College Football 2011 Preview: 6 Teams That Can Make It 6 Straight for the SEC
In 2006, it was a senior (Chris Leak) and a freshman (Tim Tebow) leading the Florida Gators past the Ohio State Buckeyes for the SEC's first national championship since 2003. In 2010, Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers made it five straight for the most ballyhooed conference in college football.
The good news for everyone else in 2011? Cam Newton is now a professional breed of cat.
The bad news? The Southeastern Conference is locked and loaded once again, with as many as six teams capable of keeping the crystal ball in the family. As for the defending champs? They're not on the list.
So who is?
Florida Gators
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The Gators skipped a beat in 2010. But in Will Muschamp's inaugural season at the helm, Florida is stocked with more than enough talent to climb back to the top of the mountain.
Senior quarterback John Brantley has seen his fair share of ups and downs during his career in Gainesville. But pro-style guru Charlie Weis could be just what the doctor ordered.
Former quarterbacks Trey Burton and Jordan Reed have been moved to fullback and tight end, respectively. Look for their athleticism and versatility to pay immediate dividends. Quinton Dunbar and Jeff Demps will be relied upon for big plays on the perimeter, and the Florida coaching staff is said to be garnering high expectations for Chris Rainey as the featured runner.
Defensively, the Gators will sorely miss Janoris Jenkins. However, Jelani Jenkins & Co. are still very deep and very talented. Florida looks to be much improved up front with Dominique Easley, Shariff Floyd and Ronald Powell. Jon Bostic will once again provide a solid anchor in the middle.
The team is young and led by a first-year head coach. The schedule is daunting, and the conference slate offers no relief. Still, the Muschamp-built coaching staff is too good and the wealth of talent too great to ignore Florida in 2011.
South Carolina Gamecocks
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It seems that the one thing holding the Gamecocks back is their pea-brained quarterback—or lack thereof.
With Alshon Jeffrey, Marcus Lattimore and spring game standout DeAngelo Smith, South Carolina is as loaded offensively as any team in the SEC. Still, the realization of that potential is very much in doubt, and the lack of a reliable signal caller is to blame.
That is as much an indictment of Connor Shaw as it is Stephen Garcia, as Garcia has all but rolled out the red carpet for a mediocre game manager that has been unable to seize the opportunity in Shaw.
Jadeveon Clowney immediately takes center stage as a playmaker off the end for the Gamecock defense. Opposite him is All-SEC pass rusher Devin Taylor. The two bookend a plethora of talent along what may be the best defensive line in the Southeastern Conference, if not the entire country.
Human "hit stick" DeVonte Holloman moves from strong safety to Spur linebacker. Akeem Auguste and Stephon Gilmore are the corners in what should be an above-average secondary.
If ever the stage was set for Steve Spurrier to win big in South Carolina, now is the time. A manageable division. A relatively weak schedule. A roster loaded with talent. So it is ironic that the quarterback position stands to ruin everything. Where is Jesse Palmer when you need him? Or was it Rex Grossman?
Georgia Bulldogs
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A traditional SEC power that has fallen on hard times of late. A talented but mostly overlooked signal caller. The top-ranked freshman running back in the country. Perceived as a fringe contender, likely headed for eight or nine wins.
A description of the 2010 Auburn Tigers? Or the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs?
Isaiah Crowell enters the fold as one of the more highly anticipated additions to the Georgia football program in recent memory, and not a moment too soon. With the departure of Washaun Ealey, the Bulldogs are left with a hole in the backfield that they'll need Crowell to fill. Aaron Murray is coming off a stellar freshman season and looks poised to make his name as one of the all-time great UGA QBs.
The defense is led by Bacarri Rambo, who just might have the best name in college football. Rambo forced three fumbles and intercepted three passes in addition to his 82 tackles a year ago. He can play either safety spot.
Alec Ogletree, a standout safety as a freshman in '10, moves down to inside linebacker. Around him, the Bulldogs are younger, but second-year coordinator Todd Grantham likes what he has. If he still likes 'em by the time Georgia meets the Gators in Jacksonville, the 'Dogs might be in business.
