SEC REPORT
by David Waters
Posted August 06, 2009
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SEC WEST QUESTIONS
With SEC Media Days behind us and the start of the season fast approaching, what questions do SEC teams need to resolve in order to have a successful season? Last week I looked at the SEC East, this week it's the SEC West. It looks like a three-team race between LSU, Alabama, and Ole Miss, with some potential improvement with Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State.
LSU- Will the arrival of defensive coordinator John Chavis improve the defense?
The Tigers from LSU had the most losses ever by a defending national champion in 2008. There were two determining factors that led to the Tigers finishing the season with five losses. A turnover prone quarterback in Jarrett Lee, who ended up throwing 16 interceptions last season, and a defense that was very inconsistent and gave up big play after big play in big games. While the quarterback play was abysmal, it was a surprise that the defense showed a lack of stopping opposing offenses.
Let me run down some point totals of what LSU's defense gave up last season: 51 points to Florida, 52 to Georgia, 31 to Troy (yes, Troy), 31 to Ole Miss, and 31 to Arkansas. The loss to Florida was head coach Les Miles' worst loss at LSU and the loss to Georgia marked the first time ever that LSU had gave up 50 or more points twice in the same season.
Changes had to be made since LSU is returning only one starter from the defensive line in senior tackle Charles Alexander and the return of a suspect group of linebackers and defensive backs. The talent is there and former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis has come to Baton Rouge to give the Tigers a new look on defense. The Tigers will now be a flying around, ball hawking type of defense.
For as bad as Tennessee was last year on offense, they were still that good on defense under Chavis. The Vols were ranked #3 in the nation with Alabama in total defense. Now Chavis inherits a talented across the board defense with LSU and will be using all that talent to come up with a scheme that limits big plays against them and more for them.
The retooled defense, which features less revolving of personnel, features great players in linebackers Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley and cornerback Patrick Peterson. The Tigers defense will now closely resemble the Tennessee defenses that terrorized the SEC for the last 14 years. If Chavis and his talented defense can find some consistency and if the offense gets solid plays out of quarterback Jordan Jefferson the Tigers will be playing in Atlanta come early December.
Alabama- Can quarterback Greg McElroy be as good as John Parker Wilson last year?
The Crimson Tide surprised everyone last year by going undefeated in the regular season and rising up to #1 in the nation. After going 6-6 and losing to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007, no one saw the results of 2008 coming.
The team was led with great defense that was ranked #3 in the nation in total defense, but the offense made enough plays to compete for a SEC Championship. Quarterback John Parker Wilson was a great game manager, but his stats didn't wow anybody. This year the Tide turn to junior Greg McElroy to try and keep Alabama at the top of the SEC and the nation. McElroy waited patiently for three years behind Parker Wilson and it seems to have paid off since McElroy practically blew away the competition in the spring.
One determining factor to a quarterback having a successful season is the guys that are protecting him. That could a potential problem for Alabama as they have to replace left tackle Andre Smith and center Antoine Caldwell. In games without those two last season the Crimson Tide really struggled to get anything done on offense, see the Utah Sugar Bowl game.
McElroy won't be asked to make a lot of plays this coming season, but when he has to, he has plenty of targets to throw to. The quarterback has a good deep ball to throw to mainly Julio Jones, but also Marquis Maze along with Darius Hanks. Even with this talent at wide receiver Saban won't be turning the offense into Texas Tech. This will still be a run first, ball control type of offense. This will help in the progression of McElroy as he can rely on Mark Ingram and hopefully talented true freshman Trent Richardson.
This year's defense could be better than last year's in Tuscaloosa to help carry McElroy until he gets his legs under him. With the return of experienced nosetackle Terrance Cody, and superstar linebackers Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower, Nick Saban is going out and comparing this defense to his 2003 LSU national championship team. The play of quarterback Greg McElroy will determine if the Crimson Tide are a true national title contender.
In reality Greg McElroy can be better that John Parker Wilson. He is a very smart quarterback and with all the talent at the skill positions to help him out. If all that comes together, the Crimson Tide will be better than last year's squad.
Ole Miss- Can the Rebels handle great expectations?
