OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Obviously the elephant on the Rant is the implementation of Krags new scheme and which QB he assigns to run it. I'd like to think there are some indicators to give us an idea... and yes, they do favor Mett, but I'm not guaranteeing or suggesting that he definitely WILL be the starter. There's a lot to be said for having SEC experience.

There are some MAJOR concerns with Jefferson that may endanger his hold on the starting job... Jefferson has shown it takes him AGES to learn a new scheme, and he is not very adept in the pro-style passing game that Krags brings to the table. Moreover, I find it hard to believe that Krags would want to fully invest in a senior QB, especially given JJ's lack of consistency. The fact that he goes from bad to average is also a note of concern.

Working in Jefferson's favor are his SEC experience, the desire to maintain continuity on the offense (already shot to hell with Crowton), and his running ability. Lee seems to be the odd man out in this rotation... he was never able to beat out Jefferson, so there's really nothing to suggest that he won't be No.2 on the depth chart at best.

WIDE RECEIVERS
WIth Toliver up and leaving, we're left without a true No.1 on the team. Reuben has been solid in his first year starting, but he hasn't lit the world on fire like many expected. Russell Shepard... he's the subject of much debate on the Rant, but I haven't seen much to be impressed with from him. He doesn't seem to have the ability to make moves in space, he certainly can't break tackles, he's horrendous at his blocking assignments, can't catch the ball, and despite the lure of his awe-inspiring speed, somehow can't manage to create separation from SEC DBs. Frankly, he's got a lot of work to do in order to keep from being passed up on the depth chart. I throw my hands up in the air on this one.

After that, we just have a lot of ?s. We have a lot of young talent, but none are proven. I'd almost suggest putting Ware out at WR, but after what he showed in the Cotton Bowl, that would be an enormous mistake. I'm hoping that Landry can step in from Day One and earn a spot in the rotation, or that Tolliver can progress enough from that season-altering concussion to be effective, but otherwise, this group is weak as a whole.

OFFENSIVE LINE
This is an area that we'll be very solid for a long time to come. Recruiting has finally filled the void that was left by the attrition in Miles' early years and next year's line looks to be a good one... Seeing Blackwell return from injury was a breathe of fresh air. Nearly all of our big runs against aTm's vaunted defense went to his side. Hurst and Shaw should be able to lock down the edges as well... I really like what I saw out of them this season. Dworacyzk was impressive all year round and will be great in his role... I also think that Lonergan has locked down the center spot at this time, which I can't argue with.

We may have trouble against Alabama's Front 7, but I see us opening big holes for the RBs and giving our QB a lot of time against everyone else on the schedule next year unless Muschamp can make something happen at Florida... they do have the talent there to make a run, they just didn't have the organization last year.

RUNNINGBACKS
The obvious strength of the team next year. Not much needs to be said because everyone knows it already. Losing a running that put up 1000+ yards and 10+ TDs in the SEC without any semblance of a passing game is going to be brutal, but his decision to leave was about prolonging his NFL career just as much as it was about not wanting to see someone else steal carries from him. Ford and Ware are going to have people doting on them as much as Richardson and Ingram did, I think..

DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
This will be an area of strength for us next year, for sure. We're all assuming that Montgomery comes back from his injuryto serve as a dominant force on the edge that we've been missing for several years now. The general mayhem that he displayed are going to serve the team well next year. The DTs are going to obviously suffer with the loss of Nevis, but I'm not sure to what degree. He came on strong, but seemed to disappear towards the end of the year. Downs and Brockers have been great when given the opportunity, but they are a bit undersized and Downs doesn't seem to be able to stay healthy. INSERT THE FREAK. We have yet to see how his game translates to the SEC level... some are predicting that he'll be as unblockable as Fairley was straight out of high school.. while I don't see that kind of an impact, I do think that he'll be a force in the middle and work his way into the starting rotation midseason... this guy has the ability to make an impact. Look for Ego to make a big push for starting time as well.

The other DE position is going to be a huge ?, however. Adams and Mingo showed great things, but neither are dominant DEs and neither can play for an entire game. Maybe we'll get a steal in recruiting to fill the position, but in all likelihood, this is going to be the weak spot on the line next year.

LINEBACKERS
Not much to say on this topic. I have a feeling that the loss of Shepard is going to hurt. Badly. Probably starters are Minter, Baker, and Francois, but they have no experience, are at their best only when blitzing, and just a body on the field, respectively. Maybe someone on the bench will step up, or maybe Randle or CJ will be good enough to start from Day One, but there's a glaring hole in the middle of our defense that can be exploited.

All I can say here is that I trust the Chief to make some magic out of a position that is his specialty.

SECONDARY
We're going to be absolutely nasty when opposing teams try to pass. No Julio Jones. No AJ Green. No Greg Childs. No Darvin Adams. No Cam Newton. No Greg McElroy. No Ryan Mallett. No Jeremiah Masoli.

Losing Peterson hurts, but not as badly as many pundits think. Because of his ability, our young corners were tested all year when QBs looked away from No.7. Claiborne and Simon have stepped up and will be very good in 2011. The success of LBH is well-chronicled and I don't see the coaching staff doing anything to change his role. I don't think I've ever seen someone that had a nose for the ball like he does.

Safety is a bit perplexing. On the one hand, we have two senior safeties in Hatcher and Taylor. On the other, we have two amazing prospects in Loston and Reid. In all likelihood, Taylor will probably keep his job, Hatcher might not. Those two bombs against Arkansas are going to be fresh in EVERYONE'S minds. The only hiccup to the way the season ended was the loss to Arky and the denial of a Sugar Bowl. All in all, the secondary is as good as I remember it being in nearly a decade.

THE SCHEDULE
This is what could kill and otherwise perfectly positioned team. The showdown with Oregon is going to be huge, but I question whether they were a giant or a mirage on the romp through the Pac-10. In any case, Miles has months to prepare and Oregon has little to no footage to work with on our offense. We have the advantage.

After a dangerous trip to Starkville, we'll face nothing but scrub teams and teams that are rebuilding until the Nov. 5 showdown in Tuscaloosa. There's no telling how that game will go. Miles is 2-2 against Saban, both of us will have extremely talented teams. Make no mistake about it, this game will determine how the West was won. The season finale against Arkansas will be dangerous, especially if Davis continues his development and Wilson is as good as he appeared against Auburn.

All in all, a damn strong team with few question marks and unlimited potential