SEC Media Days: 14 Questions Head Coaches Simply Don't Have Answers to for 2012

The 2012 SEC Media Days are sure to bring questions that coaches simply can't answer.

From hypothetical questions about being the best to proposed questions about starters that aren't named yet, the coaches should experience a few stumpers at the podium.

But hey, it wouldn't be SEC Media Days if controversial questions weren't asked. 

These are the questions that coaches won't be able to answer until the season is underway or complete.

Nick Saban: Is This the Best Offensive Line in School History?

Anytime talks emerge about being the best in history, it's pretty much nothing but speculation.

But truthfully, Alabama's offensive line makes a solid argument for best in school history. This squad is easily the best in the SEC and the best in the nation.

Barrett Jones and D.J. Fluker were named Preseason First Team All-SEC by the coaches, while Chance Warmack was voted second. 

Between those three players and Anthony Steen, the Crimson Tide's returning starters account for 92 total starts. Putting it rather broadly, Alabama has had great offensive lines in the past, but Nick Saban might have the best in school history. 

John Smith: What Is the State of the Program After This Dramatic Offseason?

Arkansas head coach John Smith has his work cut out for him in 2012.

Is the talent there? Sure. Does he have the best quarterback in the league calling shots in the huddle? No one would argue with that assessment.

But does he have to find stability in a weakened program? Absolutely. After the firing of head coach Bobby Petrino, Smith was rushed in, and he had to assert his authority immediately by suspending three troubled Hogs. 

Playing in the SEC has its pros and cons, and unfortunately for Smith, having Tyler Wilson as your quarterback alone won't be enough to get by LSU and Alabama. Can Smith pull off a miracle and get his team on board by conference play? 

Gene Chizik: Can You Win at Auburn Without Gus Malzahn?

Oh no he didn't! 

Though Gene Chizik has been successful at Auburn, many credit that success to Gus Malzahn's offensive brilliance. But 2012 will finally reveal the truth behind Auburn's success, as Malzahn took the head coaching job at Arkansas State in 2011. 

Chizik is more of a defensive-minded coach, so Auburn's 499.2 yards per game in 2010 was credited to his offensive coordinator, along with Cam Newton.

So this begs the question—without Malzahn calling the shots, will Auburn's productivity on the field suffer?

Will Muschamp: Is the Offense Capable of Putting Points Up Against SEC Defenses?

Will Muschamp and the Florida Gators offense were dreadful last season.

Due to John Brantley's injury against Alabama, Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett were rushed into the position. The result wasn't pretty. Both quarterbacks completed less than 50 percent of their passes while combining for two touchdown passes and six interceptions.

The Gators averaged 15 points per game against their remaining SEC competition and lost four of those five games. 

With Driskel and Brissett both raw, the Gators relied on their running game heavily in 2011. But after a year of experience for both sophomore quarterbacks, Muschamp might have something cooking on offense in 2012. But then again, maybe not. 

Mark Richt: Are People Going to Finally Stop Putting You on the Hot Seat?

You really have to love sports.

One minute, a player is washed up. The next, he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. The same goes for head coaches. In fact, that was the story of Mark Richt in 2011.

Fans are always quick to forget past success when a coach hits a few bumps in the road along his coaching career. After being placed on the hot seat before the season even started, Richt felt the pressure when his team started the season 0-2.

Following the lackluster start, Richt's Bulldogs reeled off 10 straight victories, and Richt found himself out of the hot seat once again. It's almost like Richt has become the Tom Coughlin of college football. Except, you know, minus the world championships. 

Joker Phillips: Is a 6-Win Season Going to Save Your Job?

For Joker Phillips' case, he better have some tricks up his sleeve in 2012.

Phillips is entering his third season as head coach of the Wildcats, and his record with the team is 11-14. Is it getting hot in here?

The real question here is how lenient Kentucky will be with Phillips. Coming off of a five-win season in 2011 followed by another down season in 2012 can't bode well for his future. 

Perhaps a bowl appearance will be enough to save his job, and with a schedule that's nearly as easy as it can get in the SEC, a bowl appearance isn't too far of a stretch. 

Les Miles: Is Zach Mettenberger the Tigers' Offensive Savior?

If Zach Mettenberger lives up to the hype, he'll make LSU nearly unbeatable.

If he doesn't, the Tigers will be a great defensive team with a strong running game. That's nothing new. 

