Posted on August 25th, 2008SEC West Preview
The mighty South Eastern Conference. The SEC is the most powerful, explosive conference in all of football. They have had the last two national champions (don’t remind Ohio State that) and they also hold the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. It comes down to this; if you win the overall SEC championship, your chances of playing in the BCS title game greatly increase. It doesn’t just end with the juggernaut teams or star players, because this conference also holds some of the footballs best coaches, not to mention the highest paid. Now in 2008, it has 6 teams out of its total 12 in the AP top 25, and four Heisman trophy candidates (Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin- Florida and Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno- Georgia). With the competitive balance of the SEC, it almost seems like a National Title game at seasons end with a team from another conference is easier than their own conference title game. If you come out of the SEC on top, you are in the driver’s seat for a national title, NO DOUBT.
SEC West-
1- LSU Tigers-
2007 Record: (12-2 overall) (6-2)
BCS National Title Game: vs. Ohio State W 38-24
Opening Game: August 30th @ 5:00 vs. Appalachian State
Here come the champs, entering the 2008 season with as much talent as they had last year. Sure, some integral pieces to the championship either graduated or went to the NFL, but they are loaded with talent to just plug in new guys in those spots, or just have those impact plays come from other positions. In the off-season the team excused what was supposed to be Matt Flynn’s more athletic replacement Ryan Perrilloux. In the end it was probably the better move for the Tigers considering he had issues off the field. Plus, LSU has never been a team that focused on any one player. Which is good, considering they now really have some issues with who is going to be their QB this year.
(+) Pros- The front seven on defense will be better than what you saw last year. Yes even without Glenn Dorsey, they will improve. Defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois only played in two games last year and those were the SEC title game and the BCS Title game and he made a huge impact on the team. NFL scouts already have him touted as being the nation’s most dynamic interior lineman. On the ends is the country’s best DE combination with Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman, both of whom will be suitable substitutes to create a pass rush. At linebacker, Darry Beckwith is moving from the outside to the middle position to create a leadership role for any new LB’s that will be starting. On the offense they are looking great again. The line is the best in the SEC as it has four starters returning with All-American potentials tackle Ciron Black and guard Herman Johnson. A great compliment to an offensive line is the production from the runners it blocks for and LSU is loaded there as well. The replacement for Jacob Hester will be the highly potent Keiland Williams. To compliment Williams will be red shirt freshman Richard Murphy, who has shown great things during workouts as well a Charles Scott. It should be a relatively fierce rushing attack with that line opening it up for them. Who will the new QB throw to? How about Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd? They each were consistent parts of the O a year ago. Also, expect speedster Trindon Holliday to be used out of the backfield as a rusher like Percy Harvin, as well as do punt returns.
(-) Cons- The Bayou Bengal’s have very few issues. But, those are the ones at the QB position of course and the issue at secondary in being able to uphold the nations 9th best pass defense. They are losing CB’s Chevis Jackson and Jonathon Zenon, but have proficient alternates in Chris Hawkins and Jai Eugene. They also have depth at the position with speedy Ron Brooks on the right side, who can see some passes get thrown to him early on if he isn’t able to come up big in coverage. Now to the issue at hand. The quarterback spot is still not set in stone but it is most likely that Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch will be the starter at seasons start. If Hatch seems to struggle there is the other option in Jarrett Lee, a former big time recruit. Whoever becomes the main stay in Baton Rouge, expect that LSU will be a top team in the country again as long as the QB playing just knows the system well enough to execute it and they will be fine.
2- Auburn Tigers-
2007 Record: (9-4 overall) (5-3 conference)
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: vs. Clemson W 23-20
Opening Game: August 30th @ 7:00 vs. Louisiana Monroe
This will be a new beginning for Auburn this year. They have both a new offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. The offensive move was a good thing because Auburn’s offense ranked 10th overall in the SEC last season, and that is unacceptable for a program with this kind of talent. On defense, popular guy Will Muschamp left for the same position at Texas. Paul Rhodes will replace Muschamp on defense and will be commanding the secondary too. On offense, Tony Franklin has brought about a whole new offense that we have not seen at Auburn ever before. We saw a little bit of what it could do last year in their bowl game when Franklin only had 2 weeks to work on it with the players, and it seemed to be effective. We shall see what a whole spring and summer can do for the boys.
(+) Pros- The strong points for Auburn are similar to that of LSU’s. They have great running backs and two very good lines, offensively and defensively. The defense for War Eagle was what made them go, with an offense that struggled all year. The defense really kept them within reach of winning all their games, with the exception of the game at Georgia where it just got away from them in the second half. The defensive four have two of the leagues best with defensive end Antonio Coleman and the best NFL prospect in the SEC, tackle/end, Sen’Derrick Marks. Antonio Coleman led the team last fall with 8.5 sacks so look for him to add to that number this year. Marks will play inside on run situations and shift to the end position on 3rd and long as well as long passing downs.
