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Predictions for 2014 season

bukIpower

Head Coach
I saw something similar on 11W so I figured I would strike one up here. List some things you think will happen or you would like to see in 2014.

1. I would love to see someone come in and electrify the crowd like Braxton or Teddy. I think that person will be Jalin Marshall if he stays healthy.

2. This year we will have a much more dangerous return team than in previous years with 5 special team TDs in total.

3. We will be frustrated after Navy but pleased overall for the year. Something tells me Navy will get their yards but for the year we will be a top 15 defense overall.

4. Spence will still lead the team in sacks and Bosa will match 7 sacks that he had last year but otherwise will have a rather ordinary year. I think teams will pay a lot more attention to him this year and he will have to overcome the extra blockers.

5. The MSU game will be a bigger mismatch then people think. We will win by 10+ because MSU will not be use to the recent success and regardless you don't lose that much talent on defense and be good to go.

6. Rod Smith will be a large part of the rushing attack and have a solid year running for 700. If he stays out of the dog house he will have all of the potential to be a good back.

7. First TD of the year will be a big hitter from 40+ out. My prediction is dontre gets the year started right.

8. Braxton will still lead in rushing with 1100. Eze with 800, Smith with 700 and Dontre around 700 too.

9. Apple will lead the team in INTs and a freshman DB will play a big role on defense. My pick goes to Webb.

10. We run the table rather emphatically but come up short in either the final or semi finals.
 
1 through 10, from least surprising to most surprising (at least to me)

1. This team will blow Navy out of the proverbial water. 35-0 by halftime.

2. The Passing game will be crisp until the weather turns colder.

3. The running game may take a while to get moving but by the end of the year will reach the level of last year's running scheme.

4. the defensive backfield will make some big plays and give up some big plays, but they will remain aggressive all year long

5. The linebackers will be average mainly due to inexperience.

6. Braxton will fight off cramps but will not have a significant injury this year since he will be more of a passer than a runner.

7. Virginia Tech will be a closer game than expected.

8. There will be more rushing TDs given up than Passing TDs given up by the defense.

9. This team will not win the Big Ten or even its division.

10. This team will lose a game it should not lose and it will resemble a game much like the Northwestern game last year, except the comeback will not be completed in time.
 
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I think Brax misses a game or 2 and we lose one of those in a close one.
Brax will play hurt all season.
I'm not confident in our back up QBs at all right now.
But by season end this will be a better TEAM.
I don't see a BIG team making the playoffs. It's rigged for the SEC to have 2 teams in.
 
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I don't see a BIG team making the playoffs. It's rigged for the SEC to have 2 teams in.

I think that only one SEC team makes it in this year. All four teams will be conference champions. The one conference left out will be either the ACC, the Big Ten, or the Big 12. (Yeah, I know that that sentence isn't very bold, but the first two might be.)
 
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I think Brax misses a game or 2 and we lose one of those in a close one.
Brax will play hurt all season.
I'm not confident in our back up QBs at all right now.
But by season end this will be a better TEAM.
I don't see a BIG team making the playoffs. It's rigged for the SEC to have 2 teams in.
Yes there is no way the SEC doesn't get two of the 4. The worst scenario would be if two SEC teams played each other in the semi-finals because that would be labeled as the unofficial championship game. If we were to beat an SEC team for example after they played their SEC semi then the excuses would diminish our/whoever were to beat them title.
 
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I think that only one SEC team makes it in this year. All four teams will be conference champions. The one conference left out will be either the ACC, the Big Ten, or the Big 12. (Yeah, I know that that sentence isn't very bold, but the first two might be.)
According to reports if the playoff was in place last year, Alabama would have been in. That tells me all I need to know about the coming Championship playoffs.
 
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According to reports if the playoff was in place last year, Alabama would have been in. That tells me all I need to know about the coming Championship playoffs.