What a difference a year makes. Ole Miss went from 3-9 in 2007 to 9-4 last year with some very big wins. The Rebels went from winless in the SEC in '07 to beating eventual SEC and national champion Florida and got a big Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech. Now the bulls eye is squarely on Ole Miss' back and they sure will not be sneaking up on anyone this year.
It's amazing what a transformation a team can make with a new coach and new quarterback. Coach Houston Nutt came in and change the whole mindset of the Rebels. He found out the team had a lot of speed and found a way to utilize it. The college football world may have found out that Nutt maybe the best game day coach in America, and getting the ball to the right players is what Nutt does on game day. Behind quarterback Jevan Snead and talented utility player Dexter McCluster, the Rebels had a dynamic offense that averaged more than 32 points per game.
Quarterback Jevan Snead improved as the season went on last year and is a dark horse Heisman pick, and he looks to lead the Rebels to their first ever SEC championship game. Snead, who threw for 2,762 yards and 26 touchdown along with 13 interceptions, will be helped by six other returning starters on offense anchored by Dexter McCluster. Nutt formed the "Wild Rebel," where McCluster took the snap from the shotgun and took off for several big runs last year. McCluster will continue that this year, along with talented wideout Shay Hodge, the Rebels' offense will have very little problem putting up points.
The front four on the defense will be without All-American tackle Peria Jerry, but that will not affect the Rebels much this season. Greg Hardy leads a very talented defense that led the nation in tackles for loss with 111. Besides Hardy, seven players return on the defensive side of the ball that also ranked second in the SEC and fourth in the nation last season in rushing defense, allowing 85.5 yards rushing per game.
So with all of this positive energy flowing through Oxford, Mississippi, can the Rebels handle the expectations? The schedule sets up nice as Mississippi avoids Florida and Georgia out of the East and get Alabama and LSU at home.
Head coach Houston Nutt took Arkansas to the SEC championship game twice in his 10 season as head coach in Fayetville, in the second game the Razorbacks almost beat 2006 national champ Florida in the title game. Nutt had surpassed every expectation at Arkansas, except 2007 when the Razorbacks had lost three early games that ultimately led to the inexcusable resignation/firing of Nutt. So Nutt can more than likely handle the expectations that the Rebel faithful has bestowed upon him.
With Nutt at the helm, a dynamic offense with steady quarterback play, and a very talented and deep defensive line that leads one of the best defenses in the nation, the Rebels have no reason they can't play in Atlanta.
Auburn- Will the Gus Malzahn spread offense bring more success than the spread of last year.
Plain and simple, the spread offense project on the Plains was an epic fail. The five victories and horrible offense ultimately led to the firing of Tommy Tuberville, who went 85-40 in 10 season at Auburn.
Tuberville brought in Tony Franlklin from Troy and that led to an offense that couldn't make a big play and was one of the nation's worst red zone offenses. Franklin was fired after six games last season, and after the departure of Turberville, the Tigers were looking for a whole new coaching staff. So bring in…. Gene Chizik? Yep Chizik, a coach that managed five victories… in two seasons at Iowa St. To follow that up, Chizik goes out and hires another famous spread coach in Gus Malzahn. The former Tulsa offensive coordinator comes into Auburn after leading the nation the last two years in total offense with the Golden Hurricanes.
Matching that production with Auburn with its current offensive players and schedule maybe too much to ask of Chizik and Malzahn. First of all, there is no clue as to who will be leading the offense. The logical choice would be junior Kodi Burns, but after his play last season and in the spring, the Tigers might look somewhere else to lead Malzahn's spread into the SEC. Burns was horrible last season by throwing more than three times as many picks, seven, than touchdowns, only two. While athleticism will give him first chance to earn the starting role, don't be surprised if you see fellow junior Neil Caudle, who looked more impressive than Burns in the spring. Whoever emerges at quarterback will be protected by one of the best offensive lines in the SEC.
Trying to break in a new offense in the SEC will be especially difficult for the Tigers this season. Auburn may have the toughest road schedule in the SEC. The season starts with four possible wins, with the hardest being against West Virginia, then later in the season go on the road to Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia.
It could be a surprising year if the Tigers get a quick start, good quarterback play behind a consistent offensive line, and find some playmakers. That might be too much to ask for and probably is.
Arkansas- Will the defense be able to stop anybody?
