- Jun 12, 2016
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https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/10-bold-observations-sec-east/
Will Florida make it to Atlanta for the third consecutive season out of the SEC East? Can Georgia, with its stellar backfield, dethrone the Gators? How will Tennessee respond to a retooled coaching staff? And can any team outside of the East’s big three make a run to Atlanta?
Here are 10 takes on the upcoming season:
Tennessee-Florida winner takes East
The Florida-Tennessee game has been relevant again over the last few seasons since Butch Jones took over on Rocky Top.
Florida had been victorious each season until last year’s second-half collapse. The Gators have struggled after halftime for three years running; last year it caught up to them.
Jones, in his fifth season leading the Vols, will have his team in position to win again in the fourth quarter. And whoever wins this game will have the best chance of taking the division.
Not sold on Georgia
Georgia has elite talent in the backfield with running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and quarterback Jacob Eason.
The problem is on the offensive line. The Bulldogs have to replace both starting tackles and both starting guards.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, though a well-respected offensive mind, occasionally hurts his team with questionable play-calling. An example: last season’s home loss to Vanderbilt.
The Bulldogs will have a reliable defense. The line, led by tackle Trenton Thompson, is deep. Four starting linebackers — Roquan Smith. Lorenzo Carter, Natrez Patrick and Davin Bellamy — are back. The secondary will be the unit’s weakest link.
But again, the Bulldogs will have to overcome a thin offensive line to make any noise in the division.
Tennessee has East’s best staff
Credit Butch Jones for re-assembling his staff after an injury-plagued 2016 season in which the Vols were preseason favorites to win the East.
Jones proved he is not stubborn or averse to change when it comes to giving the program a better chance to compete for championships.
Bringing in former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke to coach the defensive line is big not only for teaching but also for recruiting. Mike Canales is a well-respected quarterbacks coach whose former pupils include QBs such as Philip Rivers. Charlton Warren has worked at the Air Force Academy and most recently North Carolina. Kevin Beard, a former receiver and later receivers coach at Miami, should help the passing game and recruiting.
Tennessee has East’s best offensive line
The offensive line is probably Tennessee’s best all-around unit and the best group during Jones’ tenure. The Vols have quality and depth up front with individuals such as Coleman Thomas, Jashon Robertson, Venzell Boulware, Jack Jones, Austin Sanders, Drew Richmond, Brett Kendrick, Chance Hall, Marcus Tatum, Trey Smith, Nathan Niehaus, Ryan Johnson, Riley Locklear and Devante Brooks. The unit had a good spring under Walt Wells.
Don’t underestimate South Carolina
Will Muschamp enters year two in Columbia with a lot less pressure than he dealt with in Gainesville. He has more time for players to buy in and more time from the school to build the program through recruiting.
Muschamp’s problem in 2017 is his schedule.
In conference play, the Gamecocks open at Missouri, then host Kentucky, travel to Texas A&M, host Arkansas, then at Tennessee, then close with Vanderbilt and Florida at home and Georgia on the road.
The Gamecocks need to win at least five conference games, and probably six, to have any chance of making it to Atlanta in December. It’s possible, but Muschamp will need to have his team well prepared to win games that they will not be favored in.
It’s more likely that the Gamecocks play a spoiler role this season than compete for a title.
Vanderbilt is not going bowling
Derek Mason and his Commodores went bowling in 2016, but the schedule does not look good for a repeat. A two-win season might be just as likely.
Vandy opens at Middle Tennessee State and then hosts a third-week game against Kansas State. Alabama and at Florida follow, then Georgia and at Ole Miss. It doesn’t get easier after an off-week by going to South Carolina and then hosting Western Kentucky. Kentucky, Missouri and at Tennessee round out the schedule.
In particular, it’s unlikely they’ll pull upsets of Georgia and Tennessee in the same season again.
Drew Lock is East’s best QB
It’s year No. 2 in the Josh Heupel offense at Missouri, and Drew Lock looks to continue improving and should top his 3,399 passing yards and 23 touchdowns from last season. Going into his junior season fully acclimated into Heupel’s system, Lock has a chance to put up monster numbers.
