Is 2014 football a "rebuilding" year?

For the record I think we can win every game, but I expect us to lose 2-4 because all signs point to 2014 being more significant for the development of underclassmen for our real run at a championship next year. I was all on the Defensive-Reload bandwagon last year, but we found out the hard way that you don't lose your best players and get better. After another year of early defections, the D seems to be in the same situation while the O has question marks everywhere but the line.

I hear a lot of optimisim about the D, but I just don't see where the front 7 will be improved. Danielle looks like he's ready to be a star, but I really have my doubts about the interior as LaCouture and Thomas got less than 1/2 the snaps that Ego / Anthony got in '12 as the second unit, and sometimes when we did use the backup DL last year they got steamrolled (an Arky TD drive in the 3rd quarter where they ran the ball almost every play comes to mind).

I heard all the same optimistic predictions about the linebacking crew last year (this is Debo's year!!), but when Welter's still your MLB, it's safe to say you're not in the top 1/2 of the conference at that spot. The depth at that position has improved dramatically from last year, though, but even the hope for secondary improvement is predicated upon a Safety stepping up and being better than Loston. At least we won't look as lost back there this year.

Again, I think the development of those freshman and redshirt freshman will be more signficant than our record this year. All around the depth is better this year (except OL), but I can't see a legitimate argument that the starters will be better anywhere outside of DE and the secondary. We will likely find 2 stars out of LaCouture, Bain, Herron, Gilmore, Godchaux, and Valentine, but we still don't even know who's gonna be the 2nd team interior DL out of those guys, let alone assume they'll be All-SEC this year.

Same goes for the offense. It's more about if we can find a #2 option beside Dural (and even his apparent emergence in the spring game was a surprise). Dural will be a star, and you would think at least Dupre if nobody else will emerge by the end of the season beside him (a la ODB '11). However, I think DeSean is our only hope to have 2 legitimate receiving threats vs. Wisconsin. Again, it wouldn't surprise me if Jacory or Trey Quinn developed as a consistent target by November, but they probably won't see the field in Dallas.

I think we have a chance to enter a deathmatch with Bama with only one loss, but even losses to Wisconsin and Ole Miss shouldn't derail any realistic fans' hopes, because if we can get the offense and defensive front 7 rolling by November, things will be set up perfectly for a championship run in 2015!