Pre-season SEC football 2010
Last time we focused on the ACC, picking how the season might play out, as well as All Conference first and second team.
Today, we shift our focus to the SEC.
West
Will start off with the easy division to pick. No surprise, I'm going with Alabama.
The Crimson Tide look to have a dominant offense headed by a huge, athletic offensive line and a 1-2 punch at runningback with Heisman winner Mark Ingram and sophomore Trent Richardson.
They also have Julio Jones at receiver, just in case you were wondering if they had any other weapons, along with consistent play from their tightends.
The only question for Alabama is defense, were they lost a few key guys, such as Terrance Cody, Javier Arenas, and Rolando McClain, but they do get LB Dont'a Hightower back.
Everyone else will be playing for second, and I think that honor goes to either Auburn or Arkansas. I would throw LSU in the mix, but their QB situation and questions on defense are too big for me to overlook.
Ole Miss lost almost everyone on offense, as well as on defense. Miss. State has improved on defense, but they are still looking for a QB and athletes to run coach Dan Mullen's "Florida Spread."
Projection
1-Alabama
2-Auburn
3-Arkansas
4-LSU
5-Mississippi State
6-Ole Miss
East
Now for the division that will be more of a tossup. The reason, every team is facing major questions.
The Gators of Florida should have the best talent and depth, but it is very young, and on offense, QB John Brantley has to fill the shoes of Tim Tebow, and the receiving corps is relatively untested. Offensively, I expect the Gators to be more of a running team with their experienced line and stable of runningbacks with Emmanuel Moody, Jeff Demps and Mike Gillislee
Defensively, they are basically bringing in a new unit, and a new defensive coordinator. Still talented, but I'm not sure how quickly they will pick up the schemes, and how well the young players will perform.
The Georgia Bulldogs are also bringing in a new defense, but they are switching to a 3-4, but don't have all the personnel to run it yet. On offense, they are bringing in RS freshman QB Aaron Murray, and though the line should improve with OT Trinton Sturdivant, they have yet to find a proven runningback, and the receiving corps is pretty thin outside of A.J. Green. Look for TE Orson Charles to have a big year.
I think Georgia is a year away from competing for a trip to Atlanta.
The Vols and Wildcats are bringing in new coaches. UT is bringing in Derek Dooley after the failed Lane Kiffin experiment, while Kentucky has promoted Joker Phillips to the head job. The 'Cats actually seem to be in a better position with a QB in Morgan Newton, a RB in Derrick Locke, and WR in Greg Mathews and WR/RB/QB Randall Cobb. Defense will be their biggest question.
UT is the opposite. Their D should do well, even without S Eric Berry. The question is offense. They bring in a brand new, young offensive line, a new runningback after losing Bryce Brown, and a new, JUCO QB. Their one positive is that their receivers are experienced.
Vanderbilt I'm not expecting much out of. A subpar QB, okay offensive line, decent runningbacks, no big receiving threat, and a defense that doesn't look to formidable. It will be a long year in Commodore country.
The biggest question is what is South Carolina going to do. They can say, outside of Florida, that they have an established group of guys returning from last year. QB Stephen Garcia is back, as is WR Alshoun Jeffery, TE Weslye Saunders, and their stable of running backs, along with signee Marcus Lattimore. Their defense looks to be strong, returning nearly everyone except LB Eric Norwood, S Darian Stewart, and DT Nathan Pepper.
The question is, what is the Oline going to do? Coach Shawn Elliott is the third coach in 3 years to teach the one unit that has honestly held back the Gamecocks offense. If the line comes around, Carolina will have a shot to punch their first ticket to Atlanta. If not, it will be Florida division to lose.
Projection
1-Florida
2-South Carolina
3-Kentucky
4-Georgia
5-Tennessee
6-Vanderbilt
I'll make it quick. Give me Alabama over Florida in Atlanta, and give me Alabama to win the National title.
