Previewing the SEC West: Who Will Knock Off the Tide?
Photo Credit: ESPN, CBSports
The SEC West will get crazy in 2010.
May 19, 2010 • Austin Lacy
Filed under Columns, Top Stories, Uncategorized
SEC Preview for 2010
Alabama
Spring Answers
Running to glory: Imagine having the two best running backs in the SEC on the same team. There’s no imagining it for the Crimson Tide, who will seek to ride Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to a second straight BCS national championship next season. Ingram won the Heisman Trophy last season, but there are some in and around the Alabama program who think Richardson is even better.
Hightower’s return: Despite a complete reconstruction of his left knee last year following his injury against Arkansas in the fourth week, linebacker Dont’a Hightower was back on the practice field this spring and even went through some contact the final week. If Hightower is indeed close to 100% next season, he’ll be one of the better defenders in the league.
Loaded at quarterback: Everybody knows what Greg McElroy did in his first full season as the starter. He made the plays he had to, protected the football and, most importantly, didn’t lose a game. He returns as the starter, but also has a ton of talent behind him. Nick Saban said it’s the best the quarterback situation Alabama has looked at since he took over in 2007.
Fall questions
Inexperience in the secondary: With the exception of junior safety Mark Barron, who led the SEC in interceptions, the Crimson Tide lost everybody in the secondary who made a play for them last season. That means a lot of new (and inexperienced) faces will be on the field next season from the outset, which is never the way you want to go into a season. At least the Crimson Tide will be talented in their defensive backfield. Saban will be the first to tell you that inexperience in the secondary can be a killer.
Kicking and punting: The unsung hero for Alabama last season was place-kicker Leigh Tiffin, who was clutch and made 30-of-35 field goal attempts. Punter P.J. Fitzgerald was also solid. Both of those guys are now gone, and chances are a couple of freshmen will be filling their shoes.
Staying the course: Don’t ask Saban about the chances of Alabama defending its national championship. He’ll quickly tell you the Crimson Tide isn’t defending anything. And he’s right. The key in coming back after a championship season and doing it again is keeping your focus straight ahead and not getting caught up in what you’ve just accomplished. That’s easier said than done. Is the leadership on this team good enough to do that? We’re going to find out.
Arkansas
Spring answers
Secondary shuffle: With hopes of shoring up their pass defense – which ranked last in the SEC a year ago – and to get more speed in the secondary, the Hogs moved Rudell Crim from cornerback to safety this spring. Crim played safety in junior college, and it’s a look the Hogs will probably stick with in the fall.Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Cobi Hamilton combined for 22 touchdown catches last season. D.J. Williams is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league, and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino envisions using all four running backs.
Pick your playmaker: The hard part for Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett may be picking which of his favorite targets to throw to. He’s surrounded by guys who can change the game in a hurry. Receivers Greg Childs,
Keeping the faith: Confidence doesn’t figure to be a problem next season. This is a team that has supreme belief in itself, believes it will find a way to win those close games in 2010 and fully expects to be right there in the middle of the SEC championship race.
Fall questions
Proving it on defense: Petrino thinks the defense will be better. The players on that side of the ball insist that they will be better, and the talent and experience certainly suggest that they’ll be better. But now the Hogs have to go out and prove it after some embarrassing outings a year ago.
Linebacker shortage: One of the trouble spots on defense again figures to be linebacker. There’s not a lot of depth, and some new faces are going to have to come through. Terrell Williams and Jermaine Love battled it out at middle linebacker this spring. This is a position where Arkansas simply can’t afford to have any injuries next season.
Kicking it straight: It wasn’t the best spring for senior place-kicker Alex Tejada, who was inconsistent in scrimmages as well as end-of-practice situations. Two freshman kickers arrive this summer, so it could get interesting when practice resumes in August.
Auburn
Spring answers
Newton named No. 1: Auburn went out and got Cameron Newton from the junior college ranks to be its quarterback, and Newton didn’t disappoint this spring. He’s a 6′ 6”, 242-pound specimen who can both run and throw and quickly earned the confidence and trust of his teammates with the way he performed and diligently went about his business.
Picking up the pace: If you think the Tigers played fast on offense last season, wait until you see them in 2010. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn wants to play even faster, keeping defenses off balance, and thinks he has the personnel in place to do that next season. It helps that it will be the second time through Malzahn’s system for most of these guys.
Bates moving up: Even though he didn’t practice this spring because of a bum shoulder, Daren Bates made a little news. The Tigers plan on moving him to a hybrid linebacker role after he earned Freshman All-SEC honors last season at safety. The idea is to get faster on defense, and Bates was one of the Tigers’ most aggressive tacklers last season.
Fall questions
In a rush: Chizik says the Tigers have to be a better power running team next season. Senior Mario Fannin will get the first crack at running back, considering he is a senior. Onterio McCalebb is healthy again and more of a change-of-pace guy. And, oh yeah, coveted freshman signee Michael Dyer arrives this summer. The best news is that Auburn returns four of five starters in the offensive line.
