South Carolina
How will they react after getting blown out in the final 3 games last season? (118-30 in losses to Florida, Clemson, and Iowa). They also have hired 4 new offensive coaches to try and turn things around.
QB- Garcia will have the playmaking duties to himself after Smelley transferred. Garcia completed 53% of passes for 832 yards with 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. SC finished dead last in college football combining to throw 27 INT last year!
RB- The Gamecocks had all sorts of problems running the football last year as their QB was second on the team in yards! 112 out of 119 teams in ypg with 94.1. They have inserted a one back scheme out of the shotgun to give way to deeper handoffs. The depth is an issue as they don't have one returning starter with more than 200 yards rushing.
WR- No more McKinley who was the school's all-time leading receiver. Senior Moe Brown has 633 career yards and will be called upon this year. The real question is if Dion LeCorn is 100% after cracking a bone in his leg on the last day of spring.
OL- Gave up 39 sacks last year and have a new line coach. They also have 3 returning starters. LT,C, and G return.
DL- 4-2-5 scheme. 3 year starter and Tackle Nathan Pepper will be the man on the line.
LB- 2 time ALL SEC Selection Eric Norwood is arguably the team's best player. All time leader in tackles for a loss and close to the school's career sacks record.
DB- Lost their top 3 CB and Whitlock is ? after being suspended. The crew will be led by 6'1'' Stephon Gilmore. The safeties will be good.
Strengths- LB, WR
Weaknesses- RB, OL
Prediction: 5-7
Florida
We
all know they have Tebow. The Running backs will be fine with the
combination of Moody, Demps, and Rainey. Demps and Rainey each averaged
7.8 ypc last year.
WR/TE- Aaron Hernandez is a stud of a TE.
He will provide mismatches for the defenses facing the Gators. The WR
core only combined for 62 catches a year ago.
OL- They lost both tackles and does not souns good for an SEC Conference. Chemistry could be an issue early on.
DL- Really solid core as everyone returns.
LB- Spikes returns and was the leading tackler last year with 93.
DB-
Could be a strength of the defense. Joe Haden is a good player and
Ahmad Black returns and led the team in INT last year with 7.
Specialist-
Andre DeBose. Being compared to Percy Harvin he has the speed and
playmaking ability. He is a freshman and rushed for 1,322 yards last
year in HS. He also has speed (4.4).
Prediction: 11-1
Georgia
QB-
They lose Stafford and fifth year senior Cox is far from his ability.
He does not possess a powerful arm and now runs the show for the
Bulldogs. He has only taken a few snaps at Georgia and now must face
tough defenses in the SEC.
RB-
Lose Moreno and now may have a running back by commitee approach. Caleb
King (So) and Richard Samuel (So) will lead the backfield.
WR-
A.J. Green returns and is a stud who led the team in receptions with 56
for 963 yards and 9 touchdowns. Injuries may be a problem as they have
some players who are either injured or returning from an injury.
OL-
Will be a positive for the Bulldogs They get LT Trinton Sturdivant back
after he missed last year with an ACL injury. The developement of the
line is a key because they don't really have a ton of playmakers like
they have had in the past on offense.
DL-
They get DT Jeff Owens back from injury after suffering a torn ACL in
the first game last season. He is also a Third Team Preseason all SEC
selection.
LB-
Led by Curran who is a Second team preseason all sec selection. He led
the team in tackles with 115 which was 39 more than anyone else.
DB-
Reshad Jones leads the bunch after electing not to go to the NFL. The
other spot will need to be filled after Asher Allen left for the NFL.
Specialist-
K Blair Walsh is a third team pre season all sec selection and should
be improved with another year under his belt. He made 15-23 attempts
last year and was the #1 HS Kicker in the nation a couple of years ago.
Strengths- OL, WR, LB
Weaknesses- QB and DB
Prediction: 8-4
Kentucky
QB- Mike Hartline contributed to six of Kentucky's 7 wins last year when he started. 1,600+, 9/8 TD to INT ratio.
RB-
Kentucky's rushing attack was terrible last year and they lose their RB
from last season. Insert Senior Alfonso Smith (74-204yds last year). He
has been working hard and Derrick Locke is back too. He rushed for 319
yds on 63 carries before getting injured and missing the rest of the
season.
WR- Cobb returns after catching 21 passes for 197
yards last year. He may be Hartline's go-to target. They also get a
JUCO Transfer Chris Matthews who caught 80 passes for 1,235 yards last
year LA Harbor College. The WR unit may be the worst in the SEC.
OL-
The experience of the offense comes in the line. They have many
combined starts and they also get back Christian Johnson who sat out
last year.
DL- They have two good players in DE Jarmon and LT
Corey Peters. The right side will be a problem however and they may
have an inexperienced right end.
LB- Micah Johnson returns
after a stellar season posting 93 tackles, 13 TFL, and 4 sacks. Next to
him are a bunch of inexperienced players. If teams can double up on
Johnson, they will have a field day against this Defense.
DB-
They have the SEC's best cover corner in Trevard Lindley. He has 9
career INT and 34 pass deflections. The secondary will be good and will
be the strength of the defense.
Strengths- DB, QB
Weaknesses- WR, LB
Prediction: 5-7
Up next: Tennessee and Vanderbilt