Finally An Off-Season Ranking With Sense

[The Six]

You guys sure don't buy in to the process. When Nick gets through with them, they are NFL ready. Just know that every position will be near the top under his tutelage.

Yeah, tRent Richar$on only needs 16,843 yards to pass Emmitt Smith. I'm sure he'll be all over that in another year or two.  Just ask any Bammer how "great" he is.

[The Six]

I don't see where any of this matters.  Jim Donnan said it will be Bama and everyone else because Auburn will not be able to get by on "trick plays" again this year.

He sure got by on some trick lawyering.

[Saniflush]

He sure got by on some trick lawyering.

It was that trick ponzi scheming

[AUChizad]

It was that trick ponzi scheming

Donnan's lawyers advised him to use the term "multi-level marketing plays" (+1 to theAuburner)

[AUChizad]

Further and further we go.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/84151/sec-position-rankings-offensive-line-5

SEC position rankings: Offensive line
June, 12, 2014

By Chris Low | ESPN.com

How important is offensive line play?

Go back and find the last time a team with an average offensive line won the SEC championship. The translation: If you’re going to win a title in this league, you better be good and deep up front offensively.

That said, we take a look today at our offensive line rankings in the SEC for the 2014 season.

1. South Carolina: The Gamecocks are losing some key pieces from last season’s 11-win team, but their offensive line stacks up as the best of the Steve Spurrier era. The left side with senior tackle Corey Robinson and senior guard A.J. Cann is outstanding, and junior Brandon Shell returns at right tackle. All three have NFL potential, while sophomore Cody Waldrop is healthy again and on the preseason Rimington list as the top center in the country.

2. Texas A&M: Talent has flowed through the Texas A&M offensive line the last few seasons, and even with top-10 picks in the NFL draft departing each of the last two years, the Aggies should again be as strong as anybody. Cedric Ogbuehi, moving from right tackle to left tackle, will be the next first-rounder to come out of College Station. It looks like sophomore Germain Ifedi will move from guard to right tackle, and junior center Mike Matthews is the latest gem to come out of that family.

3. LSU: Four starters are back for the Tigers, and they also like their young talent. La’el Collins passed on the NFL draft and returns for his senior season. He’s a franchise left tackle. The left side of the line, period, should be strong with 6-6, 342-pound junior guard Vadal Alexander returning, and sophomore Ethan Pocic is good enough and versatile enough that he could be a factor at a couple of different positions.

4. Auburn: A year ago, Greg Robinson came out of nowhere to be the best offensive lineman in the league and go No. 2 overall in the NFL draft. Avery Young and Shon Coleman are in line to replace Robinson at left tackle, and the other four starters are back. Senior center Reese Dismukes leads a unit that ended last season as the best offensive line in the league and should be right there at the top again in 2014.

5. Missouri: The Tigers are big, experienced and deep. They also have some versatility with a couple of guys who’ve played different positions. Junior Evan Boehm is one of the top centers in the country, and senior Mitch Morse is moving over from right tackle to left tackle to replace Justin Britt. Gary Pinkel’s track record for putting together a strong offensive line speaks for itself.

6. Alabama: For a change, Alabama doesn’t enter the season with one of the top two or three offensive lines in the league, but that doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide won’t get there. Junior Ryan Kelly is All-SEC material at center, and as talented as Cam Robinson is, it’s never ideal to start a true freshman at left tackle. Senior right tackle Austin Shepherd is one of the more underrated players in the league.

7. Mississippi State: The heart and soul of Mississippi State’s line a year ago, mammoth guard Gabe Jackson, is gone, but look for senior center Dillon Day to fill that role in 2014. The Bulldogs also return junior Blaine Clausell at left tackle and senior Ben Beckwith at right guard. One of the keys will be junior Justin Malone staying healthy after missing most of last season with a foot injury. He brings experience, size and talent to the interior of that line.

8. Florida: The Gators should be just fine if they’re able to play most of the season with their starting five. The problem comes if somebody gets hurt, and that’s been a recurring theme. The tackle tandem could be one of the best in the league with junior D.J. Humphries on the left side and fifth-year senior Chaz Green on the right side. Again, though, Green has struggled to stay healthy.

