Bleacher Report - Articles by Tyler Carr

Breaking Down Tennessee's Schedule

Tyler Carr — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:10:05 -0400

Game by game match ups that The Vols must win if they want to be successful. I go through every game and show you the most important match up that The Vols must win to be successful. By no means will this produce victories. But this will show case a game plan that will help the cause. Please comment on the match ups and let me know what you think. i will try and comment you back when I can. Also keep on the look out as I am working on a SEC slide show talking about the strenghts and weaknesses of every team in the SEC, Where champions are made. Year after year.

Begin Slideshow

Georgia Football 2009, Where Do We Turn Now?

Tyler Carr — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:02:14 -0400

What defines a good college football program? Is it national championships, is it Heisman trophy winners, or is it the ability to constantly replace great players with other great players? Well, Mark Richt has a good program at Georgia. However, this season will test Richt and the Bulldogs like never before.

Matthew Stafford was the solution to a team that had two previous All-SEC quarterbacks in David Greene and D.J. Shockley. Joe Cox steps in to a position where everyone has doubts about what will happen in Athens. While sitting behind Stafford, Cox has had few meaningful snaps, but he is a smart leader who will not let the offense beat itself. Behind Cox is freshman Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberg, and Logan Gray. Cox will get the first chance with Murray looking to step in at any time. History is with Cox as Shockley stepped in as a fifth-year senior and led the Dogs to a great year and the 2005 SEC Championship.

Caleb King has huge shoes to fill by taking the place of Knowshon Moreno. King was expected to be the next big thing in Athens, but the shadow cast by Moreno has the Dogs running game look like it is sitting still. Richard Samuel, Carlton Thomas, and Dontavius Jackson look to help Richt replace the explosive running game that the Bulldog faithful are used to.

The blasting cap of Georgia’s offense lies within the hands of A.J. Green. The sophomore took the SEC by storm last season leading the team with 963 yards and eight touchdowns. Michael Moore and Tavarres King look to help the receiving corps relive the pressure of the need for big plays. Look for a new tight end try and expand the legacy of great tight ends at Georgia with Aron White.

The O-line returns four starters with Clint Boling, Justin Anderson, Ben Jones, and Cody Glenn paving the way. However, the Dogs have to find a new left tackle to protect the blindside and secure trust within the offense. Trinton Sturdivant has taken the role so far and looks to live up to the hype of the Dogs history.

The defensive line brings back two tackles that have a lot to prove. Jeff Owens was lost in the season opener last season and looks poised for a break out year in the SEC. Geno Atkins is the other tackle that lost a step during his junior year. Roderick Battle, Demarcus Dobbs, Kiante Tripp, and Justin Houston look to secure the outside from the end spots.

The linebacking corps is solid led by Rennie Curran. Curran is undersized, but that does not stop him from making plays and leading the defense. Akeem Dent returns in the middle and will be flanked by Darryl Gamble. Dent and gamble are promising talent, but have not shown the consistent play-making abilities to conquer the SEC.

Reshad Jones is a game-changing safety. He led the Dogs with five interceptions and is a force in the running game as well. Bryan Evans and John Knox are battling for the free safety position. Prince Miller and Brandon Boykin are the starters at corner but heat is coming from Sanders Commings and Vance Cuff.

The Bulldogs start off the season at Oklahoma State. They also travel to Arkansas, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and the season-ending game at Georgia Tech. Sanford Stadium welcomes South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Tennessee Tech, Auburn, and Kentucky. They also have the annual showdown with Florida in Jacksonville.

The Dogs are a good team, however I am not sold on the play at quarterback yet. I am impressed with A.J. Green. The defense is good but the schedule is grueling. The Bulldogs go 7-5.

Florida Gators, New Year, New Team, Same Goal

Tyler Carr — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:06:36 -0400

“Attitude reflects leadership, Captain.”

If that saying is true, then Urban Meyer’s 2009 Florida Gators team is destined to be great. The Gators return 18 starters from a team that win the BCS National Championship in 2008. Meyer has built a dynasty during his tenure in Gainesville. Two national championships in three years and a Heisman Trophy winner, and the Gators are on the brink of achieving greatness.

It all begins with the man who makes Meyer’s offensive scheme work, Tim Tebow. The 2007 Heisman winner decided to come back to Gainesville in search of another championship and post season awards. Tebow leads the Gators in both the passing and running attacks. As successful as that has made Tebow is has brought him many concerns from fans. Questions about his endurance and abilities have risen more than ever. Look for sophomore John Brantley to get some work in clean up duty to ensure that Florida’s future is in good hands. Look for new quarterback coach, Scot Loeffler to put Tebow under center and develop a whole new wrinkle in the offense.

