Palmetto Proving Grounds

Grade Alabama and LSU and see what you come up with.

Even with your analysis, I don't see why that is not good enough to win the SEC. No real weaknesses, excellent in many areas, and above average in others. Looks like a well balanced team that is primed for a huge season.

At running back and wide receiver I agree with you. Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery are two of the best players in the nation and the depth behind them is solid. Kenny Miles, Eric Baker and Shon Carson will all be big contributors and give Lattimore the breaks he needs to stay strong through games. Ace Sanders, D.L. Moore, Shamier Jeffery, Jason Barnes, etc. provide the depth they need to have the one of the deepest wide receiving corps in the conference and probably top 10 in the nation.

Our offensive line returns starter T.J. Johnson and 3 players that saw legitimate playing time last year. Freshman A.J. Cann is the only question but has had rave reviews in fall camp. I would have ranked the offensive line a B+ last year and don't see them as any less than that going into this year. The depth is there and Shawn Elliot has the players he needs to run a solid offensive line. As he proved last year he can coach.

Quarterback: http://stage.247sports.com/Article/Records-could-fall-in-2011-34938. I personally don't feel that a quarterback who will possibly break numerous school records in 2011 should be ranked less than an A. Would you rank Todd Ellis and Steve Taneyhill less than an A?

Offense: A.

Defensive back could use a little more depth. With that being said, I don't care what anyone says, USC has a load of talent in the defensive backfield. Stephon Gilmore is All-SEC and could possibly be All-American with a big year. C.C. Whitlock, D.J. Swearinger Marty Markett, Victor Hampton, Jimmy Legree etc. will all be big players this year. I give them a B+ with room to move to an A. The defense has been simplified and blown coverage will be minimized.

Linebacker is deeper than it has ever been and Ellis Johnson will have fresh legs all year. Shaq Wilson is back and is termed the quarterback of the defense. I think the linebackers improve this year, once again putting them at a B+

Defensive line in a whole is going to be monstrous. Devin Taylor, Melvin Ingram, Travian Robertson, Aldrick Fordham, Jadeveon Clowney, Byron Jerideau, Chaz Sutton, etc. WOW. This will be one of the best defensive lines in the country and they will be BIG. I give them an A+ as I think this will be USC's strongest position of the year.

Defense: A-

Just my two cents.

Until I see a couple of games, I don't believe anybody can do anything but speculate and even then it would be difficult to give an accurate assessment of what might happen. This exercise might be fun for arm chair coaches but IMO it is absurd. There are to many intangibles that no one can predict with any real accuracy. Things like injury, team chemistry, luck in the bounce of the ball etc. At this juncture IMO we have a chance nothing else and a chance has historically been fleeting in Columbia, sadly.

I think we will win the NC.

My analysis -

"a dream is a wish your heart makes."

I rest my case.

I think we'll be as good as our OL and DBs allow us to be. We can win the SEC championship with the team we have but those units are going to have to improve from last year.

Fair analysis IMO. I think we are good enough to win the east. Can we? Who knows. We would definitly have to get some bounces to win the SEC or the NC. But anyone who wins the SEC or NC has to get some bounces.

We are very good and I think your analysis is fair and puts us in the very good category. Just need the bounces to go our way to accomplish the championships.