Fans can say whatever they want about Razorbacks' coach Bobby Petrino, but the guy can flat out coach an offense. Once the offense got some game experience, the Hogs ended the season on a pretty high note. They outscored teams, but we all know you can't win championships in the SEC by just outscoring teams, you have to play defense.
The Razorbacks gave up a whopping 31.2 points per game last season and that must improve. The front seven is really not that bad, led by linebacker Jerry Franklin (87 tackles) and defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard (14 ˝ tackles for loss and 6 ˝ sacks), but these are also the guys, along with a weak secondary, that helped the Hogs rank last in the SEC in total defense, scoring defense, run defense, and pass efficiency defense. As stated, there is some talent, but not enough and Arkansas must rely on true freshmen and junior-college transfers in the secondary, that usually doesn't bode too well for defenses.
There is no way the defense can be as bad as last year and that has to count for something. The offense will definitely help out the progression of the defense. Remember what quarterback transfer Jevan Snead did for Ole Miss last year? Ryan Mallett transferred from the spread attack at Michigan and finally gets his chance to lead the Hogs to a much better season than last. Helping Mallett will be led by dynamo running back Michael Smith, who ran for 1,072 yards and eight touchdowns, and tight end D.J. Williams, whose pass catching ability makes him one of the best tight ends in the SEC. With this help on offense, the defense can afford not to be great, but it doesn't need to show the same weaknesses of the defense from the year before. There is enough returning talent that they should do a much better job of stopping teams.
Mississippi St.- Will the arrival of new head coach Dan Mullen help the offense?
Bulldogs new head coach Dan Mullen has been successful everywhere he has coached. He has been the quarterback or offensive coordinator under Florida coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green, Utah, and Florida. Now Mullen will bring years of knowledge of the spread offense to the offense inept Bulldogs of Mississippi State.
Not since 2000 has Mississippi State averaged more than 30 points per game. In seven of the past eight seasons didn't even average 19 points per game. Even recently, last season for example, the Bulldogs averaged 15.2 points, which was last in the SEC and 115th in the nation, and they were held to seven or less points in five games. So in summary, Dan Mullen has A LOT of work to do.
Eight offensive starters return for Mullen, but it remains to be seen if these players can fit into the spread offense in year one. The most talented of the bunch is senior Anthony Dixon, who Mullen says is the perfect fit for this kind of offense. At 235-pounds, Dixon is not the typical speedster you think of when you think of Mullen's spread offense, but he is very versatile and can catch the ball out of the backfield. It's easy to say that the offense will be built around Dixon.
At quarterback Mullen would love to start senior Tyson Lee. Lee came in after five games last season when he completed 58.8 percent of his passes and passed for 1,519 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. The quick striking and throwing offense of Mullen's can suit the abilities of Lee. If Lee doesn't get the job done, fans in Starkville will be clamoring over true freshman Tyler Russell. Russell was Mullen's biggest catch in his first recruiting class. Mullen would like Russell to be the future, but he will get every chance to earn playing time this year. While Mullen doesn't want to redshirt anyone, he would like to Lee to take the role of leading the offense.
Just like Meyer's first year at Florida, Mullen wants and needs a dozen receivers to run his offense. After injuries decimated the receiving corps in the spring, the Bulldogs should be on their way to getting to Mullen's goal. Leading receiver from 2008 returns in Brandon McRae, who had 51 catches for 518 yards and three touchdown and should return fine from an injury.
To get the numbers he wanted, Mullen signed seven wide receivers in last year's recruiting class. The three expected to contribute right away are true freshmen Chad Bumphis and Chris Smith. Mullen is expecting a lot from these freshmen and expect these guys be part of a core group of receivers that can execute the spread. Leon Berry, a junior college transfer, already showed he can help in the spring.
The offensive line returns most of its experience on the offensive line, but depth remains a concern. Plus, there is going to be an adjustment period because of the more complex blocking and protection schemes.
More cowbell!!! If the offense can turn around we definitely will hear more cowbell. The defense will give offense plenty of chances to score. The offense will have to be ahead of schedule to contend for a bowl game. Remember this team was not that far from getting more than four wins last season. The offense will be better because it can't be any worse and then maybe we will get more cowbell!!!
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