But seriously, just how good is Mettenberger? In LSU's spring game, he threw a couple of interceptions, but other than that, he looked fantastic. Mettenberger finished the game with 270 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Will LSU actually have a deep threat this year to go along with its vicious ground-and-pound game, or will it be the same ol' quarterback struggle down in Baton Rouge? 

Dan Mullen: Can You Avoid Losing 5 Straight Games?

After Oct. 20, Dan Mullen and the Mississippi Bulldogs will have their hands full. 

There's a possibility that the Bulldogs could win their first eight games, as they face a cupcake non-schedule and weaker teams in the conference.

But on Oct. 27, it's on. State will have to play Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU and Arkansas over the course of four straight weeks.

Following that stampede, the Bulldogs could be limping into Egg Bowl against Ole Miss, so it's possible the Bulldogs could lose their last five regular season games. How in the world do you prepare for such a demanding gauntlet? 

Gary Pinkel: Is James Fanklin the Best Dual-Threat Quarterback in the Nation?

James Franklin or Denard Robinson?

Gary Pinkel can actually make a solid argument in this debate. Everyone is quick to crown Robinson as the best mobile quarterback in the country, but Franklin's a more accurate passer. At least he was in 2011.

Robinson completed 55 percent of his passes, while Franklin completed 63.3. And surprisingly, Denard's rushing stats doesn't blow Franklin's away. Denard rushed for 195 more yards and had one more rushing touchdown than Franklin.

Considering Franklin had 692 more passing yards, one more touchdown and had a better completion percentage last season, Franklin could very well be the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation.

Hugh Freeze: How Do You Change a Losing Atmosphere?

As a lifelong fan of the New Orleans Saints, I know exactly how hard it can be to change a losing atmosphere. 

Granted, I'm not the oldest, but I've been around long enough to remember one terrible season after another. 

Hugh Freeze gets to inherit this same type of atmosphere at Ole Miss and try to bring excitement back to the Rebels. He could start a fancy slogan like "revive the rebels" and try to bring light to a stadium that's had some dark Saturdays. But that's much easier said than done, especially when you play in the SEC West. 

It's an enormous task placed ahead of Freeze, especially when the Rebels will play at LSU, at Alabama, at Georgia and at Arkansas. Good luck. 

Steve Spurrier: Is This the Year of the Gamecocks?

Could 2012 be the year Steve Spurrier brings South Carolina an SEC championship? 

Well, let's go throw the checklist and see if this is a viable option.

Are the Gamecocks led by an experienced quarterback? Check. 

Solid running game? Check; they have the best running back in the league in Marcus Lattimore. 

Strong defensively? Check. Jadeveon Clowney, Devin Taylor, DeVonte Hollman, D.J. Swearinger and Akeem Auguste can attest to that. 

Hmm, this seems like just as good a year as any for Spurrier to bring the Gamecocks a championship. 

Derek Dooley: Can an Offensive Team Win in the SEC?

Defense wins championships. 

Derek Dooley should have his best offensive unit since arriving at Tennessee with Tyler Bray throwing to Da'Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter.

Defense wins championships.

Last season, Bray missed five games to a thumb injury. Before the injury occurred against Georgia, Bray passed for 1,579 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Defense wins championships.

To make matters worse, Justin Hunter tore his ACL and was lost for the season after recording 302 receiving yards in two games. If all three playmakers can stay healthy, Dooley's three-headed monster might make noise in the SEC.

But you know what they say, defense wins championships. 

Kevin Sumlin: Can You Win in the SEC?

It doesn't get more blunt than that.

Kevin Sumlin's offensive mind has brought him success at Houston, but can it bring him success in college football's greatest conference?

That remains to be seen. However, Sumlin will have a lot to work with on offense at Texas A&M. 

He'll have a new face at quarterback, but he'll have two excellent offensive linemen in Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel and two excellent receivers in Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu.

It'll be intriguing to see how Sumlin fares in a defensive league. 

James Franklin: Will Winning Be More Difficult with Higher Expectations?

James Franklin won't go unnoticed at the 2012 SEC Media Days.

Last year, he stood up there and answered a few questions. Sitting there observing, it was easy to see that this guy has a tremendous amount of positive energy, but most of the media remained disinterested. After all, who wants to ask Vanderbilt's coach a question? 

You better believe many will following Franklin's 2011 campaign. Franklin led the Commodores to a bowl berth and finished the season 6-7. 

However, the biggest question for Franklin will be if he can win with higher expectations. That's a question that only Franklin and his team can answer this season.