1 Goal Each SEC Team Needs to Accomplish During Bowl Practice
Bowl trips are fun, team dinner challenges draw headlines and the gifts players get from bowl committees are fantastic rewards for successful seasons.
For coaches, though, the 15 extra practices they get to help develop young talent and help new stars take the next step are invaluable.
What's the top priority for each of the 10 SEC bowl teams over the month of December?
Our picks, based on personnel, weaknesses and needs, are in this slideshow.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Develop the Passing Game
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Unlike every other SEC bowl team, Alabama's bowl practices will be geared more toward this season than next.
The second-ranked Crimson Tide will play No. 3 Michigan State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic national semifinal on New Year's Eve, with a chance to move on to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 11.
As I wrote in my SEC Q&A this week, Alabama will likely be able to get past the Spartans with the same grueling, ground-and-pound style that led the Crimson Tide to their second straight SEC title. Assuming that happens, though, they might need quarterback Jake Coker to be more of a difference-maker in the title game against either Clemson or Oklahoma.
Both of those teams can get Alabama out of its comfort zone. Because of that, the next 15 practices are critical for Coker to take just a small step forward in the passing game, further develop that chemistry with receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart and put a little more passing-game confidence in his back pocket in case he needs it in the postseason.
It might not be needed, thanks to Alabama's dominant defense and the presence of running back and 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. But better safe than sorry.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Prepare for the Post-Brandon Allen Era
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Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen capped off his up-and-down career in Fayetteville with an unforgettable senior season in which he led the SEC in touchdown passes with 29, tossed just seven interceptions and provided much-needed balance to an Arkansas offense built on old-school principles.
The overwhelming question in Fayetteville this December is, "Now what?"
Allen's younger brother Austin was his primary backup this year, but he attempted only three passes (completing one, for a touchdown). He'll be a junior in 2015, and he has experience within the system which should help him this offseason.
But looming on the scout team in 2015 was former 4-star prospect and USC transfer Ricky Town. The 6'3", 200-pounder from Thousand Oaks, California, has a big arm and more upside than Allen, despite being the new kid on the block.
"Who should be Arkansas' 2016 QB?
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) December 16, 2015"
Talented prospects Rafe Peavey and Ty Storey are also in the mix to win the job despite not throwing passes in 2015, which should make this battle one of the most intriguing in the SEC in 2016.
That battle needs to start now.
With so many options, offensive coordinator Dan Enos needs to have at least a rough draft of the pecking order going into spring practice, and now's the time to get that established.
Auburn Tigers: Develop Depth on Defense
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It might be easy to say "fix the quarterback situation" for Auburn's biggest goal during bowl practice, but that's not possible since junior college transfer John Franklin III will get on campus in December and still needs to learn the ropes. Auburn's quarterback battle will come this spring, which makes the defense a top priority this month on the Plains.
The Tigers were actually pretty solid down the stretch, giving up just 372.5 yards per game in the month of November, which, not coincidentally, is when "Buck" Carl Lawson looked healthy. Lawson was the catalyst for the 2015 Tigers, but when he left with a hip injury late in the first half of the season opener, they were left without an identity for nearly two months.
Somebody else has to step up and prove to be a difference-maker in case the injury bug bites Lawson in 2016.
That could be defensive end and former stud prospect Byron Cowart, defensive tackle Montravius Adams, linebacker Tre' Williams or somebody else. But Auburn has to find a way to be successful on defense with other players serving as the centerpiece.
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Florida Gators: Continue to Develop the Offensive Line
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The quarterback position drew most of the headlines during Florida's offensive downturn during the month of November and in the SEC Championship Game, but a more concerning problem for head coach Jim McElwain was the play of his offensive line.
The Gators gave up 21 sacks over the last five games of the season, and quarterback Treon Harris didn't really have much of a chance for success after taking over in the middle of the season for suspended starter Will Grier.
There's talent to be developed, though.
Former 5-star prospect Martez Ivey suffered through the pains of transition to the college game, but he has the talent to be a superstar. David Sharpe was banged up, and the unit, which is littered with youth, needs to focus on improvement over the next few weeks.
That way, no matter who is taking the snaps to start the 2016 season, the Gators have a chance to be a little more two-dimensional.
Georgia Bulldogs: Develop a Go-to Wide Receiver
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Prep star and 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason dominated headlines in the Peach State early this week, as he re-affirmed his commitment to Georgia after flirting with Florida.
A more pressing issue this week for the Bulldogs, though, is finding him a reliable weapon outside in 2016.
