011.
6) Lacy is a very good back, but he is NO way close to TR.
7)LSU's running back depth and talent level is sick on steroids.
8) LSU's passing game is projected/predicted, or if you choose "intelligently asserted" to be vastly improved in 2012. This could be argued on the surface to be a negative for the running game due to more passing than running. On the other hand, Les Miles is Les Miles and like Saban will be run-first all day long, meaning the passing will be more likely to open up the running lanes as opposed to closing then since 8 and 9 man boxes will be a rare thing on 1st and 2nd downs compared to 2011. Not to mention that a passing game will allow LSU to get up on teams (more likely) and when that happens, it will be run, run, run by Les Miles

8 is enough to make the point.