Does Georgia have a schedule problem? | Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Florida & more SEC team previews!

Intro SEC preview part du say it Ty yeah I got a request out on Discord that I never stopped doing that oh good it seems like it's been a big hit among the well that's the power of signing up to be a verbal at verbal. comom you get to control what Tai says you get to pull the ex not exactly but not opposed to that either okay not opposed to that we appreciate everybody's support out there I am Tai he is Dan this is the solid verbal this is part two of our ongoing SEC preview series really of our ongoing college football 2024 preview Series right now we've got both the ACC and the Big 12 in the books we've got part one of the SEC where we talk through our Contender tiers also in the books you can go back and listen to that episode it's the last one out there on the feed today though we're actually going to start talking about specific SEC teams and we're going to do so with a focus on these eight remember there are 16 teams now in the SEC we're going to talk today about Georgia and Texas about Old Miss and missou about Texas ANM in Florida and about Mississippi State and Vanderbilt to close things out yes so four for you that you focused on four for me that I focused on a little bit more intently as well so excited to get into the nitty-gritty about these teams and much much more hey sorry for the quick Interruption but it'd be incredible if you considered subscribing to the solid verbal YouTube channel right down below where do you think you'd like to start with this discussion uh I think we should start with Texas because they sort of Encompass a lot of what's new and interesting about this conference and we're not doing Alabama this episode so we're not starting with the defending champ um I I'm sure we'll get to Georgia next but I don't know let's start with the new and the new with Texas is they're here the new with Texas is that they've joined the SEC they have an SEC schedule and with Texas and Oklahoma of course comes the end of Divisions so everybody's schedule looks sort of different right there's protected matchups but I don't know the div visionless football is a new thing and Texas is one of those teams so Texas brings back a ton as a big 12 playoff Texas Longhorns preview team I pause you for a second you do you're doing this again to me ah you said where should we start you love Danny that's Danger the we need to work on our communication here I was waiting for the so that I could shoehorn that sound in but it's okay okay sorry I apologize I'm just very excited to talk SEC football I know I know I know I appreciate that okay can I get back to what I was saying please do I apologize sir continue I'm very excited about Texas football and the things that make me excited are the experience that sarc has been there that there's continuity on the staff um look it's not to to Echo the the laziest talking point of all but it all starts up front and Texas is entering into this conference with if not the best offensive line a conversation that they have the best offensive line in this country especially or in the conference at least anchored by Kelvin Banks left tackle all- americ is's probably going be top five seven pick or whatever in the 2025 NFL draft they should be able to run they should be able to throw and they should be able to throw replacing a lot both at receiver and tight end but when you add in Isaiah bond from Alabama jonte cook you know former fstar uh Silas Balden from Oregon State Ryan Wingo a five star coming in like there are too many options for this passing game not to work really really well considering it SARS bread and butter considering the talent here considering the experience considering the line protecting Quinn yers and maybe Arch Manning if Quinn goes down there's just there's very little way even with Texas's schedule and I know George's on this schedule that they're not going to have a top 10 12 offense in America if not higher oh they're going to score 38 points a game with this offense they're in a great starting place there what I really like about where Texas is at is we knew what was the weak point of Texas we knew that danger to Texas last year by the end of last year and seeing certain quarterbacks have success was they weren't getting home off of The Edge and their DBS were losing one-on-one battles deep they were giving up big pass plays and it wasn't just on the secondary wasn't just on the pass rush but if you have a pass rush it's easier on the DBS if you have sticky will Johnson type Corners it becomes easier for everybody to get to the quarterback and to you know get the defense off the field Texas has developed youth really well at all three levels and guys who are rotation guys step in along the line at the linebacker spot at both linebacker spots really and in the secondary they also went into the portal once again to build up depth in the secondary to build up depth at Edge rusher try Moore is that big name from UTSA um they were after I mean this is sort of a common theme in the league right now was building up beefy depth you know at defensive tackle which Texas did its best to do you know whiffed on a couple of transfer targets but brought in guys and by and large Texas should be in a very good spot now the schedule's not the easiest in terms of what they have in a row and I think there are trappy moments you know they have Oklahoma and Georgia I think in consecutive weeks so Oklahoma of course in Dallas and Georgia is in Austin yeah it's in Texas it's in Austin still that's a horrific backto back for most teams we'll see if it is for Texas but there's a reason they're a contender there's a reason that like okay so their defensive tackles aren't quite where they were last year with Byron Murphy and tandre sweat very few teams you know can say that they are so I think Tex is in a great spot I really really do we'll see like linebacker depth we'll see defensive tackle depth and that's when you start getting into the end of the year the run is looks like what Florida at Arkansas Kentucky at A&M you know getting that Kentucky defense a week before traveling to College Station it's just I don't know if it's going to be trickier as a look ahead spot playing against Kentucky or against A&M after in a body blow spot I mean the emotion will be there the motivation will be there as they they reignite that that rivalry with A&M but you really can't look at Texas and say like o here's a major major question and so yes it's a transition to a new conference you know Sark doesn't have you know the experience game planning against all of these defensive coordinators and going to all of these stadiums but look they go to Alabama and beat them on the road last Well he kind of does though he was in the SEC before he was at Texas yes he was but I'm saying with this roster with this place what ever yeah but that's me nitpicking that's me like that's a half Truth at best I mean I just think it says an awful lot about the job that sark's done that they lost their top running back their top five wide receivers both sweat and Murphy off the line who you mentioned earlier on the they lost the running back like two-thirds of the way into the year last year yeah but still the point stands there's a lot walking out the door and their over under is still 10 and a half going into what amounts to a much tougher conference now the over under is 10 and a half I would not bet on Texas going over 10 and a half and it's not because I don't like the team it's because so much is changing right I like their talent but to your point of okay they've got Oklahoma and Georgia on back-to-back weeks okay they've got Kentucky in that defense a week before squaring off against Texas A&M we don't know yet what the bumps in the road are going to be for this team going into this conference I think we can assume on some level that they're well positioned we know the talent is there we know they obviously made it to the playoff a year ago my bet is that they're going to make it again even if I'm not going to bet the over here I still feel really good about this team but there's I think a fair amount in the in the minutia of this season that will come to know as this thing goes on that um we we can't