With Loeffler bringing new ideas to the wide open attack look for the running game to take a whole new look. Look for three faces to lead the Gators throughout the season. Emmanuel Moody, Jeff Demps, and Chris Rainey are poised to unleash a running attack that has yet to be seen by the rest of the SEC. Demps and Rainey are the speed guys that are a threat from anywhere on the field while Moody is a do everything back that has a huge upside. The former Southern California player looks to escape the shadow that was cast out on the West Coast.

For the first time during Meyer’s time at Florida he is lacking the big game receiver that has graced the swamp for numerous years. The biggest receiving threat now is tight end Aaron Hernandez. The numerous receivers that will line up for The Gators will vary but they will include riley Cooper, David Nelson, Deonte Thompson, and Carl Moore.

The O-line will be some big aggressive players. Brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey will play at guard and center. These boys are interchangeable at these positions. Marcus Gilbert and Carl Johnson will line up at tackles. Look for James Wilson and Sam Robey to fill in until Meyer gets the unit he feels comfortable with.

Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships. If that old saying is true then the Gators are looking good going into the season. It all begins with linebacker, Brandon Spikes. Spikes in the cornerstone of a defense that returns all of the major components of a stellar defense. Spikes lead the team with 93 tackles and are capable of single handily changing a game. Helping Spikes at linebacker will be Dustin Doe, A.J. Jones, Ryan Stamper, and Brandon Hicks.

The D-Line in front of the linebackers is dangerous enough that any team that advances to the second level is lucky. The ends are Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap. Cunningham replaced Derrick Harvey and has not disappointed. He registered six sacks and looks to have a successful senior campaign. Dunlap is a big end at 6-6 and 290 pounds. If he plays motivated, Dunlap can be the most disruptive force in the SEC. The tackles will be Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders. The tackles will not receive much hype due to the impressive ability at end, but they will play a big factor during the season.

The defensive backfield is as impressive as you can find at any BCS school. Joe Haden, Janoris Jenkins, and Wondy Pierre-Louis will line up at corner. Haden is an incredible athlete that will be a huge factor in pass defense. The free safety position will be between Major Wright and Will Hill. Wright is a punishing hitter that is a terror in the open field. Look for Meyer to rotate the backs so he can get Hill on the field. Ahmad Black will roam the field at strong safety and looks to increase his interception total from last season.

The Swamp opens up for Charleston Southern, Troy, Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, FIU, and the season finale against Florida State. The Gators have to travel to face Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, and South Carolina. They will face Georgia in Jacksonville as well.

The Gators have too much talent to not win. The only thing that worries me about the Gators is how much they will miss Percy Harvin. With so many starters returning from last season the Gators look experienced and prepared for the big game situations they will face. They Gators end the regular season 12-0.

Auburn Tigers Football Enters a New Era in 2009

Tyler Carr — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:51:28 -0400

The Tommy Tuberville era ended with a foul taste, as the Tigers had a losing season. Last year Tuberville tried to run a spread offense but scrapped that plan midway through the season and went back to a more traditional offense.

New head coach Gene Chizik will attempt to bring the spread to the Plains once again.

The offense will run through the hands of quarterback Kodi Burns. Meanwhile, Chris Todd and Neil Caudle pressed Burns for playing time during spring practice. Burns is the best-suited guy to play in the spread system.

The available receivers for the fall are limited with Montez Billings the only returning starter. Terrell Zachery, Tim Hawthorne, and Darvin Adams are battling to show the new coaching staff that they deserve to play on Saturday.

The biggest playmaker for the Tigers will be H-back Mario Fannin. Fannin is a threat no matter how he gets the ball. He can run, pass, and catch.

Behind Fannin is Tommy Trott, a converted tight end who is a talented ball player.

The O-line looks to be a group of big boys, looking to push opposing teams around. Ryan Pugh will be the center with Mike Berry and Byron Isom lining up at guards. The guys protecting the outside at tackles will be Andrew McClain and Lee Ziemba.

The defensive backfield looks to be the strongest part of Auburn this year. After losing Jerraud Powers to the NFL Draft, the Tigers still return three starters.

The leader of the defense is free safety Zac Etheridge. Strong safety Mike McNeil and cornerback Walter McFadden also return. McFadden is a lockdown corner who will slow down any opposing passing game.

Neiko Thorpe and Aairon Savage are looking to claim the other corner spot, and either one of those players will be a great compliment to the rest of the defense.

The Tigers have one of the best ends in the country. Antonio Coleman led the team in sacks a year ago with six. Across the line, Michael Goggans will return at the other end spot.

