re: ESPN (Chris Low) preseason power rankings...

All this is garbage at this stage.

1. Florida
2. Bama
3. LSU
4. South Carolina
5. Auburn/Ark
7. UGA

Bama has to replace too much on defense and looked too pitiful in the kicking game during their spring game to be ranked first.

I value strong defense over potential on offense. That is why I have LSU and South Carolina over Auburn, Arkansas and UGA(teams that struggled to keep teams out of the endzone last year)

I don't see how anyone can have UGA third considering they are changing scheme on defense and have an inexperienced underclassman at QB.

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....and if Alabama's defense gives up points faster than it did last year, McElroy is good enough to carry that offense?

Their K won many of games last year and he's gone too.

That defense lost nine players to control the game and allowed Alabama's offense to run the way it did last year. You must be crazy if you think there's going to be no dropoff in production from that defense. I don't care what Rivals says about them coming out of high school.

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Nonetheless, when the defending SEC Champion and National Champion returns their starting QB and their Heisman winner, they naturally will be ranked number one in the preseason polls. Additionally, while it is true that Alabama's defensive production will presumably decline (at least during the early portion of the season), it is also true that the voters (justifiably) have tremendous faith in Saban's ability to teach and develop new defensive stars within his system.

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Nonetheless, when the defending SEC Champion and National Champion returns their starting QB and their Heisman winner, they naturally will be ranked number one in the preseason polls.

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Hence, me saying the only reason they're number 1 is because they're the defending national champion.

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Other than the QB, what makes Arkansas so damn special?

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Offensively

Experienced Line (probably top 5 in SEC)
One of the top QB's in the country
A group of WR's that many consider the most PRODUCTIVE group in the country
Stable of Powerful running backs
One of the Top TE's in the country
#1 O in the SEC

Defenisively
We have depth concerns at LB (nothing new for Arky)
We finally have a legit 2 deep on the DL (somthing we've been lacking for 2-3 years)
Secondary talent is finally up-to-par with the SEC (Crim moving to Saftey is a huge coup for us)4 and 5* talent

Special Teams
Need some work here, particulaly in FG kicking in big games (see OM, UF and LSU) where it ultimately cost us games in both UF and LSU

Kickoffs were horrible last year and punting was very inconsistent

My take:

The O will be more effective this year, particularly running the ball with the addition of a New OL Coach (Klenakis from Nevada) and the implementation of the Pistol formation. I don't think Mallett will have the numbers last year, but I suspect his Completion Percentage to go up this year as DJ Williams has been buying a ton of luches. Defensively, we can only hope for improvement again this year.

We went from the worst D in PPG to 9th last year and the coaching staff believes we can improve on that. If we can move up a couple more spots with our offense, we should be able to challenge many

This year we get Bama, OM and LSU at home and lose UF off the schedule for VAndy

Finally we have competition at the Kicker spots

A 10 win season is not out of the cards, but many Arky fans are thinking 8-9 wins plus bowl

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2. Alabama (7-1)

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Florida
Arkansas
LSU


Those are all 3 plausible losses.

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Florida
Arkansas
LSU


Those are all 3 plausible losses.

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I predict Alabama beats Florida in the regular season and loses to either Arkansas or Auburn. Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship game.

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Alabama won with ball control.

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What do you think is going to happen this season?

Alabama is going to lead the SEC in rushing and time of possession by a good margin. Saban is going to pound the ball with Ingram and Richardson and keep his young defense off the field for as long as possible.

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It's Bama's status as reigning champion plus the fact that they return most of their offense

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All of your arguments are legit. I'm just stating my opinion. Not based on my hatred for Alabama. I can look at most things unbiased, unlike most of the rant.

As for the offense, I would agree with that if Alabama had some sort of June Jones/Mike Leach ridiculous offense.....

BUT....

last year you have Alabama scoring 22 vs. Ole Miss. One touchdown. Scored 20 vs. South Carolina. 12 vs. Tennessee. No TD's.

This team was not an offensive juggernaut. The offense did what the defense allowed it to do. Which was run the ball and kill the clock with 2 enormous trucks they called RB's. Ball control.

Julio returns, sure, but who else? Maze? Darius Hanks? They were 92nd in the country in passing last year.

What happens if Arkansas or Florida goes up 28-10 in the second half? You're taking Ingram and Richardson out of the game. you have to put a comeback on McElroy's shoulders. I just don't find him to be a playmaker QB.

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last year you have Alabama scoring 22 vs. Ole Miss. One touchdown. Scored 20 vs. South Carolina. 12 vs. Tennessee. No TD's.

This team was not an offensive juggernaut. The offense did what the defense allowed it to do. Which was run the ball and kill the clock with 2 enormous trucks they called RB's. Ball control.

Julio returns, sure, but who else? Maze? Darius Hanks? They were 92nd in the country in passing last year.

What happens if Arkansas or Florida goes up 28-10 in the second half? You're taking Ingram and Richardson out of the game. you have to put a comeback on McElroy's shoulders. I just don't find him to be a playmaker QB.

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What you are suggesting is plausible. In fact, I hope it does happen. However, I remain concerned that Bama's defensive will be stifling again this season, allowing them to continue to run that boring molasses offense.