2018

[CameronCrazy 906]

Our 2017 team ended the year 3 quarters away from the CFP. What do we have to do to take that next step in 2018? Hopefully we’ll learn from our most recent opponent. UGA took their loss, learned from it, and came back stronger than before.  Here’s my top ten things that need to happen this offseason.

1. Without agreeing to another ridiculous buyout, we need to give Malzahn a raise and/or contract extension.

2. Both coordinators also need to be locked up with raises and/or extensions

3. Our 10th coach in 2018 better be a ST specialist.

4. Use this loss to anger Stidham, Kerryon, Holland, & Carlton Davis and convince them to come back for one more run.

5. We have Washington in game 1. We don’t need to wait until game 4 or 5 to figure out our identity.

6. Continue to evolve the offense and take the passing game to the next level. Not only do we need more slants, RPO’s, and crossing routes, but we need to incorporate back shoulder throws, throws to tight ends, and fade routes in the red zone. 

7. Re-establish a dominant running game. I would love to have just one year with a healthy Kerryon Johnson & Kamyryn Pettway in the backfield. We will also have a stable of young running backs right behind them that will need to be utilized.

8. Find a center. We lose 4 senior starters off that OL, but no one is more important than the center. Horton & Harrell will more than likely hold down the guard positions. Tega & Ashley will more than likely be the tackles, but we need someone to fill the big shoes of Casey Dunn.

9. Create more turnovers! If we can get Holland and Davis back for 2018, then maybe it will allow to put more pressure on offenses and force turnovers. We just couldn’t seem to force the critical turnover when we needed to get the momentum back or close the door on an opponent this year.

10. Recruit, recruit, recruit!! We have the continue to build talent & depth if we want to keep up with UAT & UGA. Which leads me to say, Bring Dell McGee home!! 

[shabby 1,762]

good stuff. i would add get new special teams coach and plan ways to deal with teaMs that blitz. our offense just shuts down. 

[TAYLORKEETON 657]

Wasn’t Kaleb Kim recruited to become a center? 

[AlaskanFAN 1,598]

Kim has gotten some scrub time this year and will be 1st man up. Nic Brahms redshirted this year recovering from a broke leg and he was recruited to be a center.

[Randman5000 3,744]

Apparently Kim has sucked it up I'm hoping Ashley takes a step forward

[DAG 29,673]

Proud of this team . With that being said I am expecting JS to take it up a whole notch next season. He is going to have to be our mccarron or Aaron Murray . I am expecting a leap of improvement. We need that to get at the next level .

[Randman5000 3,744]

I'll see y'all in 2018...

[TucsonTiger 29]

I think Gus goes to Arky. AU will not give him what Sexton wants. They’ll be more security at Arky for the next few years with less expectations there.

If he goes I hope we go after Lane Kiffin. I know. Hopefully he has matured !!! He can call an offense!

I want Lane Kiffin!!!

Gus will never win the big one. Cut the ties right now!!!

But I am afraid the rich AU boosters will screw AU up again!

[AUIH1 1,515]

Win at least 9 regular season games with one of those being either UGA or spuat.  No wetting the bed like against Clemson, LSU and UGA game 2.  If we are fortunate enough to play for an SEC Championship again, be prepared for the moment.  No more playing obviously injured players when our coaches have no plan B.  Develop depth at the RB position.

wde

[abw0004 9,416]

@CameronCrazy don’t forget trying to keep Jeff Holland and Dontavius Russell.

We are doing really well in recruiting currently so I am confident there.

I am not really that concerned with our offensive line next year.  Herb Hand proved this year he has the next men up ready to play.  I am concerned with the safety depth however.

 

[weagl1 1,671]

The big thing for 2018 will be getting settled on a new OL.  Plenty of talent to choose from but not a lot of experience.  We also need to hang on the the juniors that could declare early like KJ, KP, Carlton Davis, Jeff Holland, Deshaun Davis, Dontavius Russell.  Then there is the glaring obvious deficiency of doing something, anything, to improve the punting and kick coverage teams.  

[StuBob 12]

Okay CrazyCameron, I am right there with you on 3 and 5!

[aucom96 1,360]

If we keep early draft losses at a minimum, our defense should still pretty strong next season minus Williams and Matthews who will be missed. Losing Smith and Golson will be big. We're going to struggle early with the o-line. We did this year, and we had a veteran core. We need to diversify our offense. We still have very little that exploits the middle of the field, and if we're playing a defense athletic enough to take away the screens...our pass plays take too long for Stidham to be effective. Special teams needs serious work and Carlson's gone. It's a tough schedule with Washington, MSU, UAT and UGA on the road...and we get Tennessee. With all the coaching changes, though, it's hard to say what the SEC will look like next year but getting a new o-line up to speed will be our biggest hurdle, I think. 

[BJCrawford 1,558]

By what date do underclassmen have to declare for the draft?

[Gowebb11 7,452]

9 hours ago, shabby said:

good stuff. i would add get new special teams coach and plan ways to deal with teaMs that blitz. our offense just shuts down. 

Bama blitzed more than UGA and we did much better vs it because we had established a running game. We couldn’t do that last night, and when that happens the blitz is lethal. At least that’s what I saw.  

