My 5 biggest gripes with the preseason All-SEC teams
Not everybody can vote perfectly.
Woah. Back up. Not getting political here. We’re just talking about the preseason All-SEC squads.
They’re out, and don’t you know it, they didn’t just use my ballot to decide what the teams should look like. Hundreds of media members voted, many of whom voted incorrectly.
Shots fired? Eh, maybe. Last I checked, we’re allowed to disagree with one another. That’s healthy. Even though preseason all-conference teams are essentially an afterthought by the time September rolls around, it still sets the bar for expectations.
For what it’s worth, I vote based on who I think the best players are based largely on what we saw them do the previous season(s). I’m not really one to project, just like how I think it’s silly that some fill out the AP Poll like they’re trying to predict where they’ll finish based on their strength of schedule. Good luck doing that.
I base my selections on how good a player is as of this moment. Keep that in mind with these All-SEC gripes.
Too much love: Jermaine Burton, Alabama WR (first-team)
Who deserved his spot: Cedric Tillman, Tennessee WR (second-team)
This was so egregious I thought that it was a typo.
If you’ve read anything I’ve written about Tillman this offseason, you know how high I am on the Tennessee wideout. I wrote last week that Tillman has a legitimate path to be the best receiver in America after he finished the season with an 8-game stretch of 930 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. That’s more than Burton has in his entire career, which was a total of 24 games. Tennessee had 1 game against Alabama in 2021 while Georgia had 2. Tillman had 152 yards, Burton had 64.
I mean, Tillman had more than double Burton’s 2021 production in every category despite the fact that the latter played in 15 games.
Starting to get the point? Nah? OK, let me drive it home even further.
If we’re doing this based on projections, yes, it’s true that Burton is going from Stetson Bennett IV to Bryce Young, which was why he crossed enemy lines after a rather uninvolved role with the former as UGA’s starter in 2021. That’s like going from a Toyota Camry to a Maserati MC20. Burton’s production should go up even though there could be a feeling-out process with a new quarterback. But last I checked, Tillman returns alongside Hendon Hooker, AKA the preseason second-team All-SEC selection that he tore it up with last year.
There’s no argument whatsoever to make that Burton is the better player than Tillman. This is easily the biggest whiff on the preseason squads.
Too much love: Will Levis, Kentucky QB (third-team)
Who deserved his spot: KJ Jefferson, Arkansas QB (No selection)
Look. I like Levis. A lot. Before all the way-too-early mock draft stuff came out, I wrote that Levis has a path to becoming one of the top 10 quarterbacks in America by season’s end. I thought I’d have to bang the drum for his upside as someone who is immensely valuable as a runner and is blessed with the right offense to maximize his skill set. But while Levis has the arm strength, he still needs to show great improvement as a downfield passer to live up to all the potential.
Then there’s Jefferson. As in, the guy who earned the SEC’s highest PFF grade on downfield throws last year. He had 1/3 of Levis’ turnovers while finishing in the top 10 nationally in quarterback rating for an Arkansas team who had its best season in a decade with 4 rivalry trophy wins. Jefferson had more rushing yards than Levis and finished as the leading rusher for the most prolific Power 5 ground game in 2021.
If you want to do the projection thing and fault Jefferson for needing to show that he can thrive in a post-Treylon Burks world, I could ask the same question about Levis in a post-Wan’Dale Robinson world. It was Robinson who had more than double the production of Kentucky’s next-closest receiver, which was Josh Ali … who is also gone. While I’m a big Tayvion Robinson believer, let’s not pretend like Levis doesn’t have questions of his own. Jefferson is also the one who returns the same offensive coordinator.
Again, this isn’t an anti-Levis take. I think he could become a top-10 quarterback nationally who gets drafted in Round 1. But Jefferson is a top-10 quarterback right now, and he deserved that type of recognition.
