USA Today Coaches poll is out....

[Bud Lee]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ ... atpoll.htm

Looks like it will officially be the #3 and #4 team will be playing against each other in the Cowboy Classic.

ETA: Using this poll at least. Anyone know when the AP comes out?

[GrandpaDuck]

Winner of the game (if they keep winning until then) will be #1 when first BCS poll comes out.

[karlhungis]

I know that Bama is always going to be good, but aren't they starting a new QB this year? Seems like a pretty generous rating.

[Bud Lee]

I know that Bama is always going to be good, but aren't they starting a new QB this year? Seems like a pretty generous rating.

In my opinion they are overrated. They lost their QB and go to back, not that Richardson isn’t capable of filling Mark’s shoes. They are a top 10 team but not a top 5.


I also think that AU shouldn’t be in the top 20.

[GrandpaDuck]

.......

I also think that AU shouldn’t be in the top 20.

Yeah talent wise i agree, but finishing #1 should get you token top 20 spot as a courtesy.

I also agree that Alabama losing two key players is way too lofty at #2 and first in conference. FSU may be a year too early for their lofty rating too.

[uodux1212]

I know that Bama is always going to be good, but aren't they starting a new QB this year? Seems like a pretty generous rating.

In my opinion they are overrated. They lost their QB and go to back, not that Richardson isn’t capable of filling Mark’s shoes. They are a top 10 team but not a top 5.


I also think that AU shouldn’t be in the top 20.

Isnt Bama's defense supposed to be out of this world? They only gave up 13 points a game last year and all the pundits are saying they'll be better this year... ???

[Bud Lee]

Isnt Bama's defense supposed to be out of this world? They only gave up 13 points a game last year and all the pundits are saying they'll be better this year... ???

Yeah...they are stacked at D

[gregspechtismyhero]

I know that Bama is always going to be good, but aren't they starting a new QB this year? Seems like a pretty generous rating.

In my opinion they are overrated. They lost their QB and go to back, not that Richardson isn’t capable of filling Mark’s shoes. They are a top 10 team but not a top 5.


I also think that AU shouldn’t be in the top 20.

Isnt Bama's defense supposed to be out of this world? They only gave up 13 points a game last year and all the pundits are saying they'll be better this year... ???

Ya, new QB doesn't matter, they could score 6 points in a game and still have a chance of winning according to espn hah

[sactoduck916]

We had a new QB last year also, so you never know whats going to happen til they get on the field of play.

[nogerO]

Isnt Bama's defense supposed to be out of this world? They only gave up 13 points a game last year and all the pundits are saying they'll be better this year... ???

Yeah...they are stacked at D

I thought I heard or read that they had all their starters on defense returning???

[TheMaehlMan]

I thought I heard or read that they had all their starters on defense returning???

They have at least one new starter since Marcel Dareus is in the NFL now.

[SuperDuck]

Isnt Bama's defense supposed to be out of this world? They only gave up 13 points a game last year and all the pundits are saying they'll be better this year... ???

Yeah...they are stacked at D

I thought I heard or read that they had all their starters on defense returning???

According to "Lindy Sports" magazine they have 7 starters returning on offense (that doesn't include Trent Richardson, who is all world, but wasn't a starter) and 9 starters returning on defense. They also have their punter and kicker back from last season.

In addition, they also brought in their usual stable of a couple dozen 4 and 5 star recruits and I'm sure they'll have at least 1-2 of those guys that make immediate contributions. Julio Jones came in as a true freshman and was awesome!

Are they Top-5 right now? It's too early to tell. No one will know for sure until the new QB gets a few games under his belt. If the new QB, likely A.J. McCarron, can complete enough passes to keep defenses honest then they should be formidable.

[JohnnyAuburn]

Right off the bat I'll say this. Alabama is a great program. Well coached with excellent recruiting set to reload year after year. But That does not mean that they will be a championship caliber team every year. They obviously were in 2009, and I would say that they were even more so last year. But this year they lost their starting quarterback and top receiver (who was responsible for 33% of receiving yards.)

This is going to be a major issue not only for their offensive production, but with a new QB at the helm and nobody to throw to, they have to be sure not to force anything. Any team with a good secondary is going to bring UA's defense right back out onto the field and start to wear them down. LSU is poised to do this all day long. Arkansas also looks strong with an offense that will surprise people and 7 returning starters on defense including 6-5 271 Jake Bequette who will match up well against Alabama's new left tackle.

I think Alabama is going to do extremely well this year, but we never know whats going to happen. This could easily be a toss up between LSU, Alabama and Arkansas.

[greenyellow]

Right off the bat I'll say this. Alabama is a great program. Well coached with excellent recruiting set to reload year after year. But That does not mean that they will be a championship caliber team every year. They obviously were in 2009, and I would say that they were even more so last year. But this year they lost their starting quarterback and top receiver (who was responsible for 33% of receiving yards.)

This is going to be a major issue not only for their offensive production, but with a new QB at the helm and nobody to throw to, they have to be sure not to force anything. Any team with a good secondary is going to bring UA's defense right back out onto the field and start to wear them down. LSU is poised to do this all day long. Arkansas also looks strong with an offense that will surprise people and 7 returning starters on defense including 6-5 271 Jake Bequette who will match up well against Alabama's new left tackle.

I think Alabama is going to do extremely well this year, but we never know whats going to happen. This could easily be a toss up between LSU, Alabama and Arkansas.

Who does Arkansas have behind Kniles Davis now that he's done for the season? Arkansas tends to have multiple RBs who could start so I'd imagine it's the same this year as well.