2017 SEC Off-Season Thread

[CoachCB]

Well boys....it's the off-season. Lot's of stuff to discuss regarding the SEC.

12 of 14 QBs return next year, so I expect an uptick in offense (for once).

Lot's of changes, coaching moves. I'm not real optimistic about Butters (aka McElwain) leading UF back to glory. The guy can't recruit and has had 100+ ranked offense two years in a row (worse than the offenses Muschamp put on the field at UF, if you can believe that). QB prospects are bleak, at best.

Bama and UGA about to sign a couple of sick classes.

UT, Auburn, Bama, and LSU w/ new OC's.

Arkansas, UF, Miss State w/ new DC's.

No more Lane Kiffin in the conference.

SEC about to dominate the NFL 1st round again.

Just a few thoughts to get started....

Hoping we have a good off-season crew this year.

Who's starting the B12, PAC, B10, ACC or just CFB threads???

 

[Albatross]

Bama, OSU, and UGA all have record breaking 247 composite scores this year.

Just Georgia's luck.....any other year over 300 would be the top ranked class.....not this year.

Kirby needs to improve on the field. His recruiting is elite in the nation.

Next year, the state of GA is a little down on talent. 2019 class is sick.

 

[Albatross]

The QB play in the SEC was extremely young this year. Expect that to change over the next couple years. There are some elite talent at that position in the conference now. Just not experienced.

The conference Ds are still loaded with talent.

 

[rolltide]

Saban's 2017 class will be his greatest group ever and what's even crazier is all the top guys are already on campus. RB Harris, OT Leatherwood, LB Moses, WR Jeudy, and QB Tua have already enrolled. Bama has 4 final major targets...DL Solomon (vs UGA, MICH), DL LaBryan Ray, DB Harris (vs LSU), and WR Ruggs (vs FSU). If they get 2 or 3 of them to sign this will be an historically strong class.

I don't know how to evaluate SEC QB play but never thought i would see a bunch of freshman and purdue throw-aways leading quarterbacking SEC programs. Bama, aTm, Florida and other key programs just cannot hang onto their QB recruits. When you keep going after only 4 and 5 star QB these guys want to play right away and they exit when they're not at the top of the depth chart. Of the 4 scholarship QB's with multiple years remaining (hurts, barnett, cornwell, bateman) on Bama's roster to begin the season only 1 will be here next year. We will have a true sophomore, 2 true freshman, and a walk-on at the most important position in sports.

 

[CoachCB]

The addition of a 10th assistant coach is about to pass, will be interesting to see how schools handle this (especially Saban).

Colorado: A source confirms to CoachingSearch that Kentucky defensive coordinator / outside linebackers coach D.J. Eliot has accepted the defensive coordinator job at Colorado. Eliot has spent four years at Kentucky.

 

[Albatross]

Saban's 2017 class will be his greatest group ever and what's even crazier is all the top guys are already on campus. RB Harris, OT Leatherwood, LB Moses, WR Jeudy, and QB Tua have already enrolled. Bama has 4 final major targets...DL Solomon (vs UGA, MICH), DL LaBryan Ray, DB Harris (vs LSU), and WR Ruggs (vs FSU). If they get 2 or 3 of them to sign this will be an historically strong class.

I don't know how to evaluate SEC QB play but never thought i would see a bunch of freshman and purdue throw-aways leading quarterbacking SEC programs. Bama, aTm, Florida and other key programs just cannot hang onto their QB recruits. When you keep going after only 4 and 5 star QB these guys want to play right away and they exit when they're not at the top of the depth chart. Of the 4 scholarship QB's with multiple years remaining (hurts, barnett, cornwell, bateman) on Bama's roster to begin the season only 1 will be here next year. We will have a true sophomore, 2 true freshman, and a walk-on at the most important position in sports.

Soloman is a huge troll. I think he has a chance to be another EJ Price. Ruggs just got a huge jump in the rankings.

 

[MackDonald]

Good seeing you "back in the saddle" again Coach.......Damn, It will be the end of August before we know it.

 

[CoachCB]

Good seeing you "back in the saddle" again Coach.......Damn, It will be the end of August before we know it.

You too, Mack. Hope we have a decent crew here in the off-season.

 

[CoachCB]

Auburn: The Houston Chronicle reports Texas A&M offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone will not be leaving A&M for the same job at Auburn.


