Power Ranking Every SEC Defense
Exotic offenses have been all the rage in college football over the past few years, but in the SEC, a solid defense still goes a long way.
Six of the top 20 defenses in the nation reside in the SEC, including an Ole Miss team that thrives off of turnovers and an Alabama team that just shut out Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin for the first time in his head coaching career.
Which SEC defenses are the best?
We rank all 14 of them in this slideshow.
14. Texas A&M Aggies
1 of 14
Texas A&M's defense is about what you'd expect from a typical Aggies defense.
That's not just a bad thing, that's a terrible thing.
The Aggies gave up 602 yards in a 59-0 loss to an Alabama offense that was on the express to Struggle Town over the last two games, and that score is actually much closer than it seemed. Quarterback Blake Sims, wide receiver Amari Cooper and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin could have put up 80, 100, 120 or really whatever they wanted on Saturday.
"Kevin Sumlin-coached teams (2008-13) have finished 101st, 111th, 103rd, 62nd, 58th and 111th in total defense.This year's group will be 85+.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) October 18, 2014"
The Aggies have the worst rush defense in the SEC (190.25 YPG), have given up the most points per game in conference contests (39.6 PPG) and have gained an SEC-worst six turnovers in 2014.
Different verse, same as the first. The Aggies are a disaster.
13. Vanderbilt Commodores
2 of 14
This was going to be a rebuilding year for Vanderbilt no matter who the head coach was thanks to massive roster turnover, but since the program hired defensive-minded Derek Mason to replace James Franklin, at least the defense would be well coached, right?
Yeah, about that.
Vanderbilt ranks last in the SEC in overall scoring defense (34.0 PPG), and the 'Dores even allowed Temple and UMass—teams that should be cupcakes—to top the 30-point plateau.
The switch to the 3-4 scheme has taken some time to click in Nashville, and unfortunately for Mason, his offense can't overcome the defensive inconsistency.
12. South Carolina Gamecocks
3 of 14
South Carolina's issues along the defensive line and in the secondary were the two primary reasons why I tabbed the Gamecocks as the most overrated team in the SEC before the season started, and just over halfway through the season, those problems have persisted.
The Gamecocks are giving up 421.3 yards per game, an SEC-worst 6.21 yards per play and 31.4 points per game. They're last in the SEC with only eight sacks and 23 tackles for loss—16 tackles for loss behind 13th-place Auburn.
The pass defense has been suspect from the outset, and the run defense—which ranks 13th in the conference (181.71 YPG)—hasn't been much better.
"Spurrier: "We’re not real good on run defense. I don’t know if you noticed that yet this year."
— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) October 18, 2014"
South Carolina's defense has turned a complete 180 this year, which is a big reason why the team has fallen out of its perch as the SEC East favorite.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
11. Arkansas Razorbacks
4 of 14
Arkansas is second in the SEC in time of possession, so because its defense spends a lot of time on the sideline, its total defense statistic (375.6 YPG) is skewed a little bit.
The Hogs are giving up 5.87 yards per play, which is next-to-last in the SEC. Despite the presence of star defensive end Trey Flowers, they've only managed 1.71 sacks per game and only have four interceptions.
They looked good against Alabama in a 14-13 loss two weeks ago, but then they got gashed by the Todd Gurley-less Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in Little Rock to the tune of 6.89 yards per play.
Numbers lie in some cases, including Arkansas'. The total defense figure may look good on paper, but the Hogs struggle in the trenches, don't force interceptions and give up yards in chunks.
That's not a recipe for success.
10. Kentucky Wildcats
5 of 14
Kentucky sprinted to a 5-1 record in the first half of the season only to get run by LSU 41-3 on Saturday.
What's more, the Wildcat defense—which had been decent coming in—got gashed by the decidedly one-dimensional Tigers to the tune of 303 rushing yards. That set a rather dubious record, according to Jen Smith of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
"The Tigers' 303 rushing yards are the most given up by a Mark Stoops defense in his two years at UK. Previous high was 299 vs. Alabama.
