The SEC season I envisioned in August didn't look like this.
I expected a couple of baseball scores by now. I expected defense and more defense.
And maybe that's what we will have when conference teams are running into each other on a more regular basis. But right now, SEC football is a variety show.
Don't get the wrong idea. The SEC is still the preeminent defensive conference in the country.
Alabama is third and Tennessee is fifth nationally in total defense. Seven conference teams are ranked in the top 33.
You expect that. You don't expect to see Arkansas ranked second nationally in total offense; Florida, Auburn and Alabama are in the top nine.
Never mind that the SEC still reigns supreme in defense. The offenses are making headway, and that's reflected in the scores.
Georgia's 52-41 victory over Arkansas on Saturday is the best example. That's three more points than were scored in any conference game all of last season.
You usually have to play five or six overtimes to get a score like that in SEC play. It's a wonder conference commissioner Mike Slive doesn't require both schools to reapply for SEC membership.
But that game is not the only example. Just three weeks into the season, SEC teams have scored 40 or more points 16 times. They have hit 50 or more five times and have gone over 60 twice.
Do I hear 65?
Best guess: It's coming. And Florida might not be the only one doing it.
Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, Arkansas and South Carolina already have surpassed last season's single-game highs. Auburn, Arkansas and South Carolina have done it twice.
So what gives, besides the defense?
Part of the increased scoring can be attributed to coaching hires. UT and Mississippi State both hired offensive-minded head coaches. And new Auburn coach Gene Chizik hired Gus Malzahn as his offensive coordinator.
Auburn scored more than 27 points only twice last season. Its big scores were 37 and 34.
In its first three games in Malzahn's game-long two-minute drill, its low score is 37, and it's averaging 42.3 points per game.
Mississippi State's offense is still personnel-challenged. But its 84 points in three games under coach Dan Mullen are significant compared to last season when it didn't hit 84 until the sixth game.
It's not just about coaches. It's also about quarterbacks.
Arkansas' Ryan Mallett, who sat out last season after transferring from Michigan, looks like a surefire first-round draft pick. He won't need a tryout with NFL scouts. He can show them the videotape of Saturday's game against Georgia when he executed every throw required of an NFL quarterback.
Georgia's Joe Cox's dazzling performance wasn't as expected. He looked inadequate in the season opener against Oklahoma State when he was still recovering from the flu and a "tired arm."
There was nothing tired about his arm against Arkansas when he demonstrated Manning-like accuracy in passing for 375 yards and matching Mallett's five touchdown passes.
Mallett leads the nation in passing efficiency. Florida's Tim Tebow is seventh. Cox is 12th. Alabama first-year starter Greg McElroy is 16th.
You can't expect them to maintain those rankings as they go through a full season against SEC defenses. You shouldn't expect them to be rendered incompetent, either.
The SEC's overall defense might be just as good as 2008 by the end of the season. But the offense looks improved.
And the league is better for it.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 27
eb502us#225637 writes:
And we're handholding a 5th year senior.
Pathetic!!
OhioVol3 writes:
Got news for you guys...without a marginally decent Crompton, we don't beat Ole Miss or South Carolina. And I don't think either team is as good as Bama or UGA. We need a QB now.
chargervol writes:
If Snead is the best QB available for the NFL, like some have made reference to, there won't be a QB from this coming up draft that will even hold a clipboard. Snead looked terrible for most of the game. Another top 5 team goes down in flames. There will be more to crash and burn, are you listening gator trolls. Your time is near. GO VOLS!!!
tdvol1989 writes:
Speaking of Crompton. I just wish I could have lunch with Kiffin. The million dollar question is if Crompton in practice is THAT much better than Nick Stephens? Here is the dilemna. Crompton may be a little better now. But, I do not see Tyler Bray starting at a "Beat Florida/Georgia/Bama" level as a TRUE freshman. Though after a full season, he may be there.
So, would allowing Stephens a chance to play more this year give us something to build on for next season? And, if we somehow can manufacture 8 wins, will anything less next year hold the fans/media/recruiting at bay?
As a head coach, you have to play the "Expectations" game. And, IF you are willing to make a move, Ohio is the week to do it. You cannot experiment with Auburn/Georgia/Bama because at least 1 win during this stretch is critical. The Florida Loss is a moral victory ONLY IF it causes something good to happen. If we lose 7 games, the Florida loss is a loss. If we win 8 or 9 games, the Florida loss was a turning point when we could have given up, but didn't.
I have read all of the articles on how a change is not going to happen now, but now would be the time to make it. If not, you miss the window.
tdvol1989 writes:
Yeah, but poor Ole Miss fans are learning the downside of Houston Nutt. For a big game underdog situation, the "Right Reverend", as he is known around Arkansas, is well known for jacking up a team. But, a road loss to a lesser SEC opponent is status quo for Coach Nutt.
When you are an Ole Miss fan, and you know these opportunities do not come often, this is the kind of loss you just cannot take. And, with 2 busted trick plays at critical times of the game...
