SINCE WE LAST SPOKE 7-23-15

SEC STRENGTHS: With the SEC Media Days in the rear-view mirror as well as my self-imposed July 4th start date for perusing the preseason annuals it’s time to take a look at each SEC team’s major strength

ALABAMA-Defensive Line: NG A’Shawn Robinson is on everyone’s preseason All American team demanding double teams that provide opportunities for excellent DEs Jonathan Allen (11.5 tfl; 5.5 sacks) and Jarran Reed. Honorable Mention-Running Back It’s Derrick Henry’s turn to be the feature back and he’s a stud (5.8 ypc 11 TDs). Kenyan Drake has recovered from last season’s broken leg and his speed and versatility make him the perfect multi-purpose backup for Henry.

ARKANSAS-Offensive Line Phil Steele lists both RT Dan Skipper and LT Denver Kirkland as 2nd team All-SEC and LG Sebastian Tretola on his 3rd. SR C Mitch Smothers gives the Hogs four returning starters. Honorable Mention-Running Back Sr Jonathan Williams (1190 yds; 12 TDs) and Jr Alex Collins (1100 yds; 12 TDs) are arguably the best 1-2 RB combination in America.

AUBURN-Quarterback After backing up Nick Marshall the last two seasons the 6-5 230 lb. Jeremy Johnson is ready to introduce himself to SEC defense and the nation. Johnson is regarded as a much more accurate passer than Marshall and can run when necessary as well. The fact that a QB with only 2 starts could be considered a major strength may say more about the conference’s inexperience at the position than Johnson’s overwhelming potential. Honorable Mention-Offensive Line The line lost three starters but returns excellent tackles Shon Coleman and Avery Young. C Austin Golson -a former starter at Ole Miss- and former Freshman All SEC LG Alex Kozan (missed 2014 due to injury) give the Tiger O-Line more experience than two returning starters would suggest.

FLORIDA-Secondary Vernon Hargreaves III may be the best CB in college football and will be joined by three additional 2014 starters NB Brian Poole, and Ss Keanu Neal (45 tack, 3 Ints) and Marcus Maye (62 tack; 5 pbu). Sophomores S Duke Dawson and CB Quincy Wilson also played meaningful snaps as Freshmen in 2014 Honorable Mention-Defensive Line Nothing points out how the talent level has fallen off in most areas of the Gator’s roster like having a position that lost Dante Fowler Jr and returns only two players who have started a college game considered a strength. DE/DT Jon Bullard won’t be Fowler but is a solid SEC D-Lineman who will play at the next level. Alex McCalister had 6 sacks in a limited role suggesting he could take up the pass rush slack and the Gators have a group of young, talented interior linemen such as Caleb Brantley, Khairi Clark, Joey Ivie and Taven Bryan with huge upside.

GEORGIA-Linebackers OLBs Leonard Floyd and Jeremy Jenkins should both be plying their trade in the NFL instead of making Saturday’s miserable for Dawg opponents. Jr’s Reggie Carter and Tim Kimbrough haven’t started but both are very capable in the middle and OLB Lorenzo Carter will play considerable minutes regardless of the position logjam because he’s too talented not to. Honorable Mention-Running Backs I’m already tired of Nick Chubb (1547 yds; 14 TDs) and he’s only played one season. Multifaceted Sony Michael is healthy and can fly making Keith Marshall a shocking 3rd option.

KENTUCKY-Quarterback Patrick Towles run/pass ability (pass- 2718 yds 14 TDs; Run- 303-6) scared me as a Tennessee fan last season and he may not be the Cats starter in 2015. Highly regarded Drew Barker is a better athlete and is reputed to have a charisma that inspires teammates. Honorable Mention-Wide Receiver John Calipari probably covets 6’5” Blake Bone (13.9 ypc; 2 TDs) and 6’3” Dorian Baker (10.5 ypc; 1 TD). Garrett Johnson (12.3 ypc; 2 TDs) and Jeff Badet are more diminutive but potentially very productive. . If Ryan Timmons can overcome multiple offseason surgeries he will add to his previously accumulated 77 catches for 877 yds.

LSU-Secondary CB Tre’Davious White will be the next former LSU DB playing on Sunday and he probably won’t be the only one from the 2015 Bayou Bengal DB corps. Jamal Adams and Jalen Moore may be the best safety tandem in the league and early enrollee Kevin Tolliver has the ability to start his first college game at CB. Honorable Mention-Running Back Leonard Fournette looks like a stud in a league full of physical specimens. His 1034 yds and 10 TDs were punctuated late in the season with a combined 289 yds on 30 carries versus Texas A&M and Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl. Sophomore Darrell Williams averaged almost 5 ypc last season and would provide valuable backup if that ever becomes necessary.

