Who are your Sleeper Teams for 2009

[egghead]

Originally Posted by n5xm

Yeah, it's damn tough to make a living in the SEC, but look for the Razorbacks to be much more competitive in '09. They can easily start four on offense with 4.4 speed. RB Michael Smith has been timed in 4.35. They will be at least 5 deep at RB, will have 4 out of 5 OL returning, and a TE who had 63 catches last season. Yes, new QB Ryan Mallett has to establish himself, but he finished with a very strong final spring game.

Sr. DT Malcom Shepherd led all SEC interior defensive linemen in sacks, and Jake Becquette is becoming a stalwart at DE. We will be stronger at LB with some nicely ranked newcomers. The secondary will be the caveat. Plenty are coming back, but it was a terrible weakness last season. We do have 2 of the top 10 incoming frosh at cornerback coming, and I would not be surprised to see either or both Darius Winston and David Gordon (10.17 100m) start. Increased emphasis on special teams bodes well this fall, also. Lots bitch about our weak non-conference schedule, but we play 7 bowl teams from last year. On the other hand, we could start out 1-4. There is great potential for success in Fayetteville. n5

Arkansas had a glass half full last year--but in the end they were competitive--beating LSU and losing 3 of 4 of their final games by 3 points or less

Dick was a QB who would not lose games for you but he wasn't the guy who could win them--With Mallet the Razorbacks have a guy who can thrive in the Petrino system--with three pretty good receivers returning and one of the better tight ends in the nation in D.J. Williams and Smith and Johnson in the backfield (I am very curious to see how USC transfer Broderick Green does this summer) Arkansas should be much improved offensively

But as you say that defense--they were very young last year.. But in the SEC for 2009 you better be able stop the run--and Arkansas was dead last in the SEC in rushing defense --That will be the key for Arkansas in 2009--can they stop the run--and they still are pretty light on the defensive line--but Alfred Davis should help a lot-Jerry Franklin is a good one at linebacker

No body should be talking about Arkansas's schedule--they have the four best teams in the SEC on the road along with Texas A&M and play Troy Auburn and Georgia who is a pretty good football team at home

Arkansas could be another one of those teams that make great strides on the field--but it won't show on the record--(they will probably only be favored in 4 games) I think it will come down to health and just how quick Mallett adjusts to having the year off--They really have a shot at being the shocker team in the SEC

[egghead]

Originally Posted by TyKixx

The defense should remain very strong even losing Kroul and King. Jewel Hampton looked good last year so hopefully he'll soften the blow of losing Greene. Stanzi needs to make progress. If he does, I think they'll be fine.

Oh well---it looks like Hampton hurt his knee friday--and Iowa is still real vague on Calloway's suspension--so Iowa may have some more holes to fill to start the season

[JustinA407]

Originally Posted by chevy706

I've seen WVU anywhere between 1st and 4th. I think the reason those that give them a 4th projection aren't slighting the Mountaineers as much as they're indicating you could pretty much throw a blanket over WVU, Pitt, Cincy, and South Florida.

As a Pitt fan, I look at their schedule and see they could go 11-1 or 7-5, or anywhere in between. I look for the conference to be very competitive this season.

That's fair. If Pitt could just find an offense, they could be a legimate top 15 team with the defense they should be fielding. It should be an interesting year in the Big East. I definately worry that the conference being competitive will be mistaken for weakness. I know we are not and will never be the SEC, but nobody is....

[n5xm]

For some odd reason I was thinking about Texas Tech yesterday, and I was trying to remember if they graduated most of that big, mean OL they had last year. It's bad enough that they lost a great QB and WR, but if they have to rebuild the OL it could bode poorly for the Red Raiders. In such complex offenses, timing is of primary importance. One thing I loved about their offense last year was that they seemed to have secondary routes when the play broke down and Harrell had to "scramble". It was like there were specific places for the WRs to go after they finished their routes, and Harrell knew every time where his outlets were going to be. Now, that's a great strategic idea that on the surface appears to be purely tactical. If this is so, the incoming QB must already know these finesses. Please pardon the ravings of an esoteric, mad-scientist offensive mind...n5

[egghead]

Originally Posted by n5xm

For some odd reason I was thinking about Texas Tech yesterday, and I was trying to remember if they graduated most of that big, mean OL they had last year. It's bad enough that they lost a great QB and WR, but if they have to rebuild the OL it could bode poorly for the Red Raiders. In such complex offenses, timing is of primary importance. One thing I loved about their offense last year was that they seemed to have secondary routes when the play broke down and Harrell had to "scramble". It was like there were specific places for the WRs to go after they finished their routes, and Harrell knew every time where his outlets were going to be. Now, that's a great strategic idea that on the surface appears to be purely tactical. If this is so, the incoming QB must already know these finesses. Please pardon the ravings of an esoteric, mad-scientist offensive mind...n5

