Greg McElroy Could Be Class of SEC QBs in 2010

The effectiveness and numbers of the passing game in college football is one of the most debated and misunderstood parts of the game.

It seems that when you ask the average SEC fan what programs are passing the ball more, they rattle off names according to reputation instead of fact.

Since the days of Bart Star and Joe Namath, Alabama has not been terribly successful throwing the ball. There were blips on the radar, but nothing that could be sustained.

But the arrival of Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa began a new era, and it seems that the perceived limitations of the past are fading away. Saban's first Alabama quarterback, John Parker Wilson, put up good numbers at times, but it seemed when Alabama needed it most the passing game wasn't there.

Enter an unassuming "Opie Taylor" look-a-like from Texas named Greg McElroy.

What changed with McElroy at the helm in 2009 was not so much the numbers, but the timing. Not only did Alabama get more passing yards when it needed them early against Virginia Tech and Arkansas, but also at season's end against Florida.

On one of the biggest stages imaginable, the formerly earthbound Alabama program put up 239 yards passing against one of the nation's most experienced secondaries.

Looking at the first three significant games played by the major players in the SEC in 2009, the passing results went like this:

Arkansas – 870

Auburn – 734

Georgia – 671

Alabama – 669

South Carolina – 661

LSU – 553

Tennessee – 445

Florida – 382

Several things jump out you on this list.

Most glaringly, the lack of numbers by the Florida program. If you asked 10 fans today who passed for the most yards last season, eight of them would probably say Florida, and they would be wrong.

Even with "Superman" himself, Tim Tebow, at quarterback, Florida struggled last year in the passing game.

The prospects for 2010 look a little better, simply because new starter John Brantly would be hard pressed to do worse.

Seeing Arkansas at the top shouldn't surprise anyone. Ryan Mallett was considered an NFL prospect and was on fire before being humbled by the Alabama secondary.

Originally, some saw this as a red flag against Mallett. But since no other quarterback penetrated Alabama's secondary in 2009, most believe he just ran into a wall that wasn't going to be scaled.

Mallett and Arkansas have no doubt circled September 25th on their calendar.  Alabama's secondary is now full of young players, and Mallett must be licking his chops.

After Arkansas there was a significant drop to Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina bunched up in the middle.

Auburn is rolling the dice with Cameron Newton, a big 6'6” washout from Florida.

After JaMarcus Russell found success at LSU, I believe the college football world has become too obsessed with overly tall quarterbacks who can buy time with their feet.

Though this is a nice feature to add to the tool kit, if that kit doesn't include the ability to read defenses and throw accurately what you have is a one trick pony.

I don't know if Newton is a one trick pony, but I do know Auburn has next to nothing behind him. Rumors persisted this summer that Newton is injured and it may effect his 2010 season.

Georgia starts freshman Aaron Murray, a smallish but highly rated quarterback in high school. It's likely some growing pains are expected for 2010.

South Carolina returns Stephen Garcia, who should be one of the better signal callers in the conference this year. He showed flashes of brilliance last year and though he's not fleet of foot, he has a knack for getting the ball away under pressure.

The LSU quarterback situation is like that dysfunctional family that lives down the street in the crappy house. The combination of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee seems to be a bag of high risk, high reward, and spectacular failure.

Tennessee has one of the more interesting figures in Matt Simms, the son of former NY Giant and Super Bowl winning quarterback Phil Simms and the brother of Tennessee Titan Chris Simms.

At least Chris was a Titan last time I checked, He was popped for “DWB” (driving while baked) last week, so he could be joining the long line of screw ups at the office door of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

Matt Simms was an all-world recruit at one point, and signed with Louisville with much fanfare. But he wound up bouncing to El Camino College in Torrence, California. He eventually signed on with Derek Dooley and the embattled Tennessee program.

After some bailouts, the quarterback job fell into Simms' lap. The Tennessee Volunteers may need some volunteers to finish the season if things don't go well in Knoxville this year.

Though anything can happen, Alabama's Grey McElroy returns most of his offensive line, all of his receivers, and has several years in the current offensive system. He may have a shot at the best year in recent memory at the Capstone.

McElroy was disrespected and written off by SEC fans all year last season. Something tells me that though he's an undefeated starter and an SEC and National Championship winning quarterback, he just won't pass the eye test, and therefore will still be ignored.

I guess in the MTV and Internet media generation, a butt-ugly guy like Jim Plunkett wouldn't have won the Heisman at Stanford and led the Raiders to not one, but two Super Bowl wins.

I guess that ugly mug is also the reason he's the only two-time winning Super Bowl quarterback not in the NFL Hall of Fame.

If only we could all look like Troy Aikman.