PREVIEW: A Look into the Crystal Ball [by JessN]

[BamaNation]

Share
 

A look into the crystal ball
Jess Nicholas
August 5, 2007

While predictions are often a shot in the dark, it is still fun to look ahead and try to predict the future. Here is our annual look at how the SEC might shape up in the coming year.

SEC Player of the Year
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
While Andre Woodson at Kentucky might be a fringe Heisman Trophy candidate, McFadden is perhaps the favorite. He’s a physical freak of nature, can run, catch or even throw the ball, and can run inside or outside. In fact, the two biggest threats come from within his own team: having to split time with Felix Jones, and whether the distractions surrounding his head coach, Houston Nutt, will have such an effect on his team that it affects everyone’s play. If Arkansas can avoid distractions, McFadden is good enough to run for 2,000 yards or more.

Runner-up: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
You don’t see defensive players get this much recognition very often, particularly tackles, but Dorsey is a game changer.


SEC Coach of the Year
Mark Richt, Georgia
Despite having to fill a lot of holes on both sides of the ball, Georgia is set up to represent the SEC East in Atlanta if the Bulldogs can just get by Florida and shoo Tennessee to the background. If that happens, it will set Richt up for a one-game showdown with, most likely, LSU and Les Miles. Anything can happen in that scenario. If Georgia is conference champs, Richt will be a lock for Coach of the Year.

Runners-up (tie): Les Miles, LSU, and Urban Meyer, Florida
Miles and Meyer coach two of the only other four teams (Auburn and Tennessee are the others) that have clear chances at winning the conference. Miles’ team, however, is so talented he might be passed over in Coach of the Year voting.


SEC Coach with the hottest seat
Houston Nutt, Arkansas
This is about a sure thing as you’ll find. The odds on Nutt being at Arkansas next year are no better than 50-50. If he wins big, there’s a good chance he’ll leave ahead of AD Frank Broyles’ retirement. If the off-field distractions (many caused by Nutt himself) continue to plague the team and the results suffer for it, he’ll probably be fired. Nutt needs to get Arkansas back to a strong second-tier bowl and win it in order to be asked back.

Runners-up (tie): Ed Orgeron, Ole Miss, and Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
Same story as a year ago. Orgeron needs to start showing improvement in his gameday coaching abilities. Fulmer needs to get 10 wins and put the Vols back on the path to Atlanta.


Player most important to his respective team
Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Not only is Woodson a Heisman contender, he’s the only thing at the position Kentucky’s got. The Wildcats could make a bowl push this year, but not without Woodson at the controls. If he gets hurt, Kentucky would almost surely fall to sixth in the SEC East.

Runner-up: John Parker Wilson, QB, Alabama
Alabama had no one else with nearly Wilson’s abilities in the spring. With the defense going through a major change, Alabama needs Wilson to solidify the offense.


SEC team most likely to fall short of expectations
Georgia
The Bulldogs have high hopes, but return just two starters on defense and the offensive line must be rebuilt. That’s a lot of room for error in Athens, and with Florida and Tennessee both good teams and the rest of the SEC East improving fast, Georgia could slip up.

Runner-up: Auburn
Some people like Auburn for the eventual SEC champion and others even see this team having national aspirations. But Auburn has the same problems as Georgia – inexperienced defense, questionable offensive line.


SEC team most likely to surprise us all
Kentucky
If Kentucky loses every game it should, the Wildcats should still finish 5-7. That means only one or two upsets could have the Wildcats in a bowl, and one or two more could have them competing for the SEC East crown. The SEC East is better as a whole, but the top two teams, Georgia and Florida, have come back to the field a bit. The time to move may be here for Kentucky.

Runner-up: Florida
The defending national champion flying under the radar? It seems that way. Florida, though, has the talent to play for the title again if the defense jells and QB Tim Tebow is the real deal.


SEC team most likely to make a run at a national championship
LSU
The Tigers have the potential to have the best defense not only in the league, but the nation. New QB Matt Flynn isn’t a greenhorn, and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini carries the “genius” label. Depth abounds, and the biggest crisis for this team is probably who the backup center will be. The only question is whether head coach Les Miles is up to the task. That question has yet to be answered.

Runner-up: Florida
Georgia is the safe pick to win the SEC East, but Florida has the talent to do it and for the first time, Urban Meyer will be able to unleash the spread-option fully.


SEC team most likely to fall completely apart
Arkansas
Arkansas isn’t expected to be a title contender, but there’s a nasty storm brewing in Fayetteville: Off-field distractions involving the coach, and a suspect defense. The Razorback secondary isn’t what it’s been in recent years, and the linebackers are very pedestrian. Add in Nutt’s behavior and the relationship he has with university administration, and the Razorbacks could just as easily finish with four wins as four losses.

Runner-up: Tennessee
The Volunteers moved to a no-huddle offense, but have holes at receiver and many observers believe the sideline issues still haven’t been resolved.

Newcomer most likely to make a big impact
Chris Strong, LB, Ole Miss
This one carries a big caveat: If he is cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. If he is, he’ll be an instant starter, and Strong reminds many of former Alabama great Dwayne Rudd. Ole Miss’ defense could go from suspect to good with the addition of strong and a couple of other newcomers.

Runner-up: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Dunlap is not only a big-league prospect at end, but Florida also has room for him to play, and maybe even grab a starting spot.


SEC Offensive Player of the Year
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Houston Nutt likes to feed his running backs, and McFadden will get fat and happy off all the carries he’ll see in 2007. Only the best teams will be able to hold him to fewer than 100 yards on any given Saturday.

Runner-up: Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
He’ll have gaudy stats as the Wildcats’ first option, and it helps that he’s got a fairly talented starting cast around him for the first time in recent memory in Kentucky. A Heismanpush won’t hurt.


SEC Defensive Player of the Year
Glenn Dorsey, LSU
Not only is Dorsey talented in his own right, he plays on a highly talented defensive line, meaning he won’t be an automatic double-team for opposing offenses.

Runner-up: Jonathan Goff, LB, Vanderbilt
The question is whether he’ll get noticed, or lost in the shuffle on a bad team. But Goff looks like the next in a long line of great Vandy linebackers.


Most Underrated Player award
BenJarvis Green-Ellis, RB, Ole Miss
He plays on a bad team, which is usually the first step to being under-appreciated, but Green-Ellis has the ability to turn games using solely his own talent. He’s not Darren McFadden, but he is still feared by defensive coordinators, who must deal with a running back that has good size, speed and a relentless attitude.

Runner-up: Jacob Hester, FB, LSU
Fullbacks have almost gone the way of the dodo, but teams that have good ones use them in ways that infuriate opposing defenses. All SEC defensive coaches know how important LSU’s Hester is.


Public Enemy “Don’t Believe the Hype” Award
Brandon Cox, QB, Auburn
He’s a good player and there’s nothing wrong with that, but last year, when Cox was asked to do more, he couldn’t come through. This season, Auburn is receiving title mention from several parts of the country, with Cox’s veteran presence cited as one of the contributing factors. Cox is a good quarterback, but not great. Auburn must be careful not to overexpose him.

Runner-up: Andy Boyd, TE, South Carolina
Boyd has the size scouts dream of, but caught only two passes in 2006 and didn’t block as well as he needs to. He needs to get more consistent and more involved in the Gamecocks’ offense.