The SEC Preview
-West-
1. LSU Tigers: JaMarcus Russell is gone, but the Tigers are still loaded for whoever becomes his successor at quarterback, either Matt Flynn or Ryan Perrilloux. The two may share time, but with WR Early Doucet running routes and the defense returning as one of the stingiest in the country, there won't be much pressure on the quarterbacks. Question marks will be at the running back position, where no one seemed to stand out a year ago, and at safety, where LaRon Landry is gone to the NFL and they'll have two new starters. LSU is still a favorite for the BCS title game.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: New head coach Nick Saban comes in from the Dolphins with a 91-42 career record as a college coach. He'll have some time to develop returning junior QB John Parker Wilson, with senior WRs Keith Brown and DJ Hall also returning. Ironically named RB Jimmy Johns will get a crack at the ground game, with a decent line in front of him, though they have some issues pass blocking. Only five starters return on the defense, but Saban should whip that unit into shape quickly.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks: The pre-season front runner for the Heisman, and easily the best running back in the country, Darren McFadden, teams with All-American Felix Jones to strike fear into SEC defensive coordinators. The offensive line is fantastic as well, with the passing game returning QB Casey Dick and WR Marcus Monk. The D lost a lot of talent to the NFL and graduation, and returns only three starters. This will be one of the biggest variables in the conference, as it means the difference in Arkansas' chances this season.
4. Auburn Tigers: Just 12 starters return, scattered across every unit on the team. QB Brandon Cox is back to play with some new talent in the backfield. The problem for both the running game and the passing game is that only LT King Dunlap comes back on the O line. No single unit on the club is without question marks, which should make for a rough season in the nation's best conference.
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Sixteen starters return to a team that went just 3-9 last season, 1-7 in conference. Most of those starters come back on offense, where the Bulldogs should be able to run the football with RB Anthony Dixon. Overall there's just too much inexperience and too many changes on defense for this team to compete.
6. Ole Miss Running Rebels: Starting RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis returns as one of 17 starters coming back, but 2006 starting QB Brent Schaeffer appears to have lost his job to Seth Adams. The O line should be fine, with three starters returning. The problems will be on the defense, where the loss of all three linebackers, including MLB Patrick Willis to the NFL, leads to an all new unit. The D line should be fine, but the back seven will have problems.
-East-
1. Florida Gators: The national champs lost a ton of talent to graduation and the NFL, with just eight starters returning, but they're still Florida, and Urban Meyer is still running the show. A major plus for the champs is that they lost only one starter on the offensive line. WRs Percy Harvin and Andre Caldwell return to help out new starting QB Tim Tebow, who should bring the offense an entirely new, tougher identity. Just two starters return on defense, where there is very little experience on the line and all new starters at linebacker.
2. Tennessee Volunteers: The Vols have been inconsistent in recent years, going 9-4 last season, but look to return to prominence in 2007. QB Erik Ainge is finally a senior, though it seems like he's been around forever, and should be the conference's best quarterback a year after setting the school record for completion percentage. His receiving targets are uncertain, but there's talent at the position. There's a ton of depth on D, especially at linebacker, but the Vols need to find a way to get to the quarterback. They may try going to a 3-4 scheme.
3. Georgia Bulldogs: Only twelve starters return for the Bulldogs, but one of them is QB Matthew Stafford. There's depth at running back, behind Kregg Lumpkin, but the offensive line will have three new starters. Despite only four experienced starters on defense, there's a lot of talent on every level. The Bulldogs should be pretty locked in to 3rd in the East.
4. South Carolina Gamecocks: The strength of the team will be the defense, with nine starters coming back. Three linebackers come back, but the D line is loaded with new talent. Senior QB Blake Mitchell takes over as the starter and has the talent to be a quality signal caller, with plenty of weapons at the skill positions. After going 8-5 last season the Gamecocks have high expectations, but the O line will need to be solidified for that to come to fruition.
5. Kentucky Wildcats: Seventeen starters return to one of the conferences annual doormats, with senior QB Andre Woodson one of them. Most units remain intact, with plenty of talent at the skill positions. The Wildcats should be able to put up plenty of points, but depth and holding their ground in the trenches will be pitfalls.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores: The Commodores return 18 starters after going 1-7 in conference in '06, though the offense was decent behind QB Chris Nickson. A major positive is the return of the entire offensive line for the junior quarterback. The defense was decent last season, but gave up too many big pass plays. Vanderbilt will not be a disgrace, but has little chance of making its way out of the cellar.
-AB
Read up on the other conferences that Ace has previewed!