1. I was predicting the 2014 season - not using anyone's guesses for what would have happened in 2013.
2. I'm still predicting only one SEC team in the playoffs, regardless of what these "reports" might claim.
3. Have they even figured out how they're going to select the playoff teams? I know there's a committee, but the last I heard, they didn't even know the details of how it was going to work. If that's true, how can they extrapolate that process to other seasons?
 
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I'll bite:

1) The offensive line begins the year shaky but Braxton masks it a bit with his athleticism. About mid-year the OL starts to be a strength after they start meshing. At the very least, I feel very good about Decker at LT...I see no dropoff there. Plus adding Lindsay was big at center for experience and alot of people are forgetting that Underwood and Elflein both have experience, albeit somewhat limited. The only truly green area is at RT, where Baldwin and Lisle have no experience. And if for some reason someone in the interior does not cut it, Big Meech is physically ready to play and Jamarco Jones could be as well.

2) Braxton sees marked and substantial improvement in all areas of his passing game. I really think we see him click this year and set all kinds of records. I would predict him to win the Heisman but I don't know if he will stay healthy enough...we may start relying on his legs too much again if the run game does not take over with the RBs. However, I think he is going to be the same dynamic player this season but with more consistency.

3) We have a blow-up performer as a freshman on offense: Johnnie Dixon. Kid has every trait you need to be successful and I think he becomes a go-to guy for Braxton and Spencer is utilized less as a result. He has already impressed the coaches and with a good fall, he will be on the field plenty. We might get the ball to Samuel some and he might impress with limited touches, but I think Dixon has the better opportunity to excel immediately.

4) This is the year we see Michael Thomas become an impact WR for us. He has all the tools and appears to have put in the work. We could really benefit from his improved play and I think he adds a new element to our offense.

5) The defensive line is the best in the country and is the best that I can remember in my 26 years. Not a bold prediction but I see no way they do not dominate everyone they see in the regular season. Spence and Bosa both get into double-digit sacks and Bennett is nearly unstoppable inside. My surprise guy on the DL is that Michael Hill plays extensively and catches eyes when rotating in. Really hoping Chris Carter steps up when we need a big space-eater.

6) The back 7 improves greatly. Part of that will be the DL dominating and making things easy for them. The other part is adding McMillan to our corps to either push Grant or replace him. Perry I see taking a big step and I think Lee could really surprise us. I also think Booker could be in line to play. The DBs are more athletic this season and the scheme will benefit them. Yes, they will give up some bigger plays but tighter coverage and pressure from the DL = more turnovers and misthrows. Doran Grant is primed for a huge senior year and I think Reeves gets bumped by Conley, Apple, or Webb. Powell dominates at Star with E. Smith rotating in and Bell/Burrows make for a star safety tandem this year...in fact, safety is the area that has me excited. We'll have some growing pains but I think we improve and get back to the Silver Bullets.

7) Ezekiel Elliot easily goes for over 1,000 yards of total offense. Kid is just way too talented to keep off the field and although I think that Rod might steal a few carries, I would not be surprised to see us ride EzE much like we did Hyde when we need to.

8) Our TEs go for 50+ catches this year. I have no idea why I would predict this yet again, but I think we try to get honest involvement with Nick and Jeff.

9) Dontre Wilson EXPLODES this year. He has been unstoppable this off-season and will benefit from having other threats around him like Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, James Clark, Johnnie Dixon, etc. I also think he goes over 1,000 total yards (including returns, receptions, and carries).

10) We go undefeated and lose in the first round of the playoffs. I'm worried about Braxton staying healthy and the ceiling of our OL...even if we play well, I just think it is impossible to match the talent of Norwell, Mewhort, Linsley, and Hall (aside from experience). I think we can have a very good OL, just not sure if we can have a championship caliber OL. If they are, I very well think we can contend for a title with our skilled guys, too much talent not to light the world on fire if they have help. But I just think there will be significant enough holes in the back 7 of our defense and OL that a truly elite team (FSU, Bama, etc.) can expose.
 
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