The Tigers have new defensive tackles as Jake Ricks and Mike Blanc look to replace Sen'Derrick Marks and Tez Doolittle. The linebacking corps is moving over without Tray Blackmon. Juniors Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes will flank the outside, and sophomore Eltoro Freeman will claim the middle.

The Tigers will play Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Ball State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Furman, and Alabama on the plains. However, Coach Chizik will lead his team into Neyland Stadium to face Tennessee, and they will also travel to Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia.

The Tigers have a lot of talent. However, I have some major issues with the offensive philosophies and the ability of quarterback play.

I think they have two of the best offensive threats in Ben Tate and Mario Fannin. On defense the defensive backs will lead a defensive that should be very aggressive to make up for the lackluster effort of the offense.

The Tigers will finish the 2009 season 6-6.

2009 Arkansas Razorbacks

Tyler Carr — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:16:10 -0400

Houston Nutt left big shoes to fill in Fayetteville. Then in steps Bobby Petrino, and the suddenly things don’t look so bad.

So what, that the Razorbacks only mustered a 5-7 season, Petrino did something that Nutt, could not do: turn Casey Dick into a legitimate quarterback.

However this year the Hogs have a stud quarterback in former Michigan player Ryan Mallett. Mallett is 6-foot-7 and has a cannon for an arm.

The main target for Mallett will be tight end D.J. Williams. Williams caught 61 passes for 723 yards last season.

Williams will be the safety valve while Joe Adams, London Crawford, and Jarius Wright look to expand the Hogs offense.

Senior Lucas Miller looks to fit into the rotation at some point after tearing his ACL against LSU.

The biggest threat is running back Michael Smith. He topped the 1,000-yard mark last season and has some great abilities in the open field.

Smith is not the dominant back that Arkansas grew accustomed to with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. The smaller back is quick as lighting and is hard to grasp in space.

Dennis Johnson and De’Anthony Curtis put in quality time during the spring, as Smith was out after surgery. Look for the running game to still be a strong point as Mallett learns how potent the Petrino offense is.

The O-line is lacking one of the most heralded linemen in SEC history, Jonathan Luigs. Former guard Wade Grayson is taking over for the departed award winner.

Both tackles, Ray Dominguez and DeMarcus Love, return to secure the outside. Meanwhile, Seth Oxner and Mitch Petrus look to hold down the guard spots.

The entire front seven returns to Reynolds Razorback Stadium, from last season. Defensive ends Jake Bequette and Adrian Davis will wreak havoc on opposing teams. Malcolm Sheppard is free to roam for the Razorbacks in the interior D-line.

Zach Stadther is the other tackle and looks to cash in on the opportunities that will arise due to the attention Sheppard will draw.

Linebackers Freddy Burton, Wendel Davis, and Jerry Franklin look to lead the Hogs in defense. Davis received lots of attention from the coaching staff after a strong spring practice.

Franklin is aggressive getting to the ball. The Backs are lead by corners Isaac Madison and Ramon Broadway. The X-factor will be Jerell Norton. Strong safety, Jerico Nelson looks to be an enforcer across the field.

The free safety position is up for grabs between Matt Harris, Tramain Thomas, and Elton Ford. Ford is still questionable after a serious neck injury last season.

Reynolds Razorback Stadium hosts Georgia, Auburn, Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, and Troy.

The Razorbacks will have three neutral site games. They will face Missouri State and Mississippi State in Little Rock. They will also travel to Arlington to face the Texas A&M Aggies.

With a new quarterback in Petrino’s system, I don’t think that there is a wide receiver that is capable of being the game breaker that is needed in the SEC.

The Hogs will be improved and some young talent will get an opportunity to play early. The Razorbacks finish no better than 5-7.

Alabama Football 2009

Tyler Carr — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:18:13 -0400

Nick Saban has now etched his name into the Alabama football record books. After a 12-0 start last season, his team lost momentum, falling in the SEC Title game and the Sugar Bowl to Utah.

The Crimson Tide also lost several key players, who were key cogs in the return of Alabama football to the national scene.

Saban’s defense will have a slight change—Rashad Johnson will no longer be a safety net for the Tide. In his place sophomore Robby Green stepped up in spring practice.

Strong safety Justin Woodall will lead the veteran group as he is a great enforcer in the run game. Cornerbacks Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson look to pressure opposing teams into mistakes.

With the mastermind of Nick Saban leading the way, his 3-4 scheme will wreak havoc throughout the SEC. Saban returns all four of his linebackers from a year ago.

Cory Reamer and Brandon Fanney look to lead the rush from their outside backer spots. The two seniors are supported by All SEC Rolando McClain and Dont’a Hightower.