Too much love: Henry To’o To’o, Alabama LB (first-team)
Who deserved his spot: Dallas Turner, Alabama LB (second-team)
It just blows me away that To’o To’o continues to get all the love simply because he racks up tackles. Focus on just him in a game and you’ll see what I mean. He’s not a modern linebacker by any means considering how much he struggles in coverage. PFF graded him No. 45 in coverage among 50 qualified SEC linebackers last year. In his best area — as a run-stopper who can move well laterally — To’o To’o ranked a pedestrian No. 25 out of 50 SEC linebackers in PFF grade. Among qualified SEC linebackers overall, To’o To’o also graded out No. 45 out of 50.
I know, I know. You don’t like PFF grades. OK, that’s fine. How about this scenario. Tell me who you’d want on your team more — Turner or To’o To’o? You’re taking Turner 100 times out of 100.
(I get that they play different positions and are asked to do different things. This is about how they impact the game.)
Both To’o To’o and Turner played one year at Alabama. One had those aforementioned results and stayed in school instead of pursuing the NFL. The other was such a force as a true freshman that he forced a former 5-star recruit to bolt because he got injured and lost his starting job. Turner is that dude, and he showed in the latter half of 2021 that he’s already a legitimate game-changer. He racked up double-digit tackles for loss even though he played just 370 snaps (To’o To’o played 923).
Yeah, it helps that he gets to play opposite of Will Anderson. He’ll benefit from that, and To’o To’o is asked to do a lot. But don’t get it twisted. Turner is the better, more impactful Alabama linebacker.
Too much love: Kelee Ringo, Georgia CB (first-team)
Who deserved his spot: Cam Smith, South Carolina CB (second-team)
Wait, Georgia’s national championship hero isn’t worthy of first-team All-SEC love? He is, but defensive back in the SEC is absolutely loaded, and Smith had a better 2021 season.
Want a fun fact? South Carolina had the SEC’s No. 1 passing defense. That was after losing Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu to the NFL. Why? Smith. He was PFF’s highest-graded corner in single coverage last year, and it wasn’t even particularly close. Not impressed? Smith is PFF’s highest-graded returning defender in FBS. He’s a lockdown corner in every way. According to PFF, only 15 of the 32 times he was targeted were caught, and they went for just 184 yards and a 36.5 passer rating.
I don’t really have anything particularly negative to say about Ringo. His downfield speed gives him a greater margin for error than most corners and his size could make him the first corner off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft. Ringo is a phenomenal player. He allowed just a 40.7% completion percentage in coverage last year, and he allowed just 2 catches on deep targets in 2021 (via PFF). But I’d argue having an all-world defensive line who rushed quarterbacks at a high level and playing alongside Derion Kendrick gave Ringo a bit more help than Smith, who was forced to step into the top corner role as a first-time starter.
I put this slight in here not to pick apart Ringo, but simply because Smith shouldn’t be left off anybody’s first-team All-SEC ballot.
Too much love: Eli Ricks, Alabama CB (first-team)
Who deserved his spot: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M DB (second-team)
Was Ricks arguably a top-3 corner in America in 2020? Absolutely. Sometimes I find myself searching for reminders of Ricks’ brilliance as a true freshman who overcame Bo Pelini’s dated scheme and had a great individual season (even though he somehow played for the worst pass defense in FBS):
ELI RICKS intercepts Kyle Trask for the pick-6😳
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 13, 2020
I love Ricks and think he has a chance to return to his 2020 form after he played just half the 2021 season. But even Nick Saban talked about how Ricks needed to show he could follow Alabama’s process and that he needs to harness that talent. Saban called him “a work in progress.”
You know who isn’t a work in progress and showed in 2021 that he was one of the best defensive players in the country? Johnson. Yeah, he’s not someone who plays the same position as Ricks as a slot corner/safety (he’ll play more safety this year). But the guy does everything. He allowed just 3.7 yards per target — he was targeted 62 times and allowed just 228 yards per PFF — and he racked up 79 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble for the nation’s No. 3 defense.
Mike Elko could stick Johnson anywhere. He’d even send him on a few blitzes per game, where he showed a next-level ability to get to the passer. Johnson will have a slightly different role in DJ Durkin’s defense, but he should still be poised for a monster pre-draft season. That type of versatility is rare, and Johnson has a good chance to finish as a consensus All-American.