9. Ole Miss: The Rebels have some impressive young talent in their offensive line, including sophomore Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, but they’re precariously thin. Losing right tackle Austin Golson was a blow, and they need returning senior Aaron Morris to stay healthy. He was the Rebels’ best lineman before he got hurt last season. True freshman Rod Taylor also has what it takes physically to come in and play right away.

10. Georgia: Senior center David Andrews is the anchor of the group, but three starters from a year ago are gone. Junior John Theus started eight games at right tackle last season and could move to the left side, but senior Mark Beard started at left tackle in the spring game. Fifth-year senior Kolton Houston is also back and could wind up at right tackle or left guard.

11. Vanderbilt: The deepest position on Vanderbilt’s roster is the offensive line, which has rarely been the case in Nashville. Four-year starter Wesley Johnson will be difficult to replace at left tackle, but talented sophomore Andrew Jelks is poised to move from right to left tackle. The interior of the Commodores’ line is especially stout, led by senior center Joe Townsend.

12. Arkansas: After having no choice but to play a pair of true freshmen last season, the Hogs should see that pay dividends in 2014. Bret Bielema knows what a menacing offensive line looks like, and he has some talented building blocks in sophomore left tackle Dan Skipper and sophomore guard Denver Kirkland. Replacing All-SEC center Travis Swanson will be dicey.

13. Tennessee: The Vols are faced with having to replace all five starters. Fortunately for them, junior Marcus Jackson redshirted last season and provides some experience at guard. They need junior college transfer Dontavius Blair to make an immediate impact at left tackle, and true freshman Coleman Thomas may end up being the starter at right tackle.

14. Kentucky: The Wildcats’ struggles in the offensive line last season were well chronicled. They gave up a league-worst 37 sacks, but return four starters. They’re hopeful that a season together will lead to more continuity. The veteran of the group is senior Darrian Miller at left tackle, and sophomore Jordan Swindle has a nice future at right tackle.

So Auburn had the most dominant OL in the conference last year, lose only one starter, have the most starts in the SEC returning this year, but are only the fourth best OL.

K.

[Snaggletiger]

Now this one is truly mind boggling.  Perplexing even. 

[dallaswareagle]

Now this one is truly mind boggling.  Perplexing even.

One could say it was a confusing.

[Snaggletiger]

One could say it was a confusing.

I'm bewildered, befuddled and almost to the point of flummoxed.

[WiregrassTiger]

This makes perfect sense. We lost Greg Robinson and he had to not only block his man but other defenders that our line wasn't capable of blocking.

And truthfully, in the high school offense that Gus runs, if the QB and RB are fast, OL play line isn't that important. All you need is a center to hup it between his legs. And Tre Mason and Nick made a very average line look better.

These guys know what they are talking about.

[dallaswareagle]

I'm bewildered, befuddled and almost to the point of flummoxed.

I am feely less than keen. Almost keenless.

[GH2001]

Now this one is truly mind boggling.  Perplexing even.

Vanished....disappeared even.

[The Six]

Aye yie yie.

Alabama: For a change, Alabama doesn’t enter the season with one of the top two or three offensive lines in the league, but that doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide won’t get there.

Translation: They the best; we just got tired of the hate mail.

Chizad is right - Auburn could shit gold and people would claim it was blocks of butter. 

[Godfather]

I'm bewildered, befuddled and almost to the point of flummoxed.

It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous.

[Snaggletiger]

I'm as confused as a hungry baby in a titty bar.

[Godfather]

I'm as confused as a hungry baby in a titty bar.

That's totally inappropriate. It's lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!

[Godfather]

Aye yie yie.

Translation: They the best; we just got tired of the hate mail.

Chizad is right - Auburn could shit gold and people would claim it was blocks of butter. 

and smells like rainbow sherbet?

[jmar]

It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous.

What you say?

[dallaswareagle]

What daring! What outrageousness! What insolence! What arrogance!

[jmar]

What daring! What outrageousness! What insolence! What arrogance!

It truly is when you consider last seasons's results. Our linemen are the most active in the conference and we look to add to the playbook for the same guys minus Trey and Greg and Jay.
I am concerned not having a true fullback but I think we can do much more by air which could possibly reduce some wear and tear up front. But the best way to handle that is to light up the scoreboard.   

[GH2001]

That list is the worst one yet. By far.