CFN's Also Rans of 2006

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

Ya gotta ask yourself, how do the fans of these teams justify the time and money?

CFN's Also Rans

Some teams of "note":

78. Kentucky    2005 Record: 3-8

Why to get excited: Just about everyone returns on offense including do-it-all playmaker Rafael Little and QB Andre Woodson. The schedule isn’t that horrible with home games against Texas State, Ole Miss, Central Michigan, Vanderbilt and UL Monroe making a six-win season a real possibility. The Wildcats get LSU from the West, but they also get the ultimate break with Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

Why to be grouchy: Is the talent any better? Consistency from the offensive backfield was a major issue, and there wasn’t any defense to speak of. The SEC is still the SEC, and there’s still the perpetual lame-duck feeling of the Rich Brooks era hanging over the program’s head.

The number one thing to work on is: Turnover margin. The team has a hard enough time without struggling to hang on to the ball. With 25 turnovers and only 16 takeaways, UK finished 107th in the nation in turnovers. Stopping the run will also be a priority.

Biggest offensive loss: RB Arliss Beach

Biggest defensive loss: SS Muhammad Abdullah

82. Mississippi State  2005 Record: 3-8

Why to get excited: It’s year three of the Sylvester Croom era and now the team should be like he wants it. The defense loses DE Willie Evans, but gets almost everyone else back from a group that finished 29th in the nation. The non-conference schedule isn’t horrible facing UAB, Jacksonville State and Tulane along with West Virginia. There are only four road games, and one is at Ole Miss.

Why to be grouchy: Is there any hope for the offense? Everyone returns except the one guy who could play, RB Jerious Norwood, so things might not be appreciably better right away from an attack that finished 114th in the nation in scoring and 117th in the nation in total offense.

The number one thing to work on is: The passing game. Omarr Conner quickly showed he wasn’t going to develop into an SEC quarterback last year, but Mike Henig didn’t set the world on fire. Whoever takes hold of the job this off-season can’t be a liability. Efficiency will be the key to take the heat off the running game.

Biggest offensive loss: RB Jerious Norwood

Biggest defensive loss: DE Willie Evans

84. Ole Miss    2005 Record: 2-9

Why to get excited: The team is half full approach believes head coach Ed Orgeron spent most of last year whipping the team into shape with his tough-as-nails approach, it is was a step back to take a giant leap forward. The return of LB Patrick Willis for his senior year was a big boost; he likely would’ve been a second round draft pick this year.

Why to be grouchy: The team is half empty approach believes Orgeron is still a question mark as a head coach. There’s no denying that he’s one of the best assistants in the college game, but does he have the temperament to be the head man? The program still has a long, long way to go to compete for the SEC West title.

The number one thing to work on is: Running the ball. Considering Orgeron is a tough coach who preaches physical play, it was stunning how poor the Rebels were in the ground game averaging a mere 73 yards per game. Since Eli Manning isn’t coming back, there had better be more production in a big hurry.

Biggest offensive loss: WR Mike Espy

Biggest defensive loss: DE Jayme Mitchell

96. UAB    2005 Record: 5-6

Why to get excited: The pressure will be off. Last year was supposed to be a Conference USA title caliber season, but it didn’t happen and now the Blazers can do what they do best and sneak up on teams. The offensive line and defensive ends should be a strength.

Why to be grouchy: The team couldn’t win with QB Darrell Hackney, how is it going to be better without him? There are just enough losses on both sides of the ball to be concerned about continuity. Don’t expect nearly as much explosion as there was when Hackney was under center.

The number one thing to work on is: Everything about the punting game. The Blazers averaged an atrocious 29.89 yards per punt and 5.89 yards per punt return. Without the firepower of last year, field position will be more important than ever this season.

Biggest offensive loss: QB Darrell Hackney

Biggest defensive loss: FS Dominique Cosper

I am Army after Auburn:

98. Army    2005 Record: 4-7

Why to get excited: In year three under head coach Bobby Ross the program should be finally starting to come around. The independent status is paying off schedule-wise with a nice variety of cream-puffs (at least for most D-I teams) along with a few respectable games against teams like Texas A&M, TCU, Notre Dame and Navy. With Arkansas State, Kent State, Rice, VMI and Tulane on the slate, a winning season is possible.

Why to be grouchy: The backfield is gone. QB Zac Dahman might have hurt the team as much as he helped it over the last few years, but he was much better as last year went on. There’s no replacing RB Carlton Jones, and the loss of dependable Scott Wesley doesn’t help.

The number one thing to work on is: Generating more offense. Outside of Jones, this wasn’t a high-octane offense averaging 316 yards and 20 points per game. There shouldn’t be any problems against the dregs on the schedule, but to have a chance against some of the better teams, there has to be more explosion.

Biggest offensive loss: RB Carlton Jones

Biggest defensive loss: CB Dhyan Tarver

[CircleDrill 178]

I have some family who are huge Kentucky fans. I asked them about this when they came down to Auburn two years ago. They travel in their huge RV to away games, tailgate for home games and so forth.

They love it and they said that at a school like UK, the fans are like that because they go into every Saturday thinking they have a shot at an upset, and when that does happen once in a blue moon, they want to make sure that THEY are there for it.

It just works out that most of the time those hopes are shattered by the end of the first quarter, so they just start drinking at the RV.

And besides, they are an SEC school, which is where all the real football fans are anyway.

[WeagleDMS 0]

So can we trade Ole Miss for Southern Miss until they fire THE ORGERON.