Defensive depth: the Tigers simply didn’t have the numbers or the depth a year ago to play consistent defense for 12 games. They should be a little deeper next season, especially when everybody from the 2010 signing class gets on campus. Still, there are concerns. It’s never ideal to count on true freshmen.
Walking wounded: The Tigers have three veteran safeties returning from serious injuries: Mike McNeil, Aairon Savage and Zac Etheridge. There’s a chance all three could come back and make major contributions, and there’s also a chance that they won’t ever be able to get back to where they once were.
LSU
Spring answers
Shepard on the move: It looks like the Tigers are finally serious about getting the ball into Russell Shepard’s hands. He’s washed his hands of wanting to be an every-down quarterback and moved to receiver full time this spring.
Establishing the run: LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers worked overtime on running the football this spring, and he’s confident that they will be a better running team in 2010. That part of the offense let them down in most of the games a year ago.
Speed in the secondary: By moving Jai Eugene to safety, the Tigers essentially have four cornerbacks in the secondary. And most importantly, they all have outstanding top-end speed. Junior cornerback Patrick Peterson is one of the best shut-down corners in college football.
Fall questions
Next step for Jefferson: Even though his numbers last season as a first-time starter were solid, Jordan Jefferson was hesitant at times in the pocket, and the Tigers’ passing game tended to go belly-up in key situations. Jefferson didn’t have his best spring, either, which caused some concern in the LSU camp.
Making more plays: The Tigers lacked a lot of explosive plays down the field last season, and having to go the distance all the time against SEC defenses is like beating your head into the wall. Shepard certainly fits that playmaker mold and will get more chances next season.
Playing better up front: There’s no other way to say it other than just to say it: The Tigers played poorly on the offensive line a year ago, as evidenced by the fact that their top guy, senior tackle Ciron Black, didn’t even get drafted.
Ole Miss
Spring answers
Front seven dominance: The Rebels return six of their seven players in a front seven that should be as good and as experienced as any in the league. Senior end Kentrell Lockett and senior tackle Jerrell Powe are All-SEC caliber players, and if junior college newcomer Wayne Dorsey continues on the pace he set this spring at the other end, the Rebels again should rank right up there near the top nationally in tackles for loss.
Sophomores to the rescue: The Rebels’ sophomore class looked poised this spring to really break out. Nathan Stanley takes over as quarterback. Receiver Patrick Patterson will be a key in the passing game, assuming he returns from suspension, while Rodney Scott is Houston Nutt’s kind of running back.
A Davis sighting: The Rebels don’t have anybody that can do what McCluster did for them at running back last season, but one of the more encouraging parts of spring practice was the way junior Enrique Davis ran the ball. He’s elusive with his has breakaway speed and can make people miss.
Fall questions
Stanley’s time to shine: Nathan Stanley came out of spring practice as the Rebels’ starter at quarterback. He threw the ball well, made good decisions, and was effective in moving the team. Can he hold onto the job? A lot of that will depend on redshirt freshman Raymond Cotton’s shoulder issues.
Protecting the passer: Nobody struggled more last season for the Rebels up front than left tackle Bradley Sowell. His nightmarish outing against South Carolina’s Eric Norwood just seemed to set an ominous tone. The biggest quandary now for the Rebels in their offensive line is solidifying their inside positions.
Help in the secondary: The Rebels lost three of their four starters in the secondary, including both cornerbacks. Defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix liked what he saw in the spring in some of the new faces, but it’s never ideal to go into a season with so much inexperience in the secondary.
Mississippi State
Spring answers
Relf’s improvement: He was more of a specialty player last season, sort of a designated runner from the quarterback position. But junior Chris Relf was one of the Bulldogs’ most improved players this spring, particularly with regard to his passing.
Muscle in the defensive line: The Bulldogs struggled to stop people when they really needed to last season, which made defensive line play a priority this spring. Tackles Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd are both bigger and stronger after playing as undersized freshmen a year ago, and junior college newcomer James Carmon is massive at 345 pounds.
Second time around: Now that Dan Mullen has laid the groundwork, he feels like the second season will go much smoother. There shouldn’t be any questions about expectations or how Mullen wants it done. He does have a few new staff members, notably defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
Fall questions
Finding Dixon’s replacement: Anthony Dixon was the heart and soul of Mississippi State’s offense last season. The Bulldogs leaned on him all year, and he delivered. They won’t be able to replace him with one guy. It’s probably going to take three.
Development at receiver: Chad Bumphis had a nice freshman season, but Mullen still wants to see him become a more complete receiver. He was good once he got the ball in his hands. Mullen thinks the Bulldogs are thin right now across the board at receiver, especially when you consider they’re running a spread offense.
Winning the close ones: The Bulldogs took LSU, Houston, and Florida to the fourth quarter last season but couldn’t close the deal. Learning how to win those games is what separates teams in the SEC.
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