Stick him on a field tomorrow and he’s a better overall player than Ricks.
Harrison mevis cmon guys
He’s literally voted All American, possibly best kicker in the country…. but in the SEC he’s third team…..
Agree
The Big Cheeseburger is indeed a very good kicker.
I might be inclined to agree with his argument about Henry T and Dallas Turner if it weren’t for the fact that they don’t really play the same position. There were already 2 fine OLB/EDGE selected in Anderson and Smith, so I’m guessing they went with a true inside guy for the other spot. Henry does have some issues with pass coverage but he’s also a guy who has what…..300 career tackles in the SEC?
Connor is splitting hairs on that one
Splitting hairs? Henry is one of the worst cover LB’s in the conference. He shouldn’t be on the list at all. Bama has the talent to pretty much cover up this weakness. Pretty much.
Agree…Ventrell Miller and Dallas Turner will both have better overall seasons.
Yea….great….fantastic….I probably wouldn’t have an issue with either of those players getting selected.
The problem is he didn’t make an argument for either of those players smart guy. He made an argument for a guy on the same team who doesn’t even play the same position, who doesn’t have the same responsibilities as the Mike LB on one of the more complex defenses in CFB.
A guy who BTW, was a 2nd team selection last year already
Yeah, but a player that plays a different position but had 111 tackles and 4 sacks. He had 4 times the tackles and half the sacks as Turner, and you know the point of defense is to tackle. Yes, Henry is lacking in coverage, but to compare his position and responsibilities to Turners is like comparing Henry to a DB.
TooToo’s coverage skills are horrible.
Who is arguing that they aren’t?
Agreed. When Henry T was at TN, QB’s went slant on him all day. He could get two sacks in a game, and right after the sack get burned. He has a good read going after the QB but can be juked out in coverage.
I don’t necessarily disagree with the article, but there are a couple of good points to make on To’o To’o’s behalf. You make one of them: i.e., he is an inside linebacker and there should probably be an ILB on the squad instead of all the glory-hound pass-rushers.
But the other is that, while To’o To’o’s overall stats for last year aren’t that great for as much time as he got on the field, in point of fact he struggled early in the season but really came long late, and late-season performance is usually a better basis for next-year expectations.
He looked like an all-conference guy after game 8 or so.
Levis and Burton being too high seemed almost too obvious. Everything else about this article is highly questionable.
Of course USCe had the fewest passing yards allowed. Their rushing defense ranked 94th in the country. Who would bother with throwing the ball?
Quit pushing a stereotype that Jawja fans can’t read.
Well, when TN played SC, I didn’t recall him making many plays to stop our passing offense. I’m sure he was out there though.
Outsider here thinks this is written as a Bama hater article. Comparing guys that don’t even play the same position? Come on.
They mostly hate on the Dawgs here as the web site founder, the current editor and many of the writers are UF grads. Most of the time they love to kiss Nick Saban’s ass here.
Are you serious? Matt Hayes rips Saban all the time smart guy.
And why wouldn’t the rest speak rather highly of a guy who has won roughly half of the National Championships in the last decade and a half?
You Jawjuh fans’ inferiority complex knows no bounds
That might be true but within the last 24 hours, there were 8 Alabama articles in a row under the, “what’s new” column..lol. I get new news but articles about, “Saban almost quitting”. “Saban feels this way or that”. Than we are treated to all the player info, current and past. I can never recall a source that ran so many stories in a row for a team. Can you?
Cmon dawglb, really? Per key stroke alone…Negan CLEARLY makes this a UGA homer site. :)
As always, that list is subject to change.
I’d wager Henry T won’t be first or second team, maybe not even 3rd. Two of the group of Rattler, Brennan, Jefferson, Levis, Hooker, and Rogers will make 2nd and 3rd team.
Henry was actually second team this past year so projecting he can move up to 1st team is really not a bad projection.
If looking at tackles made, then he’s a good selection. But, if anyone who knows anything about football looks at how horrible he is in coverage, they’d drop him like a hot rock.
