Hoke's SEC Progress Report: The Top QBs, RBs, and Defenses

A third of the way through the regular season, the SEC still looks like the strongest league in America. For the second week in a row, it will have the marquee game in the nation.

Last week LSU traveled to Auburn and won a classic game on the road. This week, undefeated Alabama travels to Athens to take on the undefeated and national title contending Georgia Bulldogs.

Here's a progress report/ranking of the quarterbacks, running backs, and defenses in the SEC as I see them after Week Four.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Matt Stafford, Georgia

Stafford is off to a hot start leading the Bulldogs offense. Stafford has yet to throw a pick and is completing 61 percent of his passes.

2. Tim Tebow, Florida

Yes, I know, Tebow's numbers are way down from last year so far, but he's still completing 60 percent of his passes. Like Stafford, he hasn't thrown a pick this year.

3. Chris Smelley, South Carolina

This is probably a bit of a surprise to some, but Smelley has been good despite the Gamecocks losing their first two SEC games. He's completing a league high 64 percent of his passes and has thrown six touchdowns.

4. Jarrett Lee, LSU

OK, I'm sure some people are wondering about this, but hear me out. Anyone who watched Lee in the second half of the Auburn game realizes how good this kid can be. In limited action this season, he ranks as the league's third most efficient passer. If given the reins, he could have a great season.

5. John Parker Wilson, Alabama

Wilson isn't racking up the big numbers that he has in the past, but he's done what he needs to do so far. He's completing 60 percent of his passes and has only thrown one interception to five touchdowns.

6. Jevan Snead, Ole Miss

Snead is coming off a horrible four-interception game against Vanderbilt, but he's still a highly talented QB with ability to both run and throw. He's third in the league in yards per game.

7. Chris Todd, Auburn

Todd has been given the reins as the starter, even though the fans are still clamoring for backup Kodi Burns. Todd has been inconsistent so far, but he's thrown for 250 yards in two of his three starts, and his 250-yard performance and late TD throw against LSU almost won them the game.

8. Chris Nickson, Vanderbilt

Nickson has the Commodores at 4-0 and ranked for the first time since 1984. Nickson's ability to run is his best asset, but I'm still looking for that breakout game against a top-notch defense. He only managed 107 total yards against South Carolina earlier in the season.

9. Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee

I expected more out of Crompton so far, as I'm sure most Vol fans did as well. Crompton is only completing 56 percent of his passes, and has thrown four picks to two touchdowns. Crompton has yet to make any big plays, something the Vols desperately need this week at Auburn.

10. Casey Dick, Arkansas

Bobby Petrino is trying to develop Casey Dick into a better passer, but as his three-interception performance against Alabama showed, there is still much work to be done. Dick is leading the league in yards per game, but two cupcakes helped pad the stats.

11. Mike Hartline, Kentucky

Hartline hasn't thrown an interception yet this season, but he's only throwing for 150 yards per game and has only thrown two touchdowns. The competition is about to pick up, so we will get a better look at Hartline from here on out.

12. Wesley Carroll, Mississippi State

This was an easy choice. Carroll is passing for 130 yards per game and has thrown six interceptions to three touchdowns this season. He's also completing a league-low 54 percent of his passes to lead an anemic Bulldog passing game.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia

Moreno has been great so far, rushing for nine touchdowns already through four games in limited action. He will be tested this week against a good Alabama defense.

2. Charles Scott, LSU

Scott leads the league in rushing at 130 yards per game and has been a bruiser for LSU. He brings the workhorse mentality that the other Tiger backs don't have.

3. Glen Coffee, Alabama

Coffee has broken out of the crowded backfield at Alabama to be the clear No. 1 guy. He's coming off a huge performance against Arkansas that saw him go for 140 yards-plus and is currently averaging eight yards per carry this season.

4. Ben Tate, Auburn

Even though the Tiger running game has struggled at times, Tate is still averaging over 80 yards per game and has added two touchdowns. With Brad Lester being banged up, his production could go up.

5. Arian Foster, Tennessee

Foster hasn't been what he was a year ago yet, but the whole Vol team has struggled so far. The Vols need to get back to their strength, and that's giving Foster the ball. He has yet to score a TD this season.

6. Mark Ingram, Alabama

The true freshman has been the backup to Coffee so far and has provided a good 1-2 punch off the bench. Ingram is tied for second in the league with four touchdowns so far in 2008.

7. Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State

Dixon got banged up against Auburn but is still one of the toughest backs to bring down in the league. With a team that has no passing game, Dixon is going to get a ton of carries as the season goes on.

8. Jared Hawkins, Vanderbilt

Jared who? Hawkins has been a huge reason why the Commodores are 4-0 this season. Vanderbilt has found a bit of a running game, and Hawkins is the reason why. Averaging almost 80 yards per game and three touchdowns so far, the 'Dores will rely on him heavily to keep this season going in the right direction.

9. Mike Davis, South Carolina

Davis is a tough runner who is tough to bring down. With Spurrier's passing mindset, a Gamecock back is sometimes a forgotten one, but Davis has provided Carolina with a solid runner in 2008.

10. Michael Smith, Arkansas

Taking over for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones is one tough task, but Smith has the ability to make some big plays. Smith is coming off a 91-yard performance on 19 carries against a stingy Alabama defense and has the speed to take one the distance at any time.

DEFENSES

1. Florida

The Gators have been stout so far, giving up six points and just over 200 total yards per game. I will say I predicted they would be much improved this season, and it's looking like that so far.

2. LSU

The Bengal Tigers showed against Auburn why they have the best defensive line in the country, allowing the Auburn backs no room to run. They rotate eight guys through a defensive line that is as good as you will find anywhere, Southern Cal included.

3. Alabama

The Tide have been a surprise group this season under Nick Saban stopping the run and getting turnovers. They had two defensive touchdowns against Arkansas but will face their toughest test of the season in Athens on Saturday against Georgia.

4. Auburn

Auburn was playing like the best defense in the league through three-and-a-half games, but then came the second half against LSU, where they gave up 23 points and looked like a tired defense. They are still only giving up 10 points per game.

5. Georgia

The Bulldogs have been very good so far but are still giving up too many yards through the air. They gave up 250 yards to both South Carolina and Arizona State but have been stout against the run. They will now get their rush defense tested against a bruising Alabama run game this Saturday.

6. South Carolina

This defense looked like one of the best units in the league early in the season, but then they gave up 24 points to Vanderbilt and couldn't get a big stop when they needed to. They are coming a 13-point, no turnover performance against Wofford as well.

7. Kentucky

The Wildcats have been strong on defense so far, giving up only six points per game, but schedule strength has a lot to do with that. Still, the Cats have some real talent and will get plenty of chances to show how good they can be.

8. Tennessee

The Vols defense hasn't been terrible this season, but against UCLA and Florida they just couldn't get the big stops. They aren't playing up to their capability so far, giving up 20 points per game, but they have the talent to turn it around.

9. Mississippi State

The Bulldog defense looked good against Auburn but then followed that up with a horrible performance, giving up 438 yards rushing against Georgia Tech Saturday.

10. Vanderbilt

Even though the Commodores are 4-0, their defense is still giving up 364 yards per game, which is last in the league. They do have one of the better secondaries in the league and showed it against Ole Miss, picking off Jevan Snead four times.

11. Ole Miss

The Rebels had a lot of holes to fill coming into 2008, and they have struggled to fill them so far. Ole Miss is giving up 22 points per game and is at the bottom of the league in most areas.

12. Arkansas

Western Illinois scored 24 points, Louisiana Monroe scored 27 points, and Alabama just rushed for over 300 yards against the Hogs. Enough said.