MISSISSIPPI ST.-Quarterback Dak Prescott lived up to his enormous 2014 expectations by setting 12 school single-season records including passing yards (3449) and TDs (42) Honorable Mention-Defensive Line With only seven starters returning the Bullydogs DL is a strength by default. DT Chris Jones (26 tack; 3 sacks) did not start last season but was certainly one of MSU’s best lineman while Ryan Brown (39 tack; 3.5 sacks; 3.5 tfl) does return to man his DE spot. JRs Nelson Adams and A.J Jefferson will likely man the other DT and DE spots respectively

MISSOURI –Linebacker WLB Kentrell Brothers and MLB Michael Scherer combined for 113 tackles 7 tfl and 5 pbu. Likely SLB starter Donavin Newsom had 24 tackles of his own in 2014 Honorable Mention-Quarterback Maty Mauk may not be the most consistent guy in the land but he is one of the few returning starters at the most critical position in the league and did enough to lead the Tigers to their second straight SEC East Title in 2014. Through his scuffles he managed 2648 yds and 25 TDs and ran for 373 and 2.

OLE MISS –Secondary Starting SR Safeties Mike Hilton (71 tack; 3 INTs) and Trae Elston (59 tack; 1 INT) have played several positions during their careers and will be a great last-line of defense. Notre Dame transfer Tee Shepard and Junior College transfer Tony Bridges will give the CB position more experience than first-time starters would suggest. Honorable Mention –Wide Receiver I’m sure everyone joins me in hoping Laquon Treadwell has the end to his great career he deserves after his devastating injury last season. He has the potential to be the league’s best wideout if healthy and will be joined by Washington transfer Demore’ea Stringfellow, reliable Cody Core (13.6 ypc; 6 TDs) and a freshman with great potential DaMarkus Lodge

SOUTH CAROLINA –Linebacker MLB Skai Moore (93 tack; 3 INTs) is the solid, smart leader of the unit while WLB Jonathan Walton (61 tack; 2.5 tfl) has starting experience as well. They should be joined in the starting lineup by SLB Bryson Allen-Williams (27 tack; 5 QBH) who was moved from DE in the off-season Honorable Mention-Secondary The Cock secondary got torched last season but much of it was due to a lack of pass rush. Carolina has nine players capable of filling four starting spots with the most likely foursome being Chris Lammons and Rico McWilliams at CB with Jordan Diggs and Isaiah Johnson at safety. If that is correct two 2014 starters S T.J Gurley (80 tackles; 1 Int) and CB Chris Moody (37 tack; 1 Int) would be relegated to reserve duty.

TENNESSEE-Quarterback It has been some time since QB has been considered a position of true strength for the Volunteers. Josh Dobbs emergence in the Alabama game made every Tennessee fan -and probably the vast majority of his teammates- openly wonder “where has this guy been? Honorable Mention-Defensive Line Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett return with their combined 120 tackles; 14.5 tfl and 21 sacks forming one of the best DE tandems in America. Heralded Freshmen Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie will play extensively but Danny O’Brien, Owen Williams and Kendall Vickers will not surrender snaps in the middle easily.

TEXAS A&M-Wide Receiver The Aggies return four 450+yd receivers and the single-season school record holder for TDs. Josh Reynolds (52 catches; 842 yds) reeled in 13 TDs and will be rejoined by Speedy Noil (583 yds; 5 TDs) Ricky Seals-Jones (465-4) and Ed Pope (454-4) Honorable Mention-Quarterback Watching Kenny Hill slice and dice South Carolina in the Aggies opener last season no one could have suspected that it would end bad for Hill and good for then-Freshman Kyle Allen. Allen however took over late in the season for Hill and threw for 1322 yds and 16 TDs including 294-4 in the Liberty Bowl vs West Virginia

VANDERBILT-Linebacker Derek Mason CAN coach defense and he has a linebacking corps to make it work. OLB Stephen Weatherly (55 tackles; 8 tfl; 4.5 sacks) is a legitimate All-SEC candidate and ILBs Derreon Herring (45; 3 tfl) and Nigel Bowden (78 tack; 1 sack) are very capable as well. JUCO transfer Nehemiah Mitchell is the most likely candidate to fill the OLB position opposite Weatherly. Honorable Mention-None

SEC WEAKNESSES: How about major areas of concern?

ALABAMA-WR Amari Cooper is gone along with Bama’s other two 2014 top receivers (DeAndrew White; Christion Jones). Soph Robert Foster and Freshman Calvin Ridley have big-time potential but no resume. Honorable Mention-QB Tide better hope R-Fr David Cornwell or true freshman Blake Barnett can play because I don’t think FSU transfer Jacob Coker can.

