2016 talent level

[Sugarditch]

So, I was thinking about a recent David Murray article where he said our offensive line is being asked to do what they are not capable of doing - playing at an SEC level. Comparing our talent to the other SEC teams doesn't present a pretty picture. My guess is we don't have a single offensive player who could start for another SEC west team. This lead me to thinking about the 2016 talent level compared to the 2008 State team - Croom's final season. I'm not sure we have improved the talent level from that team. We all know Croom could not coach for ****, but reviewing the names below made me realize the 2016 is not better talented than Croom's last season. Here are a few names off that 2008 team:
Defense:
CB Damien Anderson
DE Tim Bailey
DT Jessie Bowman
CB Tay Bowser
CB Corey Broomfield
DE Charles Burns
MLB Jamar Chaney
S Keith Fitzhugh
SS De'Mon Glanton
LB Anthony Littlejohn
DT Kyle Love
DT Cortez McCraney
SS Charles Mitchell
DT Reggie Odom
CB Jasper O'Quinn
S Derek Pegues
CB Marcus Washington
LB KJ Wright

Offense
C JC Brignone
OT Michael Brown
OG Michael Gates
TE Marcus Green
OT Craig Jenkins
QB Tyson Lee & Wesley Carroll
RB Anthony Dixon & Christian Ducre
OG DJ Looney
WR Brandon McRae
WR Co-Eric Riley
OG Quinton Saulsverry
OT Dereck Sherrod
WR Jamayel Smith
C Chris Spencer
OG Anthony Strauder

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

It's not like our head coach has any effect on our talent level**

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Sorry, bro but we're way more talented than back then.

I think our OL is good at run blocking, but they are inconsistent and poor communicators. No real leader in the group when it should be Clayborne.

Defensively, 8 or 9 of our best guys are freshmen or sophomores and I'm not counting Brandon Bryant.

 

[57stratdawg]

That offense is rough.

 

[Bulldogg31]

You know, it just may be that it is not possible to get highly rated offensive line recruits to come to Starkville.

Apparently no one's done it yet.

 

[Croom's knee socks]

We'll never get the cam robinsons of the world to come play o line, but there's no questioning we can do better than this.

 

[gymdawg.sixpack]

Idea: go get a new o-line coach from a hotbed (like big 10 country) with a history of recruiting these big boys and double his pay to come to Starkville

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

Just exactly how many top rated offensive linemen are there each year? 131 FBS schools. Usually 4 & 5 star OL sign with top 20 or so teams. So, honest question? How many 4 & 5 star OL are available each year?

 

[Strike.sixpack]

Just exactly how many top rated offensive linemen are there each year? 131 FBS schools. Usually 4 & 5 star OL sign with top 20 or so teams. So, honest question? How many 4 & 5 star OL are available each year?

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