Tennessee: In a statement, the school says it is in the process of hiring a search firm and creating a committee for its AD search, and the search will begin after that. Recent reports have indicated Phil Fulmer is a strong candidate for the AD job.


Tennessee: Utah State running backs / associate head coach Mike Canales will “imminently” become Tennessee quarterbacks coach, according to 247Sports, which adds that offensive line coach Don Mahoney and defensive line coach Steve Stripling have contracts that expire at the end of February. Tight ends coach Larry Scott is still expected to be promoted to offensive coordinator.


LSU: Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will earn $1.5 million annually on a 3-year deal, according to The Advocate. That makes Canada the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the country.

(Canada was a great hire by Orgeron. Will be interesting to see LSU's offense w/ this guy calling the plays)

 

[cloverleaf]

Alabama 2017 (Don't cry for Bama)

With 3 players departing early for the NFL, 3 reserves transferring and 12 seniors graduating, Bama RELOADS. Alabama loses 6 starters on defense and 4 on offense. Bama's defense will see the biggest turnover especially on the front 7, which must replace 5 starters. Offensively, the Tide won't be as affected, with the line and receivers seeing the only real turnover. Under Saban, the defensive front has been solid. Expect the same this season with DE Da'Shawn Hand, Quinnen Williams, Raekwon Davis and Jamar King stepping up. Isaiah Buggs the top rated JUCO end is also in the mix. Linebacker will also see a turnover but several 5 stars are waiting in the wings for their chance. Former 5-star recruits Ben Davis and Mack Wilson may be used to provide depth. The secondary is led by junior Minkah Fitzpatrick, Tony Brown and newcomers Nigel Knott, Jared Mayden and Aaron Robinson.

Bama's offense, the main holes is on the offensive line but there are plenty of options. Freshman All-American right tackle is a start. Alabama starters returning better button up because the Tide signed 4 OL and 3 of those where rated 5-star recruits. Receiver starts with Calvin Ridley and goes from there. 5-star early enrollees Jerry Jeudy and Tyrell Shavers will get a look this spring.

Alabama will be a top 4 team again this coming season. Doubt me.....you don't understand CFB.

Good thread Coach...THANKS...........I'll have one going at another network soon but will always check in on your thread.

 

[rolltide]

Soloman is a huge troll. I think he has a chance to be another EJ Price. Ruggs just got a huge jump in the rankings.

one of the top rivals guys was asked who the toughest top 50 were to rate where there just isn't a true consensus and it was solomon and mond. some think they are truly #1 at their positions, others think huge bust potential.


looks like bama feels that solomon is cooling on them as they are getting both 4-star DT Conliffe and 4-star DT Mathis to officially visit. guessing solomon ends up at UGA but MICH making serious push...


big weekend for Bama getting 11 OV's in Ttown together including Ray, DeVonta Smith, Ruggs, Mathis, and Harris plus 6 that already gave their Bama verbals but did not enroll early.

 

[CoachCB]

Auburn: Arizona State offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has rejoined the Auburn staff as offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach, as first reported by ESPN’s Brett McMurphy. Lindsey spent 2013 as an analyst at Auburn, before going to Southern Miss as offensive coordinator and then Arizona State.

 

[WinOne]

Auburn: Arizona State offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has rejoined the Auburn staff as offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach, as first reported by ESPN’s Brett McMurphy. Lindsey spent 2013 as an analyst at Auburn, before going to Southern Miss as offensive coordinator and then Arizona State.

That's a smart move for Lindsey. He and Malzahn run very similar offenses. HC Graham on the hotseat at ASU and atleast at Auburn, Lindsey will have a proven QB in house to buiild around that he can run his offense with. Tough loss for ASU because another top offensive assistant took the HC job at Nevada in December.

 

[CoachCB]

Not SEC related, but has anyone been watching the shit-show going on at Oregon w/ Willie Taggert's staff? IMO, Taggert was a great hire by Oregon. However, so far, it's been a shit-show: 3 players hospitalized during conditioning program and OC/QB coach David Reaves just got a DUI and is getting fired.

On a side note, David Reaves is the son of former UF QB John Reaves and the former brother-in-law of Lane Kiffin (his hot ex-wife is John's daughter/David's sister). Ironically, John Reaves was fired from the UF staff around 1993 due to his drinking problem. He was Spurrier's QB when he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL). Guess it runs in the family. Now Reaves is out of a $300K/year job and his rise through the coaching ranks just took a big hit. He'll likely be out of coaching for a few years and when he does return I imagine it's as an "analyst" or "quality control coach" until he gets his life back together.