Malcolm Mitchell capped off his career with a team-high 53 receptions in the 2015 regular season, and job No. 1 for the old staff and the new staff under head coach Kirby Smart is to find his replacement as the go-to wide receiver for the Bulldogs.
There are options.
Highly-touted freshman Terry Godwin came on strong, finishing his first campaign in Athens with 31 catches for 345 yards and one touchdown—including 24 catches over the final two months of the season. Reggie Davis has the speed to be a deep threat for the 2016 Bulldogs, and slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie is one of the most dangerous receivers in the country in space.
One of those guys needs to take the next step this month. If a go-to wide receiver emerges, it will ease the transition to new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney's scheme and help Eason adjust to the college game this offseason.
LSU Tigers: Become Two-Dimensional
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Lather, rinse, repeat in Baton Rouge. The same bowl practice goal from last season still lingers for head coach Les Miles—the Tigers can't pass.
Quarterback Brandon Harris completed just 53.1 percent of his passes in 2015, was eighth in the SEC in passer rating (127.77) and struggled mightily once teams devoted all of the attention on star running back Leonard Fournette.
That has to change.
It's Harris' gig for the month of December, and whether he takes the snaps this fall or somebody else takes over, LSU has to start stretching the field early and often right now. After all, it's not like Fournette will surprise defenses in 2016.
LSU needs to pass every practice until Harris hits the ice tub, and when he emerges, repeat the same formula. The only way LSU is going to become two-dimensional is for Miles to make it the No. 1—and perhaps only—offensive priority.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Find No. 1 Running Back
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The battle to replace quarterback Dak Prescott will be one of the dominant storylines this offseason for Mississippi State; finding a go-to running back is something that can—and should—be addressed right now.
Prescott was the leading rusher for the Bulldogs in 2015 after racking up 541 yards and 10 touchdowns. Behind him, it was more of a committee approach for head coach Dan Mullen with the running backs.
Brandon Holloway, Ashton Shumpert, Aeris Williams and Dontavian Lee all logged significant carries alongside Prescott, and job No. 1 for Mullen this month should be to at least have an idea of who the true No. 1 will be in 2016.
That's not to say that the committee can't work in 2016. It absolutely can, especially if Nick Fitzgerald takes the next step at quarterback to take some pressure off the group. But you can't count on Fitzgerald being as reliable as Prescott was on the ground, which means a chairman of the running back committee needs to be named at some point this offseason.
The quest to find out who starts right now.
Ole Miss Rebels: Run, Run and Run Some More
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Ole Miss has earned two consecutive New Year's Six bowl berths despite very little ground game help from its running backs between the tackles.
Graduating senior Jaylen Walton is much more of an edge threat, and players like Jordan Wilkins, Eugene Brazley and Akeem Judd have been unable to consistently pound the rock between the tackles.
If they can eventually do it, the Rebels offense will be nearly impossible to stop.
Quarterback Chad Kelly should return, along with a wide receiving corps that still loaded with talent even if junior Laquon Treadwell makes the jump to the NFL. The focus for head coach Hugh Freeze's offense this month should be to provide much-needed balance and finally become a force running the ball between the tackles.
It's the final piece of the offensive puzzle. If successful, it could vault the Rebels into legitimate College Football Playoff contention.
Tennessee Volunteers: Find a Reliable Wide Receiver
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Tennessee closed strong with five straight wins, but it was mostly on the heels of a three-headed monster on the ground that included quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.
The wide receivers, though, have been more sizzle than steak.
The Volunteers are loaded with talented wideouts who will be back in 2016, including Josh Malone, Josh Smith, Preston Williams and Marquez North. Still, their leading receiver—Malone—had just 388 receiving yards in 2015.
That has to change.
If somebody can emerge as a reliable, consistent threat outside at wide receiver and one of these guys can live up to potential, it will provide fuel additive to what should be a high octane Tennessee offense in 2016.
Texas A&M Aggies: Bring into Focus the Blurry QB Situation
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To say that the quarterback situation for Texas A&M is concerning would be an understatement.
It's a mess.
Sophomore Kyle Allen announced last week that he is transferring from the program despite earning the starting job back down the stretch, there have been rumors that freshman and former 5-star prospect Kyler Murray could be unhappy (via Billy Liucci of TexAgs.com, subscription required), and Jake Hubenak completed just 44.4 percent of his passes in 2015.
"Stability" is a relative term based on those circumstances, but head coach Kevin Sumlin needs to find some sort of stability at the quarterback position. The Aggies have suffered through mid-season swoons that the position in each of the last two seasons, and Sumlin can't afford history repeating itself during a critical 2016 season.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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