Published August 2, 2011 - 8:31am
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Football is right around the corner for everyone, including us fans who get high off watching our team take the field.
There are some superstars in this league, and these superstars bring high expectations. With those high expectations come multiple ways players can underperform.
Here is a list of what could be four legitimate underperformers in 2011:
1. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Marcus Lattimore has been deemed by many to be the best running back in the SEC. While it certainly is hard to argue with that, Trent Richardson is better. What if Lattimore doesn’t deliver for his Gamecocks in 2011? It’s very possible his greatness is simply overhyped. South Carolina’s quarterback position has a chance to be super-spotty throughout the year in 2011. With the spotty quarterback play, teams will consistently key on Marcus Lattimore to make this offense go. I know he had a great year in 2010 as a freshman, but teams have had a year or more to prepare for this cat in the backfield. Teams will consistently make Stephen Garcia, or whoever the eligible quarterback is, beat them through the air. Can Garcia do it? If not, can Connor Shaw do it? While Lattimore is a special talent, the expectations are too high, and there are just too many questions around Lattimore to make me think he will exceed 1,000 yards rushing again.
2. Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee
Tyler Bray had a great year to end 2010, but let’s face it, he played NO ONE. Everyone is hating the fact that Bray is ranked in the middle half of the SEC in quarterbacks, but he has yet to prove anything. He beat Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and lost to North Carolina. Can you point me out a legitimate defense he defeated? Exactly. While there is talent surrounding Bray, there are too many signs of an Erik Ainge-type season for me. I think Tennessee fans are going to be somewhat disappointed with their young-gun this season. Consistency might be the problem. We’ll see.
3. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
While I do agree that Aaron Murray is arguably the best quarterback in the SEC coming in this season, there are way too many question marks about his team. He has no go-to receiver, and if there is one, it’s tight end Orson Charles. There are too many questions starting with the offensive line and what a patch-up it will be. Next, the Bulldogs have NO running game. Washaun Ealey is gone. Caleb King is gone. True freshman Isaiah Crowell is nowhere near the talent of either Lattimore or Michael Dyer. Crowell won’t even have a decent OL to run behind. Teams will key in on Aaron Murray in this season and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo will continue to underwhelm with his play calling. If things don’t start well, this season could have disaster written all over it.
4. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
Tyler Wilson has yet to start a football game for the Fayetteville Hogs, but he has been deemed already better than Ryan Mallett. I love the fact that fans rationalize the way Wilson will be unbelievable by pointing out all the talent around him and his stellar one half of a football game against Auburn. Stick John Brantley in that offense and there will be minimal production from that position, and I don’t care if Bobby Petrino is the coach. I simply feel the expectations on Wilson are way high with some, saying Arkansas will win the West and Wilson will pick up right where Mallett left off. There will be a learning curve.
Number 5 should be Kniles Davis for the same reasons as number 1.
Going to be a heck of a year for these QBs. It’s basically a “make it or break it” year, especially for Aaron Murray. He is a heck of a QB who I think will do great in the pros. Now, let’s just see if he can prove himself further with what he has at UGA.
As for Lattimore, I think Michael Dyer is a better RB than Lattimore. Richardson definitely is the best. (this is all coming from an Auburn fan) Auburn’s defense last year shut down Lattimore (and it wasn’t even a good defense really). I don’t know, I just wasn’t as impressed. Dyer will lead Auburn’s offense this year and I think it will be a big year for him.
1. Lattimore will go over 1,000 yards if he can stay healthy. Having a year to prepare for Lattimore does not mean a thing. He can hurt you a lot of ways and you can only prepare for that to a certain degree. You just have to hope to contain him and not let Jeffrey and Garcia beat you over the top.
2. Agree.
3. Murray’s starting OL is not patchwork at all. Three seniors (both tackles and center) and a sophmore LG with significant starting experience. RG is the only unproven position. The problem with OL is the depth. UGA does lack proven targets at WR. No one can dispute that. No one knows what Crowell will end up being yet, but to say he is nowhere near the talent of Lattimore or Dyer is a bold and ignorant statement.
4. Agree
Saying Lattimore will underperform is fair, since expectations are to have a better year than he had last year… but to say hes not gonna reach 1,000 is ridiculous my friend. Garcia was QB last year when he done it, and he will only be better this year so no worries there… Jeffery will keep teams from stacking to stop Lattimore, and if they dont stack then Jeffery will kill the defense which will force them to quit putting 8 in the box
and the O-Line should be much better this year, being year 2 of Elliots zone blocking scheme, plus the line is pretty experienced
Hey tideroller13…you are what I like to call, WRONG! If any RB in the SEC is overhyped, it is Trent Richardson. Davis has proven himself on the field, and with a strong passing game behind him he will just get better. I know Bama will have a strong defense, but their offense will suffer early after losing superb talents such as McElroy, Ingram, and Juio Jones, plus 3 strong starters on the line. Arkansas lost 3 O-Line starters as well, plus Mallett, but they are loaded on offense, and the defense will be even better after jumping from 89th to 36th in total defense from “09 to “10.