— Jen Smith (@jenheraldleader) October 19, 2014"
Was that the exception to the rule or the start of a trend?
Head coach Mark Stoops better find out soon, because his Wildcats host Mississippi State on Saturday, and the tandem of quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Josh Robinson present the most formidable one-two punch in the SEC.
9. LSU Tigers
6 of 14
When you think of LSU, the first thing that comes to mind is typically an athletic, fast, physical and consistent defense.
They may be athletic, fast and physical this season, but they haven't been consistent.
The Tigers are giving up 162.5 yards per game and 4.53 yards per play on the ground. While former defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Anthony Johnson underperformed last year, they were still accounted for. New defensive tackles Christian LaCouture and Davon Godchaux haven't posed the same threat, which is a big reason why teams have been exposing LSU on the ground.
Head coach Les Miles' pass defense leads the conference (156.3 YPG), but why pass if you don't have to?
The Tigers are soft in the middle, which is a big reason why they're looking up at the rest of the SEC West.
8. Missouri Tigers
7 of 14
Missouri's defense has some solid pieces in defensive ends Shane Ray and Markus Golden, but when the two stars off the edge are off, the entire defense can't compensate. Ray only had two tackles for loss in the home loss to Indiana and only one in the shutout loss to Georgia, and only 1.5 of Golden's eight tackles for loss this year have come against SEC foes.
Those two make this defense tick, and when the field shrinks in the red zone, the strength of Missouri's defense diminishes as well. Missouri has allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 63.64 percent of their red-zone trips (14 of 22 attempts).
What Missouri does well, though, is force turnovers. The Tigers have gained 15 turnovers in 2014, and that has helped out quarterback Maty Mauk and the Tigers offense. Even when the offense struggles—as it did on Saturday when it was held to just 119 total yards—the defense came to play with two touchdowns.
That has kept the Tigers in the hunt in the SEC East.
7. Tennessee Volunteers
8 of 14
It's no secret that Tennessee is in rebuilding mode, so some inconsistency should be expected.
For the most part, though, Tennessee's defense has been relatively decent this season. The Vols are ranked sixth in the SEC, giving up just 325.9 yards per game, and tied for third at 4.66 yards per play. Sophomore Cam Sutton leads all Vols with three interceptions, while freshman Todd Kelly Jr. is one shy of him with two.
"#Vols Sop CB Cam Sutton is just chronically underrated. Such a good football player.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) October 18, 2014"
The best is yet to come.
Tennessee is still very young up front, and when those underclassmen mature and become more consistent, it will only help the back end of the defense, which is loaded with talent.
The Vols are a team on the rise, and we've seen glimpses of what's in store on Rocky Top at times this season.
6. Georgia Bulldogs
9 of 14
Don't look now, but Georgia may have a defense.
The Bulldogs are giving up 320.6 yards per game and are tied for fourth in the SEC with 10 interceptions, after managing only seven last year and a total of 20 over the past two seasons.
That defense was on display again in Little Rock on Saturday, as new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt's crew forced four turnovers and allowed just 3.4 yards per carry to the potent Arkansas rushing attack. As ESPN.com's Chris Low notes, Pruitt has been a big reason why Georgia finds itself in the Top 10.
"Lost in the shuffle of what Georgia has done offensively with Gurley sidelined is how much this defense has improved under Jeremy Pruitt.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) October 18, 2014"
Everybody knew about the linebackers before the season, but Georgia has picked it up on the front end and back end and has evolved into more of a power than it ever was under former coordinator Todd Grantham.
5. Auburn Tigers
10 of 14
Auburn's defense hasn't gone from punch line to power this year, but it has gone from punch line to potentially great.
The Tigers are giving up 333.7 yards per game this season, have picked off 10 passes and are second in the conference in opponents' red-zone scoring percentage (69.57 percent).