fully gauge out how Texas is going to fully adapt to the SEC right now look if we're talking about Texas as a 2023 playoff team last year that path is different it is they beat Alabama on the road but the week- toe path in getting and this is no disrespect intended because these a lot of quality teams on this listing of teams but going through Kansas State getting Oklahoma State Texas Tech a lot of teams that just don't have the tap don't have don't recruit on the level of a lot of the teams on Texas's new schedule it's a different animal and the the other concern I would have with Texas that's nothing they can control they can't Texas can't control how Kansas recruits they can't control how TCU recruits and whatever but the other animal here is something that I think we we put in the past a little bit where the so two years ago they struggle in the second halves of games and we're just like man I why are they losing like this why are they not scoring this why are they scoring three points in this second half loss to an inferior roster last year against Washington specifically you're like well the running backs are fumbling a little but they're running for seven yards a carry and they've abandoned the run in the second half and they're putting it all on quins and now Washington has this ability to sort of pin their ears back and look at a more predictable second half Texas offense the question then is like Sark toet totoe as an offensive coordinator in a big game and proved against Alabama on the road for sure last year is it going to be an every week thing that Texas either survives in spite of itself or loses something that they might not have had to because of you know three weird three and outs in the second half against Georgia against Kentucky against A&M or something like that that would be the concern as Things become more difficult yeah and look I I also think playing this type of schedule brings into Focus the fact that Quinn Urus has had some health concerns in the past now they've got Arch Manning behind him yep who hasn't played meaningful snaps I think they feel good about their quarterback depth for obvious vious reasons but one of those other points that I think worth is worth mentioning at this early juncture we to and more to my point of we don't fully know what that transition into the SEC will look like we assume it will go rather smoothly and that Texas is positioned well to deal with it yeah but who knows who knows it's it's also I haven't been in a few years but I've been to a few Texas games it's not always an SEC the best of even though we consider Texas in this grouping the environment at DKR it's a little quieter it's a little less Rowdy it's a little less electric it's a little bit less of a frenzy maybe it's changed last few years as they've gotten better but it's it's not exactly no you know the Hornets Nest that is multiport field tie let's go to Georgia then I mean yeah when we did our last episode it seems the two teams that we felt best about were were Texas and obviously Georgia it goes without saying Georgia uh 13-1 last season lost to Alabama in the SEC Georgia Bulldogs preview title game we'll talk about B on the next episode then went to the Orange Bowl and smoked Florida State by 60 points yeah just killed him obviously there were reasons for that okay but Georgia was a very good team and Georgia was kind of at full strength going into that game so now going into this new season this power vacuum that was created by Nick Sabin walking way Georgia is suddenly the top dog and they've been really good for a couple years running now they're at a dynasty level with this program Kirby Smart has done a really good job and there's no reason to think that they won't get there again this is probably one of those times where I'm supposed to have a hot take I've got the volcano behind me take a TOA I've got other takes that we'll throw in that volcano and I'll play my sound as we go through the course of this episode and the one after it but like I don't have a take I don't have anything spicy that's going to wrap back up downloads views or whatever like Georgia is take proof at this point from my standpoint and okay at least for onfield stuff yeah for onfield for onfield stuff yes of course okay for onfield stuff not going down that rabbit hole the best said not going down that road because that would have been inappropriate continue not going down that road beautiful yeah the best way I can describe this team on the field is that they are painfully yet scary boring okay it's boring it's boring we already kind of know what we're going to get and that's despite the loss of Brock Bowers and lad makoni and two guys in the backfield and many others they're 29th nationally in returning production so they lost a lot but still rank very highly in terms of what they have coming back which is something of a rarity if I'm being honest with you here an elite team from a year ago that has this much back part of the reason why I like Michigan last season as popular pick to win the national championship I wasn't alone in that but they had so much back from their team in 2022 obviously there was a lot to like in 2023 they end up winning the national championship not to be cliche but the same is true for Georgia as it was for Texas where does it start Dan it starts up front sure and this is going to be maybe the four straight year where they've got an offensive line that's a finalist for the Joe Moore award which they give out to the best offensive line in the country yep you can yeah you can just sort of work backwards from there man it's not that complicated you got a Heisman caliber quarterback and Carson Beck they bring over Trevor etn from Florida going to run the rock they've got um a stable of running backs if it's not Trevor etn plenty of guys they could count on the receiver room maybe a bit weaker now with the dismissal of RA Thomas due to his legal issues but still Dominic love it and Dylan Bell and Kobe young who comes up from Miami London humph who was is you know a big play guy from Vandy he comes in oh and Oscar Delp by the way right we're going to talk a lot about Brock Bowers is leaving he was maybe one of the better tight ends in the history of the game Oscar Delp is pretty good he was good in relief effort when he had to step in for Brock Bowers on a full-time basis here and there uh last season now he's gon to be the dup yeah raat Thomas suspended indefinitely it was the last thing I saw off the team he's gone he's off the team yeah oh okay I'm just listed off names here that's not the point of this but it kind of is the point of it right like if you have been following this team or this show or this damn sport for the last handful of years you know most of the names have just rattled off not a whole lot of unknown quantities and it's kind of the same deal on defense too loaded up front with Mel Williams who might be a first round draft pick will be a first round draft pick Nazir stack house there's a ton of experience in the linebacking Corp high level Talent behind them on the depth chart if anything's weak I guess it's the secondary but I'm really reaching here I'm really splitting hairs George's weak spots Georgia's weak spots would be many other teams strengths of course and that goes without saying so again I I wish I had something spicier for you but I don't well it's the schedule I think it's it's it's not a weak spot per se because everybody that they play is more terrified of Georgia than Georgia is of it but I think again if you have the schedule in front of you it's like maybe the most difficult first five weeks of defense that a team might play in the country again if you're like an average you know you're a placement level team there's no team that I think has a more difficult is it for the first five weeks it's uh Clemson Kentucky who else is on there b Clemson Kentucky Alabama Auburn are the the Biggins and then as you get into this week six week seven on the road at Texas that's on October the 19th that's obviously going to be uh the Marquee matchup of the weekend um so defense yeah not really in short supply through the first half of the Georgia schedule and it is a more difficult schedule than we saw last year than we saw the year prior it it certainly is I think many of these teams