With Auburn’s new spread offense, they will hope to have the same results that Tennessee is looking for in their new offense: To keep defenses guessing so they can get the ball to their best players on the field, the running backs. The Tigers have two primo backs with Benjamin Tate and Brad Lester. Tate had 903 yards last year as a sophomore and Lester had 530 as a junior. Will these two stout back be able to find daylight in this new offense though? You bet your War Eagle they will. The interior lines are all legitimate players and they have been committed to the new offense as they all have been recorded of loosing weight fro the more up-tempo offense.
(-) Cons- The question, much like LSU, lies with their QB. The options are junior college transfer Chirs Todd, who apparently ran a very similar system to this one in high school, or Kodi Burns. The more athletic one could very well be Burns, but his accuracy is slightly worse then Todd’s. The Tigers have yet to name their main man, but you would have to believe that if Todd were fully healthy by the first game, then he would get the nod over Burns. The second problem on Auburn’s plate is whom these potential starters are going to throw to. The best receiver they have is Rodgeriqus Smith, who arguably has the best hands in the entire league, but has never proven to be a real deep threat as he lacks the speed to break away. Montez Billings and Robert Dunn are talented; yet still needs to prove they can be depended on down the stretch, especially to raise the confidence of either QB.
3- Alabama Crimson Tide-
2007 Record: (7-6 overall) (4-4 conference)
Independence Bowl: vs. Colorado W 30-24
Opening Game: August 30th @ 8:00 @ Clemson
The first year of the Nick Saban era started out great. They were 5-3 in the middle of the year and really put themselves in a good situation to contend in the SEC West. Then they lost there last 4 games of the year, including a sixth straight to the hated Auburn Tigers. Perhaps somewhere along the line coach Saban lost this team, but to his credit, these aren’t all of his players yet. Alabama currently has the best recruiting class right now in the entire nation and that is what Nick Saban brings to a team better than any other coach in the country. Entering his second year in Tuscaloosa, the coach will have more familiarity with his team in certain situations, as well as some of the impact freshman getting their starts.
(+) Pros- The offensive line for Alabama is probably the most experienced in numbers of any of the SEC teams. They have six returning lineman that started last year and that really is the biggest strength the Tide have. All-American star Andre Smith (6’5”, 340 lbs) is the leader amongst these lineman and will guide them in being one of the best lines, keeping sacks down and running yards up. Along with Smith, guards Mike Johnson, Marlon Davis and center Antoine Caldwell have all combined for 87 career starts. With that kind of experience these guys can block with their eyes closed and with one arm tied behind their backs for tailbacks Terry Grant and Glen Coffee. The defense has serious potential this year to be real fierce. The 255 pound sophomore Rolando McClain is a budding star in the SEC and is much more comfortable within this defensive scheme now from a year ago. Behind the linebackers is an impressive secondary unit with another young stud in Kareem Jackson and the team’s co-leader in sacks and tackles safety Rashad Johnson. So the defense and offense have its pieces, it is just a matter of developing some depth on the roster to help everyone out.
(-) Cons- Coach Nick Saban was quoted on the upcoming season as to saying “Nothing has changed from the first time we arrived. It’s going to take some time for us to develop into who we want to be.” You hear that and it pretty much means that the Crimson Tide just are not quite in the drivers seat yet to contend for the SEC title. The pieces are set and with the classes Saban has recruited; expect Alabama to really contend next year. A big problem with what this year’s team has is John Parker Wilson. He had moments last year that could have defined him, except down the stretch of the season, when it mattered the most, he folded. That really translates into inconsistency for Parker Wilson. This year, he will certainly have the time behind that veteran line, so it is up to him to make smart decisions and work within the system. Parker Wilson’s other problem is whom he can throw to, a similar problem Auburn has. Coming into this year the Tide has two five star recruits in at WR with Julio Jones and Burton Scott. One of them can really help out with Mike McCoy who is the only returning receiver with experience. The record for the Saban Tide last year was 7-6 after their bowl win, I have them finishing with the exact same record because of the competitive nature of the SEC, as well as the questions in the arm of Parker Wilson. Oh, and by the way, they will lose for a seventh straight time to Auburn…ouch. It is also worth mentioning the Crimson Tide open up in a neutral site match up against the 7th ranked Clemson Tigers in the Georgia Dome, and that’s no easy ticket to open up a season either.
4- Mississippi State Bulldogs-
2007 Record: (8-5 overall) (4-4 conference)
Liberty Bowl: vs. UCF W 10-3
Opening Game: August 30th @ 6:45 @ Louisiana-Tech
In his previous three seasons, Sylvester Croom was only able to accumulate 9 combined wins for the MSU Bulldogs. Last year was a coming of the ages in Starkville as Mississippi State, somehow, got to 8 wins on the year and even won their first bowl game since 2000. In the off season the University extended to Croom and his staff the highest of accolades by giving him a four year contract extension (which is the max amount of years under state law) and boosted the pay of his staff. The commitment from the MSU administration has been shown leaving, Croom to make the next step with this program.