McClain is the pet project for Saban. Hightower will get a look at defensive end in passing situations, as well as the outside rush of Fanney and reamer.

The defensive line returns one of the best prospects in the SEC in nose guard, Terrence Cody. Cody is a massive guy who perfectly fits the middle man in the 3-4 defense. He will be joined by ends Brandon Deaderick and Lorenzo Washington.

Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will play tricks with offensive coordinators this year. The 3-4 scheme will keep them guessing where the pressure will come from. Look for the defense to carry the Tide as far as they can go.

The Tide’s offense lost a lot after their 12-2 year, and the bright spot returns in 6' 4" receiver, Julio Jones. Jones caught 58 passes for 924 yards. Mike McCoy, Marquis Maze, and Darius Hanks look to contribute to the passing game and the first year starter at quarterback.

Saban will start a new quarterback for the first time during his tenure in Tuscaloosa. Junior Greg McElroy was impressive during the spring. McElroy is the perfect QB in Saban’s mind. He does not make mistakes and keeps the offense in the road.

He is being pushed by sophomore Thomas Darrah. Also look for Star Jackson sometime in the future for Saban. Jackson ran the spread in high school and it will take some time for him to adjust to the pro style offense for the Tide.

Mark Ingram looks to regain the form he had as a freshman. He rushed for 12 touchdowns then, and if he gains that number again, looks to be the most productive back.

The offensive line that paves the way for Ingram is a mixture of new faces and returning veterans. Guard Mike Johnson and tackle Drew Davis look to lead this group to better results than the last time they took the field against Utah. Johnson is a multi-purpose lineman, who filled in for Andre Smith last season.

The Tide’s season will play itself out in Week One. The defending SEC West Champs will face Virginia Tech in the Georgia Dome. That will set the tone for both teams and will shake up the top 10.

Bryant-Denny Stadium hosts Florida International, North Texas, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Chattanooga. The Tide must travel to Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and end the year playing the Iron Bowl on The Plains, in Auburn.

The Tide have huge hopes, but there are too many areas of concern. The leading passing and rusher are gone. Without a proven quarterback I don’t see the Tide winning the SEC West. Tide go 8-4.

Who Wins Free Agency?

Tyler Carr — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:19:49 -0400

Who wins in free agency? Is it the defensive tackle who signs a $100 million contract? Or is it the tight end who gets a fresh start? Could it be a baggage carrying wide receiver who finally gets out of the NFC?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are wrong.

Massive Albert Haynesworth (6-6 320) signed a seven-year $100 million, $41 million guaranteed contract with Washington Redskins. Haynesworth is an eight-year vet with a knack for being dominant.

However, Haynesworth has many concerns. Anger issues and durability issues haunt Haynesworht's performance. Do 271 career tackles and 24 sacks outweigh the fact that he only averaged 13 starts over the past four seasons?

Kellen Winslow. On paper is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. However, looking at the 2,459 yards he has gained so far shows some of the problems he has come across. Winslow has showed what he is capable of in 2007 when he caught 82 passes for over 1,000 yards.

However, Winslow appears to be lacking from his motorcycle accident in 2005. Winslow appears to have a bad attitude at crucial times when his team needs him to be a leader.

Now Winslow heads to Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers are in desperate need of a constant offensive threat.

Terrell Owens is now with his fourth team in 15 seasons. This is also his first tenure out side of the NFC. The change of scenery is a good thing for Owens. His tenure in Dallas had grown sour due to actions on his behalf and the Cowboys as well.

In Buffalo, Owens fills a void with in the organization and Owens will be the big play threat the Bills have been lacking. Knowing the history of Owens the question to be answered is how will he interact with Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch and company?

The world of free agency is a dog eat dog world. Now can these three dogs earn their bones?

Tennessee Volunteers See Light at the End of the Tunnel

Tyler Carr — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:27:44 -0500

In Knoxville, the spirits are high because Bruce Pearl and the Vols basketball team is on a roll. Empty seats in Thompson Boling Arena are a thing of the past.

Normally, this time of year, the Vols faithful are torn between gearing up for a bowl game for Philip Fulmer and Co. and watching the beginning of new seasons for Pearl and his female counterpart, Pat Summit, and the Lady Vols.

That has changed.

The football team is on the verge of the most embarrassing season in school history, and the end of an era is upon us. Fulmer will not be the head football coach at the University of Tennessee next season.

With this era coming to an end, it leaves me to ponder several things about the future of Tennessee athletics.

First, the direction of the football team.

Looking back through the ages at numerous college football teams, there seems to be a cycle. There is never a dominant team that lasts forever.

