Taking advantage of the missus being out of town. Going back and watching some of the early-season games I have DVR'd. A couple of observations:
1. With what we have coming back next year our defense could be scary...SCARY! We played half the season without, arguably, our most athletic player when Tree went down in the Boise game and still had an extremely impressive LB corp. Add Ray Drew and a few of the other young pups to the equation, not just at LB but across the board, and we could be playing with the type of depth LSU fielded this past season.
2. I'm excited for Tavarres King and what he could do in his SR season. We have good depth behind him but if he does, on a consistent basis, what he occasionally did early in the year (some pretty impressive grabs) he could have a pretty special SR year.
3. I'm worried about replacing Ben Jones. Not necessarily replacing him, skill-set wise as it relates to the center position, but replacing his leadership, work-ethic, determination, and mean streak. Finding another true "big nasty" like him will be key to our O-line living up to their potential.
4. I REALLY hope IC gets his head on straight this off-season. If he does he could turn out to be something really special. When fully healthy, it's hard to name someone in recent memory with his elusiveness toting the rock for the red and black. Per my comments above, we're gonna need that shiftiness early next year, until the O-line has a chance to get some SEC game experience under their belts.
I'm excited about 2012 fellas. AM's a "student of the game" in every sense of the word. From what I'm hearing, his work ethic and dedication on the field and in the film room is trickling down to the rest of team...on both sides of the ball. Having Marshall out there next to him as the "greenhorn" showing others what it takes to be a next-level type of player can only help.
It goes without saying that the first two games of 2011 impeded what could've been a special season. I have a feeling that this group of dawgs will remember there is no "off season" in SEC football, will continue to work hard behind the scenes for the next 6 months and come out swinging.
Now...back to my DVR. GO DAWGS!!