Offensively, Georgia looks explosive in spite of the loss of A.J. Green. The key to its success or failure lies, ultimately, in the performance and consistency of the defense. Regardless, the notion that the sky is once again the limit in Athens must come as music to the ears of Bulldog supporters.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
LSU Tigers
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Two things are a virtual lock for the LSU Tigers in 2011. 1) Head coach Les Miles is going to put the Bayou Bengals in some unnecessarily precarious predicaments. 2) History tells us that he will escape, albeit inexplicably, time and time again.
Regardless, the luckiest human on the planet stands as the most difficult obstacle for the Tigers to overcome this season—just as he has in every other season.
On the offensive side of the football, LSU is as talented as it's ever been under the current regime. In particular, the quarterback position—which has been a weak spot in Baton Rouge since the departure of JaMarcus Russell—is suddenly a strong suit. Jordan Jefferson is said to have picked up Steve Kragthorpe's offense very well in the spring, and he looks poised to finally live up to his potential. If not, well, Zach Mettenberger is waiting.
Defensively, the Tigers have to figure out how to replace Kelvin Sheppard and Patrick Peterson. Tyrann Mathieu emerged as the answer for the latter. But going into the summer, the former is still an unsolved mystery.
The talent is there. The experience is there. But with non-conference games vs. Oregon and West Virginia and the usual SEC main course of matchups with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi State and Auburn, it wouldn't be an easy row to hoe for a good coach. For Les Miles? Yikes.
Stranger things have happened though. It wouldn't be the first time that Miles has stumbled his way into a national championship.
Arkansas Razorbacks
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How do you lose the most prolific passer in school history and improve? The Hogs are ready to show and tell in 2011.
Tyler Wilson emerged as a fan favorite after a couple of solid cameo appearances in relief of Ryan Mallett. Wilson doesn't have the "RPG" arm of his predecessor, but with the arsenal of receivers that surround him, his assault rifle will do just fine. Brandon Mitchell pushed Wilson in the spring and could see significant playing time as well.
Arkansas boasts one of the nation's deepest receiving corps, and the group is as diverse as it is dangerous. The key to the Razorbacks' success, however, will be the running game. Knile Davis led the SEC in rushing a season ago and should be primed for a repeat performance in 2011.
The only thing that seems to stand in his way? His teammates. Ronnie Wingo Jr. remains hot on Davis' trail heading into the summer, and when the Hogs return for fall camp, Dennis Johnson will be vying for carries as well.
On defense, Arkansas returns virtually everyone—none more pivotal than captains from a season ago, end Jake Bequette and linebacker Jerry Franklin. The unit improved 53 spots, up to 36th, in total defense in 2010. In 2011 they'll look to further dispel the notion that high-octane offenses and lockdown defenses cannot reside on the same campus.
The talent level in Fayetteville has rarely, if ever, been higher. The Hogs are experienced and well coached and will again contend for the division crown. But three key dates look to be standing between Arkansas and its first national championship in 47 years: Sept. 24 at Alabama, Oct. 1 vs. Texas A&M and Nov. 25 at LSU. If the Razorbacks can make it to Thanksgiving weekend unscathed, they've got a puncher's chance.
Alabama Crimson Tide
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It's the same song, fourth verse, for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Once again, Alabama will head into 2011 as an early favorite.
Greg McElroy is gone, but whether he is replaced by A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims, his successor may well prove to be a considerable upgrade. Mark Ingram is gone, but needless to say, Trent Richardson is more than capable of taking on the bulk of the load.
Julio Jones is—you guessed it—no longer in attendance. Marquis Maze is back though, and with the arrival of Duron Carter, the Tide look as though they may have a one-two punch that makes folks forget all about Jones.
The Alabama offense got stagnant at times in 2010. That shouldn't be the case in 2011.
Defensively, the status quo remains. Marcell Dareus departs...and that's pretty much where the bad news ends. Mark Barron leads an entirely intact Crimson Tide secondary. The same can be said for Dont'a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw and what looks to be the most ferocious linebacking corps in college football. Even if the offense goes through early-season growing pains, the defense can carry them.
So what's the catch? As with everyone else in the SEC, the catch is the schedule. The Tide will go on the road to face Penn State, Florida, Mississippi State and Auburn and will play host to Arkansas and LSU. A lineup like that seems to drastically reduce the odds of Alabama, or anyone else from the Southeastern Conference, navigating its way to a national championship. But for five consecutive years someone has.
In all likelihood, one of these squads will make it six.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
