re: NEXT YEAR'S DEFENSE.......

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SAM (SLB)
No. 58 Tahj Jones 6-2 205 JR
No. 52 Luke Muncie 6-3, 210, JR
No. 23 Lamar Louis 6-0 220, FR
No. 25 Kwon Alexander 6-2, 215, FR

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Kwon 4th team, brilliant

Our secondary will not be better guys. Sorry it just won't happen. It dropped off from last year and it will drop off again this year unless two players step up and play to PP7's caliber or Brandon Taylor's. It's will drop off especially when you can not have a steady pass rush like this years. Weak D line depth puts pressure on the secondary that doesn't need pressure, I see issues coming our way not end of the world but a drop off from this year for sure. Who ever says we will be better is dreaming and it's time to wake up.

The immediate strengths of the team to begin with will be right down the middle; Dtackles, MLB if Minter returns and the safeties. The anticipated improvement in the young outside backers and corners really leaves only the defensive ends as a major question mark IMO. Hunter has shown glimmers of excellence in sparse play this year. Same for Rasco. Allen should be healed up and another great class is coming in. My guess is that the Defense will once again be among the top 3 or 4 in the SEC with the possibility of being the best.

I might go as far to predict that White might beat out Collins or Mills at the third starting CB position by next year's end IF Tharold leaves, which I don't think he will. I think White is gonna be a great one for us.

With Miles' recent penchant for playing redshirt freshmen and true freshmen - I think Gilmore, Herron, LaCouture, and either Beckwith, Willis or Williams (if we get one of them) - will get to play some next year.
We are STACKED at LB. And if Tahj Jones comes back, so much the better.
And if somehow, someway - one or more of: Montgomery, Mingo, Minter, Logan, and Simon come back for their senior seasons to win a NC, holy goat plop.

Secondly, I think our defense hinges, oddly enough - on our offensive line. A great OL keeps drives alive and runs the clock, keeping our D off the field.
If we can replace Dworczak and Lonergan, which is VERY doable if Faulk comes back, our OL could be dominant, especially with all the young players who have gotten expereience this year.
We are only losing two skill players - Shepard and Clement, but we have 6 TBs, 2 FBs, 3 TEs, and about 10 receivers coming back. We should have a very very good offense.