Kentucky’s bowl prospects iffy
It’s going to be hard for the Wildcats to scratch the surface of being bowl eligible, even though they’re coming off a seven-win regular season and have eight returning starters on offense and nine on defense. The schedule will pose an issue for fifth-year Kentucky coach Mark Stoops.
I like that the Wildcats return most of their offensive starters, including Benny Snell, but they will miss running back Boom Williams and receiver Jeff Badet. The Wildcats also lose center Jon Toth, but will return four starters on the line.
But the schedule is daunting. How can Kentucky navigate through home games against Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Louisville? How will the Wildcats handle road contests at Southern Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Georgia?
SEC East vs. West record
The SEC East might not reach five wins against the West this season. With that being said, Florida could sweep their West opponents, giving the Gators a chance in the East even if they lose to Tennessee. That is why it is important for the Volunteers to take care of business in the SEC East.
The East’s divisional crossover games:
Florida: vs. LSU, vs. Texas A&M
Georgia: vs. Mississippi State, at Auburn
Kentucky: at Mississippi State, vs. Ole Miss
Missouri: vs. Auburn, at Arkansas
South Carolina: at Texas A&M, vs. Arkansas
Tennessee: at Alabama, vs. LSU
Vanderbilt: vs. Alabama, at Ole Miss
Florida can be much improved on offense
After averaging 23.9 points per game in 2016, the Gators are set to better their offense this season.
The quarterback position is unsettled, but the Gators have expanded their options. Redshirt junior Luke Del Rio returns after missing spring practices while recovering from shoulder surgery. Redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks took advantage in the spring with increased reps and enters fall camp as the favorite. But now Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire is in the fold, too.
No matter who becomes the starting quarterback, four starters return up front. Antonio Callaway remains a dangerous threat at wide receiver. Brandon Powell joins Callaway in the receiver unit for a one-two punch. DeAndre Goolsby will bring stability to the tight end position.
At running back, Florida has depth and talent, led by Jordan Scarlett, who finished with 889 yards last season while splitting carries most of the year.
Will Florida make it to Atlanta for the third consecutive season out of the SEC East? Can Georgia, with its stellar backfield, dethrone the Gators? How will Tennessee respond to a retooled coaching staff? And can any team outside of the East’s big three make a run to Atlanta?
Here are 10 takes on the upcoming season:
Tennessee-Florida winner takes East
The Florida-Tennessee game has been relevant again over the last few seasons since Butch Jones took over on Rocky Top.
Florida had been victorious each season until last year’s second-half collapse. The Gators have struggled after halftime for three years running; last year it caught up to them.
Jones, in his fifth season leading the Vols, will have his team in position to win again in the fourth quarter. And whoever wins this game will have the best chance of taking the division.
Not sold on Georgia
Georgia has elite talent in the backfield with running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and quarterback Jacob Eason.
The problem is on the offensive line. The Bulldogs have to replace both starting tackles and both starting guards.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, though a well-respected offensive mind, occasionally hurts his team with questionable play-calling. An example: last season’s home loss to Vanderbilt.
The Bulldogs will have a reliable defense. The line, led by tackle Trenton Thompson, is deep. Four starting linebackers — Roquan Smith. Lorenzo Carter, Natrez Patrick and Davin Bellamy — are back. The secondary will be the unit’s weakest link.
But again, the Bulldogs will have to overcome a thin offensive line to make any noise in the division.
Tennessee has East’s best staff
Credit Butch Jones for re-assembling his staff after an injury-plagued 2016 season in which the Vols were preseason favorites to win the East.
Jones proved he is not stubborn or averse to change when it comes to giving the program a better chance to compete for championships.
Bringing in former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke to coach the defensive line is big not only for teaching but also for recruiting. Mike Canales is a well-respected quarterbacks coach whose former pupils include QBs such as Philip Rivers. Charlton Warren has worked at the Air Force Academy and most recently North Carolina. Kevin Beard, a former receiver and later receivers coach at Miami, should help the passing game and recruiting.
