travisduncan
Gator Fan
As the start of fall practice is just a month away, here's a brief look at each SEC team this season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The focus on this Alabama team will be on Trent Richardson, who shared the load with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, and now will have the sole duties of moving the chains for the Tide offense.
The Tide got bad news last week when it was learned that freshman Demetrius Hall suffered a season ending knee injury.
The Tide offensive line is considered one of the best, if not the best in the country, Richardson should be a heisman candidate.
The Tide will have a questino mark at QB as redshirt sophomore A.J. McCarron and redshirt freshman Phillip Sim battle in fall camp for the job, or possibly platoon during the season.
The Tide defense will be as strong as ever, with 9 returning starters including four seniors.
The Gators host Alabama Oct. 1
Auburn Tigers
Auburn like a lot of schools in the SEC this year have yet to decide on a starter or are shaky at the position. As it stands now the Tigers will have Clint Moseley, Barrett Trotter and true freshman Kiehl Frazier competing for the job.
The Tigers have lost 12 of the 22 starters from a year ago, the obvious ones being QB Cam Newton and defensive lineman Nick Fairley. The Auburn coaching staff says with the loss of Newton they could actually pass more, but with a solid tandem of running backs in Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb, expect the running game to again be a streghth.
Still the experts are expecting doom and gloom for Auburn, perhaps wishfully.
The Gators play at Auburn Oct. 15.
Arkansas
Hopes are still high in Little Rock after a season which, technically came down to two quarters of play and the Razorbacks are in the National Title game.
All of the hopes of Ryan Mallett have gone, but confidence is high in qb Tyler Wilson. The Razorbcks have a tone of skill position players returning on offense.
Arkansas does face very tough schedule, including a three-week stretch that begins at Alabama Sept. 24, then at Cowboys Stadium to play Texas A&M and then at Auburn the following week. As good as Arkansas can be, their hopes for a national title look dim if you expect the participants to be undefeated.
Georgia
Some believe Bulldogs qb Aaron Murray is the best at his position in the entire SEC. Murray will be without the benefit of A.J. Green who was selected 4th overall in the NFL draft.
The Bulldogs have work to do defensively, though they shut down some offenses last season (UCF, Vandy) while getting scorched for 49 against Auburn, giving up 34 to Georgia Tech and 34 to the Gators.
The Bulldogs host the Gators Oct. 29
Kentucky
The Wildcats will be led by a Newton, just not Cam Newton. Morgan Newton who played three games last season as sophomore will be the starter on offense. Newton passed for 365 yards on 24 of 43 passing without a touchdown or an interception.
Newton can also run the ball a little bit in the Compass Bowl vs Pitt he ran for 18 yards on 12 carries. The Wildcats lost Derrick Locke from a year ago and have a question mark at running back.
The Wildcats also have some talent on the defensive side of the ball in the SEC leading tackler linebacker Danny Trevathan as well as safety Winston Guy.
The Wildcats host Florida Sept. 24.
LSU
A few of the experts are expecting LSU to contend for the National Title. I can't say I disagree with them. As clumsy as Les Miles appaers to be in game management and persona, he does one thing as good as anyone in the country-recruit-and hire the right staff to recruit.
The Tigers are loaded as always and can stack up against anyone in the country in terms of talent.
Execution is the only thing keeping the Tigers from a BCS title game apperance, perhaps that and Alabama.
LSU will be led again by Jordan Jefferson who perpetually frustrates some Tigers fans. Jefferson and the offense only lose two offensive starters, one being RB Stevan Ridley. The Tigers. But overall the Tigers will have 15 starters back from an 11-2 team that could have been in the BCS title game if not for a few mistakes here or there.
They also boast one of the best defenes in the land, finishing 12th statistically in the nation, while competing in the toughest league.
Still most of the experts don't see LSU winning the West over Alabama.
The Gators play at LSU Oct. 8
Mississippi State
No surprise but MSU isn't going to blow you away with a cast of characters and talent, but they won 9 games last season including a 10-7 heartbreaker for Gator fans Oct. 16. The job for Dan Mullen is to improve or maintain the sucess they had during the 2010 season.
Chris Relf will benefit from experiene as he leads Mullen's spread offense for his junior season. The Bulldogs are dangerous any week of the season.
Ole Miss
Things were bad for the Rebels in 2010, it started off bad with an embarrassing loss to Jacksonville State in two overtimes (though credit must be given to the Gamecocks) It did not get much better beyond that as the Rebels eeked out 4 wins one of which was an SEC win.
