If you average all of these numbers out it gives an interesting placement of teams. By no means am I saying this is an accurate prediction, but the order of finish based on averages is interesting:

1. Louisiana
T2. South Alabama
T2. Idaho
4. Texas State
T5. Arkansas State
T5. ULM
7. Troy
T8. Appalachian State
T8. Georgia Southern
10. NMSU
11. Georgia State

Only huge thing I would disagree with a lot is concerning Wide Receivers.
Think App State bringing in nine new receivers with the announcement
last week of another signing for this class year that got his NLI cancelled
by Wake Forest so he could join App immediately. Was rated something
like 79th national and up to 20th in his state. He would not be counted
would imagine. Guess he could be discounting them because they are new.

(07-09-2014 11:02 AM)EigenEagle Wrote:  Stole this from Steele's preview...

Quarterback:
1. Louisiana
2T. ULM
2T. Texas State
2T. Idaho
2T. App State
6. Georgia Southern
7T. South Alabama
7T. Arkansas State
9T. New Mexico State
9T. Georgia State
9T. Troy

Running Back:
1. Louisiana
2T. Texas State
2T. App State
4. Georgia Southern
5. South Alabama
6. Arkansas State
7. Troy
8T. Idaho
8T. IULM
10. New Mexico State
11. Georgia State

Receivers:
1. South Alabama
2T. Louisiana
2T. Troy
2T. Idaho
5. ULM
6T. New Mexico State
6T. Arkansas State
8T. Texas State
8T. Appalachian State
10. Georgia State
11. Georgia Southern

Offensive Line:
1. Louisiana
2. South Alabama
3T. Georgia Southern
3T. Idaho
3T. Troy
6. Texas State
7. New Mexico State
8T. ULM
8T. Arkansas State
8T. Appalachian State
11. Georgia State

Defensive Line:
1. Louisiana
2T. ULM
2T. Idaho
4. South Alabama
5. Troy
6. App State
7. Texas State
8. Arkansas State
9. Georgia Southern
10. New Mexico State
11. Georgia State

Linebacker:
1. Arkansas State
2. Louisiana
3. Texas State
4. Troy
5T. Idaho
5T. ULM
7. South Alabama
8. Georgia State
9. Georgia Southern
10. App State
11. New Mexico State

Defensive Backs:
1. Arkansas State
2. Louisiana
3. South Alabama
4. ULM
5. Texas State
6. Georgia Southern
7. Troy
8. Idaho
9. New Mexico State
10. Georgia State
11. App State

Special Teams:
1. Texas State
2. Idaho
3T. South Alabama
3T. Arkansas State
5. Georgia state
6. ULM
7. Louisiana
8T. Georgia Southern
8T. Appalachian State
8T. Troy
11. New Mexico State

A few comments...I am surprised to see Idaho ranked highly in so many things. Steele has that as his surprise SBC for the year. I think he has overestimated our running backs and underestimated our linebackers. We've got power runners but that isn't necessarily what we will need for this year.

Also, as much as I hope it won't be the case, App State has been a receiver factory for a while now and just because Washington, Peacock, and others are gone doesn't mean they won't be reloading at the position. If Sumler is the best receiver on the team then it's probably the weakest group of receivers App has had in a while.

In regards to receivers here at App, we do expect Sumler to finally have a breakout season and showcase his speed, but we do have a phenomenal group of Freshman who will contribute, including a late get from Wake Forest who was release from NLI (Jaylan Barbour). Meadors will be special as well.

We are also finally stacked at running back where we've been thin for at least 5 years.

Everything else is pretty accurate, though I would say our oLine is maybe better than predicted.

(07-09-2014 11:02 AM)EigenEagle Wrote:  Stole this from Steele's preview...