Actually, anyone that knows anything about football will look at how many tackles made as that is the whole point of the defense. Get the guy on the ground.
Still have to be good in coverage.
That’s great but the people
That matter had him as Second team last season…
So it not a bad take to think the people
That matter might pick him again..
By people that matter, you are referring to the media. I disagree with that take. The people that matter are the coaches, and he starts, so that matters. The next group of people that actually matter will be the NFL GM’s. We will see what they say when the time comes. The media opinion doesn’t mean a whole lot.
Considering we are talking all sec team selections then yes the people that actually make the selections matter…
If you want to move the goal post and talk about the draft then sure but that’s not what we are talking about at all…. The NFL GMs Aren’t selecting the All SEC team…
My point is simple. These All whatever teams don’t mean a ton, especially the preseason teams.
It’s funny how tackles matter to Bama folks this year. When Damone Clark led the nation in tackles last year they said their guy was better with half as many.
So two things… I don’t remember any Bama fan talking about Damone Clark. He also didn’t lead the nation in tackles…
What’s the point in just making up $h!t like you just did…
It was…..and the Bama hating crowd eats it up. Kinda like the clown up above.
Bama hating? Not at all. Being subjective, yes.
You clown.
Wasn’t actually a comment to anything you posted, but rather a casualty of SDS comment section format. But at least you admit to being completely subjective.
Clown
Bama fans are the clowns.
Jawjuh fans are tr@$h
O’Gara: Tillman should be 1st-Team WR because he makes a lot of catches.
Next paragraph: To’oto’o shouldn’t be 1st-team just because he makes a lot of tackles.
Yeah, that’s a weird take. Connor said he likes to pick his team based on last season. That’s all anyone can really do. Plenty of new talent is coming soon and they also will have plenty to say about these preseason honors.
Tillman Imo, should be first team. I get other dude is good but he’s had two years and we can’t just say he will be great simply because he’s going to Bama.
Pretty decent hawt takes. Anyone can quibble about stats, but I don’t like seeing players who’ve never played a down at their transfer school earn 1st team honors before playing a down at their new school. And are we even sure Ricks starts? Rumor out of Tuscaloosa is he was having a bit of trouble picking up the defense.
Also, I’m not sure Burton is the top receiver for Bama this year: Tyler Harrell gets my vote.
I’m leaning towards Jacory Brooks, but otherwise I completely agree
We are allowed to disagree with each other? So that is why people are getting canceled and doxed all over the place. We are not even allowed to believe in biology. As for people projecting for the preseason ALL-SEC, what are they supposed to do? The entire point of the award is who it is thought is going to be the best player at their position at the end of the season. That requires projection. You may be correct in your assessments; we will have to see if you have projected correctly. One comment I find absolutely stupid is this one “It just blows me away that To’o To’o continues to get all the love simply because he racks up tackles.” Just what do you think a defender’s ultimate job is? Now Dallas Turner is most definitely a better pass rusher, but without someone in the middle to prevent it, they would just hand the ball off so the runner could gain 10-20 yards without the risk of a pass. Yeah, Henry is most definitely subpar in coverage, but your positive comparison of a player that had 30 tackles and 8.5 sacks to a player that had 111 tackles and 4 sacks, and plays a different position shows you don’t have a freaking clue what you are talking about, nor what you are projecting.
Agreed. Having an opinion or believing in any type of actual science has officially become a stigma.
I’m going to regret this….but what science belief is stigmatized? (and fair warning you are speaking to an ACTUAL published scientist)
Well:
Statistical analysis of socioeconomic class systems; genetic and biological medicines; statistical analysis of political theories (and I don’t mean politics, I mean political science). So yeah I’d say in a lot of ways those sciences are misunderstood and stigmatized.
I’m a political scientist and a lot of people tell me it’s a soft science and isn’t real. Which is funny because nobody hates on accounting or financial planning and I do a lot of the same things they do to to figure out probabilities and risk.
303Dawg OK, so what’s a woman? LOL
Henry can’t cover his own shadow. He reminds me of the dude from ND who got catfished. All hat, no cattle.
