College football preseason magazines will begin showing up on newsstands this month, and it won't be hard to guess the regional covers in the Southeast.
You should see plenty of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and Tennessee running back Arian Foster.
But don't judge the SEC by the magazine covers. You need to look inside.
Although the conference has a Heisman Trophy winner in Tebow and several other high-profile stars returning, the strength of the league will be in its offensive lines. In fact, you could select an All-American offensive line from the SEC alone.
You would start with Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs, who won the Rimington Award last season as a junior. The award goes to the top center in the country.
Michael Oher of Ole Miss and Andre Smith of Alabama already are projected as two of the top offensive tackle candidates for the 2009 NFL draft. Both made first-team All-SEC last season (Oher as a junior and Smith as a sophomore).
UT's Anthony Parker and LSU's Herman Johnson already have established themselves as two of the best offensive guards in the country.
Parker made second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC last season as a junior. Johnson made first-team All-SEC last season as a junior.
Luigs, Oher, Smith, Parker and Johnson would comprise a formidable All-American offensive line. But those are just the biggest-name offensive linemen.
The SEC will return six other offensive linemen who made first- or second-team all-conference, as picked by either The Associated Press or the league coaches.
That doesn't include Florida offensive tackle Phillip Trautwein, who made the SEC's 2007 preseason all-conference team. Trautwein, who sat out last season with a stress fracture, will be a senior in 2008.
The league will have depth as well as stars in the offensive line.
In some years, this UT offensive line might be touted as the best in the league in preseason. In addition to Parker, Josh McNeil and Ramon Foster also are regarded as all-conference candidates. Moreover, all five players return from the line that started the Outback Bowl.
But this season, UT will be just one of a handful of SEC teams with experienced, talented offensive lines.
Alabama's offensive line also returns intact. LSU and Auburn will return nine of their top 10 offensive linemen. Georgia and Florida will return eight of their top 10.
Those offensive lines obviously will factor into the preseason national rankings. Florida and Georgia will be consensus top-five teams going into the season. LSU and Auburn should make some top 10s, and UT likely will be in the top 15. Those offensive lines also should help bring out the best in playmakers like Tebow and Percy Harvin of Florida, Stafford and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia, and Foster of UT.
The lines will serve another purpose at UT, Auburn and LSU. All three teams will start new quarterbacks.
As tough as it is breaking in a new quarterback in the SEC, it's much easier when your offensive line is as well fortified as these.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com
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Comments » 12
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Is there a SEC section on our d-line?
I'm sorry, sjt18, I shouldn't have.....
CoverOrange writes:
Yes, PD, section JJ, row 10, seats 15-17, believed to be reserved by Dupree.
budd#207344 writes:
The article is about offensive lines around the conference but I wouldn't be a true Tennessee
A**hole unless I found something to complain about
CoverOrange writes:
Good job, Budd, you qualified.
Bigger_Al writes:
John Adams thinks he deserves to eat free at restaurants because he is some big-shot celebrity.
TheVolMan writes:
Yep, JA really thinks he is a big-shot celebrity. The Weenies will come up with any criticism--odd when they are supposedly boycotting JA's articles. LOL..
invisiblekid writes:
I would like to have seen Adams at least mention Richard and McClendon as well. IMO, the Vols ran the ball with much more authority when those two were in the game last year. I think Clawson has plenty of weapons to work with and offense won't be an issue. Given his history with Brian Westbrook, I think Foster will blow up in a big way this year running and catching the ball.
Still can't say I understand the obsession of some with Adams. Fulmer didn't go anywhere after the article and Adams doesn't appear to be going anywhere, so get over it or continue going strong with the boycott.
murrayvol writes:
invisible: Re Adams: Some folks really need a dog to kick. That's just how it is.
In other news I remain convinced Meyer, Saban, Richt, et al scour these sites daily for keys to defeating the Vols when the leaves turn.
I for one suggest hitting the mute button on our DT dilemma lest we provide a critical edge in scheming.
Volunatic writes:
I think he was talking about Dan Williams, who beat out JT Mapu for his DT spot during most of last season.
gnm53108 writes:
Defense should be better this year.At the end of the season our secondary and d-line showed tremendous improvement over sept and oct.With upgrade in talent and or experence at both positions we should see some good play out of both.Of course we should have our standard exelence play out of our lb's.The ace in the hole I'm hoping is our offense.Ball controll will go a long way to helping our defense.
I'm with DaddyVol.I'm pumped.
I need a frostbrewed koolaid please.
How many days?ashley?
gnm53108 writes:
DaddyVol: Exactly.We need some long drives.Cut down the number of possions opposing O's get and that will give our D a big break.I like scoring 30 pluss points a game as much as anybody but time management can be just as important.
You are absolutely right about special teams.I can remember alot of close games where you win or lose because of them.Coach Drayton is well known for this,as well as recruiting.He should help.
Man,I'm getting way too pumped with the season this far away.
And yes,I like my orange koolaid frost brewed.
Ummm....
philfan writes:
John Adams wrote:
Those offensive lines obviously will factor into the preseason national rankings. Florida and Georgia will be consensus top-five teams going into the season. LSU and Auburn should make some top 10s, and UT likely will be in the top 15.
I think the AP will rank us about 14. A big, big win over UCLA on television on Labor Day could very easily put Tennessee in the top ten. Then, a win over UAB, and then a win over Florida, at Knoxville no less, will make us possibly # 5 in the country. My mind is racing and my tongue is hanging out like a dog, and it is still only May. I cannot wait until September.
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