After giving former Oregon qb Jeremiah Masoli a chance in 2010 the Rebels will have a question mark at QB. West Virgnia transfer Barry Brunetti will likely be the starter for the Rebs, while Zack Stoudt and Randall Mackey will also compete for the job in fall practice.
The star of the team is running back Brandon Bolden who rushed for 976 yard and 14 touchdowns last season.
The Rebs might be playing for Houston Nutt's job this season.
South Carolina
Expect for Steve Spurriers boys to be picked as the SEC East champs win the SEC media days happen later this month. There's not a lot not to like about the Gamecocks, if Stephen Garcia keeps himself out of trouble and on the field-though Connor Shaw could actually get a chance this season as well.
There isn't a better back in the SEC then sophomore Marcus Lattimore. If that wasn't enough the Gamecocks have one of the best wideouts in the nation in Alshon Jeffery.
Defensively eyes will be on the No. 1 recruit in the nation Jadeveon Clowney who could very likely start at defensive end from day one.
The expectations are clear this season: SEC title game or bust.
The Gators play at South Carolina Nov. 12
Tennessee
Derek Dooley probably never enjoyed a honeymoon period at Tennessee due to the circumstances of his arrival and the lack of name recognition among Vols nation. Whatever honeymoon period occured, it's over. And Vol Nation is weary as an NCAA investigation has already claimed the jobs the the AD and hoops coach. Football is the last hope. 6-7 won't cut it at Rocky Top, so the pressure is on Dooley to produce Ws.
The Vols have a pretty good QB in Tyler Bray who took over the QB job from Matt Simms midway through last season. He finished with a 55.8 completion percentage on 125 of 224 passes with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and nearly led the Vols to a win over North Carolina in the Music City Bowl only to lose in double OT.
The Vols visit Gainsville on Sept. 17.
Vanderbilt
Former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin will take over a program which has no where to go but up after winning just two games in 2010
The Commodores have great player at running back in Warren Norman who missed most of last season with injuries, but ran for 6 yards per carry a year ago.
The Gators play at Vandy Nov. 12.
Predictions:
SEC West Champ: LSU
SEC East Champ: South Carolina
Alabama Crimson Tide
The focus on this Alabama team will be on Trent Richardson, who shared the load with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, and now will have the sole duties of moving the chains for the Tide offense.
The Tide got bad news last week when it was learned that freshman Demetrius Hall suffered a season ending knee injury.
The Tide offensive line is considered one of the best, if not the best in the country, Richardson should be a heisman candidate.
The Tide will have a questino mark at QB as redshirt sophomore A.J. McCarron and redshirt freshman Phillip Sim battle in fall camp for the job, or possibly platoon during the season.
The Tide defense will be as strong as ever, with 9 returning starters including four seniors.
The Gators host Alabama Oct. 1
Auburn Tigers
Auburn like a lot of schools in the SEC this year have yet to decide on a starter or are shaky at the position. As it stands now the Tigers will have Clint Moseley, Barrett Trotter and true freshman Kiehl Frazier competing for the job.
The Tigers have lost 12 of the 22 starters from a year ago, the obvious ones being QB Cam Newton and defensive lineman Nick Fairley. The Auburn coaching staff says with the loss of Newton they could actually pass more, but with a solid tandem of running backs in Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb, expect the running game to again be a streghth.
Still the experts are expecting doom and gloom for Auburn, perhaps wishfully.
The Gators play at Auburn Oct. 15.
Arkansas
Hopes are still high in Little Rock after a season which, technically came down to two quarters of play and the Razorbacks are in the National Title game.
All of the hopes of Ryan Mallett have gone, but confidence is high in qb Tyler Wilson. The Razorbcks have a tone of skill position players returning on offense.
Arkansas does face very tough schedule, including a three-week stretch that begins at Alabama Sept. 24, then at Cowboys Stadium to play Texas A&M and then at Auburn the following week. As good as Arkansas can be, their hopes for a national title look dim if you expect the participants to be undefeated.
Georgia
Some believe Bulldogs qb Aaron Murray is the best at his position in the entire SEC. Murray will be without the benefit of A.J. Green who was selected 4th overall in the NFL draft.
The Bulldogs have work to do defensively, though they shut down some offenses last season (UCF, Vandy) while getting scorched for 49 against Auburn, giving up 34 to Georgia Tech and 34 to the Gators.