1st Team
Offense
QB-Ryan Mallett (Arkansas)
RB-Mark Ingram (Alabama)
RB-Washaun Ealey (Georgia)
WR-Julio Jones (Alabama)
OT-Lee Ziemba (Auburn)
OG-Barret Jones (Alabama)
OC-Mike Pouncey (Florida)
OG-Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
OT-Xavier Nixon (Florida)
TE-D.J. Williams (Arkansas)
WR-A.J. Green (Georgia)
WR-Greg Childs (Arkansas)
K-Caleb Sturgis (Florida)
Defense
DL-Marcell Dareus (Alabama)
DL-Omar Hunter (Florida)
DL-Montori Hughes (Tennessee)
DL-Cliff Matthews (USC)
LB-Dont'a Hightower (Alabama)
LB-Jerry Franklin (Arkansas)
LB-Chris Marve (Vanderbilt)
CB-Janoris Jenkins (Florida)
CB-Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
S-Mark Barron (Alabama)
S-Janzen Jackson (Tennessee)
P-Spencer Lanning (USC)
2nd team
Offense
QB-Stephen Garcia (USC)
RB-Derrick Locke (Kentucky)
RB-Mario Fanin (Auburn)
WR-Randall Cobb (Kentucky)
WR-Alshoun Jeffery (USC)
OT-Joseph Barksdale (LSU)
OG-Stuart Hines (Kentucky)
OC-William Vlachos (Alabama)
OG-Carl Johnson (Florida)
OT-James Carpenter (Alabama)
TE-Weslye Saunders (USC)
WR-Joe Adams (Arkansas)
K-Blair Walsh (Georgia)
Defense
DL-Pernell McPhee (MSU)
DL-Drake Nevis (LSU)
DL-Marlon Walls (Tennessee)
DL-Jake Bequette (Arkansas)
LB-Justin Houston (Georgia)
LB-Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
LB-Kelvin Sheppard (LSU)
CB-Patrick Peterson (LSU)
CB-Stephon Gilmore (USC)
S-Devonte Holloman (USC)
S-Ahmad Black (Florida)
P-Chas Henry (Florida)
Today, we shift our focus to the SEC.
West
Will start off with the easy division to pick. No surprise, I'm going with Alabama.
The Crimson Tide look to have a dominant offense headed by a huge, athletic offensive line and a 1-2 punch at runningback with Heisman winner Mark Ingram and sophomore Trent Richardson.
They also have Julio Jones at receiver, just in case you were wondering if they had any other weapons, along with consistent play from their tightends.
The only question for Alabama is defense, were they lost a few key guys, such as Terrance Cody, Javier Arenas, and Rolando McClain, but they do get LB Dont'a Hightower back.
Everyone else will be playing for second, and I think that honor goes to either Auburn or Arkansas. I would throw LSU in the mix, but their QB situation and questions on defense are too big for me to overlook.
Ole Miss lost almost everyone on offense, as well as on defense. Miss. State has improved on defense, but they are still looking for a QB and athletes to run coach Dan Mullen's "Florida Spread."
Projection
1-Alabama
2-Auburn
3-Arkansas
4-LSU
5-Mississippi State
6-Ole Miss
East
Now for the division that will be more of a tossup. The reason, every team is facing major questions.
The Gators of Florida should have the best talent and depth, but it is very young, and on offense, QB John Brantley has to fill the shoes of Tim Tebow, and the receiving corps is relatively untested. Offensively, I expect the Gators to be more of a running team with their experienced line and stable of runningbacks with Emmanuel Moody, Jeff Demps and Mike Gillislee
Defensively, they are basically bringing in a new unit, and a new defensive coordinator. Still talented, but I'm not sure how quickly they will pick up the schemes, and how well the young players will perform.
The Georgia Bulldogs are also bringing in a new defense, but they are switching to a 3-4, but don't have all the personnel to run it yet. On offense, they are bringing in RS freshman QB Aaron Murray, and though the line should improve with OT Trinton Sturdivant, they have yet to find a proven runningback, and the receiving corps is pretty thin outside of A.J. Green. Look for TE Orson Charles to have a big year.
I think Georgia is a year away from competing for a trip to Atlanta.