Quarterback:
1. Louisiana
2T. ULM
2T. Texas State
2T. Idaho
2T. App State
6. Georgia Southern
7T. South Alabama
7T. Arkansas State
9T. New Mexico State
9T. Georgia State
9T. Troy

Running Back:
1. Louisiana
2T. Texas State
2T. App State
4. Georgia Southern
5. South Alabama
6. Arkansas State
7. Troy
8T. Idaho
8T. IULM
10. New Mexico State
11. Georgia State

Receivers:
1. South Alabama
2T. Louisiana
2T. Troy
2T. Idaho
5. ULM
6T. New Mexico State
6T. Arkansas State
8T. Texas State
8T. Appalachian State
10. Georgia State
11. Georgia Southern

Offensive Line:
1. Louisiana
2. South Alabama
3T. Georgia Southern
3T. Idaho
3T. Troy
6. Texas State
7. New Mexico State
8T. ULM
8T. Arkansas State
8T. Appalachian State
11. Georgia State

Defensive Line:
1. Louisiana
2T. ULM
2T. Idaho
4. South Alabama
5. Troy
6. App State
7. Texas State
8. Arkansas State
9. Georgia Southern
10. New Mexico State
11. Georgia State

Linebacker:
1. Arkansas State
2. Louisiana
3. Texas State
4. Troy
5T. Idaho
5T. ULM
7. South Alabama
8. Georgia State
9. Georgia Southern
10. App State
11. New Mexico State

Defensive Backs:
1. Arkansas State
2. Louisiana
3. South Alabama
4. ULM
5. Texas State
6. Georgia Southern
7. Troy
8. Idaho
9. New Mexico State
10. Georgia State
11. App State

Special Teams:
1. Texas State
2. Idaho
3T. South Alabama
3T. Arkansas State
5. Georgia state
6. ULM
7. Louisiana
8T. Georgia Southern
8T. Appalachian State
8T. Troy
11. New Mexico State

A few comments...I am surprised to see Idaho ranked highly in so many things. Steele has that as his surprise SBC for the year. I think he has overestimated our running backs and underestimated our linebackers. We've got power runners but that isn't necessarily what we will need for this year.

Also, as much as I hope it won't be the case, App State has been a receiver factory for a while now and just because Washington, Peacock, and others are gone doesn't mean they won't be reloading at the position. If Sumler is the best receiver on the team then it's probably the weakest group of receivers App has had in a while.

"If Sumler is the best receiver on the team then it's probably the weakest group of receivers App has had in a while."

Hummm..... Tacoi Sumler - a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com and a three-star prospect by Scout.com … member of the prestigious ESPN 150 as the No. 62 prospect in the nation and the 11th-best wide receiver in the high-school class of 2011 … tabbed as the country’s No. 87 recruit by The Sporting News … participated in the 2011 Under Armour All-American game and also earned all-America accolades from PrepStar Magazine … represented the United States as a member of the USA U-19 national team for the 2011 USA vs. The World game … two-time National Underclassmen Combine MVP.

You're sure holding the rest of our WR's to a mighty high standard!

couple of things, App is loaded at the linebacker , might not be the best in the SBC, but there is no way in hell with the athletes and depth we have at that position we are second to last in the conference. As far as receiving, we are extremely young, so, right now, I would put us middle of the pack, but, man, there is some serious talent at that position, when they grow up, they are going to be really good.

As I noted in another thread. Steele has consistently been among the worst performers in picking the league over a number of years.

They are way off on the RB and WR positions for us. We are easily dead last at RB. WR should be top 4.

(07-09-2014 01:58 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 01:06 PM)Crump1 Wrote:  Steele underwhelms again.

Steele has Troy's QBs ranked last in the SBC. He is severely mistaken. We have a 1st Team NJCAA All-American who helped set the NJCAA all time record for total offense. 51 TDs (6 rushing), 7 INTs, 1 Sack. Played for the #1 NJCAA team this year. We have the #2 team's QB as well who has a 67-2 record through HS and JC. He is the only high school player in Iowa 4A (highest in the state) to have passed for over 2,000 and rushed for over 1,000 in a single season. We have ESPN's #27 ranked HS QB from 2012, grey shirted, then redshirted. We may not have the best guy overall (broadway), but overall this unit is #1, not last. What a load of crap. Expect to see one of our guys crack Phil Steele's midseason All-SBC list. Troy has had the best QBs in the league since 2006. Only Broadway and Aplin (and some could say Rusty Smith, FAU, and Kolton Browning, ULM) have even challenged Troy in that regard. We bring back almost everyone else on offense to smooth the transition, including our OC who runs a system we've ran for eight years to perfection.