ReverendOrange writes:
Offense? I just watched one of the supposedly better offenses in the league scrape to score 10 points! The much improved Gamecock attack only managed 16.
No, blessed are the defenses, for if the opposition can't score, they can't beat you.
bigaldaddy writes:
Ryan Mallett is the best QB in the conference. Mark it down. Wish we had a QB who could make a decision. Run it for an easy first down or throw it out of bounds. We are a QB away from BCS Land.
pullingguard98 writes:
DId you hear that Mike Slive has asked Mark Richt and Bobby Petrino to apologize to one another for scoring so many points on each other last weekend. He says "It's not good for the conference. We expect our teams to behave in a more defensive manner. I have written a letter to Coach Richt and Coach Petrino and expressed my displeasure with their behaviors."
Madkels writes:
It may be asking too much of our defense to keep us in these games after watching UGA, Auburn, Bama, and South Carolina. If our offense can't score and allow the D to stay off the field some, the D will get tired late. There are some pretty good looking offenses coming up in our schedule. It's time for a the QB and receivers to step up.
99gator writes:
some of you need to have a little more faith.
i was humbled after the tennessee game. i didn't think tennessee was very good and hoped for a blowout. after the ole miss game last season, florida pretty much beat everyone handily, except alabama and oklahoma. so, it's what i expected.
in short, it doesn't work that way.
if you try to compare scores....like, lsu beat washington, washington beat usc, usc beat ohio state.....etc, etc, etc, then your head will spin.
let the games play out. right now, tennessee is playing with house money because they are not expected to win.
i have seen several teams in the top 10 already lose this season and will just be thankful to get a win and look forward to the next game.
don't start counting how many games you think tennessee is going to lose. it was just a week ago tennessee was "supposed" to get blown out.
CRFVols writes:
The best QBs in the nation should be frothing at the mouth to come here. The next good...not even great...but good QB we have come here will be the man around town....because we're dying for one.
Let's bring'em in CLK!
tnlizard writes:
A humble post. Thanks for some soothing reality to some finger pointing and ailing Tenn fans.
bigtimevol writes:
I feel like the kid locked out of the playground, having to watch all the other kids play with their new toys thru a hole in the fence. But...I do like being king of the mountain on DEFENSE...no complaints there.
bigtimevol writes:
To quote Larry the Cable Guy: Now that's funny right there...I don't care who you are.
kazoo writes:
The sad thing is, if we thump Ohio as expected, Kiffin will surely stick with Crompton even longer! The coach is setting us up for a mediocre or perhaps worse season this year AND next, because I can't imagine that Stephens will play next year if he doesn't play this year. And if he does play next year, that will be another reason to question Kiffin's judgment since he's in the process of wasting a year in which Stephens could be getting some valuable PT. We have to assume that he'll try to play the true freshman next year--and if he struggles, which would not be at all surprising, we'll be in the doo-doo again.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Snead was bad for the first three quarters against MEMPHIS, too! He throws a nice ball, but it looks like he may have chemistry problems with his receivers. On the other hand, that McCluster kid at RB is a streak! Ole Miss will be a formidable opponent, especially at their place, but they won't be a total mismatch for us.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well said. Many of us have speculated along the same lines. For better or worse, it looks CLK is going to stick with Crompton. I can see the merit both ways, but I agree that those future considerations should figure in there somewhere. We likely won't have much of an O-line in 2010. Whoever the QB is will likely be running for his life. An inexperienced Stephens or a raw, skinny Bray could be destroyed, physically or emotionally. Experience for Stephens would seem to be a must, but if we fans called all the shots, we wouldn't need highly-paid coaches.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
What "2 Talks"? There was the one back in the summer and the one just recently, in which Meyer took as much heat as CLK. And what "out of control program"? There is no law against a coach being a bit lippy; Spurrier seemed not to get much grief from the commish for it, or from hardly anyone else, for that matter. What exactly do you think CLK has done that warrants his firing after THREE games? Put up or shut up, clown!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
What a doofus!
crimsonviper writes:
Outstanding post 99.
crimsonviper writes:
says the guy from MustyVagina U.
TommyJack writes:
The lad has never had a fair chance...
Vol86 writes:
If we can be patient we will be good again. Will take a couple of years to fill the OL and train a Kiffin QB. Give it time my Friends.
CuccessfulVol writes:
"Mallett leads the nation in passing efficiency. Florida's Tim Tebow is seventh. Cox is 12th. Alabama first-year starter Greg McElroy is 16th."
Uhmm Did we forget about Crompton...he has got to be top ten in something. Is inconsistensy a category?
volsfanlostinthebigeasy writes:
can't agree more...but NEED is the key word. we dont HAVE one.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Adams, Admas. sigh.
Did you watch the game last night? Ole Miss vaunted offense got clocked by USC Defense. Ole Miss defense did pretty good job on USC offense. I hate to upset your creative attempt to take a new twist on this SEC-lacks-offense mantra, but...............
Bigger_Al writes:
Adams is surprised by what is happening on the field? Wow. Imagine that.
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