This Weeks Winners and Needs To Improve

The purpose for this article is to analyze week one for the SEC and see what was learned. 

This weeks biggest winner was easy to choose this week. It comes from a program that chose to begin anew after a disaster of a season last year. None of the pundits gave this program a chance to succeed this year. With an impressive Offensive and Defensive clinic Tennessee proved the Lane Kiffin era has begun and they are going to compete on both sides of the ball in each and every game. While they were playing the neighborhood back yard team, one could not have helped but be impressed at this football clinic even if it had occurred in practice instead of the first win of this season.

Last years SEC Champion proved they did not have a let down. Being Pre Season number one everything is a big stage and Florida made a statement. This Florida Team is big enough to cover that stage and seriously contend for more than the SEC Championship.

After suffering a big let down in the final two games of last season, Alabama put any concerns of that trend continuing to rest. Two things were learned from this game. Alabama is solid in every aspect of the game. Alabama has room to improve and get much better. This should be a warning to the rest of the conference. This Alabama team is capable of being much better than any pundit predicted. 

After having three dismally sad seasons on the offensive side of the ball. The Auburn team came out and put on an offensive show that made a statement. Look for this Auburn team to be extremely potent on offense this year. It looked as if the team and new offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan were made for each other. The defense wasn't bad either, but showed much room for improvement with missed assignments and penalties that could have been much more costly if they were playing a conference foe. The verdict is Auburn is back and will make waves in the SEC this season.

The biggest traveler award goes to the LSU Tigers this week. They traveled the longest distance to play and maybe it was jet lag that caused them to put out a less than lack luster performance on both sides of the ball. The once daunted LSU Defense was a pushover for a team that lost twelve games last season. The LSU Offense out scored this less than talented opponent, but did not do so in any commanding fashion. LSU looked over rated in this first outing.

The Georgia Bulldogs were exposed by a good but not great Big Twelve team. They looked particularly weak on defense and at quarterback. The offensive line that was to be their salvation had a lack luster game with spurts of promise. The question has been answered Georgia is not better than last season, in fact it looks as if they took a step back.

The South Carolina team showed that it still has no offense. In a duel against a bad ACC Team they looked lost on the offensive side of the ball. They showed promise on defense, but were playing a very bad offense so the verdict is out here.

Kentucky looked like Kentucky on day one. This is not bad, but it will not win the SEC and don't expect them to do this this year either.

Vanderbilt came out and showed they do have a football team. They played fundamentally sound football that would likely make them a contender in the Ivy League, but not the SEC.

Arkansas came out firing the ball down field. They put on an offensive show that would make most conferences take notice. The SEC is not most conferences and both Alabama and Auburn put up more offense against better opponents on day one. The Arkansas defense was luke warm and not impressive. It is going to be hard for this team to win half its games when so many of its future opponents out did the razor backs on offense and defense on day one.

Old Mississippi plays today and the verdict is still out on them. With both Auburn and Alabama putting on impressive shows on day one against two likely bowl teams, they have much to prove.