The college football season is only a month old, but that’s enough time to alter preseason perceptions. It’s also an appropriate time to evaluate how SEC teams stand.
Are they ahead of schedule, behind or right on course?
Alabama — On course.
The Tide has found adequate replacements in the offensive line, freshman Trent Richardson has boosted the running game, the defense is as stout as last season, and Greg McElroy is an upgrade at quarterback.
The biggest question: Can one of the nation’s best defenses replace star linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who suffered a season-ending knee injury?
Auburn — Ahead.
The Tigers might have depth issues, especially on defense. But the offense has flourished under new coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Quarterback Chris Todd doesn’t look like the same guy who struggled with an injury to his throwing shoulder last season. Freshman running back Onterio McCalebb has been sensational.
Arkansas — On course.
Coach Bobby Petrino has assembled another productive offense, and quarterback Ryan Mallett already throws better than some NFL-types.
The defense remains a work in progress.
Florida — Behind.
Don’t get the wrong idea. The Gators are still capable of winning another national championship if quarterback Tim Tebow recovers quickly from Saturday’s concussion.
But Florida’s defense hasn’t been as dominant as expected, and its receiving corps hasn’t been a factor in two SEC games.
Georgia — Behind.
I envisioned them as a borderline top-10 team. That was based on them at least slowing down opposing offenses.
Georgia has too many good athletes to have allowed almost 30 points per game in the first month of the season.
Kentucky — On course.
If there was any doubt, you only had to see the Wildcats’ first punt against Florida. The Gators blocked it, just as they blocked two against the Wildcats last season.
Quarterback Mike Hartline might be improved, but this offense still looks helpless against superior defenses.
LSU — Behind.
You couldn’t tell it by the unbeaten record or the No. 4 ranking. But its offensive production doesn’t match its talent, which is abundant at wide receiver and running back.
There has been a drop-off in the offensive line, and second-year quarterback Jordan Jefferson obviously hasn’t mastered Gary Crowton’s diverse offense. It could get worse if head coach Les Miles starts meddling.
Mississippi State — Ahead.
My expectations were so low for Dan Mullen’s first team, even a faint pulse on offense would qualify as progress. So would winning an SEC game, which the Bulldogs did against Vanderbilt.
And they almost won another one against LSU.
Wide receivers Leon Berry and Chad Bumphis have given them badly needed playmaking potential.
Ole Miss — Behind.
Some critics, who didn’t think the Rebels or coach Houston Nutt could handle a top-10 ranking, would say they’re right on course after losing to South Carolina on Thursday.
Quarterback Jevan Snead hasn’t picked up where he left off last season. In fact, he has regressed.
The Rebels apparently miss wide receiver Mike Wallace and offensive tackle Michael Oher more than anticipated.
South Carolina — Ahead.
Maybe Ole Miss wasn’t as good as billed. But that doesn’t detract from the Gamecocks’ upset last week.
South Carolina has a history of coming agonizingly close against good teams, then failing to close the deal. This time, they finished what they started.
Quarterback Stephen Garcia still takes you on a roller-coaster ride, but his decision-making has improved significantly.
Tennessee — Behind.
The quarterback woes have carried over from last season. Also, like last season, the Vols lost a game they should have won against UCLA.
On the plus side, they only lost by 10 points to Florida, a 29½-point favorite.
Vanderbilt — Behind.
I expected the Commodores to be the worst team in the East. I didn’t expect them to be worse than Mississippi State.
A solid defense has been weakened by injuries. The quarterback play has been as shaky as UT’s.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 8
Psychovol writes:
I'm starting to drink the koolaid. JC is being scapegoated and he's not the whole problem. Yes I want to see what NS can do but I'm a psychotherapist and not a coach. I do wish I could get a shot at JC's head though as I think he's got some demons in there left by past regimes.
arkyvol writes:
come hell or high water, j.c. is kiffen's q.b. somehow, i expect both.
GreeneCountyVol writes:
John Adams - Behind.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Unless the injury situation gets appreciably worse, I think we might be more competitive against the rest of the SEC than you think. As for your question about signing QBs, I think the jury may still be out about the positives outweighing the negatives. In the LONG run, I think they do. However, any QB good enough to come in and start right away probably already knows that the O-line will be a makeshift affair next year. That could make for a rather painful learning process in one's freshman year. Also, while CLK's loyalty to Crompton may be admirable in some ways, the way he is playing right now gives some reason to doubt the ability of this staff to develop a QB, while the reluctance to replace him somewhat belies the idea that all positions are open to competition. Of course, another reason may simply be that there are not a huge number of first-rate QBs in this class, and those few are already committed to other programs, most of which are stronger than we are right now.
volky writes:
If it is true there may be reason to doubt the ability of Kiffin's staff to develop a QB, then CLK has painted himself into a very tight corner having hired his brother-in-law to be the QB coach.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Top rated qbs are not lining up because they can read our O line depth chart. The cupboard is bare on the OL. It has nothing to do with the current coaching staff, it is a by-product of the previous staff's poor recruiting.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You may be right. One thought I have seen on here is that CLK and CJR are using Crompton as Exhibit A for their ability to develop a QB; if they can make JC effective, they can do it for anybody. Another thought is that they are playing JC just so they can say, "See how bad we are? We don't have anybody better! You can start right away!" I would hope the reason is the former rather than the latter, but there is risk either way. A third possibility is that they are showing prospects that they will have their back while they are learning even if they are having a hard time at first. For me, I would prefer they try Stephens at some point, or whatever else they have to try--Nu-Gun, G-Gun, E-Gun, Wildcat, etc--to try to win as many games as possible and let the team's record speak for itself. But then, making those decisions and accepting the consequences is why they get the big bucks and I post on sports message boards(;-P)!
gtown_vol writes:
John Adams way behind. He was due to leave town year's ago and just can't find his way.
Hey JA (interpret at will),
Check out how the SEC is stacking up...
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id...
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