Look at what happened at the University of Florida when Steve Spurrier left for the NFL. The Ron Zook Era in Gainesville was successful according to most schools' standards, but for the Gators, it left a sour taste in their mouths.

As far as the possible candidates for the future head coaching position, none are what the Tennessee program was built around.

Fulmer was a Tennessee guy from the get go. No one will ever question that.

Now, if the athletic department brings in a Lane Kiffin or Butch Davis, how do the fans react? Will they tolerate an adjustment period? Just ask Dave Clawson.

Whoever replaces Fulmer will have talent to build around. Players like Eric Berry, Gerald Jones, B.J. Coleman, and Lennon Creer will leave lasting impressions at UT. Regardless of what is said, these young men are great athletes, or they would not be here.

Secondly, will the faithful come back? Did Athletic Director Mike Hamilton burn too many bridges with the way this situation was handled, or is he just a puppet being pulled by strings from a distance?

These questions are still to be answered, and only time will tell. Hamilton struck gold when he hired Bruce Pearl. Now he needs to strike oil, gold, and silver all in one shot.

Depending upon what happens within the next few months, all will be well when the fans in Knoxville realize that this program is bigger than all of these people.

The tradition will continue, and the sun will rise again on Rocky Top.

LSU Tiger 2008 Football Preview

Tyler Carr — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:08:25 -0400

Les Miles held the world of college football in the palm of his hand at certain times during last season. This is the man that made Kirk Herbstreit look like an idiot at the SEC title game.

Was he staying at LSU or going to his alma mater Michigan, the world waited for his answer. This year we will see another side of Les Miles, the side that doesn’t have a safety blanket at quarterback.

The LSU offense was going to be focused around athletic quarterback Ryan Perrilloux; however Perrilloux is no longer at LSU. So Miles looks to hand the reigns over to Jarrett Lee or Andrew Hatch.

Hatch was a junior varsity player at Harvard before serving on a mission trip and leaving. Both players have seen time in spring practice with Lee jumping ahead.

No matter who takes the snaps, they will have some important players helping carry the load.

LSU has had a good ground game and junior Keiland Williams looks to continue that trend. Williams rushed for 478 yards and six touchdowns. With do-everything running back Jacob Hester gone Williams will be counted on to fill his shoes.

The Tigers have been the recent version of Wide Receiver “U”.

Junior Brandon LaFell and senior Demetrius Byrd look to expand their stats.

LaFell hauled in 50 passes for 656 yards. Byrd was a scoring machine last year as he hauled in 35 passes, seven of which were worth six points.

The fans in Baton Rouge are expecting sophomore Terrance Toliver to be a great prospect for years to come. Tight end, Richard Dickson looks to be another option for the young quarterbacks.

The O-line will be mostly intact from last year, only having to replace one player. Center, Brett Helms is the leader of a unit that will protect a first-time starter at QB.

The defense looks to remain stingy and keep the team in close games until the offense catches up.

The unquestioned leader of the Tigers’ defense is senior linebacker Darry Beckwith. Beckwith’s role on the team will be more important now that Miles will have two new starting backers.

Juniors Perry Riley and Jacob Cutrera look to fill the void left by Ali Highsmith and others a year ago.

The D-line has two starters returning at end with Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman looking to harass opposing quarterbacks.

The defensive tackle position looks to have three candidates to replace Glenn Dorsey. Charles Alexander, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Marlon Favorite are the main prospects.

The DB’s are young but are scary athletes.

Free safety Curtis Taylor looks to lead the young group and looks to compete for the whole season. Strong safety Chad Jones looks to show the fans in Baton Rouge that his recruiting hype was for real.

The corners are looking to be Chris Hawkins and Jai Eugene.

The schedule for the Tigers does not allow any mistakes.

To open the season: the defending BCS champs will face the defending FCS champs in the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

No one can forget the huge upset in the Big House so the Tigers better not over look the boys from Boone, North Carolina.

The Tigers also welcome Mississippi State, Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss to Death Valley. The Tigers must travel to face Auburn, Florida and South Carolina.

The season will end with the Tigers going to Little Rock to face the Razorbacks.

Kentucky Football: 2008 SEC Preview

Tyler Carr — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:55:55 -0400

Rich Brooks now has Kentucky fans excited, but they are not just piling into Rupp Arena. The Kentucky faithful are also filing into Commonwealth Stadium.

Brooks has led the Wildcats to back-to-back eight-win seasons. However, the Cats lost several key players with the departures of Andre Woodson, Keenan Burton, Rafael Little, and Wesley Woodyard.

In 2007, Kentucky had one of the most dangerous passing games in the country with Woodson under center. This year junior Curtis Pulley and sophomore Mike Hartline will battle for playing time.