ARKANSAS-LB Brooks Ellis is an excellent player but is moving from MLB to OLB in an effort to fill the shoes of the departed Marcus Speight who led the SEC in tackles last season with 128. No other starters return and the depth is inexperienced. Honorable Mention-WR Keon Hatcher is a talented player who won’t get the ball enough because of the Hogs run-happy attack and double-teams he will face unless Soph Jared Cornelius fulfills potential or other vets (Drew Morgan, Cody Hollister) step up their game

AUBURN-DB Jonathan Jones is solid at one CB and Jonathan Ford returns at safety. The problem is the CB opposite Jones is a problem area and the other projected starter at safety-UGA transfer Tray Matthews sat out last season awaiting eligibility. Honorable Mention-RB The Tigers seem to always make it work at the position but after losing workhorses Tre Mason and Cameron Artis-Payne (led SEC in rushing with 1608 yds) there has to be a drop-off right? Javon Robinson (#1 JUCO RB) and Roc Thomas will do their best to see it doesn’t happen.

FLORIDA-OL Fifth-year Sr Trip Thurmond is the only Gator offensive lineman on the roster that has started a game and he missed all of spring practice with an injury. If I didn’t know Derek Dooley was the Cowboy’s Receiver Coach I would swear he was the Gator’s O-Line Recruiting Coordinator Honorable Mention-QB Treon Harris was the hero of the Tennessee game and started 6 others but completed only 40.9% of his passes. Will Grier fits new coach Jim McElwain’s approach much better but his next appearance will be his first.

GEORGIA-DL NT Trent Thompson was considered by many services the #1 recruit in the Nation and he’ll have to play like it to make up for the Dawgs #61 2014 rush defense. There are other solid Freshmen (Jonathan Ledbetter, Chauncey Rivers) but Sterling Bailey appears to be the only stellar upperclassman Honorable Mention-QB Soph Brice Ramsey, Jr Faton Bauta and R-Fr Jacob Park will battle for the starting job. New Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer must feel like he’s back with the Jets.

KENTUCKY-DL The Cats lost monster bookends Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith to the NFL as well as tackle Mike Douglas. The Big Blue will still start three seniors but only Melvin Lewis is the close to the caliber of those they lost. Honorable Mention-LB Kentucky will start two seniors in the middle (Josh Forrest, Ryan Flannigan) and OLB R-Fr Denzil Ware could be the Cats next big-time LB. He better be because Kentucky’s run defense wasn’t good in 2014 and the LB corps was a big reason why.

LSU-QB Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris are quite possibly the worst 1-2 QB corps not only in the SEC but in America. Honorable Mention-WR This is probably unfair since Jennings and Harris would make John Stallworth and Lynn Swann look pedestrian. The fact remains however that the top returning receiver Travin Dural had only 37 catches in 2014

MISSISSIPPI ST. -RB Josh Robinson and his 1500 yards of offense are gone and his probable replacement –Ashton Shumpert- has 1000 less than that in his first two seasons. Honorable Mention-OL LT Justin Senior (who’s really a Junior) is the only returning starter.

MISSOURI WR Projected starters Nate Brown, Wesley Leftwich and J’Mon Moore combined for 10 total catches in 2014 Honorable Mention-DL Markus Golden and Shane Ray combined for 42.5 tfl and 24.5 sacks in 2014 which will be impossible for sophomores Marcus Loud and Charles Harris to duplicate. DT Harold Brantley is solid but is the Tigers’ only returning D-Line starter.

OLE MISS –RB Two RBs transferred after last season conceding the starting job to Sr Jaylen Walton who is only 5’8” 166 lbs. His likely backup is Akeem Judd who while possessing good size (6’0” 220) redshirted after transferring from JUCO which is rarely a good sign. Honorable Mention –LB C.J Johnson moves from outside to MLB in an effort to make up for the departure of D.T Shackleford. The Rebels hope Sr Denzel Nkemdiche is healthy enough to make up for the position switch

SOUTH CAROLINA –QB Connor Mitch (2-6 for 19 yds in 2014) probably won’t make Gamecock fans forget Connor Shaw and his backup is a walk-on, Perry Orth Honorable Mention-DB The Gamecocks would return three starters but since last year’s unit couldn’t cover or tackle only one (CB Chris Lammons) is projected to hold onto his spot.

TENNESSEE-OL Hard to believe that a unit returning every starter would be a weakness. Maybe the combination of a year of playing together, the arrival of Mike DeBord and –hopefully- a full season of Josh Dobbs will make a huge difference. Honorable Mention-LB Since Curt Maggitt is really a D-Lineman that leaves Jaylen Reeves-Maybin as the only truly proven player in the unit.