As for Tyler Wilson being over-hyped … that may very well be. But he has been in this offensive system for 4 years now, he’s very smart, is more accurate than Mallett was, and is much more mobile, which will give opposing defenses something else to account for. Wilson will be just fine … and the notion that all of that talent around can and will make him better? Well, would you rather have a new QB with zero WR’s and RB’s back, or a new starting QB with almost ALL of your highly talented skill players back?
Hey Redleg, you are what I like to called WRONG, Bama only lost one offensive lineman while Arky really lost 4 if you count Oden who saw a lot of time last year and has since been kicked off the team. Dont be surprised to see teams blitzing Arky like crazy to shut down the run and disrupt the passing game to make and inexperienced QB uncomfortable and make mistakes. Sure Bama is in the same boat but Bama has one of the top offensive lines in the country going up against a pretty easy schedule when you look at defenses like Penn St., Arky, Vandy, Auburn, and Ole miss. While Arky has to play more top defenses like LSU, A&M, Bama, South Carolina.
You say Bama lost alot but if you look at the two key positions in SEC and really all of football it it the offensive and defensive lines. If you Oline cant get a push or protect the QB or RB then its hard to win, same as the defensive line, If you cant get to the QB or RB its hard to win. Now look at Arkys key losses that are on the line. Just take a look at clemson in 2008. They had a good year the year before, and were returning C.J Spiller but they were replacing 3 offensive linemen and they were dominated on the line all season. From 2000 yards rushing in 07 to 1400 in 08 with a new line.
Arkansas will definitely be bringing an “A” game balanced offense that will score plenty of points against Bama. Any given Saturday my friend. Hope your team can keep up. I suspect the Arkansas Defense will adequately handle the Bama offense so my prediction will be an Arkansas win unless your offense can out score us. Just like last year you had the final possession and score but Arkansas outplayed you for 55 of the 60 minute game. Good Luck should be a great game.
At least there were no Gators on this list. If I had to choose, I would pick Tyler Bray as being the most overrated on this list. I think he could have a lot of growing up to do this year.
Yes everyone is high on trent richardson, and i would be too based on what he’s done so far. He’s a great running back no doubt. BUT calling him the best running back in the SEC right now just isn’t right. He hasn’t done anything to prove that he’s any better than davis or lattimore. Richardson’s career so far has consisted of running behind hesiman winner mark ingram, and running behind probably the best o-line in the conference. That’s not proving much of anything. Things could very well change after this season, but as for now i don’t see it.
EACH AND EVERYONE ABOVE WILL HAVE A GREAT YEAR !! LETS JUST FACE IT PERDICTIONS ARE NOTHING BUT A HATED WAY TO HATE ON TEAMS!!!
TYLER BRAY HUMMMM!!!! YOUR ALL WRONG AND VERY CONFUSED OF WHO THIS PERSON IS ABOUT !! HE IS A LEADER “HE IS NOT A DRUGGIE ” LIKE AINGE WAS !!!!! SO TO EVEN COMPARE , YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND!!!! THIS GUY IS GOING TO SUPRISE ALOT , EVERY QUATER BACK HAS HIS DAYS /MOMENT- EITHER BY SHINNING OR JUST SIMPLY PLAYING AWFUL!!!
TO TEACH YOU ON SOMETHING :::: FIRST 6 GAMES HORRIFIC O LINE YOUNG INEXPERINCED … LAST SEVERAL GAMES THEY STARTED GETTING THEIR GAME ON !!! NO GREAT TEAMS PLAYED .. WELL ONE
NC – AND A LAST MIN 10 SEC OF GAME WAS A BUNCH OF BULL**** “LOOK AT THE NEW RULE NOW “***** !!! WE WOULD HAVE ONE AT LSU ASWELL BEAT NC ……
WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST WIDRECIEVERS DUOS IN COUNTRY AND THEY WILL PROVE THAT QUCIK AND PROVE THE COMMENT ABOVE ABOUT BRAY ” WILL PROVE YOU SO INCORRECTLY” !!! LIKE I SAID ALL THE ABOVE ARE GREAT AND EACH WILL HAVE HIS DAY !!!! BUT THIS BRAY POST IS A LAUGH ……. !!!! IL COME AND REMIND YOU EACH GAME !!!! 2500 YRD AND 30 TD SEASON ….. ESPN PICKS A 3000 YD 30 TD … THE REASON I PICK 500 LESS …….BECAUSE THE POOL MAN GOING TO RUNNNNNN !!!! AND BRAY IS GOING TO RACK THE YARDS IN AIR … IL SAY IT NOW ” MANY OF WOW WEEKS “PASSES ” WITH BRAY YOU WILL BE SEEING ON ESPN”"”" !!!!