Adams: SEC getting downright defensive

The Sports Illustrated account of Alabama's dismantling of Florida in the SEC championship game included a telling quote from an NFL general manager.

"Can you believe the talent on this field?" Thomas Dimitroff of the Atlanta Falcons said at halftime.

Sure you can - if you have been the following the league all season. And no one will gain a greater appreciation of that in the next month than the 10 offensive coordinators preparing to face SEC teams in bowl games.

NCAA final regular-season statistics indicate it was another typical year in the conference.

Alabama is No. 1 in fewest points allowed; six other SEC teams rank in the top 30 in total defense; five others rank in the top 26 in fewest points allowed.

For a conference that thrives on wrecking opposing offenses, that's routine. But when you break the defenses down to individuals, the season seems less routine.

That was evident in the list of finalists for college football's individual defensive awards. It's also evident in all the NFL mock drafts.

And it was glaring when you tried to pick an All-SEC team. Exceptional defensive players are so plentiful, first-round draft picks don't necessarily make first-team All-SEC.

Eleven SEC defensive players, including underclassmen who are expecting to make an early college exit, have been projected as first-round picks in various mock drafts. Tennessee junior strong safety Eric Berry is one of them.

Berry made first-team All-American for a second consecutive year, so there was little suspense about his making all-conference and hardly surprising that he won the Jim Thorpe award, given to the nation's best back.

Alabama's Rolando McClain won the Dick Butkus award, given to the best linebacker. Florida's Brandon Spikes and South Carolina's Eric Norwood were among the five finalists.

The linebacking is so good in this league that a Butkus finalist can't be assured of making first-team All-SEC. Georgia's Rennie Curran beat out Spikes on the AP team.

The SEC might have even more depth at defensive end than linebacker. Florida's Carlos Dunlap, who was suspended for the SEC championship game, is projected as a consensus high first-round pick. Ole Miss' Greg Hardy, whose career has been hampered by injuries, could be another high pick.

Despite Dunlap's pro potential, he's not even the most productive defensive end on his team. Jermaine Cunningham, a three-year starter, has matched Dunlap's seven sacks this season and been more consistent throughout his career. He also avoided being arrested the week of the SEC championship game.

Auburn senior defensive end Antonio Coleman, who joined Dunlap on the AP first team, has been as reliable as Cunningham for the last three years. He leads the SEC with nine sacks, and has 23.5 career sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss.

In the secondary, Berry looks like a surefire top-10 NFL pick if he turns pro early as expected. He's one of the surest tacklers in college football and can cover as well. In his three years at UT, he has demonstrated more than pro potential.

His career numbers: 241 tackles, 14 interceptions, 16.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

Florida junior cornerback Joe Haden has been one of the best all-around defensive players in the league for three years after playing quarterback in high school.

Unlike some outstanding cover corners, he doesn't shy away from contact. In addition to four interceptions, he has 62 tackles this season.

Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley, like Haden, is projected as a first-round pick, although his senior season was disrupted by injury. And the pros probably wish they could draft LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, an impressive one-on-one defender, who's only a sophomore. Alabama safety Mark Barron, who leads the SEC with seven interceptions and is tied for the lead in passes defended, is another notable sophomore. He made the AP all-SEC first team.

Peterson and Barron are just a couple of reminders that the conference will have its share of outstanding defensive players next season, too.

But this year has been exceptional.

The next NFL draft should prove that.

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