What Early Storylines Say About SEC Teams
Sep,15 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels (6) drops back to hand off against the Presbyterian Blue Hose during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Commodores beat the Blue Hose 58-0. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
What do stories say local stories say about your team in August?
In many cases, they speak volumes about the likely course of the season. There are, of course, exceptions – the best of which being Texas A&M still searching for a QB1 last season with the season opener nearing.
This is a look, based on most of the stories featured on the ESPN SEC Blog’s Lunchtime Links, at what the early camp stories of your teams say about their prospects of winning in 2013. Some teams will be largely ignored because ESPN has not highlighted stories on them, the primary news sources are behind pay walls or both.
Here is the look:
Alabama
Stories
Alabama looks for QB of future
Alabama’s LBs among team’s deepest units
What they mean
So… Alabama is searching for its QB1. For next year. Life is tough under Nick Saban, huh? Especially in those plush new digs. The other biggest problems facing the Crimson Tide involve who will be the “other” RB to superstar T.J. Yeldon, who will be the starting kicker and which experienced defensive back will fill which role. Oh, and the team has unreal depth at linebacker. Sweet. Translation: Life is good in Titletown.
Arkansas
No stories on ESPN SEC Blog, largely thanks to pay walls.
Auburn
Stories
Next four days critical in QB competition
Players excited about Malzahn’s offense
Malzahn sticks with up-tempo offense amid criticism
What they mean
Well, for starters, they mean that Auburn has a new coach, a quarterback competition capable of blowing up into a controversy, no experienced WRs and a secondary that appeared porous in 2012. Good luck with that. It’s not impossible for the Tigers to have a respectable season. Remember, in 2009, Gus Malzahn – then a coordinator – inherited a very similar situation and helped turn it into a 7-5 campaign. Let’s guess that Malzahn’s offense won’t sneak up on teams as it did then.
Florida
Stories
RB Matt Jones (viral illness) leaves a void
QB2 Tyler Murphy ready to fill in for Jeff Driskel
Gators try to develop safety depth
Five questions: QB2, Solve LB position, Second S, What’s Purifoy’s role on offense?, K1
Program still trying to sell out tickets
What they mean
Having health concerns about your backfield isn’t comfortable in August, but both have time to be at full strength by the time the season begins. The questions are similar to those of Alabama’s – who is QB2? Who is the starting kicker? Who will man the lone vacant safety position? How will Florida replace suspended LB Antonio Morrison for the two games he’ll miss? These are first-world problems. It is worth noting, however, that Florida hasn’t sold out its tickets this year – one season removed from a Sugar Bowl run. Also, parenthetically, QB1 Jeff Driskel seems to be receiving an unbelievable pass on uneven (a generous description) play in 2012.
Georgia
Stories
Walk-on DB Connor Norman might need to fill in for suspended S Josh Harvey-Clemons
WRs will be good if they stay healthy
D-line coach has little use for players doing job incorrectly
What they mean
Harvey-Clemons will miss one game. It’s a really big game. College GameDay will be there. But it’s one game. Then again, that’s an obvious storyline when other concerns are special teams needing to be good and WRs simply needing to stay healthy. The defensive line seems like a valid concern and it has been covered pretty significantly and the secondary is the other major concern. Coordinator Todd Grantham has built a strong reputation, though, and earns a benefit of the doubt.
Kentucky
No stories on ESPN SEC Blog.
LSU
RB Jeremy Hill has been reinstated
What it means
It’s been a fairly quiet preseason for the Tigers on the ESPN site, which is ironic because there are seemingly plenty of questions to be asked for a team that could potentially contend for a national title or fall a rung in the SEC West. Hill has been the most interesting storyline – and he is back, though it appears he will start the season down the depth chart. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is new and will work with QB Zach Mettenberger, who was inconsistent in 2012. Mettenberger’s off-and-on struggles were only partly his fault. He struggled with a makeshift offensive line and bad drops from talented receivers. Plus the perennially dominant defense lost numerous starters.
Mississippi State
Stories
Bulldogs look to replace top four pass catchers
Program sells out tickets for fourth consecutive year
What they mean
Start with the encouraging ticket sales: This is a great sign for a program that started 7-0 last year. It’s a better sign for coach Dan Mullen, who has done enough to inspire the fan base to continue fully backing his regime in Starkville. That the Bulldogs lose their top four pass catchers this season is only as problematic as one’s confidence – or lack thereof – in QB Tyler Russell. The senior is expected to have a strong final campaign. Therein also lies the future of the 2013 Mississippi State season: It could see the program take a step forward and reclaim the Egg Bowl or the Bulldogs could plummet toward the bottom of the division.