that are on this thing have up their game but yeah I still really like George's chances just because again so many known quantities there's a reason that even with the schedule 10 and a half's the over under right I don't think I'd take the BET honestly I don't think I would I love Georgia I think Georgia's winning the SEC but I'm not taking that bet it's not because I think they're overrated it's because there are some tough runs here that neutral cider against Clemson in week one weird things happen in week one yeah at Bama at Bama you could talk more about Bama on the next step episode still a lot of talent there at Texas at Old Miss anytime you go on the road in this conference Strange Things Can Happen by the way that Old Miss game is a week after the Florida rivalry and a week before a home game against Tennessee talk about more beef on the schedule they've got Auburn at home a week after the Bama game yeah and Auburn gave him a lot of trouble last year yeah so I I think despite the fact that I really like Georgia to win this conference to get back to that SEC title game I think there's a good chance George drops one of these and they end up 11 and one they still could hit that over I don't know if they're losing two games but I think there is a really high likelihood that they end up losing one of them along the way they still end up in the SEC title game I still think they win it obviously they go to the playoff maybe with a first round buy but the conference is harder and this schedule is harder right so who's doing I'm putting you on the spot here who's doing like the SEC on ABC who is the main voice of that like the the the big game of the week is it Joe Tess I'm assuming it's going to be Joe Tess I don't know okay my question is this is there a chance like come week four week five whatever that whoever is calling Georgia a few weeks into the year is going to mention that you can tell the Georgia offense for the first time in quite some time really does Miss Brock Bowers and lad makoni because of the the safety valve and almost like how not underrated because they've gotten a ton of attention and that we just assume that because Georgia recruits this well because they've hit the portal as well as they have that they'll figure it out which I think is a totally fair assumption you don't get to be this good this often without figuring it out but that was like that was the main stay over two different quarterbacks uh three different seasons in which they were excellent consecutively that even with Brock Bower's injury last year it was one of your favorite kinds of injuries what do they call it the procedure tight RPP yeah the tight RPP yeah yeah that and lad makoni was injured as well and they they had like 90s something catches between them last year it was like 120 the year before that the the successful Georgia offense as much as they leaned on power rushing and bruising teams up that so much of the explosivity of this offense ran through Brock Bowers and lad makoni and that not they're underrated but that we are perhaps underrating their departures a yeah well look and and they were Main Stays they were a big part of that offense but to the point they were both hurt and Georgia they were both dealing with a bunch yeah they they needed to figure out how to win without those guys and they did more often than not they they absolutely did I think the guys that they're back filling with are fine I don't know if anyone's Brock Bowers but Oscar Delp was really good in a relief effort um some of these guys that Georgia went and got in the transfer portal at the receiver position it's clear that they knew they wanted to beef up that side of things they knew that they were going to have some folks walking out the door so I I think they'll be just fine my expectation is it will be something you hear the announcing Crews talk about early but maybe not so much late okay that's fair and by the way we haven't even mentioned Carson Beck we mentioned him once mentioned him once he might win the damn Heisman Trophy yeah he's he's ridiculous and is moves crazy well uh is ACC accurate is poised and with whatever he had early on last season in terms of new quarterback adjustment period he became exponentially more comfortable week over week last year and it showed it it absolutely showed one of the things that her friend Bill Connelly talked about in his preview of Georgia was just how effective Georgia is at working the middle of the field in between the hashes and we could talk about that a little bit maybe when we get to the jayen milroe part of our conversation here in part three but the throw over the middle is extremely difficult there's just more that can go wrong there more guys in the middle of the field and Carson Beck completed something like 74 75% of his passes across the middle of the field that's on top of what they were able to do in the running game where they run between the tackles and can beat you up over the middle so there's just so many different ways this team can beat you Carson Beck was very responsible with the football last season we had a couple instances a year ago where we were curious what Beck would look like when they turn turned more of the offense over to him I remember I want to say it was either the Kentucky or the Missouri game especially last season where we talked about what is Carson Beck GNA look like if they take away the running game he was superb more often than not I have no reason to expect otherwise this season so for me from where I sit Georgia is the most proven quantity in this entire conference yes the schedule is more difficult no I would not be surprised to see them drop a game but they are still still unequivocally my conference favorite in the team that I've gotten coming out of the SEC yeah I mean they did play more competitive games last year than they did did the couple years prior um and it was what Georgia Tech there a little bit careless late and that was somewhat of a game mizou went toe-to-toe with them for a good chunk of that game they lose to Bama in the SEC Championship game so slightly more human if there's anything that was a danger last year is you could run on him a little bit and Auburn was creative with it like you could you could get some plays moving the ball on the ground against this Georgia team and definitely wasn't the case those couple years prior and no more coach boom Tai will mus champ no longer defensive coordinator all right so you had Old Miss in your title game yes Old Miss has Ole Miss Rebels preview an over under of 9 and a half this year they were 11- two a year ago beat Penn State in the peach bow lost Bama in Georgia and that was sort of my hangup when we talked about Old Miss on the last episode that in those games in particular they weren't especially close is this the year for Old Miss because they've got a ton back a huge hul in the portal Lane kein as I said last episode not just using the portal to plug holes he did do it for those reasons but he also did it to stack depth got a lot of depth in some positions that's more the case than others but in this new era of the sport now where you might end up playing more games depth is kind of its own currency I think Old Miss is set up really really well there Stan teresian could get a boost from year number two under Pete golden running the defense the schedule kind of beautiful it seems set up for at least nine wins in all likelihood maybe 10 or more I understand the optimism around Old Miss but again I come back to is this the year and what will change if so to make it that year okay well I think the offensive line is going to get better which was a weak point last year I think Jackson Dart I mean he's dealt with some offseason uh procedures I believe or treatment whatever the word you want to look for he was beat up last year and maybe that played a role which by the way quick little apology if you want to play the sound the boop boop boop I feel like I was a little bit unfair to Baron Morton given that I didn't bring up his AC injury last year and as somebody currently suffering from a much better injury than what I'm sure Baron Morton was suffering from my sympathies and hopefully he's back and I I was more of aware of it looking at Jackson Dart who was beat up all of last year and gutted through a