How Do You Beat The SEC?
Pictured here is the baddest of the baddest.
Nick Saban.
He currently rules the roost in the SEC.
Yes, he ruled it before Urban retired.
So how do teams beat the mighty SEC?
They have to start with Alabama and Nick Saban. And from there, digest what they have to do in order to trump the best college football conference in all the land.
College Football Rankings: A Relative Synopsis on How You Beat the SEC
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Pictured here is the master of all masters in college football today. Nick Saban is a CEO, a Head Coach, a recruiter, and a public relations genius.
He turned around the Alabama fortunes in quick fashion due to all of his skills.
Regardless of what any SEC fan may say, Saban is the best coach in the entire SEC conference.
Thus, if you want to chop down the 12-headed monster that is the SEC, you have to start with the biggest and baddest of them all: Saban and Alabama.
5. Speed
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Yes, we all hear about the speed of the SEC. So much that it has been ingrained in our heads that the specialty talent in the SEC is far greater than everywhere else in the country.
That is purely a myth.
Where the SEC truly gains it's speed advantage is on the offensive and defensive lines.
We all hear that you can't run outside on SEC defenses. And that is true to a point, but the main reason is fleet footed and athletic defensive lineman that push people well more to the outside than any other conference in the country.
Guys like Nick Fairley are what make it tough to get to the edges on SEC defenses.
How do you beat that?
Improve lateral movement in your offensive and defensive lineman. If you have to get smaller to do so, do it.
TCU's "smallish" defensive line didn't struggle against the mammoth Wisconsin offensive line. It is better to have athletes at these positions rather than size and girth.
4. Defense
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Even the Mad-Hatter knows that defense is the core to his team.
As for defense as a whole, you better have an attacking front that can get pressure up the field on the opposing QB. 4-3, or 3-4, who cares. Get after the opposing teams QB.
If not? Well, you are just pretending to be involved.
Pressure, sacks, tackles behind the line of scrimmage, interceptions, fumbles, you call it and name it, confusion on the offensive side is a must.
This is what the SEC does best. Put pressure on the QB. Force that one guy to make decisions, and make them quickly.
Otherwise?
You'll get hit in the mouth, and hit hard. Even if you make the completion.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
3. Run
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Pictured here is Mark Ingram. He doesn't have any success without a pronounced involvement of the coaching staff and the OL to be brutally different.
And that is exactly what Alabama has been the last two years. Brutally different.
In order to be successful over the long run, you damn well be better prepared to run the football.
If you want to take the heart and will out of your opponents, you need the ability to shove it down their throats until they say "Mercy."
We saw that SEC power with Mississippi State and LSU. If you can't, or won't, stop us running the football, we'll keep beating your head against the wall until you do.
Have it, and stop it.
You damn well be prepared to run the football on an SEC team, and you must be prepared to stop it.
If not? Miss State will hang you for a 52-14 victory.
2. Fear
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Be ready to step on the field with the best of the best.
No more excuses.
Michigan State complained about not being in a BCS bowl game. Alabama?
They struck the fear of God into Michigan State. They wanted no business of being on that field with Alabama from the opening kickoff.
Time not to be afraid. Look the guy in the eye across from you and say: "I'm better than you."
Because, ultimately, that is what SEC guy already thinks and has in his head. You need to spin it a complete 180 and make him fear you.
The SEC teams are built upon fear. At least against outside conference teams.
Look them in the eye. Let them know you ain't laying down like so many in the past.
1. Coaching
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Ah yes, back to Nick Saban.
And this may be the biggest chink to the armour for SEC fans. With the departure of Urban Meyer at Florida, the coaching landscape in the SEC is a bit unsettled.
How long will Nick Saban stay at Alabama?
Is Chizik good, or was it all Cam Newton?
Les Miles? Does he bolt to Michigan before he gets fired?
How long will Steve Spurrier stay at South Carolina?
Petrino at Arkansas? Does anybody believe in his loyalty?
Isn't Houston Nutt under fire at Ole Miss?
Dan Mullen has left Mississippi State, right?
Richt is on the chopping block?
Is Dooley the answer at Tennessee?
But in all seriousness, the coaches in the SEC are head and shoulders above their brethren from other conferences.
How long that will last is the real question. Urban Meyer is out, and nobody would be surprised if Saban leaves in the near future.
In a conference dominated by inspiring coaches, and strong personalities, the departure of Meyer is tough. A Saban departure would be very tough, and/or any other SEC coach out there like Mark Richt?
I'm a big fan of cycles.
Is the SEC cycle coming to an end?
Maybe.
But either way, somebody has to step up and punch the bully in the mouth.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
