Now wait just a danggone minute.
Last year I said it would be hard to replace Tate and Todd who accounted for about 80% of the offensive production. I was ridiculed. I was also wrong.
But now you're telling me we can't replace Eric Smith? THIS is the epic disaster?
I'm not getting this football thing any longer. Somebody draw me a picture.
Last year we knew we were bringing in a QB with experience (not just in juco, but in the SEC as well; how often do you get to say that?) plus we had O-Mac, Fannin, and Smith returning along with the #1 RB recruit in the country who had as close to a SEC ready physique coming out of high school as you are going to get.
This year we have a QB who should be intimately familiar with the system. One thing about Gus's offense, it is a system offense like the run and shoot was or the BYU air it out O of the 80's. It will allow a QB with non-exceptional talent (like Todd or hopefully Trotter) to put up gaudier numbers than one might expect. To me QB is not a major area of concern.
RB depth coupled with the fact that we will be integrating a new offensive line might be. We are really returning two tackles with starting experience, plus Reese Dismukes has enrolled early and will get the added benefit of spring practice to move into the center slot. We will have to pull a guard out of our freshmen class because the starter and backup at both guard slots were seniors last year. Maybe Burgess could stick at center and Dismukes moves to guard or vice versa?
I'm still concerned that neither or our returning RB's have shown themselves to be good receivers which was a cruicial part of our offense lat year (Fannin was 4th on the team in receptions; O-Mac and Dyer both got way more field time and combined for 8 receptions; for the talk of Smith being a receiving threat he only had 5 catches for 49yds and 0TD).
I agree with the people who are saying that Smith can be replaced. I get the feeling that he was just an all around bad seed. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the NC game was more embarrassing than all Fairley's so called dirty plays for the whole year combined. Fannin can be replaced as well but it will have to be by committee.