bunch of these games but all missing their wins they weren't running away from a lot of teams and what I'm looking for like that next step I'm I'm looking for more comfortable wins against quality teams and I think it is a skill to win and win those close games beat against Auburn or Texas A&M or whatever but these are you know the the final year of Jimbo and an interim situation it's year one of Hugh freees and like I don't know I feel like Old Miss should be further along if we're going to consider them a true Contender and you're absolutely right to bring up not being competitive at all against Alabama those final three quarters and certainly the whole game against Georgia but old miss being as proactive as they have been in the portal stacking receiving Talent which I think will only make them more dangerous and I still think they're going to be dangerous on the ground without quinan Judkins we'll see along the offensive line they went I think they got two of Washington's offensive linemen from last year inside so hopefully that helps that that was a line that won the Joe Moore award and I think Jackson Dart is the big question to me if he is clearly better and I thought he was good I thought he was really good last year but if he has taken that next step to where he given these receivers given what the the position this defense should put them in given their schedule like Jackson Dart should be at least I don't Fringe all SEC quarterback Fringe Heisman you know given Lane kein uh success on offense I don't think that's a crazy thing to to say given his experience you know on this roster in college football and coming back so I like miss a lot I really really do I think the Firepower is there I think they're going to get after the quarterback better I like the moves they made on defense Walter Nolan is that big big move in the Middle where he should be a lot more disruptive against the run which Miss can definitely stand to be more disruptive against the run I think it's great I think the big danger they pose is just like so much speed everywhere on this offense and the danger to themselves is protecting Jackson Dart and perhaps playing down to teams at times cuz I think that the defense is going to still get better I think there's still a ton of room to improve and I think addressed enough there that they will it's to me and what princ Ley uh you you I want to hear you say it can you try and say it yanan uman Meen Yan Meen there you go I just call princy uman Meen yeah uman Meen what's really cool about the Florida or his entry on the Florida Team website yeah and they're starting to do more of this which I think is a good thing especially for idiots like me mhm you can actually play a voice file a sound file of that player oh I appreciate that that's really pronouncing their own name so you know it's legit yeah and I haven't even mentioned ju Wells by the way in terms of the embarrassment of riches on offense transferring in from South Carolina so schedule wise look Miss has Georgia and then a bu and then they're at Florida that's a if you're going to play both of those teams and you know playing the swamp is always difficult in its own way that's a good way to do it uh Kentucky at South Carolina which again I'm not looking past at LSC certainly not looking past some with some of 's recent defensive issues and then they get a buy before Oklahoma it's not an amazing schedule but all things considered missing the teams that they miss I think it's pretty great considering their experience consider considering their depth at this moment I think they're in a great position do you think if Jackson dark gets drafted into the NFL he'll still do he'll still do the Anakin Skywalker ey thing I should hope so yeah feel like that's kind of his brand at this point yeah look if the defense improves the defense takes a jump forward in year 200 Peak holding and they weren't bad this was like a top 40ish defense no no no they weren't bad at all but it is still the thing that I think comes up most frequently when you talk to people about Old Miss and how they feel or don't feel yeah if the defense takes a step forward under Peak Golding in year two watch out schedule set up well they need to do like the pass rush was pretty good they weren't terrible at anything if they can get excellent at something right stuffing everybody on the ground getting after the quarterback erasing things and getting back to like a land shark look which look they very active I mentioned offensive line very active in the portal at DB as well then that's when they become truly a dangerous program if they can do something excellently on defense which is I think what's been holding them back they haven't had that thing so we'll see you mentioned the Florida Gators yeah I Florida Gators preview spent two and a half hours studying the Florida Gators I'm so sorry four and a half is the overunderish low for a successful a historically successful program like this yeah to see that number even for people like you and me who do this all the time and were always on the lookout for news and we understand trajectories of programs and what it that number knocked me back it really maybe it's just a a sucker bet type number right that you're just trying to low people in it it could be we know that schedule in America and for that reason alone it looks pretty bleak for Billy Napier making it through this season the irony though is that when you look at Florida in a vacuum separate from the schedule they've got the Hallmarks of a team that take a step forward almost everywhere okay it's just a question of whether or not their strides that they take forward are offset by like a I don't know four and eight or five and seven record might not be able to see it because of the schedule that number could that number could also be that number sorry to interrup TI because every year we see it in major conferences minor conferences whatever that like it starts out poorly somebody gets rid of a coach or even they don't get rid of the coach and just the wheels fall off that just go ahead and there's a lot of Wheels falling off potential because of the schedule I talked about that UCF game in what is it week four or five pretty early in the season that that to me could be one of those games but that aside I came out of my Florida study feeling somewhat optimistic about where the team is headed at least directionally okay for one they were super young last season and they got a lot from their freshman you know the saying freshman becom sophomores another year in the system I think should help raise the floor for the Gators I also think Florida will be pretty dangerous on offense at least more dangerous on offense for all the ey rolling that we did that I did especially about gram Merz a year ago he was really good yeah just three interceptions completed 73% of his passes and that's the spider line that gave up a sack one out of every 10 dropbacks which is crazy and was 115th in the nation so looking back say what you want about Billy Napier absolutely a good move to bring in Graham MZ and give him the keys so now he's back Graham Merz is back you add in DJ lagway their big-time recruit into the quarterback room maybe we'll see him a bit this SE I would expect we would he does not have the pressure of having to be the true freshman going through this Gauntlet of a schedule trying to resurrect the program trying to keep Billy Napier employed by the university I think that's a good situation for him can use him in spots agree Trevor etn transfers out but Montreal Johnson who actually led the team in rushing it's good he's back the receiver room is stacked this was not an explosive offense last season that's an obvious area where I think they need to improve they've said as much but my sense is that barring injury or any kind of unforeseen circumstances this is a top 20 top 25 caliber offense they should be pretty good Dan they really should H I assume so yeah I mean they were right around they were between 40 and 50 last year returning what they returned I don't think that's a crazy thing to say I don't know I mean if the offensive line is better then yeah they weren't great against they got to get the line sorted out right if if they're dangerous for all the reasons I described they're in danger because