Tennessee has East’s best offensive line
The offensive line is probably Tennessee’s best all-around unit and the best group during Jones’ tenure. The Vols have quality and depth up front with individuals such as Coleman Thomas, Jashon Robertson, Venzell Boulware, Jack Jones, Austin Sanders, Drew Richmond, Brett Kendrick, Chance Hall, Marcus Tatum, Trey Smith, Nathan Niehaus, Ryan Johnson, Riley Locklear and Devante Brooks. The unit had a good spring under Walt Wells.
Don’t underestimate South Carolina
Will Muschamp enters year two in Columbia with a lot less pressure than he dealt with in Gainesville. He has more time for players to buy in and more time from the school to build the program through recruiting.
Muschamp’s problem in 2017 is his schedule.
In conference play, the Gamecocks open at Missouri, then host Kentucky, travel to Texas A&M, host Arkansas, then at Tennessee, then close with Vanderbilt and Florida at home and Georgia on the road.
The Gamecocks need to win at least five conference games, and probably six, to have any chance of making it to Atlanta in December. It’s possible, but Muschamp will need to have his team well prepared to win games that they will not be favored in.
It’s more likely that the Gamecocks play a spoiler role this season than compete for a title.
Vanderbilt is not going bowling
Derek Mason and his Commodores went bowling in 2016, but the schedule does not look good for a repeat. A two-win season might be just as likely.
Vandy opens at Middle Tennessee State and then hosts a third-week game against Kansas State. Alabama and at Florida follow, then Georgia and at Ole Miss. It doesn’t get easier after an off-week by going to South Carolina and then hosting Western Kentucky. Kentucky, Missouri and at Tennessee round out the schedule.
In particular, it’s unlikely they’ll pull upsets of Georgia and Tennessee in the same season again.
Drew Lock is East’s best QB
It’s year No. 2 in the Josh Heupel offense at Missouri, and Drew Lock looks to continue improving and should top his 3,399 passing yards and 23 touchdowns from last season. Going into his junior season fully acclimated into Heupel’s system, Lock has a chance to put up monster numbers.
Kentucky’s bowl prospects iffy
It’s going to be hard for the Wildcats to scratch the surface of being bowl eligible, even though they’re coming off a seven-win regular season and have eight returning starters on offense and nine on defense. The schedule will pose an issue for fifth-year Kentucky coach Mark Stoops.
I like that the Wildcats return most of their offensive starters, including Benny Snell, but they will miss running back Boom Williams and receiver Jeff Badet. The Wildcats also lose center Jon Toth, but will return four starters on the line.
But the schedule is daunting. How can Kentucky navigate through home games against Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Louisville? How will the Wildcats handle road contests at Southern Miss, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Georgia?
SEC East vs. West record
The SEC East might not reach five wins against the West this season. With that being said, Florida could sweep their West opponents, giving the Gators a chance in the East even if they lose to Tennessee. That is why it is important for the Volunteers to take care of business in the SEC East.
The East’s divisional crossover games:
Florida: vs. LSU, vs. Texas A&M
Georgia: vs. Mississippi State, at Auburn
Kentucky: at Mississippi State, vs. Ole Miss
Missouri: vs. Auburn, at Arkansas
South Carolina: at Texas A&M, vs. Arkansas
Tennessee: at Alabama, vs. LSU
Vanderbilt: vs. Alabama, at Ole Miss
Florida can be much improved on offense
After averaging 23.9 points per game in 2016, the Gators are set to better their offense this season.
The quarterback position is unsettled, but the Gators have expanded their options. Redshirt junior Luke Del Rio returns after missing spring practices while recovering from shoulder surgery. Redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks took advantage in the spring with increased reps and enters fall camp as the favorite. But now Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire is in the fold, too.
No matter who becomes the starting quarterback, four starters return up front. Antonio Callaway remains a dangerous threat at wide receiver. Brandon Powell joins Callaway in the receiver unit for a one-two punch. DeAndre Goolsby will bring stability to the tight end position.
At running back, Florida has depth and talent, led by Jordan Scarlett, who finished with 889 yards last season while splitting carries most of the year.
And yet, if Mizzu can win the east (twice) I guess anyone can.
