YHTS Countdown to Kickoff 2013: 7 Days Out, 7 Best Offenses

By Adam Zimmerman 

One Week until Football. We are coming up on the final, non-football weekend for the next 21 weeks. I think we are finally running out of things to talk about and analyze and predict. But not quite. So, without further adieu, here are what should be the 7 Best Offenses in 2013. (I'm not saying they'll rank 1-7 in total points at the end of the season. Some of these teams have to play in the SEC. These are who I believe defenses hate to see the most.)

7. Clemson

When your offense that scored over 40 points last year returns both Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins (two future 2014 first round draft picks) as well as 4 out of 5 starters from the offensive line, you have a lot to look forward to. 

6. Oklahoma State

He may be a prick, but Mike Gundy's offensive system rivals Mike Leach's and Chip Kelly's. It hasn't mattered who he has put in at quarterback, running back or wide receiver in the past few years, the Cowboys still put up big numbers. 

5. Alabama

I know not all these guys are still there, but you get the point

It may look boring. They may only score more than 40 against non-conference opponents. But Alabama's offense is as disciplined, fundamentally-sound and dominate as its defense. TJ Yeldon and Amari Cooper could turn out to be the best "skill" position players that Saban has had during this run - and yes that includes Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. AJ McCarron is known, rightfully, more for his girlfriend (fiance?) than his arm. However, he has shown more poise and command of the offense with each start. He is a legitimate first-three-rounds draft pick. 

4. Texas A&M

As long as Johnny Manziel plays (which he will because the NCAA scares less people than an RA) the Aggies will have a high powered offense. It will now be up to Johnny and Coach Sumlin to find a way to make lightning strike twice, but this time without help from Kliff Kingsbury. ESPN will ask "What's wrong with Johnny Football?" or "Is the partying catching up to Johnny Manziel?" if A&M averages even just half a point less than their 44 point average from last season. But I'd expect SEC defensive coordinators to be just as worried about the Aggie attack in 2013. 

3. Georgia

I'm on the record as going all in on this 2013 Georgia Bulldog team. Apparently, AP writers have been frequenting YHTS because today they also chose Aarron Murray as the pre-season All-SEC first team quarterback. Combine Murray with running back Todd Gurley, and you will have a very potent and very efficient offensive attack. 

2. Baylor

Speed kills. Baylor will never ever be a team you should be worried will run up the middle against your team all day. They will never be like Wisconsin or Alabama and line-up 5 bohemeths to bulldoze your defense. But they're fast. And they'll run around you. Art Briles has been cultivating this offense for years. Whether at Houston or now at Baylor, Briles has taken the subpar recruits leftover after Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and LSU (and recently TCU and Oregon) are done and produced a consistently high speed and high scoring offense. He's finally getting better talent and has another legitimate Heisman contender to play with in Lache Seastrunk. Waco may be a blight on the otherwise stellar canon of Texas cities, but the Baylor offense should be something fun to watch.

1. Oregon

They get better every year. Even without Chip Kelly they'll be fine. The new guy in charge has been on that staff for years and the offensive coordinator during Kelly's tenure. They still have Marcus Mariota (the Young Life version of Johnny Manziel) and De'Anthony Thomas. They're still really fast. They still have awesome uniforms that I am convinced make them even faster (Nike, you are welcome to advertise on YHTS). The Ducks should ride their offense to the National Championship game. I just hope Coach Bombay is able to watch them.