Post Spring Ball SEC Power Rankings

Posted on | May 17, 2011 | 2092No Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsecfb.neswblogs.com%2F2011%2F05%2F17%2Fpost-spring-ball-sec-power-rankings%2FPost+Spring+Ball+SEC+Power+Rankings2011-05-17+20%3A44%3A04Andrew+Rosinhttp%3A%2F%2Fsecfb.neswblogs.com%2F%3Fp%3D2092

Knile Davis is going to be the key to all this.

Post Spring Ball SEC Power Rankings

The theme of the SEC is that there is no clear-cut team with any level of dominance as what was expected last year by Alabama. For one, we don’t know who’s going to be the quarterback at LSU and Alabama. For two, we don’t know if Tyler Wilson’s a true answer. Auburn’s defense was just Nick Fairley that day.

And for three, the SEC East is still the morass that everybody expected. But who’s still #1 and who’s still #12? Here we go.

1. Alabama (Though the unfortunate passing of Aaron Douglas casts a pall over a spring that Alabama would like to forget, the fact remains, 17 starters return. And don’t sleep on Dee Hart actually making a Trent Richardsonish splash in the fall. They’re #1 until proven otherwise.)
2. LSU (I’m not knocking them down because Jordan Jefferson was SO BAD in games last year and yet still has the starting quarterback job. The question here is actually their defense. Ego Ferguson and Michael Brockers are inexperienced, and Anthony Johnson is a true Freshman. They’re replacing two senior D-Tackles. And Kelvin Sheppard’s replacement hasn’t been found as of yet.)
3. Arkansas (One of the things about Spring Ball is that sometimes a coach goes through the media in an attempt to motivate the player. This year? It’s Knile Davis. Fact of the matter is that they need a consistent, powerful runner to help matters until Petrino makes a decision. If Davis can’t be that guy, then the top 10 Ranking may be too high.)
4. Mississippi State (I may have them a bit high, but that being said. One of their largest weaknesses going into the season was linebacker. And with Ferlando Bohanna’s spring, and Cameron Lawrence’s experience? All that seems to be standing between them and a reasonably strong linebacker corps is Brandon Maye. A 3 year ACC Starter.)
5. South Carolina (You know by now my feelings on South Carolina. They have a chance at something special, especially if DeAngelo Smith and/or Jadeveon Clowney build on previous successes. But I have to say, the secondary is still a question, even depsite D.J. Swearinger being named D.J. Swearinger.)
6. Georgia (Georgia’s defense last year was basically try to get to third down where Justin Houston could rush the passer. But this year? Todd Grantham seems to have a stew going. Big Kwame Geathers and Alec Ogeltree had spectacular springs, and with Jarvis Jones and Christian Robinson promising something great at linebacker? If Georgia can get to 2-0? Mark Richt may have cause to not only stay in Athens, but get extended.)
7. Tennessee (Now, the duke of the douche tattoo Tyler Bray didn’t have the best of Spring games, and the Vols may still be another year away. But this offense has a shot at putting up 35 points a game between Da’ Rick Rogers and Tauren Poole. Powerful triplet upside. If Jacques Smith is able to at least get in the same ballpark as Nick Fairley? This team gets 10 wins.)
8. Auburn (You know, it’s almost an impossibility that this offense is going to be as efficient as last year. Newton was that special. But that just means Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb are going to be used more. And both have promise of something more. If Trovon Reed proves worthy of the tomfoolery they went through to get him? This might be low.)
9. Florida (The loss of Janoris Jenkins hurts. You lose a 1st round pick at cornerback and the structure of the defense changes considerably. The defensive line has a promise to be great, but they can be thrown on. And right now? The offense still has all that Addazio stank all over it.)
10. Kentucky (I’m going to say this. Kentucky’s not going to have near the amount missing form their passing game as one would expect in losing their raw skill power. La’Rod King is underrated, and Brian Adams is athletic enough to man center field for the baseball team as well. May be like last year where they lose most of their games 38-27.)
11. Ole Miss (The defense (last in Scoring, last in yards per play, 11th against the pass, 9th against the run) that was so terrible last year still has a lot more in the question department than the answer department. The defensive line is green, the dismissal of Clarence Jackson, who was the leader to replace D.T. Shackelford for this season, means there’s a massive hole for C.J. Johnson to try and step through. And the secondary may be better, but better may be a part of the fact you can run at them.)
12. Vanderbilt (The offense returns all 11 starters…from a team that was in the Bottom 10 in the nation in terms of yards per play. If the line stays healthy, they can run the ball with aplomb. But the issue? The defense is just plain terrible outside of Robert Marve. Experience doesn’t matter here. You can move the ball on them.)

Related posts:

1. SEC Football Preseason Predictions and Power Rankings, 2009
2. SEC Power Poll* Week 14
3. SEC Power Poll (Week 13)
4. SEC Power Poll* Week 12
5. SEC Power Poll* Week 11

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