the line it's just too leaky yeah the line stats from last season were lousy they were very bad in pass protection better in the Run game but the line first and for foremost is Central to what Billy Napier wants to build he is on the record saying as much he wants to play the physical running game and wants that to be the main thing and it like kind of has been you could see maybe that he's trying to make it so but the line just has not been there I think it'll be better this year I think it has to be better this year but if they're in danger at least at this point as we record this in Late July early August that that's why that's the main reason all that being said okay I am burying the lead please in a big time way Florida is in danger if it cannot figure out this damn defense yeah it's been the running joke for how many years two years Now Yep this was a bad defense headed into last season it was bad defense coming out of last season Billy Napier went with like a near full line change on the coaching staff kept Austin Armstrong but added Ron Roberts who I think previously was Armstrong's Mentor so they're two guys who know the same system right along the line we've already talked about losing guys like Prince Ley uman M said it the wrong way F uman Meen excuse me um M yeah yeah lose him in the portal to oldys but they also did some good work in the portal they plugged some holes Corman McLean former festar comes down from Colorado we'll see we'll see wow yeah we'll see Joey slackman my token transfer from a small Ivy League school who I'm overly excited to see he comes in from Penn LJ McCrae big time get in the recruiting Gable on the defensive line top rated defensive lineman in the country Shamar James still back at linebacker it does not feel like a talent thing Dan Rubenstein the talent is there talent's there if they can't get the talent organized enough to get better on defense that's on them I think the talent's there to like compete for the ACC I just think you you you look at their opponents and how their opponents recruit and how their opponents are stacking depth on defense and finding more than just you know a gamechanging receiver like that's that's the difference to me is that there are pieces but not a grouping not a pallet I'm not talking about winning the conference no I know I'm talking about getting to a damn bowl game I know I hear you even Talent is there for that this is a brutal schedule any way you want to measure this it is a brutal schedule but the talent is on this team to go to a ball and if they don't and if it collapses this is on the coaching staff it would be the right move to get Billy Napier it probably would have been the right move last year to get B rid of Billy aier but they gave him another another bite at the Apple here and the talent's there so if it does not come to fruition if they do not take some stride forward it's on him even against a brutal SC I agree uh the schedule by the way is a joke I mean it's walk me through it first three games are home against Miami against Samford against Texas A&M two teams of those three that are very difficult yeah next week on the road at Mississippi state that should be a win I hope that's a win before a byee then comes that home game against the UCF which is a week before the Tennessee matchup and I could see that UCF being that UCF game being very consequential because I think KJ Jefferson beat him last year right KJ Jefferson beat him last year yeah that's a UCF team that could be dangerous for many of the reasons we described in our big 12 preview episodes I I would not look past that game and I would not count that as a gimme but then you're like you know at Tennessee home against Kentucky neutral site against Georgia at Texas home against LSU these are all in a row by the way uh home versus Old Miss and then they close out the year at Florida State you got to be kidding me they've got Georgia and Texas on back-to-back weeks their November is a car crash this schedule is brutal it is the hardest in the nation there should not be any debate over who who else's might be more difficult this is the toughest far and away okay can I ask you this gas me whatever you want it's your show if I'm going to tell you that I am a time traveler I've come back from December which is when you always say that we'll know moreby um and I tell you know what I'm not going to tell you what Florida's record is I'm not going to tell you how they did in these games but I'm going to tell you this they were legit pretty good this year yeah what what is to you what does that mean record wise like if if Florida is legit pretty good they could start out the season five and0 right yeah these are these are beautifully blue and orange colored Florida Gator glasses I'm now putting on right if they're legit pretty good that they're not careless with the ball that Trey Wilson has big games that the defense comes together a little bit more and they're fine they're not amazing they can beat Miami at home Samford Texas A&M at home they can go on the road and beat a new Mississippi State and they can beat UCF at home yeah it gets trickier from there so let's say they lose to Tennessee um and they lose at home to Kentucky and they lose to Georgia they're 5-3 they lose to Texas but beat LSU so that's 6-4 beat ol Miss 7-4 and then beat uh a struggling Florida State team who has taken a step back on offense and finish 84 I I to answer your question yeah I think quote unquote legit good Florida against this schedule relative to their talent on hand because legit good Florida still isn't going to go 10- two against this right what's I'm saying I think they're fully capped at eight and four and they're fully capped at 8 and four seven and five okay and that would take a huge step forward by that' be a huge step forward I do think you have to look at this within context because if they go seven and five or eight and four against this that represents a major strive forward and that would be a big deal for Billy Napier I don't think they could fire him if he went 758 and4 against this because that would represent so much of a positive step forward I don't think they could do it now I think he should get a raise at six and six you can make that case it's ridiculous you can make that case there's a whole separate conversation about whether the powers that be at Florida still feel invested in Billy Napier and so I'm curious to see what happens if they encounter some headwinds through the first five six weeks of this season because that UCF game looms pretty damn large I agree so I like Florida more than I expected I don't see how you can like them in any ific way to get Beyond seven and five I understand the logic if you want to go over four and a half I do I think they'll be better than some are expecting but don't expect them to go nine and three there's just no chance against his schedule no I know that's yeah I think the rosiest color glasses get you to eight and four that's my Florida take I don't okay we going A&M yeah let's go A&M actually Texas A&M Aggies preview uh seven to six last year they got rid of Jimbo they lost to Oklahoma State in the bowl game I I looked at A&M you looked at them in more in more detail than me but I looked at them and I said is it just me or should they be pretty good this year you know like what is the range of Texas ANM outcomes this season right uh so I I think you start with the fact that I I think we agree that they're getting a coaching upgrade an in-game coaching upgrade a vision upgrade a a coach who is willing to adjust a coach who is willing to take in more ideas and I think there is reason to be confident that Mike Elco especially given his experience as both a head coach and as a major coach at Texas A&M that they will lose fewer winnable games than the Jimbo Fisher Texas A&M I'd agree with that yeah so it's very difficult for me to see even with what I think is a pretty difficult schedule considering they start with Notre Dame it's very difficult for me to see this A&M team not making a bow like I don't think they have a loss to App State in them like it just I think they're going to be a better run program and they're just going to win what they should win in inside of a game not how we like look at a team so floor and ceiling I have as 6 and six floor 