 

[CoachCB]

Jim McElwain is driving a sinking ship in Gainesville. Just lost their top ranked recruit, a 4-star DB from California (why is Florida recruiting in California while Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan are cherry picking recruits right out of UF's backyard). Class is now at 14 recruits and ranked in the 30's (I've seen as low as 34th). Inexcusable.

There are two staff openings and he has not announced a hire. Collins left in mid-December and he's yet to hire a defensive replacement. Incompetence at it's finest.

 

[Albatross]

one of the top rivals guys was asked who the toughest top 50 were to rate where there just isn't a true consensus and it was solomon and mond. some think they are truly #1 at their positions, others think huge bust potential.


looks like bama feels that solomon is cooling on them as they are getting both 4-star DT Conliffe and 4-star DT Mathis to officially visit. guessing solomon ends up at UGA but MICH making serious push...


big weekend for Bama getting 11 OV's in Ttown together including Ray, DeVonta Smith, Ruggs, Mathis, and Harris plus 6 that already gave their Bama verbals but did not enroll early.

How much room does Bama have? I thought they were close to their number.

 

[Albatross]

Jim McElwain is driving a sinking ship in Gainesville. Just lost their top ranked recruit, a 4-star DB from California (why is Florida recruiting in California while Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan are cherry picking recruits right out of UF's backyard). Class is now at 14 recruits and ranked in the 30's (I've seen as low as 34th). Inexcusable.

There are two staff openings and he has not announced a hire. Collins left in mid-December and he's yet to hire a defensive replacement. Incompetence at it's finest.

UF is a recruiting dumpster fire. Mac blows at it. He better get it figured out because the Sunshine state has more elite recruiters than ever. Jimbo, Richt, Kiffin, and Strong.....brutal.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Jim McElwain is driving a sinking ship in Gainesville. Just lost their top ranked recruit, a 4-star DB from California (why is Florida recruiting in California while Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan are cherry picking recruits right out of UF's backyard). Class is now at 14 recruits and ranked in the 30's (I've seen as low as 34th). Inexcusable.

There are two staff openings and he has not announced a hire. Collins left in mid-December and he's yet to hire a defensive replacement. Incompetence at it's finest.

Alabama and Ohio St are doing good in Cali, guess McElwain is trying to keep up with the joneses. Im hearing Blades is a heavy Nebraska lean. Just hope USC doesnt swoop in at the last moment. It's all about those relationships.....

 

[rolltide]

How much room does Bama have? I thought they were close to their number.

unfortunately not the good 'ol days when you can have this stuff figured out perfectly ahead of time. We played 2016 season a few short on scholarship players with guys like Sheffield, Mo Smith, Adonis Thomas, and Barnett rolling long after LOI day was gone plus we left one open for the WR that went to Cal. Then factor in that guys Cornwell, Bateman, and Gore all transferring and Ro Foster likely to leave as well...plus the 22 seniors and now 3 juniors heading out = many schollies available.


Good news is it allows us to have a monster class this year...should be able to fit 29 without any issue and I think it will end at either 28 or 29. Sitting 25 today and I think we get Ray (not 100% but close to a sure thing), Ruggs or Smith, and either Mathis or Solomon. Could probably fit 31 if they wanted but they aren't going to add guys for the sake of numbers but I'm sure they wouldn't pass up LOI from any of those final 5 big targets. Also wouldn't be surprised if Brannon decommitted to follow Kiffin to FAU which would open up another spot.


Bulovas was a shocking addition last week! wow


Seems that Solomon suddenly really cooled on UGA which is surprising. CNS just had an in-home with him this week which would not have taken place if he didn't think there was a damn good chance of landing him. As I mentioned above he's a potential project but Bama really wants him in this class. We don't bust on DT's once they're on campus....

 

[cloverleaf]

Saban and staff (you don't coach at Bama unless you can recruit) are the BEST. The numbers back that up with titles, etc., plus under St. Nick, Alabama has had 55 players drafted, including an NCAA-best 18 in the first round. This past season, 42 former Alabama players were on NFL rosters. Saban and Alabama had a league high six former players named to the pro Bowl this year. (Amari Cooper, Donta Hightower, CJ Mosley, best receiver in the league Julio Jones, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Landan Collins.

If you are a coach in the SEC, you better recruit if you want to contend with Alabama.