Counting Down: The 25 People, Places and Things I'm Looking Forward to Seeing This Fall in the SEC #20-16.

by MaconDawg on Aug 3, 2009 9:00 PM EDT

Today was the day for football players to report back to the University of Georgia, in many ways the true beginning of college football season. And, at least in my mind, it's a good time to release the second part in a series of things which I'm looking forward to this season in the SEC. The first part, in case you missed it, may be found here.

Among other things, I'm looking forward to seeing:

20. The Tennessee defense. The Vols’ problem last year was not defense. They had the third ranked defense in the country and were tops in the S.E.C. in total defense. I’m betting that a lack of depth on the front seven will catch up to them by the final third of the season. If things don’t go well on that side, well, then John Chavis will get a good belly laugh and mustache twirl out of the whole thing while he works on his second bowl of etouffe.

19. Alabama’s depth. Nick Saban has stockpiled back to back top recruiting classes, and while that won’t necessarily help at every position this season (quarterback for example), this year will tell us a lot about how good some of Saban’s million dollar babies really are, especially along the lines of scrimmage. Alabama is on a significant list of SEC teams which may improve significantly as the year goes on either by virtue of increased experience (Georgia and LSU) or increased familiarity with a new system (Auburn and Tennessee). If enough of those young guys grow into their roles, it could signal that 'Bama is indeed back.

18.Cornelius Washington. Washington came out of high school as a phenomenal athlete. The question coming into 2009 is whether he will ultimately grow into a phenomenal football player. While the redshirt freshman year is way too early to write off any player, there is about to be a lot of pressure to produce at defensive end.

17. Montario Hardesty. Somebody’s gotta move the ball for Tennessee. Might as well be Hardesty. I’m fairly certain that Tennessee will not be relying on Jonathan Crompton to make the offense go, especially not early in the season. The guy has absolutely not demonstrated his readiness to be a reliable SEC quarterback, and that’s before we consider the fact that he’s quickly running out of reliable receivers. Given the choice between a gamebreaking tailback and a quarterback who sometimes looked like an epileptic orangutan in 2008, I’ll take the tailback every time. If Hardesty cannot produce, or continues to be dogged by injuries, it will be interesting to see if uber-recruit Bryce Brown or fellow freshman David Oku is called on to fill the gap.

16. Brandon LaFell. With injuries and inexperience at wide receiver and question marks at quarterback, LSU is in need of steady playmakers in 2009. LaFell has the potential to be that guy. Again. The senior from Houston has led the Bayou Bengals in receiving each of the past two seasons,and caught passes in each of his last 28 games, an impressive streak. And with another campaign like his 929 yard 2008 effort, LaFell could move into the top 3 all-time in school history in receiving yards.

Until later . . .

Go 'Dawgs!!!

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Brown

I think Bryce Brown is going to get significant touches this year unless Hardesty shows he can handle and excel at feature back status. Laner has too much at stake and too many doubters, not to try anything and everything. Also, they had better make sure the running game is solid, because until he signs a QB, handing off or relying on Berry to return INTs is their best option to score.

by fotodog on Aug 4, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions

Running back

is probably the one position where vol fans are unanimously confident with our depth and talent. Tauren Poole is name under the radar that also has shown a lot of promise. My fear is teams loading up 8-9 players in the box and us not being able to find an answer through the air.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."

by Getoffmyvols on Aug 4, 2009 11:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Getoffmyvols . . .

I’ve gotten that sense this offseason. I remember when Poole was a high schooler at Stephens Co., and he was a good back. I’ve just been a little surprised at how confident Vols fans are in their running back rotation given that they’ll take the field this year without the two leading rushers from last season, Foster and Creer. It’s almost the opposite of the measured cynicism from UGA partisans faced with a post-Knowshon world.

by MaconDawg on Aug 4, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

There are a few themes behind that

Scheme – the zone blocking attack that Kiffin and OC Jim Chaney have installed has been universally praised and loved by the line and the backs. Compared to last years offseason where all we heard was how complicated the system was, its refreshing to know the players are not only confident but excited about executing it.

Eddie Gran – I know how you guys feel about Auburn, but Gran is a great running back coach and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with our guys.

To your point on Foster – Arian Foster was a good back. He had some great games,especially against UGA :). But on the whole most of us felt he was a soft indecisive runner who had fumble problems at the worst possible times. So losing him most of us see as an opportunity for other guys to finally get some meaningful reps. Foster is not Moreno. Creer was quick but got beat out in the spring by Poole and another GA product Toney Williams, whos unfortunatley out for the year with an ACL injury.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."

by Getoffmyvols on Aug 4, 2009 12:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions