OK….This is not solely my opinion. Nor is it the opinion of a single sports writer. This is a stew, if you will, of no less than four media sources who are attending SEC Media Days, conversing with other writers for the general media consensus mixed with the final edit/commentary of the OBG.
Five guys under pressure
1. Mark Richt — He’s been on and off the hot seat over the past few years. He’s back on it now after last year’s disappointing 6-7 season that ended with an embarrassing 10-6 loss to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl . The ‘Dogs need a big-time turnaround season, or Richt is in deep trouble.
2. Gene Chizik — After coaching Auburn to the national title last season, the expectations are way up there now for AU football. But will the Tigers be able to contend again (even in the SEC race) without Cameron Newton and Nick Fairly?
3. Jordan Jefferson — Many are predicting the Tigers will win the SEC and move on to become the league’s next national champion. A lot of those glowing predictions are based on the belief that Jefferson is a much-improved quarterback. If he falters, LSU’s title hopes could go down the drain.
4. A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims — The Tide is loaded with talent and expected to be a major player in the SEC and national championship races. But one of the question marks is quarterback, where a new starter takes over. Whoever the new guy turns out to be, the pressure is on to effectively manage the offense.
5. John Brantley — After his dismal debut as Florida’s starting quarterback last season, the fifth-year senior has a second chance to find his groove under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who has worked wonders with QBs wherever he’s been. If Weis can’t fix Brantley, maybe it can’t be done.
SEC predictions
West
Writers seem to be fairly evenly split on the top two in this division yet consistent in the bottom four.
1. Alabama/LSU
2. Alabama/LSU
3. Arkansas
4. Auburn
5. Mississippi State
6. Ole Miss
Personally I do not see the Hawgs ending up 3rd. Despite having a pretty good stable of receivers returning (four on preseason watch lists) and a strong, durable running back in Knile Davis returning, there are big holes to fill up front, offensively. Arkansas is having to deal with the departure of three offensive linemen, including both starting tackles. The team also will be without tackle Anthony Oden, whom Petrino dismissed from the team last week after his second arrest in a year.
Oden, the younger brother of NBA player Greg Oden, was listed as a possible first-team tackle on the Razorbacks’ spring depth chart. He was charged with driving while intoxicated for the second time in the last year and also faces charges for possession of a controlled substance. Petrino said Monday that the latest arrest left him no choice but to dismiss Oden, though the coach said it was a difficult decision.
“That’s one thing you never like to do as a coach,” Petrino said. “I always believe in second chances, some guys third chances. We just got to a situation where there were no more chances. It’s hard on everybody. I tell the players all the time is ‘One lose, we all lose.’
“So we all took a hit on that. We wish him well and hope he has success wherever he ends up going, but we really had to move on and go in a different direction.”
Oden’s departure raises questions about Arkansas’ offense that otherwise appears primed to build on the 36.5 points it averaged last season. It also follows the unexpected transfer of another lineman, Seth Oxner, during the offseason.
I predict that Miss. State will trip up either Auburn, Arkansas or both and reshuffle that 3rd, 4th, and 5th slot in the west.
East
More of a wider open grab bag as to what the writers see. Here’s one school of thought;
1. Georgia
2. South Carolina
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
The other:
1. South Carolina
2. Florida
3. Georgia
4. Kentucky
5. Tennessee
6. Vanderbilt
The OBG take?….I will predict USCe to take the East, with a hugely unknown offensive product at Florida, a Georgia battling deep losses at RB, Unknown ability for Joker Phillips to press further at Ky., and the unknown as to how well Tyler Bray can mature and lead a, relatively speaking, young but talented Tennessee, making the middle a real grab bag, preseason. The certainty only being poor Vandy sucking hind **bleep**….again.
Preseason coach of the year
Mark Richt has the perfect quarterback (Aaron Murray) to run his offense at Georgia and the Bulldogs’ overall high talent level will come into play this season, especially on defense. Richt and the ‘Dogs are overdue for a big season — and this is the year it happens.
Steve Spurrier has won this honor before and he has the weapons to do it again. Spurrier has done a wonderful job at something he had a reputation for not caring about — recruiting. The Gamecocks are the most talented team in the East.
Preseason player of the year
South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is going to follow his super freshman season with an even better sophomore season. This special player is obviously driven to greatness. In the offseason, he made himself bigger, stronger and faster. Watch out.
There’s a reason why some picked Trent Richardson as the best player in the league. Actually there are a lot of them. He’s going to get a ton of carries behind a great wall of blockers and the Tide will be a run-first offense.
NEWBIES
Steve Shaw: Bobby Gaston was transparent when he was supervisor of officials for the conference. Rogers Reddding was tight-lipped. Let’s see how the new boss handles controversial calls.
Charlie Weis: So much was made of his hiring and he will be a lightning rod for opinions. Weis shouldn’t be judged for what he does in his first year, but he will be. Can he revive John Brantey?
Isaiah Crowell: A lot of hype came his way during the offseason and then Georgia running backs began dropping like summer raindrops. Let’s face it — Georgia will only go as far as this five-star back can take them.
Steve Kragthorpe: If LSU has a good offense, there is no reason why the Tigers can’t win the national title. Enter Kragthorpe, who was a train wreck at Louisville but has a brilliant offensive mind. Let’s see what Les Miles let’s him do.
OBG Comment: I saw a mundane offense as one of the big let-downs at Louisville when Krapthorpe was HC there. Of course, following Petrino’s fireworks show, there, that might not have been so unexpected, but I have little faith in Krapthorpe.
James Franklin: It seems like an impossible task to win at Vandy, but Franklin is already making some noise in recruiting. Winning four or five games would be quite an accomplishment in his first year.
PUNT, PASS OR COACH
Ranking the SEC coaches based on their college playing careers:
1. Steve Spurrier: Won the Heisman Trophy (and coached a Heisman winner, The only person to EVER do that.) End of discussion.
2. Joker Phillips: Had 75 catches and nine touchdowns as a Kentucky receiver.
3. Les Miles: Standout offensive lineman for Michigan.
4. Will Muschamp: Went from walk-on to a starter at Georgia.
5. James Franklin: Set seven school records as a quarterback at East Stroudsburg.
6. Dan Mullen: All-conference tight end at Ursinus.
7. Bobby Petrino: Played quarterback at Carroll College.
8. Mark Richt: Mostly a backup quarterback at Miami.
9. Nick Saban: Undersized defensive back at Kent State.
10. Derek Dooley: Went to Virginia as a walk-on receiver and earned a scholarship.
11. Houston Nutt: Coaching change at Arkansas pushed him to Oklahoma State.
12. Gene Chizik: Practice fodder at Florida.