Pulley has worked with the first string during his tenure in Lexington. He took over the starting spot from Woodson only to lose it before the regular season started.

Pulley is an athletic quarterback who needs to reassure the coaches by applying himself in the classroom. A dual threat to run and pass, Pulley has played at both quarterback and receiver and looks to elevate the Kentucky offense.

The Cats also have to replace one of the best football players in school history as Rafael Little has graduated.

Looking to fill Little's big shoes are senior Tony Dixon and the leading returning rusher, sophomore Derrick Locke. Locke, who piled up 521 rushing yards last year, was originally brought to Kentucky to run track.

The Cats will have to rebuild their receiving corps with Dicky Lyons being the only returning receiver with any experience. In 2007, Lyons hauled in 56 passes for 656 yards.

Juniors DeMoreo Ford and E.J. Adams look to fill the shoes of the departed Keenan Burton. Sophomore Kyrus Lanxter also is challenging for playing time.

The Cats will also feel the loss of Steve Johnson and Jacob Tamme. Looking to replace Tamme at tight end is T.C. Date, who reminds fans of Tamme because of his tall and lanky build.

The offensive line returns three starters. Right tackle Justin Jeffries looks to be the most dominant lineman on the team.

The defense has a solid group of players on the line. Jeremy Jarmon is the leader of the group and the best-looking player at present time.

Jarmon led the team with nine sacks and was a leader in the win over LSU. The Cats will also return both starting defensive tackles in Myron Pryor and Corey Peters.

The linebacking corps has been a strong point for the Cats for the past few seasons.

The player who had led the charge was Wesley Woodyard. This year senior Braxton Kelley moves to the outside to help replace Woodyard. Kelley was third on the team last year with 63 tackles.

Opposite of Kelley will be Johnny Williams. Williams is a senior who has shown flashes but has lacked consistency. The team will be breaking in a new middle backer as Micah Johnson steps in as a new starter but looks ready to break out.

The defensive backs are on a mission. Led by senior safety Marcus McClinton, the backs look to retain the positive attitude that the team has discovered.

McClinton registered 32 tackles last year despite missing five games due to injury.

The other safety will be Ashton Cobb. Cobb has sat and watched for two years and is ready for the spotlight.

The DBs are deeper than ever in Lexington. Junior corner Trevard Lindley has established himself as a feared cover corner and a great open field tackler after he registered 66 stops in 2007. He also led the team with three interceptions. Starting alongside Lindley is David Jones.

The schedule for the Cats is grueling. They travel to Louisville, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. Commonwealth Stadium welcomes South Carolina, Georgia, and Vanderbilt.

Georgia Football: 2008 Preview

Tyler Carr — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:50:15 -0400

The Georgia Bulldogs were as hot as any team at the end of last season. They were so hot that there was debate on whether they should have played for the national championship, or even in the Rose Bowl.

Mark Richt has a talented group of players who are looking for respect.

If defense wins championships, then Georgia is well on its way. They return nine starters from a team that stopped many of the top offenses in the nation.

The defense is led by senior linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. Ellerbe led the team with 93 tackles and was a key cog in that unit.

He will be flanked by two new starters in sophomores Rennie Curran and Akeem Dent. These young Dawgs have been put into the line of fire and have withstood the abuse.

The defensive backfield is led by Asher Allen. The junior was second on the team with 64 tackles. Allen is a talented corner who can come up and support against the run and cover the field against pass-happy teams.

He will be joined by junior Prince Miller at corner. Miller broke up seven passes last year and looks to start grabbing the ball instead of batting it down.

C.J. Byrd is one of the few seniors in the backfield and looks to keep up the great play of DBs at Georgia. Sophomore Reshad Jones is lurking at the free safety spot. Jones appears to be the best athlete in the secondary and looks to transfer that to the field.

The defensive line looks to disrupt every offense they line up against this year. The one guy that stands out is tackle Geno Atkins. He appears to be the leader of the linemen. Jeff Owens will be the other tackle.

Roderick Battle will be at one end and made 23 stops as a first-year startet last year. The other end looks to be Jeremy Lomax. Lomax saw significant time last year as a backup.

The offense is in good hands as junior quarterback Matthew Stafford is back under center. Stafford threw for 2,523 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has two years of SEC experience and looks to step out of Tim Tebow’s shadow.

The biggest challenge for any opposing team is not stopping, but slowing down Knowshon Moreno. He rushed for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns. The strong back from New Jersey had waited behind the other backs in Georgia for too long and finally took over.

