College Football 2011: Ranking the Top 25 Offenses in 2011
When I say it's never too early to start thinking about college football, you better believe I mean it. The college football season just wrapped up and I am already hungry for more.
I need rankings and projections. I need to know the best offenses in the country for 2011!
In an attempt to help myself rationalize my hopeless addiction to football, I am going to share with you my offensive ranking for the 2011 college football season. See, I am not obsessing—I am sharing.
No. 25: Florida Gators
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The good news for Gator fans is they are returning all of their skill-position players. The bad news is they have to replace three offensive lineman.
The rebuilding of their line is going to be the big key for the Gators. They have an explosive backfield led by RB, Jeff Demps. The Gators should have enough weapons to keep defenses from focusing in on Demps.
No. 24: Air Force Falcons
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The Falcons are losing five offensive starters, but you know the triple option is going to put up some rushing yards. Especially since the first two options of that triple option are returning.
RB, Asher Clark, and QB, Tim Jefferson, will bring their combined 1,825 rushing yards back in 2011.
No. 23: Michigan State Spartans
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Michigan State finished 2010 ranked 48th in total offense. They are poised to put up more yards in 2011.
They return all of their skill-position players and while they will be losing three offensive lineman, they do have good depth to step into the starting lineup.
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No. 22: West Virginia Mountaineers
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Geno Smith will be a QB to watch in 2011. He really started to come into his own as the 2010 season progressed and ended his Sophomore campaign with 2763 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The Mountaineers offense will have to replace the 908 yards gained by RB, Noel Devine and the 728 yards receiving Jock Sanders, but they have solid depth at these positions and they are only losing one offensive lineman.
No. 21: Miami Hurricans
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The Miami offense had an up and down 2010 campaign and finished 33rd in total offense. They are losing five offensive starters.
Jacory Harris returns for his Senior season and he will be playing behind an experienced offensive line that is returning four starters.
That offensive line should be able to open up some holes for RB, Lamar Miller. Miller will be a Sophomore and he'll be looking to improve on his 646 yards and six yards a carry average.
No. 20: Virginia Tech Hokies
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The Hokies have some holes to fill. They lose five starters on offense including their QB and their leading RB.
QB, Tyrod Taylor, is going to be impossible to replace, but their likely QB, Logan Thomas, will have the top three wide receivers and four offensive lineman from 2010 returning.
No. 19: Hawaii Warriors
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The Warriors are only returning three starters to an offensive unit that gained the second most yards in the nation in 2010.
That is a lot to replace, however, things get a little easier when you are replacing guys around a QB like Bryant Moniz. In 2010, Moniz threw for 5,040 yards and 39 touchdowns.
No. 18: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Notre Dame was 54th in total offense in 2010. However, it was a young offense. They are returning nine or ten starters depending on TE Kyle Rudolph's decision about heading to the NFL.
2011 is a make or break season for the entire Notre Dame program and their offense appears ready to carry them back to relevance.
No. 17: Arizona State Sun Devils
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The Sun Devils are only losing one offensive starter.
QB, Steven Threet, is going to have all of the weapons he needs and the time it takes to find them. This will be a QB worth watching in 2011 as he appears ready to have a big Senior season in Dennis Erickson's high powered offensive system.
No 16 TCU Horned Frogs
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TCU is losing five offensive starters from their undefeated 2010 team. The Horned Frogs cupboards are not bare, though.
RB, Ed Wesley, and his 6.5 yards per carry average, will go a long way in easing new QB, Casey Pachall, into the pace of college football.
No. 15: Auburn Tigers
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Let's see, who are the Tigers losing? Oh, that's right, some guy named Newton. Newton is not alone either. The Tigers will only be returning four offensive starters.
As they showed in 2010, though, the Tigers had great depth. While it would be foolish to expect the same kind of success in 2011, don't count on this spread offense falling off the map.
No. 14: Southern California Trojans
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The Trojans return seven offensive starters on a unit that ended up 28th in total offense.