Anyone who watched the National Championship Game in January knows To’o To’o sucks.
Brock Bowers is still getting an insane free release and is running for the most wide-open “catch the ball at the LOS” touchdown you’ll ever see.
Bro…but NO ONE can cover this guy, especially a ILB. He is unbelievable and one of my fav players to watch.
This is where I’m supposed to complain that Connor is picking on the Tide. I’m not going to because I think he is pretty accurate. I do find it amusing that he is basically being us and complaining about somebody else’s list.
I actually didn’t have an issue with any of the players he brought into question.
I thought his Henry T/Dallas Turner switcheroo was completely lacking from a logical perspective since..you know…they don’t play the same position
Well Dallas turner is way better in coverage…
Yea…but dies he know the signals?
I was being sarcastic… lol
So was I
To’o To’o is a liability in the middle. He can’t cover the slant to save his life. It was an issue at TN and now it’s an issue at Bama. He has a good football IQ and great closing speed which helps make his glaring issue not seem as bad. Bama also has some of the best talent in college football that helps cover his mistakes. He cost himself a lot of money swapping to Bama as far as the draft goes. HE was THE guy at TN and now he is just A guy at Bama. I hope he doesn’t get a ring because he pulled a Kevin Durant and took the easy path. I never want Bama to win as a TN fan but I really don’t want To’o To’o to get a ring.
Yea I seriously doubt he cost himself any money switching to Alabama. Starting even one season at Alabama practically guarantees you at least get drafted.
Starting one year at Tennessee only guarantees that you get beat by Alabama
Now that was funny,,, But also the truth
Thanks….I thought so. Good luck this season.
It wasn’t funny. Just arrogant.
One might argue that constantly running off at the mouth while not winning anything for 4 decades before injury defaulting your way through the backdoor is the highest form of arrogance…..or mass delusion.
Enjoy your tr@$hy, asterisk “championship” that nobody (least of all your own fans) respects…..you probably won’t live to see another one chump
Lot of sour grapes… Poor Vols fan has hurt feelings toward a college kid..
WTF??? Hurt feelings?? I straight up complimented his play. There is rarely a time I can have a conversation with a Bama fan without them being delusional and making it seem like every player is the reincarnation of c-hrist himself. He looked like an outstanding defensive player flying around the field at TN. He was significantly better than those around him. Again, he was THE guy. Now, he’s playing second fiddle to the likes of guys like Will Anderson that makes his play look mediocre at best. He is the second coming of Manti Teo without the fake girlfriend. He will get drafted. No doubt. But it will probably be somewhere around round 4 or 5 instead of 2 or 3.
The ignorance is strong with this one….
You’re gonna have a bad time in life when daddy saban leaves. Just don’t hit the bottle as hard as your uncle daddy hit you as a child.
Yea….we hear that alot and yet we had some really good times under several coaches not named Saban
Most Bama fans don’t know how close they were to being a train wreck of a program. If Saban had gotten Brees instead of culpepper at Miami. Bama would probably still be a mid tier sec program at best. Imagine how different college football would have been as a whole if that happened.
You’ve had some good coaches. When he leaves, your boosters and fans will still expect the same level of play. That will not happen and people refuse to believe it. I’m personally ready for the Bama faceplant. You’ve had an epic run. Enjoy the next few season. I probably won’t. Comes with the TN territory
“He cost himself a lot of money swapping to Bama as far as the draft goes. HE was THE guy at TN and now he is just A guy at Bama. I hope he doesn’t get a ring because he pulled a Kevin Durant and took the easy path. I never want Bama to win as a TN fan but I really don’t want To’o To’o to get a ring.”
Yes that is completely sour grapes and hurt feeling because he left the t r a s h program you pull for..
You sound like you’re 12…
“Most Bama fans don’t know how close they were to being a train wreck of a program. If Saban had gotten Brees instead of culpepper at Miami. Bama would probably still be a mid tier sec program at best. Imagine how different college football would have been as a whole if that happened.”