9 and3 ceiling I wrote down the exact same the exact same thing for yeah buddy digital high five for Texas A&M I mean there's still a lot of Talent on hand even after they lost so much in the portal 31 guys I think it speaks to the draw of Mike Elco and that Vision that they were able to bring a lot of talent back in to kind of back fill and have the roster in a pretty good spot it it does does not feel like they are starting over from a talent standpoint maybe maybe philosophically so I think depthwise they are a depthwise okay yeah they were they were hit a little bit on depth but generally speaking from a talent standpoint they're still really talented there's obvious investment in this program and Elco has been a guy who's been very very good coaching up defense but has proven in his short time as a head coach that he knows how to get more out of less so you put a guy like that in a situation like A&M that over under eight and a half makes a little bit more sense the range of outcomes though I like that won't come into more Focus until we have health answers about Conor Wegman until we see this team out there the whole thing yeah even like Jaylen Henderson was fine last year given the weird situation he entered into with you know Conor Wegman going down and Max Johnson going down uh Jaylen Henderson looking like a more viable weapon um look the offensive line has been an issue they've retooled it they've brought in transfers um they lose you know a couple of gigantic literally gigantic defensive lineman Walter Nolan LT Overton um I don't they just bring back enough and enough promise that given Mike Elko as a defensive guy again we'll get to Jay baitman in a second that talent-wise they're in a good place Superstars we'll see um losing Evans Stewart on offense I still think there's enough dudes at receiver that excite me there's enough youth you know moose Muhammad steps into a bigger role there Ruben Owens I really like as a big running back I think that could be you know a nice battering ram in the way that you know Duke has had success on the ground and Kansas state has had success on the ground under Colin Klein new offensive coordinator I think it's going to be a balanced offense it's Connor wigman health I just hope he's lucky right at a certain point he's just been unlucky I don't know if he's you know frail and made of glass I don't think that's the case I think he is just you know some guys are just snake bitten and you have to approach that as a concern given his injury history but if he can stay healthy I think so much of what A&M has been through these last couple years has been self-inflicted that literally just eliminating that is the difference between you know losing to Auburn and beating Auburn losing to Old Miss and beating Old Miss losing to um I guess it was Old Miss last year the shootout game um that they'll just win more and so I like too much of this team's potential to be down on the fact that they had 31 transfers they bring in 28 transfer you know Dez Ricks you know at corner coming in I don't know my my thing that is a danger right now is aside from you know Conor wigman health I think Jay baitman might have a little bit of like Ted roof like bring him in early let him take the lumps when it doesn't go well on defense you know early for a defensive head coach but it's really kind of the defensive head coach's defense like he wasn't good at North Carolina he wasn't mostly not good at army like I don't know I I felt like at Texas A&M when you have the resource to bring in a big name coordinator like or somebody from a big name defense or something like that that was a contributing coach like you do it and I'm not sure I get this maybe I'm wrong about Jay baitman but his track records suggests that he's either been crazy unlucky or has not and he was at army by the way when they were running an option and that's right it's one of the most advantaged places to call a defense because your defense generally gets a ton of rest if you have a successful offense um I don't know that that one gave me you know charity cause for pause there but from a talent perspective it's still depth in this moment I think he's going to recruit crazy well and he's already started recruiting he's already started recr can I can I pause you and ask you a question please do A&M hosts Notre Dame in week one yeah it's the Marquee match up of week one yeah we haven't done a Notre Dame preview yet obviously I'm going to be a little bit more plugged in on the Notre Dame side than you and that's fine I don't blame you who would you pick in that match up what's is there a spread or do you want me to just I think K&M is favored by about two but for our purposes here just consider it even uh I'd probably lean in this moment A&M because it's at home in a pretty difficult place to play because what they'll look like is going to be more mysterious now Notre Dame has their own Mystery on mystery on offense given new coordinator new old coordinator and Riley Leonard who is coming off of injury and Mike Elco is very familiar with I think I like the current A&M offensive pop upside more than Notre Dames and considering it's at home considering the mysteriousness considering Marcus Freeman in big games against good teams I think Mike ELO's a better head coach than Marcus Freeman that's not a take right no no uh I I'll give the edge without fully diving into matchups to A&M in this moment it's a fascinating matchup yeah and I understand why I understand why the point sprad is where it is um and this is not a Notre Dame preview obviously we're talking about A&M and a bunch of it can be Tai it's our show no but I I think for both teams the significance of that game cannot be overstated yeah it's gonna be great if you're A&M you win that game at home against the top 10 team suddenly expectations are dramatically different suddenly that eight and a half over under looks very attainable at 9 and three kind of plateau looks a little bit more attainable because you're being beating a team of that caliber at home Notre Dame factors to be a playoff Contender this year even if they lose that A&M game so so and on the Notre Dame side obviously if you go on the road place like College Station that would be a milestone for somebody like Marcus Freeman to get the monkey off his back win a big game like that on the road against a team that we I think will be we we believe will be nationally ranked by the end of the season big game big game of week one just curious to get your take on that so yeah their schedule is such that there's no obvious killer backto back on this schedule there's difficulties and you know how good is South Carolina well if they're act like we'll get there but if Lenor sers is really good then LSU South Carolina consecutive weeks could be very difficult right if the Auburn offense gets better traveling to Auburn before hosting Texas could be very difficult but as it stands now Texas A&M has no Georgia Tennessee ol Miss um and oklah for whatever you believe in Oklahoma but like you also kind of have to look at it through the lens of like well who might be beatable in terms of the good teams so schedule's pretty good and there's a lot of I'll use the word again there's a lot of buttressing tie or a lot of um what's the word I'm like buffering not buttressing buffering right there's a buffer zone between Florida and the rest of the SEC schedule in Bowling Green there's Arkansas missou Mississippi State that's not terrible Missi iipp State before LSU which is now no longer the Rivalry game because Texas A&M is Texas obviously um South Carolina LSU we'll see they get New Mexico state which I guess beware but this is not Jerry kill Diego Pavia no um and Auburn Texas we think Auburn's going to be pretty good but it's not Georgia Texas it's not BMA Texas so um I don't know it's no Bama too right for A&M yeah no no Bama so I know all things considered it's been a pretty good offseason for Mike Elco let's talk about the Missouri Missouri Tigers preview Tigers n and a half over under wa 11 and a half or excuse me 11- two a year ago they beat Ohio State 14 to3 in the low-scoring cotton bow yes big deal last year one of the stories of the year I am extremely high on Missouri with some qualifiers okay that I can get into here but a lot back 17th nationally