Here are the rankings of the 12 teams in the SEC at this point. Injuries and suspensions could play a role in how things shake out as the season progresses, but here is how it looks after two weeks.
1. Alabama: This is an obvious choice. An unlimited number of weapons on offense with Mark Ingram added to the mix when he returns somewhat this weekend. He will be back at full speed against Ark. Sept 25. McElroy, Julio, Trent (phenomenal player), Maze, Hanks, now Norwood, Dial, Eddie Lacy, the list goes on. Maybe the best offensive line in football. Manhandled Penn State. Defense may be tested somewhat this weekend against Duke and will definitely be tested at Fayetteville, Sept. 25. Defensive backs look pretty talented though and linebackers and line look good. Defense will be the key when Tide faces Ark on road, Fl at home (Oct. 2) and South Carolina on road (Oct.9) following Duke game this weekend. Need to take care of business this weekend then get ready for a big stretch of games which will determine the season. Right now looking like the national championship squad they were predicted to be at the beginning of the season. With Ingram back, the sky’s the limit on offense. Will be unstoppable. It’ll be interesting to see how Jim McElwain splits up the carries between Ingram and Richardson.
2. South Carolina: After an impressive home victory over Georgia, the Gamecocks look like they’re ready to make a run to Atlanta though they have started fast before only to fade late in the season. But their offensive line is much improved and playing great football right now, and Steve Spurrier has a sensational running back in Marcus Lattimore. He looks like Emmett Smith out there and really even better. He can break tackles better than anyone I’ve ever seen. Defense is solid. The key for the Gamecocks is Stephen Garcia. Can he play at a high level? He will be tested as teams will start loading the box to stop Lattimore. If he can come through the Gamecocks could find themselves in Atlanta in Dec. There are some tough games left though. They go to Auburn Sept. 25. After a week off they host Al. Oct. 9, then they go to Ky Oct. 16. They’re at home against Ark. Nov. 6, then they go to Gainesville Nov.13. They have a tough road ahead of them no doubt. The schedule may be too daunting, but right now they look better than anybody else besides Alabama.
3. Auburn: It wasn’t that pretty in win over Ms. State, but it was good enough. Cam Newton did some great things, but he’s a little inconsistent right now. He has potential to be a great player, but he’s got to keep improving if the Tigers want to go to Atlanta. Defense was better against South Carolina, but AU just kind of survived that game. Need to get their running game going besides Newton. Michael Dyer may become more of a factor as the Tigers play a couple of tough games against Clemson and South Carolina in the next two weeks at home. Arkansas, Georgia and LSU are all at home so it’s setting up pretty well for the Tigers. Defense and Cam Newton and a running game are the keys to this team’s success. Definitely have the athletes to get’er done, but can they become a consistent team on both sides of the ball? Atlanta not out of the question for the Tigers; just have to fine tune some things on offense and solidify the defense. Need to avoid injuries also.
4. Florida: It hasn’t been pretty so far for the Gators either, but they were much better last weekend against South Florida. Running back Jeff Demps is a superstar. The offense just hasn’t been the same since Dan Mullen left. Steve Addazio hasn’t found the right formula to make this offense click, but they’ve got athletes all over the place. If the offense can get it together, this team will be a factor. If not, they may lose a couple possibly to Georgia and South Carolina. They also have to go to Alabama, and that looks like a loss right now. Jeff Brantley needs to step up and get the ball to his talented wide receiver corps. The defense has some great players. Florida does not look that great right now, but there is so much potential there. They need to start realizing that potential before it’s too late. Go to Rocky Top this Sat. Important game for them to try and step up their play.
5. Arkansas: You really can’t get a read on the Razorbacks so far as they’ve played a couple of easy games. Only won 31-7 over Louisiana-Monroe. Ryan Mallett and the wrs could be something special though. Need to establish a running game to go with it. The question is: Can the defense stop opposing offenses like Alabama and Auburn? That’s been the question for Arkansas since Bobby Petrino has been there. You know he’ll have a stellar offense, but can his defense get it done? Like most every other team in the SEC, there are great athletes on defense. We’ll learn more about the Hogs this weekend when they go to Georgia.