(+) Pros- The Bulldogs reason (and only reason) they were able to win games last year was because of their excellent defense. Their defense was 7th in the nation in pass defense (3rd overall in the SEC, another point as to how good the SEC is). The overall defense was an impressive 21st overall in the country. They have one of the best secondary units returning all four starters. Corner men Jasper O’Quinn, Anthony Johnson, and Marcus Washington all played last year significantly along with safeties Keith Fitzhugh and De’Mon Glanton. All of them contributed to the great pass defense, but the best player is Derek Pegues, who had 5 picks last season alone. The linebacker duo of Jamar Chaney and Dominic Douglas led the team in tackles and were the real driving force in stopping the run. Just look to the bowl game against UCF, they held the nations leading rusher Kevin Smith to 119 yards. Along with that they held Matt Forte of Tulane to 47 yards and Darren McFadden to only 88 yards. If there is only one thing you can’t do against MSU, it’s score easily against them. The lone bright spot on offense was running back Anthony Dixon. Dixon is a powerful runner with deceiving speed; he rushed for 1,066 yards and 14 touchdowns.
(-) Cons- There is a lot to discuss here regarding the appalling offensive performance the Bulldogs showed off last year. They ranked 113th out of 119 in the nation in offense. As an SEC team, there is no way that can be allowed. It really is a testament as to how good their defense was last year to get 4 wins in this conference. During Sylvester Croom’s time in Starkville his biggest quandary has been finding a consistent leading quarterback. Last year the starter at the beginning of the season was Michael Henig but now Henig is not even with the team any longer due to far too many injuries to continue on. When Henig couldn’t play anymore Wesley Carroll stepped behind center and was not much better. He only threw for 9 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with a less than stellar 52.5-completion percentage. If there are any Bulldog fans out there reading this, do you think it will get better this year? Think again. During the spring scrimmage the game went into overtime at 0-0. Not one point was scored during regulation time. The defense hasn’t missed a beat, but man this offense is bad. Hopefully, with a full year taking the snaps Carroll can find his niche at QB, but even if that happens he really has no one to throw to. Anthony Dixon is still the best option to go to with this team, but they will be slightly improved.
5- Mississippi Rebels-
2007 Record: (3-9 overall) (0-8 conference)
No Bowl
Opening Game: August 30th @ 7:00 vs. Memphis
Coming over from fellow SEC West team Arkansas, Houston Nutt is stepping into something good at Mississippi. It isn’t as good as what the perennial powers have going for them, but it’s not bad either. There is some good young talent coming through on this team and Nutt should have this program turned around soon, but not in one year necessarily.
(+) Pros- The award for best defensive line duo goes to? That’s right you guessed it Greg Hardy and Peria Jerry. Oh, you didn’t guess that? I figured you wouldn’t. These two are very talented and can really bring about a sense of tenacity when they pressure the QB. Hardy actually led the team last year in sacks as a freshman and he wasn’t even a starter. Linebacker Allen Walker should also be much improved as a sophomore. New QB Jevan Snead, a transfer from Texas, is very popular with Nutt and can give the Rebels the poise and efficiency they have lacked since the departure of a one Super Bowl MVP, Eli Manning.
(-) Cons- The Rebels will have some growing pains with Snead in at QB. Sure, he has a lot of talent and expectations but let’s be honest, success at this level doesn’t come from talent and talent alone. Ole Miss will need to do a good job protecting Snead otherwise he isn’t going to be able to improve the way this program needs him to. Tackles Michael Oher and John Jerry are talented enough to be drafted.
6- Arkansas Razorbacks-
2007 Record: (8-5 overall) (4-4 conference)
Cotton Bowl: vs. Missouri L 38-7
Opening Game: August 30th @ 7:00 vs. Western Illinois
It’s a new year for Arkansas and sadly Run DMC Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have ran all the way to the NFL. Long time coach Houston Nutt is gone and taking over things is the pass happy Bobby Petrino and his staff. Casey Dick is the man in charge of the offense now and he wasn’t too great when it came down to passing situations last year, but with everything on his shoulders, we shall see how he responds.
(+) Pros- Center Jonathan Luigs anchors an offensive line that only gave up one sack per game last season. With Malcolm Sheppard and Jose Valdez also back, the Razorbacks line will be the strength of the offense. Bobby Petrino should be able to help Casey Dick be more productive in the offense, considering he is offensive minded. But, in order for that to succeed, Dick will have control his passes more.
(-) Cons- The Razorbacks are seriously lacking in the skills department. Their running back tandem that produced so many of their yards is gone. Their leading retuning receiver only had 157 yards last year. They have no impact player and if Casey Dick has any chance to improve on what was already a lackluster passing attack, someone will have to step it up in a big way. That is unlikely to happen though. These Fayetteville Pigs are in the rebuilding stages.
