SEC East Preview: Is the Hype for Real in Athens?

I will now put out my take on the SEC East Division, though no postage of who goes where will be done here.  Just some pointers and thoughts I find interesting for the coming season.

Florida

Urban Meyer will have many tricks up his sleeve with the number of talented players he has this season.  QBs Tim Tebow and Cam Newton will be switched out in a two-quarterback system, along with many other players (too many to mention really) in the backfield that could become the running game down in Gainesville.

The defense returns eight starters, giving the Gators much needed experience, unlike last season.  The secondary will still be a sore spot early for the Gators.  Three new assistants (Dan McCarney-DL coach, Vance Bedford-CB coach, and Kenny Carter-RB coach) should help improve this year's Gator squad.

Georgia

Georgia is one of, if not the, most talented squad any program has this coming season.  With returning players on offense such as QB Matthew Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, and WR Mohamed Massaquoi, it'll make things easy for a young offensive line. 

On defense, it's more of the same with tons of returning talent (the whole LB corps, S Reshad Jones, CB Asher Allen, and a front four that held opponents to 3.3 yards per carry last season). 

On paper Georgia has the best shot for the SEC title and a national title run.  It may be just appropriate for the Bulldogs to have all this talent, especially when they pair it with one of the most difficult schedules in the entire country.

Kentucky

Kentucky fields a depleted offense this year, with not many names popping up to fill the shoes of the likes of Andre Woodson and Co.  The top pass catchers for the Wildcats all have gone to better things in the NFL, with only WR Dicky Lyons and RB Tony Dixon coming back with double-digit receptions last season. 

The defense will feature a strong secondary, led by All-SEC candidate Trevard Lindley.  The LBs and DL should be solid, though the beginning of the season should show more of what these groups can handle.

South Carolina

The Ol' Ball Coach will have fun again this season trying to make do with his offense.  What will help whoever gets the starting QB job (right now Tommy Beecher is ahead of Chris Smelley) is an OL that has four returning starters. 

WR Kenny McKinley will be the main passing target, while capable TBs Mike Davis and Brian Maddox will help take some pressure off the QB.

The defense should be one of the best in the SEC with MLB Jasper Brinkley coming off of injury, DE Eric Norwood, who moves to linebacker, CB Captain Munnerlyn, and S Emmanuel Cook.  The interesting thing will be how they work under new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.

Tennessee

Phil Fulmer wished he had more time with his team this spring because of what he liked as far as improvement of the team.  QB Jonathan Crompton is the new quarterback this season and should receive plenty of help from RB Arian Foster and top receivers Lucas Taylor and Gerald Jones. 

The defense should be improved from last season with six players in the secondary with starting experience.  DTs Dan Williams and Demonte’ Bolden should be tough in the middle, while the LBs will be missing Jerod Mayo and his tackling prowess this season.

Vanderbilt

If there is one thing assured in this division this season, it's that Vandy will be Vandy.  The offense is basically a giant vortex with all five of its starters on the OL gone, Earl Bennett leaving for the NFL, and an unknown in who will take control in the QB race between Mackenzie Adams and Chris Nickson. 

The defense, however, is good enough to have Vandy hang around other teams.  All-SEC CB D.J. Moore returns to an experienced secondary, along with DEs Broderick Stewart and Steven Stone.  LB Jonathan Goff is gone this season, but there is enough talent left behind to shore up what should be a rather good defense. 

It'll just be tough on them if the offense cannot stay on the field enough to let the defense rest.

Well, this is what I have so far.  Expect the projected standings for the SEC around mid-August or so.  There's still a lot of time for the projections to jump around.  I will be going into other conferences in the coming days, so do not miss out on that college football fans!