6. Georgia: I still like this team despite the loss to SC. They were a Washaun Ealey fumble away from tying South Carolina in their game, and played pretty good pass defense though Marcus Lattimore ran all over’em. The ‘Dogs have undoubtedly been hurt by the absence of A.J. Green. Aaron Murray has shown signs of being a good quarterback, but he’s just not polished yet. Think they will surprise Arkansas this weekend at home though. They still have a chance to be a pretty good team. Ealey was out the first game and was probably a little rusty going into the SC game. Mark Richt says they’re going to let Murray go and let him start making plays. This is a good team and has a chance to make it to Atlanta if they can take care of business down the road and get some help from other teams.
7. LSU: Got a lot better against Vandy last weekend. Defense just destroyed Commodores offensive line. They have tremendous athletes on defense and running back Stevan Ridley ran for 159 yards on 17 carries against the ‘Dores, including a 65-yard score. He’s powerful and has a lot of speed. Kelvin Sheppard one of the best linebackers in the country. The talent is there. Their issue is at quarterback. Jordan Jefferson just hasn’t gotten it done passing the ball. Will they go with Jarrett Lee some this weekend at home against State? If Jefferson doesn’t start well, they’ll probably give Lee a shot. They need a lot more production in the passing game if they want to make a run at the West.
8. Kentucky: This is an exciting offensive football team. With Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke, the Wildcats can score with anybody. Mike Hartline is a good quarterback, who can get the ball to his receivers. Not a great gauge on the team with wins over Louisville and Western Ky, but think this team can go to a bowl game again this year and maybe surprise some people at home. Defense is always the question mark at Kentucky. Hard to tell how good they’ll be on that side of the ball. If they can play some defense, Cobb and Locke will win them some games.
9. Miss State: I know State fans were disappointed they couldn’t get over the hump and beat Auburn. They dropped two key passes. One on a jump pass from Chris Relf in the end zone and the other near the end of the game when they were driving for the score to either tie it or win it. They are getting closer, but not sure if they can get over the hump and beat the upper echelon teams of the SEC. Will see if they can do it this weekend against LSU. It’s in Baton Rouge so it’ll be tough. State can possibly make a decent bowl game though if they keep improving. Relf is a pretty decent quarterback and the frosh Russell looks like he’ll be good one day. Not sure if he can get it done against the top teams right now though. Have some weapons on offense and have a pretty good defense. They need to beat teams like Ole Miss and Kentucky and keep building to beat teams like LSU and Auburn.
10. Ole Miss: This team will keep improving as the season goes. Jeremiah Masoli is a very good qb, though I don’t agree with the decision to allow him to play at Ole Miss this year. When you get kicked off of the Oregon team for stealing, you probably shouldn’t be rewarded by another team. But Ole Miss has an offense. They were decleated against Jax State on defense, but Jax State has a pretty impressive offense. Think Rebels will be OK. They’ve got a ton of athletes and Brandon Bolden is a pretty special running back. If Masoli can deliver, the Rebels could surprise some people.
11. Tennessee: It’s going to be a long year for Derek Dooley. He’s in a total rebuilding mode. Hung tough with Oregon for a half, then Oregon’s talent took over in a 48-13 loss. Matt Simms looks like he has potential to be a good quarterback. Dooley probably in a four year rebuilding project with all of the offseason problems he’s had with the Vols and how Kiffin messed up the program pretty badly before bolting to USC.
12. Vandy: Robbie Caldwell had a tough assignment coming in and it’s getting even tougher. The offensive line just got manhandled by LSU and Larry Smith, the Vandy quarterback, can’t seem to get rid of the ball. The offense, besides running backs Warren Norman and Zac Stacy who are both very good, is a disaster. The offensive line is thin and young. Think they will be good in the future, just need experience and more depth. Smith has not gotten it done though he has been under intense pressure from opposing defenses. At some point, Caldwell will have to consider trying another quarterback, maybe even this weekend at Ole Miss. Something has to be done with that offense. Defense is actually a good unit and they really hustle. Have some good secondary guys. Need a better pass rush, but have good talent on that side of the ball. They just get worn out because the offense generates nothing. Maybe they can get it together against Ole Miss and the line can block better and Smith or someone else can get it to the wrs so they can find some balance and give their rbs a chance.
This weekend’s games:
Arkansas @ Georgia 11 a.m. ESPN
Vandy @ Ole Miss 11:21 a.m. SEC Network
Alabama @ Duke 2:30 ABC
Florida @ Tennessee 2:30 p.m. CBS
Clemson @ Auburn 6 p.m. ESPN
Miss State @ LSU 6 p.m. ESPNU
Furman @ South Carolina 6 p.m. PPV
Akron @ Kentucky 6 p.m. Fox Sports South
(Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier looking good early.)
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