returning Productions the easiest schedule in the SEC as I said on part one the 37th most difficult schedule in the country so not the easiest schedule by any stretch in the world but as compared to their other conference mates yeah it's the easiest schedule um they should be favored in 10 or 11 of their games agre this season my dilemma with mizou is whether this is a better team or TV show okay what do I mean by that all right the Luther buron experience I think they're well they're dangerous basically because the entire offense is back save for Cy shrer the running back a big loss and I think they lose one guy along the offensive line as well but everybody who caught a pass last season is back including Luther Burton uh Brady cook who had a Renaissance year last year he is back either Nate null or Marcus Carroll two guys that they got from the group of five from App State and Georgia State respectively one of those guys figures to be the trader replacement I don't have many questions about the offense Dan they scored 32 points a game last year there's a good chance they're pushing 35 this season it should be one of the best 10 offenses in the nation full stop okay I don't have any questions there my questions are about the defense there's a lot of turnover on defense and I think it's worrying right not the least of which is Blake Baker the aforementioned prized U perhaps overpaid coordinator for LSU now yeah we we will see we will see but they lose him they lose three solid defensive backs their best linebacker their best Edge rusher and three of their four interior defensive linemen there is a lot of turnover over here and even though I think Eli drinkz did a really good job bringing in new Talent via the portal and otherwise I just worry that it might be too much for them to absorb okay you know like best case scenario best case scenario at pops and misso is legit top 10 team most of the Year worst case scenario they're a fun half team that plays in some shootouts and makes for good TV are they a TV show are they a team right so the defense is really the only reason I'm not jumping on the over here because I like missou a lot and like I said before the schedule the schedule's great the games that Loom the largest are at Texas A&M and at Alabama they're home against Oklahoma they play sub team it's not like a cakewalk or anything right but if you believe that mizou can win just one of those three games then you bet the over man you bet the over you hope there aren't any other hiccups along the way yeah I I think all of that is right um I also sort of think that in this sport enough we've seen enough that like success begets success that like there is momentum you know sometimes coaches are not good enough to take advantage whatever I think Eli drinkwitz has proven especially with how he has sort of galvanized the money at mizou right that they're competitive on the recruiting Trail they're competitive they they get like the most promising Oklahoma offensive lineman right Kaden green comes in steps in to to sort of bolster things and I think he's relatively local to missou um but you're right about concerns about the defense and new coordinator losing key pieces all of that is true I think they're so advantaged on offense and they're well coached enough and I I just have this sense that mizou given their schedule given their offense is even if they're not as good as their final schedule indicates their final record indicates their final record is going to be really good I think they'll be good I think they'll be a good team and and and to the previous point of what what are like the range of outcomes for mizou the range of outcomes are pretty good yeah and they're they're definitely skewing higher than they were Texas A&M this is a good team it's a great offense they're going to score like crazy and the only reason I can't get fully into missou and go even more aggressive on when mizou takes is because of that defense okay and even that Dan even that depending where you look and who you read people have varying opinions about how much they actually lose how much it will affect them versus won't affect them if anything that's the thing that everyone's pointed at but even still there is disagreement over how much of an issue that's going to be for this team this season so you know but otherwise on the schedule like I mentioned those three big games A&M Alabama Oklahoma beyond that Murray State Buffalo Boston College and Vandy all at home before a buy right also at UMass home against Auburn at South Carolina at Mississippi State home against Arkansas they drew the correct straw to try and make a run at this thing this is easy by comparison still an SEC schedule but easy way easier than their peers by comparison we just got to see in the defense it's a defense thing my only question in this moment is I think you're absolutely right who are the quarterbacks that are good enough or at least that appear to be good enough in this moment on this schedule like it's at A&M so it's at Conor wigman who I think is pretty good it's at Jaylen milroe in Alabama I think he's a good quarterback we'll see on Lenora sellers we'll see on Jackson Arnold we'll see on Blake shapen and Jeff ley's offense we'll see ton green and Bobby patrino Thomas castanos the big guy right you're huge guy 7 foot4 418 pound Thomas castanos he grew a foot since we did the BC preview yeah like I Diego Pavia could be very challenging in in other Tim back offense not the Tim back other Tim back yeah I could talk about Vandy next we got two teams left here that we're going to discuss but no Carson Beck no no quines no Jackson Dart no whatever you think of Garrett nus me and LSU's what should be a really good offense like good place man it's a good place no it's it's a great place it's a great place and I almost felt guilty not being all in on maou because we did that episode no niiko right no no we did that episode a couple months ago and we said misso projected as a top 10 team and I could see them finishing as a top five team because of the schedule I love this hype I like them I'm just very conflicted and that's why I had them in my so what's your number right what what is with this schedule what is there over under what you say n and over under's nine and a half over under's and a half I'd still be inclined to go over I'm not putting it in the volcano I'm putting in the volcano you want it in this volcano missou 10 wins yeah more takes why it burns I don't even think it's that hot I think it's it's a gentle warmth close things out we got two teams left yes two teams starting over in different respects Mississippi State and Vanderbilt Commodores preview Vandy but you mentioned Vandy so let me do Vandy please um two and 10 last season they only beat Hawaii and Alabama A&M then they lost 10 straight not a not a great finish to the season for Clark Lee the issue at Vandy is Talent it is not it is not anything is a talent thing and it's been tougher to recruit there because of the academics you layer in the portal for example they lose their top four receivers just makes the job harder the lines have struggled the past defense especially has struggled the last few seasons Clark Lee now has two two in 10 seasons to his name in his time at Vandy overall he's won just nine games in three years with a five and seven in there Ty five and five and seven the five and seven so V's obviously in danger for all of these reasons and many more that I won't describe I am not here to grave dance or Spike the football on the doors if you root for them you already know here are the two reasons why they could be dangerous they could at least be interesting this season the first is something that you mentioned changes on offense Tim Beck the one from New Mexico State yep not the other one he comes over he brought Diego Pavia with him at quarterback he also brought Jerry kill with them to be an analyst yeah they also landed Nate Johnson the quarterback from Utah in the portal it's going to be more of an option attack which I don't think is the worst idea in the world World neither do I and I'm not an option guy and it's not to say they're going to be Navy or Army overnight but it's more of that I don't think that's a horrible idea at a place like Vandy you need the line play in order to make it