Moreno now has people talking him up as the new version of Herschel Walker. Paving the way for Moreno will be the most underrated player in the SEC. Senior Brennan Southerland will miss the first two games with an injury, but looks to finish a great career for the Dawgs.

The offensive line will have to replace two starters as left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, center Chris Davis, and right guard Clint Boling return to finish what they started. Vince Vance and Kiante Tripp look to fill the voids left by graduating players.

The receiving corps took a big hit as Sean Bailey finished his eligibility. Senior Mohamed Massaquoi wants to pad his stats even more to finish his career in Athens. The most dangerous threat, however, will be tight end Tripp Chandler. Chandler appears to be the next great tight end from Athens.

Like the other SEC teams, the Bulldogs will only go as far as their schedule will allow them to. They travel to South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, and Auburn. The Dawgs will get Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia Tech between the hedges.

On November 1, the Dawgs will face Florida in Jacksonville for what could determine the SEC East champion and eventually a bid to play for the BCS title.

Auburn Football: Tigers Spread the Wealth

Tyler Carr — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:17:11 -0400

The SEC has a good shot to have another team competing for a national championship this year when the Auburn Tigers take the field.

Tommy Tuberville returns his top four running backs. Junior Ben Tate led the team last year with 900 yards and eight touchdowns. Fellow returning starter Brad Lester returned from his academic suspension to amass 530 yards. Sophomore Mario Fannin added 450 yards and five touchdowns.

However, with Auburn switching to the spread offense, the running game will change, with more one-back sets.

It looks like new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin might run a two-quarterback system. Sophomore Kodi Burns looks to be the hybrid quarterback in the spread option look, while junior Chris Todd looks to have the better arm and presence in the pocket. Burns led the Tigers to a victory in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The Tigers return their top receiving threats with Rod Smith looking to lead the charge. Smith returns for his senior year after hauling in 52 passes for 700 yards.

The O-line remains intact from last year, with Tyronne Green leading the group from the left guard position. With the loss of King Dunlap last year, most players were baptized by fire.

The defense is led by the big guys in the middle. Sen’Derrick Marks moves to tackle from end and looks to terrorize offenses in between the tackles. Junior end Antonio Coleman looks to raise Cain as a starter after totaling 18 tackles behind the line in spot duty last year.

Linebacker Tray Blackmon looks ready to fulfill his potential at Auburn. He has to stay healthy and on the field if he wants to be recognized as a force in the SEC. Blackmon missed three games and still had 45 tackles. It looks like he will be flanked by senior Chris Evans and sophomore Craig Stevens.

The secondary is led by sophomore safety Zac Etheridge, who finished second on the team last year with 65 tackles. The other safety will be sophomore Mike McNeil. One corner spot belongs to Jerraud Powers. He covers very well and is a good open-field tackler, which will be a great addition to this aggressive defense.

The Tigers welcome their three biggest challengers—Tennessee, LSU, and Georgia—to Jordan-Hare Stadium. The road to Atlanta also leads the Tigers to West Virginia and has them traveling to face Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Arkansas Football: 2008 Preview

Tyler Carr — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:34:23 -0400

Bobby Petrino has stepped into a bad situation in Fayetteville. Gone are the main pillars of the offense that Houston Nutt and staff made famous.

With Darren McFadden and Felix Jones gone, the offense now belongs to senior quarterback Casey Dick. Dick threw for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. Junior running back Michael Smith looks to step into the gaps left by McFadden and Jones. He’s a breakaway threat whenever he touches the ball and has Brandon Barnett to come in and pound away, for close yardage situations.

The interior of the o-line remains intact from last year with the defending Rimington Award winner Jonathan Luigs returning for his senior year. Petrino will have to break in two new tackles to keep up with the impressive ends in the SEC. Tight end Andrew Davie returns and will spend time as a traditional tight end and some time at the h-back position.

Looking at returning quarterback Casey Dick, there appears to be a lot of available talent. He has started 22 games and threw for 1,695 yards a year ago. The real test for the remaining quarterbacks will be next year when Michigan transfer Ryan Mallet becomes eligible. Petrino will have three years to work with Mallet and try and resurrect the Arkansas program.

The defense will have to carry the offense for the first part of the year as they return seven starters from last season. The defensive line remains intact as they are led by end Antwain Robinson.

The linebacker’s corps is led by Elston Forte and Freddie Fairchild. Fairchild led the team with four sacks a year ago. The defensive backs will be led by junior corner Jerell Norton. Norton led the team with five interceptions and played at a great level throughout the year.

Petrino’s first year in Arkansas will not be an easy task as they travel to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns in week three. They welcome Alabama, Florida, and Ole Miss to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. However, they travel to Auburn, Kentucky, and Mississippi State. They end the season in Little Rock against the defending national champs, the LSU Tigers.