The Bulldogs host the Gators Oct. 29
Kentucky
The Wildcats will be led by a Newton, just not Cam Newton. Morgan Newton who played three games last season as sophomore will be the starter on offense. Newton passed for 365 yards on 24 of 43 passing without a touchdown or an interception.
Newton can also run the ball a little bit in the Compass Bowl vs Pitt he ran for 18 yards on 12 carries. The Wildcats lost Derrick Locke from a year ago and have a question mark at running back.
The Wildcats also have some talent on the defensive side of the ball in the SEC leading tackler linebacker Danny Trevathan as well as safety Winston Guy.
The Wildcats host Florida Sept. 24.
LSU
A few of the experts are expecting LSU to contend for the National Title. I can't say I disagree with them. As clumsy as Les Miles appaers to be in game management and persona, he does one thing as good as anyone in the country-recruit-and hire the right staff to recruit.
The Tigers are loaded as always and can stack up against anyone in the country in terms of talent.
Execution is the only thing keeping the Tigers from a BCS title game apperance, perhaps that and Alabama.
LSU will be led again by Jordan Jefferson who perpetually frustrates some Tigers fans. Jefferson and the offense only lose two offensive starters, one being RB Stevan Ridley. The Tigers. But overall the Tigers will have 15 starters back from an 11-2 team that could have been in the BCS title game if not for a few mistakes here or there.
They also boast one of the best defenes in the land, finishing 12th statistically in the nation, while competing in the toughest league.
Still most of the experts don't see LSU winning the West over Alabama.
The Gators play at LSU Oct. 8
Mississippi State
No surprise but MSU isn't going to blow you away with a cast of characters and talent, but they won 9 games last season including a 10-7 heartbreaker for Gator fans Oct. 16. The job for Dan Mullen is to improve or maintain the sucess they had during the 2010 season.
Chris Relf will benefit from experiene as he leads Mullen's spread offense for his junior season. The Bulldogs are dangerous any week of the season.
Ole Miss
Things were bad for the Rebels in 2010, it started off bad with an embarrassing loss to Jacksonville State in two overtimes (though credit must be given to the Gamecocks) It did not get much better beyond that as the Rebels eeked out 4 wins one of which was an SEC win.
After giving former Oregon qb Jeremiah Masoli a chance in 2010 the Rebels will have a question mark at QB. West Virgnia transfer Barry Brunetti will likely be the starter for the Rebs, while Zack Stoudt and Randall Mackey will also compete for the job in fall practice.
The star of the team is running back Brandon Bolden who rushed for 976 yard and 14 touchdowns last season.
The Rebs might be playing for Houston Nutt's job this season.
South Carolina
Expect for Steve Spurriers boys to be picked as the SEC East champs win the SEC media days happen later this month. There's not a lot not to like about the Gamecocks, if Stephen Garcia keeps himself out of trouble and on the field-though Connor Shaw could actually get a chance this season as well.
There isn't a better back in the SEC then sophomore Marcus Lattimore. If that wasn't enough the Gamecocks have one of the best wideouts in the nation in Alshon Jeffery.
Defensively eyes will be on the No. 1 recruit in the nation Jadeveon Clowney who could very likely start at defensive end from day one.
The expectations are clear this season: SEC title game or bust.
The Gators play at South Carolina Nov. 12
Tennessee
Derek Dooley probably never enjoyed a honeymoon period at Tennessee due to the circumstances of his arrival and the lack of name recognition among Vols nation. Whatever honeymoon period occured, it's over. And Vol Nation is weary as an NCAA investigation has already claimed the jobs the the AD and hoops coach. Football is the last hope. 6-7 won't cut it at Rocky Top, so the pressure is on Dooley to produce Ws.
The Vols have a pretty good QB in Tyler Bray who took over the QB job from Matt Simms midway through last season. He finished with a 55.8 completion percentage on 125 of 224 passes with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and nearly led the Vols to a win over North Carolina in the Music City Bowl only to lose in double OT.
The Vols visit Gainsville on Sept. 17.
Vanderbilt
Former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin will take over a program which has no where to go but up after winning just two games in 2010
The Commodores have great player at running back in Warren Norman who missed most of last season with injuries, but ran for 6 yards per carry a year ago.
The Gators play at Vandy Nov. 12.
Predictions:
SEC West Champ: LSU
SEC East Champ: South Carolina
