Adams: QB talent bodes well

Defense usually has come first in the SEC.

It came first with Tennessee legendary coach Robert Neyland 70 years ago. It came first with Florida’s national championship team last season.

And it probably will come first this season for LSU, the consensus pick to win the SEC.

But all the defense in a defensive-minded league shouldn’t blind you to the obvious. The SEC is also becoming a league for quarterbacks, and you don’t have to watch college football to appreciate that.

On any given Sunday for much of the 1980s, you were as likely to see the wishbone offense as a former SEC quarterback in the NFL. Contrast that with today’s NFL.

Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is the biggest name in the NFL. His brother — and former Ole Miss quarterback — Eli Manning starts for the New York Giants. Former Florida quarterback Rex Grossman starts for the Chicago Bears.

Two years ago, Jay Cutler was the starting quarterback at Vanderbilt, Now, he’s the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, who are deemed a Super Bowl contender. Two years ago, Brodie Croyle was the starting quarterback at Alabama. Now, he’s challenging Damon Huard for the starting job at Kansas City.

Another SEC quarterback didn’t have to start an NFL game to make an impact. LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell was the first player taken in this year’s draft.

You will hear more about SEC quarterbacks in the next NFL draft. Both Tennessee’s Erik Ainge and Kentucky’s André Woodson could become first-round picks with outstanding senior seasons.

LSU quarterback Matt Flynn has spent his college career as a backup, but he’s still regarded as a pro prospect. So is Auburn senior Brandon Cox, who was hampered by injuries last season.

Those are just the seniors.

Vanderbilt’s Chris Nickson was fourth in the SEC in total offense last season as a junior, his first year as a starter. A year later, he’s listed as third-team all-conference by the SEC coaches.

But the league’s best quarterbacks might be sophomores. Matthew Stafford, who became Georgia’s starting quarterback in the second half of his freshman season, has a powerful arm and above-average running ability.

Florida’s Tim Tebow showed his running ability as a freshman. After he performed so well in the spring, coach Urban Meyer pronounced him ready to lead the offense. That spread-option offense appears to be a perfect fit for Tebow, but he will have more than the system going for him. He will be surrounded by talented wide receivers and a veteran offensive line.

Gainesville Sun sports columnist Pat Dooley wrote that you could make a case for any one of nine quarterbacks making All-SEC. I wouldn’t go quite that far, but his point is well taken.

Quarterback is a position of strength at UT, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Vanderbilt in the East. In the West, Alabama’s John Parker Wilson was second only to Russell last season, and he’s back for his junior season with eight other returning starters on offense.

In an average year, South Carolina’s Blake Mitchell might be cast as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He has started on and off for two years, and completed 66.8 percent of his passes in 2006. But it’s obvious his up-and-down play bothers South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who — as you might have heard — isn’t particularly tolerant of inconsistent quarterbacks.

Even the least regarded quarterbacks in the league have experience. Ole Miss’ Brent Schaeffer started last season but is now being challenged for the starting job by Seth Adams, who had the upper hand after spring practice. Mississippi State’s Michael Henig has the confidence of his coaches despite an injury-plagued career. So does Arkansas’ Casey Dick, who started down the stretch for the West Division champions last season.

Not only is the conference loaded with talented, experienced starting quarterbacks. It also has college football’s most prominent backup quarterback.

That’s what Arkansas’ Darren McFadden becomes when he isn’t playing tailback.

McFadden, who led the SEC in rushing last season, posed all sorts of problems for defenses when the Razorbacks’ implemented their “Wildcat” package, which put him at quarterback in a shotgun formation. The Razorbacks averaged almost 9 yards per play with the “Wildcat” during the regular season. And that’s not just because of McFadden’s running.

He completed seven of nine passes for three touchdowns. His pass-efficiency rating was an off-the-charts 229.96.

So keep McFadden in mind when you’re debating the ability of SEC quarterbacks.

How good is the quarterbacking in the SEC? It’s so good that a backup quarterback is a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.