Missouri
Stories
O-line aims to stay healthy after injury-filled 2012
Pinkel tries to fight way off hot seat
What they mean
Gary Pinkel undoubtedly starts the season on the SEC’s hottest seat. Ironically, as the column points out, Pinkel is one of Missouri’s most successful coaches in program history. He elevated the Tigers from the disaster they were for most of the 1990s and early 2000s. Now, after earning Missouri enough respect as a program to earn a spot in the SEC, he enters Year 2 in the nation’s toughest conference in a must-win spot. Must-win, in this case, likely means “make a bowl game,” but it’s still a hot seat. Though QB James Franklin is the biggest question mark, the offensive line is certainly another huge story – specifically because part of Franklin’s biggest problem came from getting crushed as a passer. The emergence of a talented WR unit will be big as well. The top storylines, however, tell that this is a pivotal season for Missouri. It’s difficult to imagine the Tigers will get a better coach than Pinkel, but the sheer economics might force them to make a move.
Ole Miss
Stories
WR Vince Sanders broke his collarbone
DE Robert Nkemdiche works with first-team D
What they mean
For starters, the defense has to improve and that’s where the focus has been. There is reason for optimism with Nkemdiche, who has drawn early comparisons to South Carolina superstar Jadeveon Clowney. How good the Rebels are in 2013 will likely hinge on how much the defensive improves. WR Vince Sanders is a pretty big loss, but he should return in time for the majority of the key games. Other things, such as short-yardage situations, are important but are questions raised when there are a number of answers already in hand.
South Carolina
Stories
LB Cedrick Cooper impresses in bid to earn starting nod
What they mean
Led by the most dominant defensive player in college football today, South Carolina should boast one of the best units in the game. Whether that becomes valid hinges on how the new linebackers fare. The other questions are easier to answer, meaning the answers outnumber the questions at this point – a strong indication for the coming season. How will QBs divide reps? Well, that can be a negative unless a program has two players with the talent of Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson. RBs Brandon Wilds and Mike Davis have already established themselves as being capable SEC backs when Marcus Lattimore suffered season-ending injuries in consecutive seasons. This, again, is really a choice between two strong options. The WR issue is a good one, but one the team can overcome.
Tennessee
Stories
Three defensive starters return from injury in 2012
DBs sick of getting criticized
DB Eric Gordon won’t play in 2013
What they mean
Obviously the secondary is an enormous concern, as is the defense on the whole after it played so poorly in 2012. The return of S Brian Randolph helps. How much, though? DB Eric Gordon, the nickelback a year ago, is no longer with the program. Another key question to be answered is who will play quarterback. Justin Worley seems like the logical choice and he worked with the first-team offense during a recent scrimmage. Nathan Peterman is currently listed atop the depth chart with Worley. How quickly key players can hit their strides – either during their freshman seasons or in returning from injury – will likely determine if coach Butch Jones can immediately turn around the program.
Texas A&M
Stories
Johnny Manziel needs football
A&M hires law firm that defended Auburn, Newton
What they mean
There were plenty of stories to write on the Texas A&M beat this year. Then there was one story to write. And write. And write. Aggies QB Johnny Manziel dominated throughout most of the 2012 football season. He has dominated even more on the front-page headlines. His latest issues – allegations that Manziel took money in exchange for autographs on memorabilia – raise questions about his eligibility for the 2013 season. Of course, the way the NCAA has gone lately, it would be stunning if Manziel missed a single game even if a paper trail surfaced. Manziel is arguably the most valuable player in college football and he will thusly remain the nation’s biggest story until his situation is resolved. If Manziel were to miss time, it would obviously hurt the Aggies tremendously.
Vanderbilt
Stories
Five questions: Austyn Carta-Samuels, TE1, pass rush, P1, Passing game intra-squad battles
What they mean
Even with a nine-win season – on the heels of a six-win campaign in 2011 – the Commodores aren’t receiving the respect they think they have earned. If that’s one of the biggest storylines, that’s a good thing. Of course, Vanderbilt is also breaking in a new starting QB – likely Carta-Samuels but that has not been confirmed. Other top questions aren’t as concerning. Who is going to play tight end, who is going to be the punter – these aren’t the questions of a team struggling to maintain seven wins.