SEC East Preview.
The SEC East has been making progress in catching up to the West. Georgia made its first appearance in the College Football Playoffs last year, only to lose to Alabama in the National Title Game. South Carolina had a quiet nine win season. Traditional powers, Tennessee and Florida embark on new eras with new head coaches. The Gators took Dan Mullen away from Mississippi State. Kentucky has been good enough to make bowl games and Missouri has been making good progress under coach, Barry Odom. Will Derek Mason's Commodores rise up and surprise?
I will attempt to make some sense of it all as I'll preview all of the SEC East teams. There will be a projected order of finish at the end of the article.
Florida
2017: (3-5)(4-7)
Head Coach: Dan Mullen, (first year), (69-46 at Mississippi State)
The Gators haven't been the same since 2009. The Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain coaching stints have been difficult, especially offensively. In comes Dan Mullen, who directed the Gator offense back in their heyday before his time at Mississippi State. He made the cowbells ring with pride, for the most part. Offense has always been important in Gainesville since Steve Spurrier roamed the Florida sidelines back in the 90s.
I know how important offense is here.
I know everybody likes to score.
I love scoring points.
That is what Mullen said and will try to do. He will have to open up an offense that was 108th in scoring. Sophomore, Feleipe Franks took his lumps last year as the starting quarterback most of the time. Kyle Trask and highly touted recruit, Emory Jones will get opportunities. Franks brings size, experience and a good arm. The line allowed 29 sacks and let all kinds of disruption go on behind them. Versatile, Martez Ivey and Tyler Jordan return on the line.
Tyrie Cleveland and Kadarius Toney return at receiver, with Ole Miss transfer, Van Jefferson joining them after being ruled eligible. More punch is needed in the running game. Lamical Perine led the team with 562 yards rushing. Malik Davis is back from a knee injury and Jordan Scarlett returns after missing 2017 suspended. Only 156 rushing yards were averaged last year.
The Florida defense also declined through the past several years, but new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham arrives to fix it. The ends should thrive in a new 3-4 formation. Cece Jefferson will top his 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks. David Reese; (102 tackles) and Rayshad Jackson will be two of the top linebackers.
The secondary is young, but should be the strength of the defense. Cornerbacks are Marco Wilson and C.J. Henderson; (4 picks). Safety, Jeawon Taylor will rattle your teeth.
Mullen not only has to improve the offense, he also has to improve the behavior of these players. Florida was rocked with suspensions which played a big part in a four win season. They can't afford for that to happen again.
Tennessee, Mississippi State, Georgia and Florida State are all on the road. The big games at the Swamp will be LSU and South Carolina. It will be tough sledding, but Florida should have enough to get back to bowling.
Georgia
2017: (7-1)(13-2)
Head Coach: Kirby Smart, (3rd year) 21-7
These Bulldogs have become the torch bearer for the East half of the SEC in a small amount of time under Kirby Smart. They appear like they are joining the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma as one of the nation's elite. The future is a very bright one after narrowly losing the National Championship Game to Alabama.
Georgia accomplished that with a freshman quarterback. Jake Fromm took over from an injured Jacob Eason and never relinquished the job. He faces stiff competition from true freshman, Justin Fields. Georgia is looking to improve their passing attack which was 12th in the SEC last year. Having running backs such as Nick Chubb and Sony Michel at your disposal had much to do with that, but they are gone now. Lightning fast, D'Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield had carries last year. Zamir White and James Cook should contribute this year.
The offensive line will be a rock again with huge left tackle, Andrew Thomas; center, Lamont Gaillard and left guard, Andrew Baker. Jamaree Salyer should take a spot on the line.
The primary receiver will be Terry Godwin followed by Mercole Hardman and Riley Ridley.
Defensive backs will be the strength of the defense. Cornerback, Deandre Baker is fast and physical. Tyrique McGhee and Tyson Campbell fill out the corners. Safeties will be J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte.
There is speed and athleticism in their linebackers, despite losing key players. Monty Rice-Smith, Deandre Walker, Walter Grant and senior, Natrez Patrick will be one of the league's best linebacking units.
More disruption behind the opposition's line is needed. Jonathan Ledbetter will be at defensive end with Tyler Clark and Notre Dame transfer, Jay Hayes being the tackles.
