Before all of you folks in other parts of the country (and world) start screaming, over-rated and that I'm full of a certain bodily function, think a little bit about what we are saying. I know you can say "Big Ten" or "Pac Ten" or any of the other power conferences, but when "push" comes to "shove" (or some other reasonable cliche'), there really isn't any argument about what is the toughest conference. And within that conference lies the most difficult division out there.
Predictions...
Georgia Bulldogs- Yeah, that is right, we'll go ahead and say it here. Yes, I do cover them with some frequency. I know that the schedule is pretty tough. If you look at this team, from top to bottom, it is the deepest team, this year in the NCAA ((UGA pictured, thanks georgiadogs.com)).
Offense- The offense pretty much starts and stops with QB Matthew Stafford. Yes, I know that Knowshon Moreno is getting all of the love right now, and to some extent he deserves it. But, if the Dawgs lost Moreno, they still may survive, losing Stafford would be the end of the season for them. Stafford was quoted already this season as saying "This is my team, I'm going to lead them".
The loss of OT Trinton Sturdivant will hurt, but there is a lot of depth on the line to replace him. Expect either Kiante Tripp or Josh Davis to step right in.
The receivers were already going to be pretty good, adding Freshman Phenoms A.J Green and Tavarres King makes them even deeper.
Defense- Again, depth rules for this bunch. As good as the "O" should be, the "D" will carry these guys. With Tackle Jeff Owens leading the way, the Dawgs expect to rotate 8-9 D-Lineman through each game. That kind of depth will wear many opponents out.
LB's Dannell Ellerbee and Rennie Curran and CB Asher Allen lead an experienced and fast group of backs that at least at the corner spot go 6 deep.
Outlook- These guys will be good. Really good. It will be tough living up to the preseason hype, but they have the depth to do it. Don't expect them to be perfect with the schedule they play however. (Prediction: 11-1 overall, 1st in the SEC East)
Florida Gators- As always, this will be a very good and very dangerous team. They had a tough 2007 campaign, but they will be better this year. They should be a little better rounded and that should translate to more success. Don't buy into the SEC Media Days poll however, they aren't "that" good.
Offense- The "O" is all about the Tebow ((Pictured, thanks gatorzone.com)), everything is. However for these guys to be successful, someone else needs to step up. Percy Harvin is good, but injury prone and several reports have surfaced saying some things are starting to go to his head. With the speed of a Chris Rainey and running of Emmanuel Moody, this "should" be a more diverse offense in 2008. In order to live up to expectations, they will have to be. Last years beating that Tebow took, exposed the one weekness the Gators have.
Defense- The Gator "D" took a lot of heat last season, and well, it should have. They gave up a lot of points to a lot of teams. Yes, they were young last season and yes, they will improve. The question is "how much?". The other SEC teams are pretty damn good on "D" and can win if there "O" is not playing well. I'm not so sure about Florida.
Outlook- These guys will always be dangerous. They will contend for the SEC East title and they more than likely will be in a New Years Day Bowl...or better. Losing Cornelius Ingram will not help, but there are players capable of taking over his role. The Gators seem already focused on Georgia, they need worry about the games before that one.(Prediction: 10-2, 2nd in the SEC East)
Tennessee Volunteers- These guys are always very hard to predict. On the surface they should take a step back with a new offensive coordinator, Dave Clawson, a new QB Jonathan Crompton and several new faces on defense. But don't be surprised if the Fulmer keeps them competitive. The key game for these guys comes early, a date in September with Florida.
Offense- We should find out early how well the Vowels adapt to Clawson's offense. With former coordinator David Cutcliffe, you had a pretty good idea of what you were going to get, but like several teams in the SEC, the Vowels are going to a form of the spread ((the new tight end is pictured, thanks knoxnews.com)).
Crompton has some experience as Eric Ainge's backup the past 2 seasons. When called upon he has performed pretty well, don't expect a huge dropoff here. Arian Foster has experience and talent and the O-Line is always strong with these guys.
Defense- The Vol "D" is spearheaded by perhaps the best athlete and possibly the best player in all the land, Eric Berry. Berry plays safety, but expect to see him all over the field this season. Returning punts and occasionally on Offense, this is someone to keep your eyes on in 2008.
