(08-16-2016 10:01 PM)eaglebeaver Wrote: (08-16-2016 09:41 PM)Eagle9 Wrote: Please tell me when you say more loaded than ever before, you don't mean this is our most talented team ever. That's just foolish. We might have a pretty good defense, but they are so mediocre compared to the late 90s it's not even funny. We probably have more talent now on offense, but not by much. We don't have a Pinkston, Gideon, Nix. We also put some O linemen in the NFL during those years. IMO, that 1996-2000 era were the most talented all around teams we've ever had.
3) Fedora's 12-2 squad prolly had as much talent as the teams you are talking about....BUT....we lost to a mediocre Marshall team and a pathetic UAB squad. (We let their QB single-handedly beat us, something that happened time and time again while Fedora was here)
I loved that 2011 team; not because they were talented. On the contrary, I think they were the most cohesive team USM put together, which greatly compensated for the lack of (overly) talented players.
Think about that line-up: Ryan Ballentine; Peanut; Desmond Johnson; Kendrick Hardy; Hester; #18 @ WR (name escapes me right now); Deron Wilson @ CB; Wheaton @ the other CB position; Jacorious Cotton @ safety...quickly, can you name the other safety?
Sprinkle in Jaimie, Cordorra, Khyri, a very young Nunez-Rooches, Austin, and Lamp (the most talented players on the team, and arguably amongst USM's most talented throughout our history), you will find a team that simply understood their roles and played very well together, as one team.
This was very much evident in the play of our O-line that season; which, could arguably been our best o-line (play) ever....
*Sidebar and digression: just makes me sick that "he who should forever remain nameless" squandered such a well-put O-line that lost only 1 player in 2012.
The 2011 team:
Most talented team ever...I would wager "NO".
Best and the true definition of
team..."YES".