Even without star defensive end Carl Lawson, the defensive line has been stellar against the run (3.34 yards per play), and linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy have brought stability to the linebacker position—something Auburn has lacked for quite some time.
With an offense like the one Auburn runs, the defense doesn't have to be great—it needs to be opportunistic. The Tigers certainly have been opportunistic and have mixed in a stout run defense, creating a recipe for success on The Plains.
4. Florida Gators
11 of 14
Florida's defense has been carrying the team since head coach Will Muschamp got hired prior to the 2011 season, and it appears that its shoulders are getting tired.
The Gators held Missouri to just 119 yards on Saturday, but the team still lost 42-13 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated. It was just the second time in 10 years that a team held an opponent to 120 or fewer yards and lost (the first was Muschamp's Gators' loss to Florida State in 2011).
The reason?
Missouri scored two defensive touchdowns and two special teams touchdowns and made a laugher out of what was a good defensive performance.
Florida is giving up just 317.3 yards per game and 4.66 yards per play, which should be enough to keep the Gators in ballgames if its offense could muster up anything.
As it is, though, the offense is still in shambles and the defense has to carry the load. That didn't work last year, isn't working this year and is a big reason why Muschamp should be looking for work in the not-too-distant future.
3. Mississippi State Bulldogs
12 of 14
I know, I know. Mississippi State ranks last in the conference in total defense (428.8 YPG), so how can it be the fifth-best defense in the SEC?
Because sometimes stats lie, and that stat is lying through its teeth.
In some cases, you have to ignore the stats—and I simply don't care what Mississippi State's stats say.
The front seven is loaded with stars like Preston Smith and Benardrick McKinney, but deep enough to allow head coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Geoff Collins to rotate players in and out of the game liberally, keeping players fresh for a full four quarters.
The pass defense ranks last in the SEC with 308.3 yards per game, but that stat is skewed a bit after LSU and Texas A&M got garbage yards against Mississippi State's prevent defense.
The Bulldogs generate pressure, force turnovers (16 gained) and lead the SEC in red-zone scoring defense (57.89 percent).
What's not to love?
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
13 of 14
A new year, same stifling front seven.
The names on the back of Alabama's jerseys change every year, but the results are as consistent as the sunrise.
This year's Crimson Tide defense tops the conference in total defense (262.1 YPG) and is second in yards per play (4.38) and scoring defense (13.1 points per game). Linebacker Trey DePriest has taken over for C.J. Mosley as the quarterback of the defense, the defensive line is fast and physical, and the secondary—cornerback Cyrus Jones, in particular—has picked it up after a sluggish start to the season, as my B/R colleague Michael Felder notes:
"Cyrus Jones has really been a guy that's improved and impressed me this year. Not perfect but he's fighting so much more now.
— Michael Felder (@InTheBleachers) October 18, 2014"
The offense has been hit-or-miss this season, but the defense looks as good as ever, which is a big reason why Alabama finds itself in the Top 5.
1. Ole Miss Rebels
14 of 14
The "landsharks" are swimming, and that Ole Miss defense is a big reason why the Rebels sit at 7-0 with a giant "No. 3" to the left of their name.
Up front, defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche leads a talented and deep group of defensive linemen that generate pressure and force mistakes from opposing quarterbacks. On the back end, Cody Prewitt, Senquez Golson, Mike Hilton and the rest of the defensive backfield has feasted.
The Rebels lead the nation with 15 interceptions and are tied for third in the country with 20 total turnovers gained. They lead the nation in scoring defense (10.6 PPG), are third in yards per play (4.15 YPP) and held Tennessee to zero rushing yards in Saturday's 34-3 win.
"The Ole Miss defense is allowing an FBS-leading 10.6 PPG & held Tennessee to zero rush yds, their fewest since 2011. pic.twitter.com/DyrUSsEIH0
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 19, 2014"
It's not only the best defense in the SEC, it's also the best defense in the nation—by far.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