TEXAS A&M-DB Aggies were 13th in the SEC in Pass Defense (234.8 ypg) and had only 5 interceptions. Their best returning DB is De’Vante Harris which Athlon described as “inconsistent at best”. Honorable Mention-LB A&M was even worse against the run (14th-216 ypg) and their LB corps was a big reason why. Sophomores Otaro Alaka and Josh Walker are the Aggies best backers and they are both slowly recovering from injuries.

VANDERBILT-Too many candidates to choose from

ALL-NAME AND GAME TEAM: It’s an easy task to put together an All-Name Team heck in the SEC you could fill it with LSU Tigers. But what if performance was a requirement as well? Now that IS a challenge but not one that I cower from. So without further adieux here is my inaugural All Name + Game Team

Offense

QB-Dak Prescott (Miss St): Not only did Prescott lead the –MISSISSIPPI STATE not Georgia- Bulldogs to five weeks at #1 in the land, he is the best returning QB in the league and is recognizable by his first name only

RB-Nick Chubb (Georgia): I’m guessing Bulldog fans –GEORGIA this time- get a little bit of one watching him steamroll defenders.

RB-Jovon Robinson (Auburn): The #1 JUCO prospect in America has the size and speed to be Auburn’s next big-time back. Not to mention the fact that when he breaks away Tiger fans can shout “JO-VON is GONE

WR Pharoh Cooper (S Car): The Vols couldn’t stop anyone named Cooper last season let alone one with such a magnificent first name

WR DeRunnya Wilson (Miss St): DeRunnya will OutRunnya

TE Steven Scheu (Vandy): A last name that is the perfect description of Vandy Football

RT-Justin Senior (Miss St): Got to have Seniors on the O-Line

RG-Will Sport (S Car) Self expanatory

C-Mitch Smothers (Arkansas) Exactly what you want your center to do to the guy across the line.

LG-Trip Thurman (Florida) Leave it to the Gators to have a guy whose name is illegal

LT-Jordan Swindle (Kentucky) See above

Defense

DE Caleb Azubike (Vandy) I felt bad about giving Vandy so little attention in this blog edition

DT Hardreck Walker (Texas A&M) Probably what he feels like every Sunday morning

DT Davon Godchaux (Exactly who you think) That’s “du-Vahn God-chaw” to you. He should sign a marketing deal with Copenhagen as soon as his college career ends

DE Marquis Haynes (Ole Miss) He should play hoops for the Rebels as well

LB Carl Lawson (Auburn) What parent in their right mind this day and time pins a strange name like that on their child?

LB Cassanova McKenzie (Auburn) Now that’s more like it

LB Skai Moore (S Car) Gamecock fans are hoping Moore lives up to his name and actually knocks a pass down this season

LB Curt Maggitt (Tenn) Love “too Maggitt to quit”.

DB Tre’Davious White (LSU) We needed at least one guy with double-digit letters in his first name.

DB Cam Sutton (Tenn) Nothing unusual about Cam’s name. I just think he deserves to be on more teams than he’s been named to this preseason.

DB Rohan Gaines (Arkansas) A DB named Gaines should be playing in A&M’s secondary

DB Geno Smith (Alabama) Wasn’t making enough money for the Jets so he came to Alabama

HOT-HEAD BALL COACH: I think anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I love me some Steve Spurrier…and have his entire career with the exception of one fall Saturday per year. His impromptu press conference held Wednesday however has me a bit conflicted. On one hand it illustrates that the ultra-competitive Spurrier is still as fiery and driven as ever regardless of the birthdate on his driver’s license and as usual was thoroughly entertaining. On the other hand he exhibited some flaws that I have come to despise common to many in his profession. Mainly taking hisself too seriously AND expecting the local media to be card-carrying booster club members. The Spurrier I watched in the video far too closely resembled Nick Saban than the Head Ball Coach I admire and enjoy. And his disapproval of The State running a critical column authored by Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Constitution is a misguided, archaic outlook of what a publication’s responsibilities are concerning informing the local fanbase. He also in trying so hard to debunk the notion that he is rapidly reaching retirement age came across as the very crotchety, get off my lawn, Geezer that his competitors are painting him as. He even went so far as to publicly respond to the taunts of a rival’s sophomore –and sophomoric – QB (Clemson’s DeShaun Watson).

The good thing is it will make for great entertainment when the Gamecocks visit Georgia (Sept 19) and when Clemson comes to Williams-Brice (Nov 28). The bad thing is -though I will miss him greatly- he is rapidly morphing into a southern Joe Paterno who needs to get the heck off the stage.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to see the video here it is; judge for yourself: SPURRIER RANT

Oh by the way Steve as long as we’re getting red as a cedar stump STOP It with the “our 7-6 was just as good as other’s 7-6” WE BEAT YOUR ASS, that makes our 7-6 better than your 7-6

IN A PERFECT WORLD: Spurrier would still be young and more of today's coaches would be like him when he was.


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