It looks like a tailor made schedule for Georgia. A difficult trip to South Carolina is on the second week. Other trips are to Missouri, LSU and Kentucky. Tennessee and Auburn will be between the hedges. Georgia should take the East again.
Kentucky
2017: (4-4)(7-6)
Head Coach: Mark Stoops, (6th year) 26-36
Coach Mark Stoops has had the Wildcats lingering around bowl eligibility. They lost a very close Music City Bowl to Northwestern last year. Can Kentucky take the next step and become a threat in the East? This could be the best team under Stoops.
Kentucky needs more pop in their passing game and more explosiveness with their skill players. In comes quarterback, Terry Wilson from Oregon, who is a great runner and best fits the read option offense. Connor Hoak is a good pocket passer as backup. Four starters are back on the offensive line. Running back, Benny Snell returns who rushed for 1333 yards and 19 touchdowns. Asim Rose will back Snell up. Tavin Richards is the only experienced receiver coming back. Dorian Baker missed 2017 with ankle issues. Tight end, C.J. Conrad is All SEC.
Ten starters return on a defense that was second worst in the SEC in pass defense. Safety, Mike Edwards is the leading returning tackler who will get picked in the draft next April. Darius West is on the other side that is a thumper. Cornerbacks are Derrick Baity and sure tackler, Lonnie Johnson.
Senior, Josh Allen will be another draft pick at linebacker. John Paschal will be moved from end to linebacker. More impact needs to happen from this defense and more turnovers created.
Kentucky's road trips are to Florida, Texas A&M, Missouri and Tennessee. Louisville is also away. Mississippi State, South Carolina and Georgia come to Commonwealth Stadium. Their schedule is rugged and will need upsets to get to six wins.
Missouri
2017: (4-4)(7-6)
Head Coach: Barry Odom, (3rd year) 11-14
Missouri improved to seven wins from four the previous year with the best SEC offense. They won six straight after a 1-5 start, but dropped their bowl game to Texas. The Tigers beaten who they should beat, but struggled when they were the underdogs.
I want to get one thing real straight. I'm going to win here.
Coach Barry Odom is confident he can get Missouri back to winning the East again like they did the first two years they were SEC members. He will have quarterback, Drew Lock again, who could be the first quarterback off the board in the next NFL draft. His numbers were an eye popping 3964 yards passing and 44 touchdowns. He has to perform better against better competition and improve his accuracy.
All five starters return on an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the SEC. They lost their top receiver and running back, but have a deep threat receiver in Emmanuel Hall and a rotation of running backs in Larry Roundtree and Damarea Crockett. Tight end, Albert Okwuegbunam had the most touchdown receptions in the country by any tight end with 11.
The defense had difficulty catching its breath with the warp speed offense Missouri runs. The front seven are good who are defensive end, Tre Williams and Chris Turner with tackles, Terry Beckner and Walter Palmore. Linebackers are lead tackler, Cale Garrett; second leading tackler, Terez Hall and Brandon Lee. Missouri led the SEC in tackles for loss and produced 33 sacks.
There are holes to fill at safety. Cam Hilton is a fast free safety. Cornerbacks are Demarkus Acy and Adam Sparks, who have big play ability.
Missouri visits Purdue in its third game, then the gauntlet gets run. They host Georgia, then visits South Carolina and Alabama. Memphis on the return home after Alabama will be no bargain. The schedule eases up after that, but has critical matchups at Florida and Tennessee in November. Missouri could land anywhere between four and nine wins depending on how they fare in the middle of the season.
South Carolina
2017: (5-3)(9-4)
Head Coach: Will Muschamp, (3rd year) 15-11
The Gamecocks were possibly the quietest nine win team in the country last year. Will Muschamp offenses usually aren't gimmicky or flashy, which got him in trouble when he was at Florida. They won five games as underdogs in 2017. Should Georgia have to look over its shoulder?
Back to the offense. The Gamecocks were 12th in the SEC. Quarterback, Jake Bentley is one of the most seasoned quarterbacks in college football, but 12 interceptions is a bit too high. Especially for an offense as prodding as South Carolina's. Deebo Samuel is a superstar receiver, but a leg injury interrupted his season last year. Bryan Edwards, big Ortre Smith and quick Shi Smith round out the pass catchers.