Nice.. An entire paragraph of nothing.. None of that actually happened and if hypotheticals meant anything The Vols wouldn’t be t r a s h…
I couldn’t care less that he left. Lost some respect for him because he went to Bama for an easy championship. Which still eludes him. You can have him and get burned over the middle all day.
The Saban hypothetical is one of the most interesting ones in all of sports in my opinion. It changes 2 separate leagues in a big way. Again, it has nothing to do with TN. Over a decade of bad coaching decisions tras-hed this program. I’m no gwhite sitting here defending their awful play and acting like we are any sort of champion. Get yourself right my guy. Learn to read. Work on comprehension. Stop trying to get lucky at the family reunion.
Read these comments throughout this article. Everybody knows he is a gar-bage defender. He’s a good tackler. That’s it.
So your big argument is a huge steaming pile of hypotheticals?
Mmmkay bruh…hope that makes you feel better about 25 years of being absolute tr@$h
“The Saban hypothetical is one of the most interesting ones in all of sports in my opinion.”
A hypothetical is nothing because it didn’t happen… As far as you not caring your comments say less…
I see why butch had the Vols carrying a t r a s h can on the sideline… He knew the program.
Was T r a s h..
*say otherwise…
I always get a kick out of idiots who take 100 words to tell everyone they “don’t care”.
The main comment here is that To’o is a good player at his absolute best. He looked better at TN due to the lower level talent around him. Go ahead. Disagree with that statement. Jeremy Banks had I think 20 something more tackles than To’o did last year and Bama played a few more games than TN did. Again, the hypothetical is an entertaining talking point. That’s all that was but your ig norace is unmatched. I’m not sure why they aren’t concerned in Bama that none of they residents seem to have a lick of comprehension skills. You are either a deco crat or ret arded based on how you’re responding to these comments.
Saban leaving Tuscaloosa will do more damage to that sh ithole of a town than that tornado back in 2011 did.
My, aren’t you a POS. Yeah Saban leaving may cause some upset. One thing it is not going to do is cost the lives of 72 people, cause injury to over 1,500, nor cause damage of close to $2.5 billion. I guess you can count yourself lucky that there is no one at the University of Tennessee that can compare to the damage done to that $h!thole of a town like Gatlinburg, from that little fire.
Tidefan – I am just trying to keep pace with the horrific bama fans that scroll through here on the daily. But don’t you worry, I’ll never catch you guys due to your superiority complex. Not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but Bama losing has been followed by the fans shooting each other. Luckily it doesn’t happen that often so not that many people have died. Imagine your first 5-7 season. Pure bloodbath because your fan base is spoiled beyond measure. Mustard bottles and golf balls don’t sound that bad now do they.
Most of Tuscaloosa stays in business because of the football team. So many people will close up shop when nobody shows up to the games anymore. More damage will be done than you’re willing to admit. Knoxville has taken a hit due to poor athletics over the last decade but it has way more to offer than just a ball team.
“I always get a kick out of idiots who take 100 words to tell everyone they “don’t care”.”
Exactly… he cares so little he is crying like a b!t(h for day about it..
We’d be hurt if he were good in coverage, yeah..lol. You thought you got a star when you got a project. He was still a project at TN.
I’m not really sure he had a choice in leaving TN. If he was mixed up in the JP stuff, well…
C Tillman for sure,, Leading receiver coming back in the SEC over 1000 yards way more production than Burton
Lol yup. Burton was neither our leading receiver (Brock Bowers) nor our best receiver (George Pickens) last year. I’ll never understand the hype for a guy who was 2nd string but played because our entire 1st string wr group was hurt majority of the season.
Also, Tillman is a beast.
He did lead all Jawjuh WRs in receiving yards however
Nice Bama spin on that. You can have him. He didn’t come close to leading the Dawgs in receiving.
Remind me again chump-stain….which Jawjuh WR had the most yards in 2021? I’ll wait
Brock Bowers: 56 receptions, 882 yes, 13 TDs
Jermaine Burton: 26 receptions, 497 yds, 5 TDs
Ladd McConkey: 31 receptions, 447 yds, 5 TDs.
A.D. Mitchell: 29 receptions, 426 yds, 4 TDs.