They lost OT Rylan Reed, G Louis Vasquez--but what made texas tech so good last year was the defense--it was pretty good and the offense didn't have to get in a shootout every week

but they lost a good portion of their defense--Brandon Williams was a great defensive end --and the pass rush helped the secondary a lot last year--and with three key players gone in the secondary and the QB's in the Big 12--the raiders are in a world of hurt--I don't see the offense having more firepower than last year which they would have to have to make up for the defensive issues--

[TyKixx]

Originally Posted by egghead

Oh well---it looks like Hampton hurt his knee friday--and Iowa is still real vague on Calloway's suspension--so Iowa may have some more holes to fill to start the season

How bad was the injury? I didn't see that.

Iowa has a ton fo guys who might face some sort of suspension. This athletic program has gone to hell. So many arrests and subpar performances on the field/court. Guys getting kicked out of school in recent years, that sorta thing.

I guess football has held up on the field, but has had way too many arrests and such. Basketball as a whole is just a travesty, a disaster, and an embarassment.

[n5xm]

I enjoyed their physical approach to the game. Then you look at the kind of QBs that have come through Iowa, and it was a great blend. I don't understand why they don't win at the same level they did ten or twelve years ago. There is great physical talent with good size and speed in their recruiting area. They can recruit Chicago area teams, maybe even get one or two that tried to go to the Irish but went to Iowa. Great players in PA, IL, MI, NY, et al, so it wouldn't be that very good players weren't available for them. I wish I knew more about them. n5

[TyKixx]

Someone like Egg who isn't even an Iowa fan could probably shed more light on the situation than I could. Anyway, my 2 cents, they never get the talent that Penn St-Ohio St-Michigan get and that probably won't change. Specifically, it seems to be most true regarding the QB and WR positions. They tend to be blue collar type teams. Other than Brad Banks, which they kind of lucked into, I have never really been over impressed with the QBs they have had. I also feel as though they never seem to be athletic enough on the outside. QB Drew Tate and WR Clinton Solomon never got any better through their careers, a guy like WR Domenik Douglas was outstanding as a freshman and then kicked out of school. I don't know, I just feel like they never seem to quite get it in those areas. Maybe it is just me.

[chicubie23]

Originally Posted by detna3333

My 5 sleepers
SMU
Colorado
Arkansas
California
Boise State They'll go undefeated this year I'm calling it

Boisevwill once again make it to a bcs bowl. however I am hoping they play a PAC 10 team in the post season,

[egghead]

Originally Posted by TyKixx

How bad was the injury? I didn't see that.

Iowa has a ton fo guys who might face some sort of suspension. This athletic program has gone to hell. So many arrests and subpar performances on the field/court. Guys getting kicked out of school in recent years, that sorta thing.

I guess football has held up on the field, but has had way too many arrests and such. Basketball as a whole is just a travesty, a disaster, and an embarassment.

The mystery surrounding Iowa RB Jewel Hampton's knee injury remains just that -- a mystery. Hampton looked pretty spry today, according to a report in the Des Moines Register, but has also been told not to talk about the injury.

Not sure how bad it is--He was at off season practice and moving around but he was having an MRI done--they haven't released any details yet

This also was reported

Iowa starting OG Julian Vandervelde will undergo an undisclosed surgery and could miss the early part of the season. That was the word from coach Kirk Ferentz today. Vandervelde started nine games in 2008 and was being counted on to be a key cog in the offensive line.

Not that I bet on college football--but this is a site that sends me info on injuries

College Football Player News at VegasInsider.com, The Leader in Sportsbook and Gaming Information - NCAA Football Player News and Updates

[egghead]

Originally Posted by TyKixx

Someone like Egg who isn't even an Iowa fan could probably shed more light on the situation than I could. Anyway, my 2 cents, they never get the talent that Penn St-Ohio St-Michigan get and that probably won't change. Specifically, it seems to be most true regarding the QB and WR positions. They tend to be blue collar type teams. Other than Brad Banks, which they kind of lucked into, I have never really been over impressed with the QBs they have had. I also feel as though they never seem to be athletic enough on the outside. QB Drew Tate and WR Clinton Solomon never got any better through their careers, a guy like WR Domenik Douglas was outstanding as a freshman and then kicked out of school. I don't know, I just feel like they never seem to quite get it in those areas. Maybe it is just me.

In my opinion you hit the nail on the head--they are blue collar

They have as good a talent in the trenches as anybody--but have great difficulty recruiting skill players in numbers and speed on the outside--