I'll just respond to the defensive part because I think the offense will breakout (Especially if they use their two future big time NFL TE's like they're supposed to). I should also add that if I'm Beckman or Gonzales or Beatty, I'm definitely using Terry Hawthorne on offense. There could be a Charles Woodson like effect there if they do.
On to the defense though, this defense has a chance to be really special. The only thing I don't like is the depth in the secondary (I like the young talent but its not experienced). It could be as good as anyone anywhere if they had a little more depth (Heck it still might be anyway), but I still think they'll be top 10/top 5 for sure because of the studs they have. Hawthorne, Brown, Buchanan and Spence are all 1st round ability players and I think all will go there when they come out. Remember that Spence and Brown will only be juniors this year so they could come back. We all know about them, but there are a few guys flying under the radar big time. Justin Green is one of those guys. He will be in the NFL playing CB right along with Hawthorne next year. He has the potential to really put it together and open eyes this year for some early round consideration. Glenn Foster is another. In fact, I'm torn between who I want to see more this year between him and Darius Caldwell. Foster has accepted that he is a DT now and is up to 290+. I think he's going to open a lot of eyes as well in the form of NFL interest. Don't be surprised at just how high he will shoot up. It's the same for Justin Staples too. People will find out why I've said for the longest that there's not much seperation between he and Buchanan, if any. Staples is going to have a big year.
Other than those guys, obviously Sanni, Williams, Hull, PNY, Ramsey and others are back too. I think all will factor in and I would not be surprised to see a few of those guys emerge. I want to see how Eaton Spence, Nick North and others will factor in, but again this defense will be really special. One last thing I wanted to point out is that I'm really excited about the young DL and LB's. I mentioned Caldwell (He's going to be the best to come out since Simeon..watch), but Denmark (I want to see how big he has gotten...if he gets to 245+, it's a wrap), Kynard, Nelson (Sleeper), Dickinson (LB U continues), Cooper (Very Brown-like) and the freshmen like Powell and Williams all have a lot of talent and potential. If they can bring in 2013 studs like Merrick Jackson, Josh Augusta and others to team up with them, the defense is going to stay on top of the B10 for a long time.