So Burton was virtually equal to 2 true freshman wrs and not even close to true freshman Brock Bowers. Lol keep him.
Bama will keep him… I believe Bama got a WR transfer last year from OSU they came with less receptions and yards than Burton….
Maybe you can remember his name and how he did…
I think Burton would have gotten more if SB had attempted more than 285 passes vs the SEC last season.
Wow. How did you arrive at that conclusion? You must be considered a jean-yass up there in Ten-uhhh-c.
Alabama has 20 all SEC player. That ain’t far!
I absolutely agree about KJ. IMO hes second best in the conference. I think sometimes voters get hung up on pro potential. KJ is a MAN in a conference of men. He is an unparalleled leader who doesnt fold under pressure.
His stats earned him a slot on the all SEC team…and I think he proves that out this year.
Pretty crazy he’s not listed at all…
Very interested to see what Burton does this year. When he wasn’t hurt he made a few explosive plays but I don’t remember him getting open in space much. Could be wrong but I can’t imagine him having the production we’re used to from a #1 WR at Alabama.
Of course I wish he had stayed but he’s getting a lot of hype.
Everyone has different criteria and I respect that. But Connor, using yards to compare Burton and Tillman without saying that Burton had 26 catches and Tillman had 64? Or that the average yards per catch were 19.1 and 16.9, respectively? I’m not saying that because I’m a Bama fan because I we know Tillman had a good year and will likely have another one. I’m just saying have a full disclosure statement.
Burton gets on based not on last year, but what people think he will do this year in Bama’s offense. They probably aren”t wrong!
Few things are as useless as pre season all america and conference teams.
Not worth thinking about, much less to gripe about
Gotta disagree with the comment that SC had the best passing defense. Lazy read of statistics. They gave up the least amount of yards per game – true. But UGA gave up 5.6 YPA (1st in SEC), SC 7.0 (6th in SEC). UGA had a defensive passing efficiency of 103.4 (1st in SEC), SC 123.86 (4th in SEC). The reason SC gave up 8 yds less per game than UGA is SC was seeing 8 less pass attempts per game (25.8 to 33.8). Why? Teams were having success running the ball. Georgia gave up 2.56 YPC (1st in SEC & 2nd nationally). SC gave up 4.60 YPC, which was only better than Vandy & Mizzou in the SEC, and 102nd nationally.
Good use of stats. I’d also say this. SC saw way more passing from teams and UGA saw less, but had more success forced teams to run it. I can see your point, I think the difference is just circumstantial football and schemes teams used varying between foe.
Eli Ricks will not be first or second team. Not even sure Saban will play him at all. He made some interceptions as a freshman but most of the time his man was running around wide open. You don’t have to believe me Bama fans, you are going to see it for yourself.
“You don’t have to believe me Bama fans,”
We already know that..
How did four Bama lineman get named to various ALL-SEC tiers when they gave up 40+ sacks and were widely recognized as a team weakness? I guess wearing roller skates to the game is the new standard of excellence!
Because they were highly rated and this is a projection, no matter how brain dead Conner is, and they had a terrible position coach last season. Which is why he is no longer at Bama. Will the projections bear out? No one knows, that is why they are projections.
The Will Levis rise continues to puzzle me. Never has stood out in any major statistical category, nor has he blown away the eye test.
He threw 20 TD’s and 13 INT’s. He’s virtually a newbie in the passing game because UK decided to run it most of the season. That was never going to beat UGA. He looked great in the TN game, did some good things but I’m also aware of what shape our D was in by the time we got to this game. Gassed and thin.
This is going to be such a fun season. People overlooking that KY’s new offensive coordinator is just as good as Liam Coen and they’re going to open it WIDE up. Levis won’t be third team by season’s end . . . He’ll be higher.
The Jermaine Burton and Henry To’o To’o first team picks make no sense.
I don’t have a problem with flipping Cam Smith and Ringo.
Then I remember last years picks and how far off the mark the media was, especially with all those Alabama first team defense picks.
Burton and To’o have a long way to go if they’re to live up to the billing.