[McLoofus 35,182]

We need a better RB rotation. Whether it's recruiting, preparation, philosophy or some combination of the three, we need 3 dependable RBs minimum to start the season.

We need our WRs to get more open and/or Stidham needs to see the field better and/or he needs to be willing to throw into tighter spots. I don't understand what's going on exactly but we've got WAY too many plays where he has plenty of time to throw the ball and ends up tucking it. 

Agreed about the center position. Huge concern. Ditto for special teams.

 

[DAG 29,673]

I would love to have a big tall WR who can go up and get passes. When Hugh was at Ole Miss, he did a great job of recruiting those types. Or we need a super speeder E.G. Coates who can run underneath balls no matter what. All this to say, we need a little more deep threats other than Slayton. We really took for granted Duke and Sammie Coates..

[ShocksMyBrain 8,406]

2 hours ago, TucsonTiger said:

I think Gus goes to Arky. AU will not give him what Sexton wants. They’ll be more security at Arky for the next few years with less expectations there.

If he goes I hope we go after Lane Kiffin. I know. Hopefully he has matured !!! He can call an offense!

I want Lane Kiffin!!!

Gus will never win the big one. Cut the ties right now!!!

But I am afraid the rich AU boosters will screw AU up again!

Ew. 

[Gowebb11 7,452]

19 minutes ago, ShocksMyBrain said:

 

I think Gus goes to Arky. AU will not give him what Sexton wants. They’ll be more security at Arky for the next few years with less expectations there.

 

Expectations are so low there that they've only fired 4 coaches the past 10 years. Tons of job security. 

[bigbird 51,796]

30 minutes ago, DAG said:

I would love to have a big tall WR who can go up and get passes. When Hugh was at Ole Miss, he did a great job of recruiting those types. Or we need a super speeder E.G. Coates who can run underneath balls no matter what. All this to say, we need a little more deep threats other than Slayton. We really took for granted Duke and Sammie Coates..

I think NCM and McClain could be those types. Especially McClain... he's a freak

[Maverick.AU 12,497]

10 hours ago, CameronCrazy said:

Our 2017 team ended the year 3 quarters away from the CFP. What do we have to do to take that next step in 2018? Hopefully we’ll learn from our most recent opponent. UGA took their loss, learned from it, and came back stronger than before.  Here’s my top ten things that need to happen this offseason.

1. Without agreeing to another ridiculous buyout, we need to give Malzahn a raise and/or contract extension.

2. Both coordinators also need to be locked up with raises and/or extensions

3. Our 10th coach in 2018 better be a ST specialist.

4. Use this loss to anger Stidham, Kerryon, Holland, & Carlton Davis and convince them to come back for one more run.

5. We have Washington in game 1. We don’t need to wait until game 4 or 5 to figure out our identity.

6. Continue to evolve the offense and take the passing game to the next level. Not only do we need more slants, RPO’s, and crossing routes, but we need to incorporate back shoulder throws, throws to tight ends, and fade routes in the red zone. 

7. Re-establish a dominant running game. I would love to have just one year with a healthy Kerryon Johnson & Kamyryn Pettway in the backfield. We will also have a stable of young running backs right behind them that will need to be utilized.

8. Find a center. We lose 4 senior starters off that OL, but no one is more important than the center. Horton & Harrell will more than likely hold down the guard positions. Tega & Ashley will more than likely be the tackles, but we need someone to fill the big shoes of Casey Dunn.

9. Create more turnovers! If we can get Holland and Davis back for 2018, then maybe it will allow to put more pressure on offenses and force turnovers. We just couldn’t seem to force the critical turnover when we needed to get the momentum back or close the door on an opponent this year.

10. Recruit, recruit, recruit!! We have the continue to build talent & depth if we want to keep up with UAT & UGA. Which leads me to say, Bring Dell McGee home!! 

Great post CC

[AubFanCT 180]

The key to the success of the 2018 team is going to hang on 3 things in my humble opinion: 1. How many of the talented Jrs on the team return vs. jump to the draft 2. How quick the OLine comes together needing to fill 4 starter sopts. 3.Replacing 2-3 very key Dbacks on D- Roberts, Matthews & possibly Davis.

No matter how good the RBs and QB are, without a good OLine to open holes or give the QB time, you got nothing. In the SEC, games are won & lost in the trenches. 

 

[ShocksMyBrain 8,406]

19 minutes ago, Gowebb11 said:

Expectations are so low there that they've only fired 4 coaches the past 10 years. Tons of job security. 

You definitely quoted the wrong person. 

[kd4au 1,145]

O-line is my greatest concern, don't we have 4 seniors, defense should be good if we can hang on to Steele.

[McLoofus 35,182]

1 hour ago, kd4au said:

O-line is my greatest concern, don't we have 4 seniors, defense should be good if we can hang on to Steele.

We actually look ok at guard and left tackle, but yeah, we'll be breaking in a new center and that is always scary.

Safety is a big concern but otherwise agree about defense.

I guess I'm more concerned than most about losing Carlson, especially with our coverage teams being so bad this year.