work which they have not had but I like thinking out of the box here okay and if nothing more it makes it interesting right Diego Pavia makes it he had the helmet twisted around he runs hot what's not to love about Diego Pavia I think I'm with you I I think that that whole offense and some of the changes that Clark Le is trying to make there make this team interesting and the second is that Clark Lee is now taking over the Reigns on defense where he's got a good track record for being a coordinator we are probably nearing the end of his run at Vandy I hope not but yeah I hope not either I'm not rooting for it but if and when that happens he can kind of pick a spot as a coordinator right like somebody would hire him with a moment's notice sure so maybe he makes that defense more interesting again it's just a talent thing for Vandy do they got the horses to contend in this now 16 team conference where they don't have the easiest schedule where they lost 10 straight a year ago where their overunderish three this season they have the lowest teams on their schedule as I pull it up but as I remember it like there are teams who could fall apart there are teams who you could see having a very definitive weakness that they can't figure out and if Vandy is better coached because of Jerry kill um because Clark Lee has his fingerprints on the defense more than he's had I think he's like they've recruited pretty well they've lost a lot of those good recruits to other schools I think the eye for talent is good and they there is something about merely being overlooked and feeling like you have nothing to lose that could make Vandy a little bit dangerous I thought they were going to be more dangerous than they were last year and it was you know AJ Swan and they were trying to be a little more direct with things and they didn't really match up and they couldn't get it done so obviously there was some sort of behind the scenes messaging that said we need to bring in more players and I know we don't always do this and we need to bring in somebody who can help and I know as things fell apart at New Mexico state that it became an attractive place I think Jerry Hill didn't even go in with the idea of like trying to get hired as like an offensive coordinator or something like that he was just like what about you know these guys what about these guys what about hiring me no I got I got nothing to do let's win some football games and so I hope it works I do I hope it's a good marriage I do I hope it works but vandy's V's got an uphill climb just as they always have hope it works out um it'd be cool if they went to a bowl game but it's real difficult to see with the schedule and where the conference is right now from an over under of three to an over Mississippi State Bulldogs preview under of four with Mississippi State Dan bring us home Mississippi State five and seven last year they fired Zack Arnett who our friends over at Athlon mistakenly referred to in their magazine as will arnet different arnet GMC yeah continue all signs point to this being a rebuilding GE for the Bulldogs um what what does the immediate future look like what does it look like in the medium and longer terms based on whatever indications we have now through just a couple months of the leby regime right um we know what this offense is going to be obviously given his time at UCF given his time at Oklahoma we know that they're going to play pretty quickly we know that they're going to try to get the ball to receivers quickly and you know play with uh with a good kind of Reckless abandon as Jeff lebby offenses have um if receivers that they've brought in from the portal and that they've recruited recently work out and they're somewhat explosive then there's a little bit of danger to them right that's there's danger in a good way for Mississippi State they already play in a difficult place to play um there are pieces along this defense that are interesting they lost a couple big linebackers of course highlighted by bookie Watson last year but there are enough pieces up front on defense to make them interesting if they can stay healthy they're going to be running a 34 so they're switching away from Zack Arnett's 335 so a new base but you know most teams play nickel anyway um it's Coleman hutler who comes in who's actually has a really impressive special teams background as well but he comes in from Alabama most recently uh where he's coached I believe linebackers so new system it's a year zero situation it's been a weird situation altogether because of Mike leech's passing and how that sort of changed the schedule and coaching uh apparatus in Starkville so I don't know I think they're being very smart about how they're approaching things you know Blake shapen is not looked at as like a high seiling guy but he's a guy with experience and was in a pretty bad situation at Baylor offensively last year so we know the best of Blake shapen is decently good and so you pair that with a very quarterback friendly system you know the big question for Mississippi state is you know what do they look like in week week in year two year three right this year is kind of a wash we'll see um you get what they're going for with Jeff leby that they're trying to you know higher from the lane ke and tree and you know a younger guy fun offense and hopefully that resonates in State uh hopefully he'll continue to recruit pretty well which I think he will so the danger is just that they don't have the pieces they don't have the star power and it's going to take a minute to rebuild this roster cuz last year clearly didn't work out and they should be able to find it on both sides of the ball we've seen the best of Mississippi State this past you know decade 15 years or whatever you can find top level offensive skill sometimes they Nam Fred which I always appreciate you find All American caliber defensive lineman linebackers whatever Corners like you can absolutely find an eight and4 team in Starkville and so if they're smart about how they build the offense if the hires continue to be sound Jeff lebby hiring Jeff lebby as offensive coordinators a good first step I I think they'll they're they're sealing this year their danger is that they're fun and nobody figures out how to stop them quickly enough in a game and they lose but making a bowl game is a big ask this year but you know if they're in that like five and seven six and six range and playing for something late that's interesting to me sure absolutely write in solid verbal gmail.com let us know what we got right what we got wrong if you are on any of the platforms that allow you to comment we'd love to hear your comments be nice but generally we'd love to hear what you have to say about what we got right what we got wrong at least if you're going to criticize Ty I just need the Preamble of look we can all agree Ty is handsome and Charming comma but I could deal with that all right if you give me that say if you give me that that we can Ty seems like a great guy but I don't know his take on missou is such that I know we're going to get a lot of you didn't do your homework on so so that's okay part of the part of the part of the game here um we all got to play at this time of year we're excited to play it look we're halfway through all teams in the SEC on our next episode on part three we're going to do Alabama and LSU Tennessee and Oklahoma Kentucky and Auburn and then close things out with South Carolina and Arkansas hope you'll be here with us make sure you hit follow or Subs subscribe if you have yet to do so go on out to ver balls.com if you want to find out more about our patreon community our exclusive community of hardc cor ver Ballers who get to listen to bonus episodes and add free content get access to our Discord server we've got college football 25 dynasties spinning up Dan I need to talk to you about our recruiting strategy by the way at okay we'll talk about that offline a little bit all right got got some news to share with you on that front all right can't wait uh and of course yeah follow us on social media and send us those emails at solver gmail.com that's all I have Ty part two officially in the books for the SEC one more to go here where it just means more for that guy Dan rubensteen for myself Ty H talk to you all in a few days stay Solid peace