Only 122 rushing yards were averaged. All returning running backs are juniors who are leading rusher, A.J. Turner, Tyson Williams and Rico Dowdle. Three are back on a versatile offensive line which will be shuffled. Zach Bailey can play guard or tackle.
A defense that led the SEC in takeaways has six starters returning. Linebacker, Bryson Allen-Williams can play anywhere. T.J. Brunson and his 88 tackles is in the middle. Defensive end, D.J. Wonnum had six sacks. Tackles are Keir Thomas and Javon Kinlaw. They need to create more pressure on the quarterbacks as they were only 86th in passing defense.
Georgia comes to Columbia in the second week. South Carolina should be favorites in the remainder of their six home games. They hit the road for Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Florida and Clemson. If the offense can get more potent and the defense get more disruptive, 10 wins is attainable.
Tennessee
2017: (0-8)(4-8)
Head Coach: Jeremy Pruitt, (first year)
It's back to the drawing board for the Volunteers. New head coach, Jeremy Pruitt guided Georgia and Florida State to fierce defenses as their defensive coordinator. Tennessee even brought back Phillip Fulmer to take the role as Athletic Director. Fulmer coached the Peyton Manning led Volunteers to the first BCS National Championship. This project is going to take some time to recover from the years of tumult this program has gone through.
Tennessee had another subpar offense in a division that's had too many of them. They were at the bottom of the SEC, along with their standing. New offensive coordinator, Tyson Helton will install an up tempo offense with quick passing. Sophomore, Jarrett Guarantantonio took most of the lumps last year. Stanford transfer, Keller Chryst is in the mix along with Will McBride.
Injuries decimated the offensive line last season and questions need to be answered here. Trey Smith and Drew Richmond look to be the tackles.
John Kelly has moved on to running the ball in the NFL. Filling this void will be Ty Chandler and Mississippi State transfer, Madre London. There are capable receivers in Marquez Callaway, Brandon Johnson and Jauan Jennings.
81st defense in the FBS and averaging 35 points given up are low bar numbers. They should have a strong interior with tackle, Shy Tuttle and linebackers, Darrell Taylor, Daniel Bituli and Quart'e Sapp. Kyle Phillips and Jonathan Konobo will man the ends.
Cornerbacks are a big question mark, but Tennessee has solid safeties in Nigel Warrior and Micah Abernathy.
The numbers last year were ugly with Tennessee. 3015 rushing yards for the opponents to Tennessee's 1409. They were outscored in the fourth quarter, 102-48. This has to change, but the schedule makers didn't cut them a break. After kicking off the season with high octane West Virginia, they hit the road to Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Alabama and Florida comes to Knoxville. The Vols could pick up some wins in November; maybe enough to get to six.
Vanderbilt
2017: (1-7)(5-7)
Head Coach: Derek Mason, (4th year) 18-31
Progression of this program has been difficult under coach, Derek Mason, but he has beaten Tennessee two years in a row.
Can Vanderbilt keep up with an improving East division?
Seven starters return on an offense who couldn't run the ball. Every starter is back on the offensive line that includes center, Bruno Reagan. Illinois transfer, Ke'Shawn Vaughn is a physical running back and will attempt to make the most to what the line gives him.
Quarterback, Kyle Schurmer is another experienced signal caller, but has had problems with accuracy. He passed for 2823 yards and a school record, 26 touchdowns. Kalija Lipscomb is the primary target and Alex Stump will contribute.
The defense capitulated at times, giving up 44 points on average in SEC play. Four starters return including linebacker, Jordan Griffin and playmaker, Charles Wright. Defensive end, Dare Odeyingbo is experienced. They have to control the rushing attacks much better.
Ladarius Wiley is a top SEC safety and Joejuan Williams is a pass breakup artist. Only nine takeaways were generated by the defense and were last in the country with two recovered fumbles.
Vanderbilt has two winnable home games before a trip to Notre Dame and South Carolina at home. A five game stretch with four away games from mid-October to mid-November will determine their season. Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri are the road trips in that stretch. Anything over five wins looks to be ambitious.
Projected Order of Finish...
1. Georgia (7-1)(11-1)
2. South Carolina (7-1)(10-2)
3. Missouri (5-3)(9-4)
4. Florida (3-5)(6-6)
5. Kentucky (2-6)(5-7)
6. Tennessee (1-7)(4-8)
7. Vanderbilt (1-7)(4-8)