Alabama Football: 2008 Season Preview

Tyler Carr — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:08:50 -0400

The Alabama Crimson Tide have a long way to go to get back to the top, but Nick Saban is working on it. Take a great core of returning players and add a top-rated recruiting class, and you begin to see the rebirth of football in Tuscaloosa.

Senior quarterback John Parker Wilson looks to leave his mark on the record books, but he needs one thing—wins. His resume is impressive, but he needs a championship to be recognized as an elite quarterback. Wilson threw for 2,846 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, but he also threw 12 interceptions.

Wilson’s top two targets are gone, so looking to step up is junior Mike McCoy, who hauled in 28 catches for 207 yards last season. Seniors Nikita Stover and Will Oakley will try to hold off an amazing group of freshmen—particularly Julio Jones, who looks to amaze 'Bama fans for years to come as the number one receiver in this year's recruiting class.

The ground game in Tuscaloosa will feature two main targets. Sophomore Terry Grant looks to pick up where he left off last season, as he led the team with 891 yards and reached pay dirt eight times. When Grant is not taking the handoffs, look for junior running back Glen Coffee to spend time in the backfield—Coffee added 545 yards last year.

On the field, Grant will be a speed type of back while Coffee will be a speed/power back. The Tide will look to the ground as they bring along the young receivers and depend on the experience of their running backs.

Saban is known for having some tough defenses, and this legacy will continue with the development of linebacker Rolando McClain. Being named Freshman All-SEC a year ago, he looks to be the cornerstone of this defense.

The linebacker corps will be made up of former running back Jimmy Johns, Brandon Fanney, and true freshman Jerrell Harris. Harris was a highly recruited prospect out of Gadsen, Alabama.

The D-line returns two starters in Saban’s 3-4 scheme. Big man Lorenzo Washington looks to stop the best that the SEC has to offer. Bobby Greenwood and Brandon Deadrick appear to be the starters on the ends when they report in the fall.

The defensive backs will lean on team captain Rashad Johnson. He was tied for the most interceptions in the SEC last year with six. He was also a force against opposing ground games, coming up to lead the team with 94 tackles. It looks like he will be joined at safety by Justin Woodall. The corners will be Kareem Jackson and Javier Arenas.

Saban will lead the Crimson Tide into a opening week game in Atlanta to face the Clemson Tigers in an out-of-conference game. Bryant-Denny Stadium will welcome the challenges of Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and the Iron Bowl against Auburn to end the regular season. The Tide travel to face Georgia, Tennessee, and defending National Champions LSU.

Tennessee Football: 2008 Season Preview

Tyler Carr — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:17:52 -0400

Phillip Fulmer will lead a team with a lot of unanswered questions into the Rose Bowl in September. After winning the Southeastern Conference East division a year ago, the fans in Knoxville want more.

They will get more from sophomore defensive back Eric Berry. He led the Vols with five interceptions last season. Berry also recorded 86 tackles while earning Freshman All-American honors.

He will be joined by Demetrice Morley in the secondary. Morley had ten starts to his credit before taking a year off to address some personal issues.

Leading the way for the defense will be weakside linebacker Rico McCoy. Coming off an amazing year with 106 tackles, McCoy is poised to have an All-SEC junior season.

McCoy will be the leader of the linebacking corps as the Vols will start two new backers. Senior Ellix Wilson steps up into the spot vacated by Jerod Mayo. Nevin McKenzie and Adams Meyers-White are fighting for the nod at strong-side backer.

The Vols will have a new offense, and new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson has many tools at his disposal. With the new system, a new quarterback is stepping under center. Jonathan Crompton looks to be the next great quarterback to develop in East Tennessee.

Crompton has friends at receiver as several players look to be hungry for the football. Lucas Taylor joined the elite at Tennessee last year as he went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season—and he has some great receivers behind him. Josh Briscoe returns for his senior year, having led the team last season with six touchdown catches.

The running game will be strong once again for the Vols. Senior Arian Foster looks to break the career rushing record, as he need less than 700 yards to top Travis Henry's mark. Foster rushed for 1,193 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and will look to improve his effectiveness under Clawson.

Lennon Creer, Montario Hardesty, and Tauren Poole will add depth, apply heat to Foster, and carry the Vols while the ball is on the ground.

The schedule is a double-edged sword as they travel to UCLA to start the season. They also travel to Auburn, between the hedges to face the Georgia Bulldogs, and to Columbia to face Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Vols welcome the Florida Gators, the Alabama Crimson Tide, and end the season with the Kentucky Wildcats invading Neyland Stadium.