Jerrod Mayo is gone and the linebackers are somewhat inexperienced, the question mark this year will be how good the defense is.
Outlook- These guys will be competitive, they always are. Expect them to struggle a bit early and get stronger as the year goes. There is too much talent here for a down season, but they are stuck in a division with Georgia and Florida. (Prediction 9-3, 3rd in the SEC East)
South Carolina Gamecocks- I'm not sold on these guys, though many say they will be the surprise team in the SEC. I don't buy it. They are lacking in several areas and as much as they'd like to be one of the big boys, they are South Carolina and there is a reason they haven't won the SEC in several decades.
Offense- The first question mark is who is going to be the QB. Tommy Beecher appears to have won the battle, for now, but there isn't much behind him. Yes, I know that the Ball Coach is allegedly a QB genius, but even a genius needs some talent to work with. You can get the most out of a Danny Wuerrfel when you have a deep Florida team around him, The Cocks (i said cock), well, they don't have that as an option. Possibly the most talented QB, Stephen Garcia, spent more time in trouble with the law than practicing this offseason and may never play ((pictured is Mike Davis, thanks to thestate.com)).
Defense- The Cocks (i said cock, again), will be a strong defensive team. Any team with a Linebacker like Jasper Brinkley should be. Brinkley is a beast. He is talented and athletic and has a bit of a mean streak. He alone makes this a stout unit and will keep S.C in most games.
Outlook- After last years collapse from 6-1 and in the Top 10 to 6-6 and no bowl, one can draw the conclusion that this team is just plain cursed. I don't totally believe that, but as usual they play in a conference where you just can't be decent, you've got to be great every week. They may make a bowl game, but it will be in December. (Prediction 7-5, 4th in the SEC East)
Kentucky Wildcats- Another team that should be better than they will be. Last season was a bit of an abberation, don't expect them to do that this year. Not because of talent or coaching, but they are very, very young.
Offense- Despite losing Andre Woodson, they should still be a very good offensive team. Rafael Little is back along with most of the receiving corps. The line didn't suffer many losses, though they could stand getting a little stronger, Woodson got killed last season. The unit will make some plays and be a tough out, but with big question marks at QB, don't expect them to be as scary as 2007 ((UK's new QB is pictured, thanks kentucky.com)).
Defense- This is where we get young. So young in fact, I'm not really sure who to talk about here. This was not a "Strong Suit" of last years team and it probably will not be this year either. Coach Rich Brooks is a Defensive guy so don't expect them to be embarrassingly bad, but don't expect them to carry things either. They will live and die with the "O".
Outlook- A rebuilding year in Lexington. Unfortunately, this is not a traditional power and the 'Cats are not able to be strong on a consistent basis. Down years generally follow good ones and 2007 wasn't bad. Don't look for 2008 to be a repeat. (Prediction 5-7, 5th in the SEC East)
Vanderbilt Commodores- You really want the 'Dores to be a force one year, just once to see them in Atlanta in December, what a great story that would be. That being said, don't expect it any time soon. This team is always competitive thanks to a very talented coach, Bobby Johnson. But they don't have the horses to run with everyone else over the course of a season ((the O-Line is pictured, thanks the tennessean.com)).
Offense- On "O" the 'Dores aren't bad. Mackenzie Adams and Chris Nickson were a QB tandem last season, both good QB's and usually one was good when the other wasn't. There is some hope there. After that, the loss of Earl Bennett hurts the WR corps and there isn't much experience or depth on the "O" line.
Defense- Vandy has traditionally turned out quite a few Linebackers to the NFL, however I don't know if that tradition will continue. They are lacking again in experience, the roster dotted with Freshmen and Sophomores. The good thing is in another year or 2, they will be very good, this year however they will be very young. Don't expect much.
Outlook- Don't expect much here, they will struggle. Coach Johnson will keep them competitive but they don't have the horses to run with the other guys in the conference. Looking at the roster, the future is bright, but the future will not be 2008. (Prediction 3-9, 6th in the SEC East)
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