| 07 October 2010
Going into the season I could not have been more excited. I was irritated that anyone had the audacity to vote Alabama over us. How could you not see this was the best team in the country? We had the nations best difference maker returning at quarterback. We had one of the best offensive lines in the country. We were going to be even better on the defensive line. Alabama, lost their two best defensive players and both were right in the middle of the defense. Their quarterback is quite ordinary. Bring on Alabama. I wanted to see the national championship game right then and there. Too bad that could not happen.
Since then it has gotten ugly around here. We have been a very lucky program over the last ten years or so with injuries. It looks like it has caught up with us all at once. Have you looked at the depth chart? Compare the current depth chart with the one we started the season with. There are some names you did not expect to see in there. Too many.
We have two key starters on defense out for the year. As far as I'm concerned Tyler Moeller was the defensive MVP up to this point. C.J. Barnett was coming off the best game by a safety at Ohio State arguably since Donte Whitner. Our corners are both beat up. The problem is with the back-ups. Both Howard and Evege are out indefintely. I don't know if Corey Brown or Dominic Clarke are ever going to be solid starters. It is too early to say. What I do know is neither is ready to be a starter on a national championship squad. Behind Moeller we were lucky to have Christian Bryant who is a freshman that is ready to be a starter on a national championship squad. Have you thought about who backs him up now? Nate Oliver. Yes, Nate "5.2 forty" Oliver. Great football player. He does not have the speed to be an impact player at this level. The reason he is number two on the depth chart is we lost freshman Scott McVey to a season ending and possibly career threatening shoulder injury. Notice you did not hear about Bryant at the Star until close to the seasons opening. That is because McVey looked so good he was likely to be number two on the depth chart and play as a freshman. Don't say we would just move Hines to the Star. It is not that easy. That means that Zac Damicone or Aaron Gant moves into the starting strong safety spot. I doubt Jamie Wood would slide over. He has been practicing all this time at free safety and is more natural there. Right now he might be the best option at free safety anyway.
The receiving corps took another blow today with the news that Grant Schwartz got hurt. First reports were broken leg and he too was done for the year. We now know that is not the case but he could be out for at least a week. Stoneburner is not yet ready to play. Reid Fragel is not close to a substitute for Stoneburner in the passing game. It also means our two tight end packages are out of the mix for what looks to be at least another week. As far as Schwartz is concerned, do not underestimate the value of a fifth year player who knows the playbook and can at least execute the blocks we need from our receivers.
Last but not least we have seen Pryor take a hit to his left leg two weeks ago that left many of us wondering if he was going to need to be carried off. Last week he hurts his quad and I will laugh in the face of anyone who says he is 100% this week. Well, I will laugh until I remember the terrible interception that Bauserman threw last week at which point I will start crying.
I want Alabama. I still think we beat Alabama. We should all start asking Santa Claus for an early Christmas present. We want to play Alabama now. A few more injuries and we will not want to see any part of Alabama.
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