Pretty impressive stats! Is his name Tony Mitchell?

(07-10-2014 05:43 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  They are way off on the RB and WR positions for us. We are easily dead last at RB. WR should be top 4.

Seriously doubt that.

And sssshhhhhh....everyone knows our WR's are miserable and can't catch a cold

I'm hoping we have someone that can step up at RB this year. We lost a lot and are having to shift players around do to all the off season nonsense.

(07-10-2014 05:43 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  They are way off on the RB and WR positions for us. We are easily dead last at RB. WR should be top 4.

You have 5 returning WR's who had a combined 32 receptions in 2013. Now, they may be pretty good, but saying that group is top 4 in the conference is a pretty bold statement.

(07-09-2014 02:57 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Only huge thing I would disagree with a lot is concerning Wide Receivers.
Think App State bringing in nine new receivers with the announcement
last week of another signing for this class year that got his NLI cancelled
by Wake Forest so he could join App immediately. Was rated something
like 79th national and up to 20th in his state. He would not be counted
would imagine. Guess he could be discounting them because they are new.

I don't have a problem with him ranking our WR's that since almost all of them are inexperienced. We do have some highly rated guys coming in, but there is no way of knowing how they will produce in year 1.

I do have an issue with our Special Teams being ranked near the bottom. We have a returning AA at Punter, a senior LS, several explosive options at returner. Kicker should be solid as well.

(07-09-2014 11:41 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  As I noted in another thread. Steele has consistently been among the worst performers in picking the league over a number of years.

The problem with Phil Steel is he consistently over values junior College transfers. This is why you see a inconsistency in his all conference team and where he projects a team to finish in conference standings like Idaho. This is why you see athletes that haven't played a down in the FBS projected all conference that were and team or honorable mention last season. He clearly doesn't understand that just athletes wash out for one reason or another at a higher percentage that high school athletes.

(07-09-2014 02:56 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  If you average all of these numbers out it gives an interesting placement of teams. By no means am I saying this is an accurate prediction, but the order of finish based on averages is interesting:

1. Louisiana
T2. South Alabama
T2. Idaho
4. Texas State
T5. Arkansas State
T5. ULM
7. Troy
T8. Appalachian State
T8. Georgia Southern
10. NMSU
11. Georgia State

Interesting look at the numbers. Excluding
Idaho's absurdly high ranking, his talent level estimates dovetail pretty closely with a reasonable prediction of how the conference standings will look in December.

(07-10-2014 12:12 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 02:56 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  By no means am I saying this is an accurate prediction, but the order of finish based on averages is interesting:

T2. South Alabama
7. Troy

His talent level estimates dovetail pretty closely with a reasonable prediction of how the conference standings will look in December.

Wishful thinking there, ATL.

(07-09-2014 02:56 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  If you average all of these numbers out it gives an interesting placement of teams. By no means am I saying this is an accurate prediction, but the order of finish based on averages is interesting:

1. Louisiana
T2. South Alabama
T2. Idaho
4. Texas State
T5. Arkansas State
T5. ULM
7. Troy
T8. Appalachian State
T8. Georgia Southern
10. NMSU
11. Georgia State

If Steele thinks A-State's talent isn't greater than Idaho, Texas State, and ULM . . . he's not paying attention.

(07-10-2014 07:41 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(07-10-2014 12:12 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 02:56 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  By no means am I saying this is an accurate prediction, but the order of finish based on averages is interesting:

T2. South Alabama
7. Troy

His talent level estimates dovetail pretty closely with a reasonable prediction of how the conference standings will look in December.

Wishful thinking there, ATL.

Not me. That's your department, Brother TF5!