Of the seven, they return their leading passer, rusher and receiver. QB, Matt Barkley seems poised to have a breakout Junior season.
No. 13: Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin is facing the prospect of replacing their quarterback and four other starters. That is a lot of production to replace.
They do bring back their leading rusher, James White, and three lineman from their dominant offensive line. That is enough to take the load off of any QB and put up some yards in the process.
No. 12: San Diego State Aztecs
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The Aztecs may have lost their coach, Brady Hoke, but they are returning eight of their offensive starters—an offense that finished the 2010 season ranked 16th in yards.
QB, Ryan Lindley will return to try and top his 3,830 yards and 28 touchdown 2010 performance and he will do so behind four of the same offensive lineman.
No. 11: Ohio State Buckeyes
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The Buckeyes are returning the most important pieces of an offense that finished 2010 ranked 20th in yards per game. The problem is, most of those pieces will be suspended to start the year.
There is a chance that QB, Terrelle Pryor, will not return, but if he does—this offense is going to be very hard to stop.
No. 10: Texas Tech Red Raiders
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Texas Tech has a lot of production to replace in 2011. They are losing their starting QB and RB.
They are bringing back their entire dominant offensive line. The Red Raiders pass oriented offense finished 15th in yards per game in 2010 and I expect similar results in 2011.
No. 9: Baylor Bears
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The Bears finished 2010 ranked 13th in total offense. They are returning eight starters on offense, including potential Heisman candidate, Robert Griffin III.
The biggest obstacle facing the Bears will be replacing their leading RB, Jay Finely. They do have depth at the RB position and Terrance Ganaway should be able to fill Finely's role.
No. 8: South Carolina Game Cocks
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Stephen Garcia finally seemed to grow comfortable in Steve Spurrier's offense and he is returning for his Senior season. He will not be alone either.
Garcia will have the privilege of again throwing passes to Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery broke the 1,500 yards mark in 2010.
Both of these guys may be taking a back seat to RB, Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore is coming off of a stellar Freshman season and could be one of the top backs in the nation in 2011.
No. 7: Arkansas Razorbacks
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Ryan Mallett may be jumping to the NFL, but Arkansas has a capable replacement waiting to take over. Tyler Wilson was forced into action in 2010 and he looked more than capable.
Other than Mallett and TE, D.J. Williams, the Razorbacks are returning all of their very skilled, position players. I expect Knile Davis to have an outstanding year running the football. He finished last year with 13 touchdowns and 1,322 yards.
No. 6: Texas A&M Aggies
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The Aggies offense will feature all the same faces in 2011 that it did in 2010, except for the person snapping the ball.
This is a good sign. The Aggies finished 23rd in yards per game and they look poised to make a serious run.
No. 5: Stanford Cardinal
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Andrew Luck is returning.
I now only feel compelled to say why they are not number one. Luck will be without his top two 2010 targets and he will be behind an offensive line that only returns two starters.
No. 4: Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Now that WR, Justin Blackmon announced he would be returning in 2011 the Cowboys will have 10 returning starters on an offense that finished 2010, third in yards per game.
This offense is high-powered and deep and they are going to put up some big number's in 2011.
No. 3: Boise State Broncos
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The Broncos are losing Kellen Moore's top-two targets from a 2010 season in which they finished second in yards per game.
They do bring back Moore, RB, Doug Martin, and three offensive lineman. Boise State has reached the point where they don't rebuild, they just re-load.
No. 2: Oklahoma Sooners
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Oklahoma finished 2010, seventh in total offense and the majority of their offense is returning.
QB, Landry Jones is on pace to break most of Oklahoma's passing records and he is going to have familiar targets to throw to. Six of their top eight catchers are returning.
They will have to replace RB, DeMarco Murray, but with only one offensive lineman leaving, whoever starts should have some holes to run through.
No. 1: Oregon Ducks
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The high-powered and fast paced Oregon offense finished first in yards per game. They return seven of their starters and all the key-pieces to their potent rushing attack.
Oregon is going to run more plays per game than any team in the country and chances are they will be successful on most of them.
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