The Vols and Wildcats are bringing in new coaches. UT is bringing in Derek Dooley after the failed Lane Kiffin experiment, while Kentucky has promoted Joker Phillips to the head job. The 'Cats actually seem to be in a better position with a QB in Morgan Newton, a RB in Derrick Locke, and WR in Greg Mathews and WR/RB/QB Randall Cobb. Defense will be their biggest question.
UT is the opposite. Their D should do well, even without S Eric Berry. The question is offense. They bring in a brand new, young offensive line, a new runningback after losing Bryce Brown, and a new, JUCO QB. Their one positive is that their receivers are experienced.
Vanderbilt I'm not expecting much out of. A subpar QB, okay offensive line, decent runningbacks, no big receiving threat, and a defense that doesn't look to formidable. It will be a long year in Commodore country.
The biggest question is what is South Carolina going to do. They can say, outside of Florida, that they have an established group of guys returning from last year. QB Stephen Garcia is back, as is WR Alshoun Jeffery, TE Weslye Saunders, and their stable of running backs, along with signee Marcus Lattimore. Their defense looks to be strong, returning nearly everyone except LB Eric Norwood, S Darian Stewart, and DT Nathan Pepper.
The question is, what is the Oline going to do? Coach Shawn Elliott is the third coach in 3 years to teach the one unit that has honestly held back the Gamecocks offense. If the line comes around, Carolina will have a shot to punch their first ticket to Atlanta. If not, it will be Florida division to lose.
Projection
1-Florida
2-South Carolina
3-Kentucky
4-Georgia
5-Tennessee
6-Vanderbilt
I'll make it quick. Give me Alabama over Florida in Atlanta, and give me Alabama to win the National title.
1st Team
Offense
QB-Ryan Mallett (Arkansas)
RB-Mark Ingram (Alabama)
RB-Washaun Ealey (Georgia)
WR-Julio Jones (Alabama)
OT-Lee Ziemba (Auburn)
OG-Barret Jones (Alabama)
OC-Mike Pouncey (Florida)
OG-Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
OT-Xavier Nixon (Florida)
TE-D.J. Williams (Arkansas)
WR-A.J. Green (Georgia)
WR-Greg Childs (Arkansas)
K-Caleb Sturgis (Florida)
Defense
DL-Marcell Dareus (Alabama)
DL-Omar Hunter (Florida)
DL-Montori Hughes (Tennessee)
DL-Cliff Matthews (USC)
LB-Dont'a Hightower (Alabama)
LB-Jerry Franklin (Arkansas)
LB-Chris Marve (Vanderbilt)
CB-Janoris Jenkins (Florida)
CB-Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
S-Mark Barron (Alabama)
S-Janzen Jackson (Tennessee)
P-Spencer Lanning (USC)
2nd team
Offense
QB-Stephen Garcia (USC)
RB-Derrick Locke (Kentucky)
RB-Mario Fanin (Auburn)
WR-Randall Cobb (Kentucky)
WR-Alshoun Jeffery (USC)
OT-Joseph Barksdale (LSU)
OG-Stuart Hines (Kentucky)
OC-William Vlachos (Alabama)
OG-Carl Johnson (Florida)
OT-James Carpenter (Alabama)
TE-Weslye Saunders (USC)
WR-Joe Adams (Arkansas)
K-Blair Walsh (Georgia)
Defense
DL-Pernell McPhee (MSU)
DL-Drake Nevis (LSU)
DL-Marlon Walls (Tennessee)
DL-Jake Bequette (Arkansas)
LB-Justin Houston (Georgia)
LB-Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
LB-Kelvin Sheppard (LSU)
CB-Patrick Peterson (LSU)
CB-Stephon Gilmore (USC)
S-Devonte Holloman (USC)
S-Ahmad Black (Florida)
P-Chas Henry (Florida)
Stephon Gilmore should DEFINETLY be first team instead of Dre Kirkpatrick.
ReplyDeleteYou may be right Pierce, I'm just expecting a little bit of a sophomore slump from Gilmore this year.
ReplyDeletePlus, Kirkpatrick is going to be helped by being on the best defense in the SEC.
Next year, Gilmore is going to be a first teamer, and I think he will have a shot at being an All-American for his junior and senior year.