Kevin Price commentary: Here's how SEC East football teams will finish in 2011
By KEVIN PRICE
kprice@ledger-enquirer.com
Spring practice is over for the schools in the Southeastern Conference. And while there are still 133 long days left before the season starts on Sept. 3 for most schools -- Kentucky will get a head start on everyone by a couple of days when they play Western Kentucky on Sept. 1 -- it is never too early to do some prognosticating.
First, let’s take a look at the Eastern Division. I’ll save the Western Division for Wednesday’s column.
It is safe to say that there are three teams in the top half of the division -- South Carolina, Florida and Georgia -- and three in the bottom half -- Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
The look of the top half of the division could be changed by the status of one player -- South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, who is currently suspended.
Garcia missed most of spring practice and the Gamecocks’ spring game.
Coach Steve Spurrier has said that Garcia’s status with the team will not be decided until sometime this summer. Unless Garcia has continued to get in trouble since the beginning of April, he will be reinstated. There is no way, Spurrier or the school is going to throw away another shot at making it to the SEC championship game.
In reverse order, here is an early look at how the Eastern Division will shake out:
6. Vanderbilt
It’s hard to believe that James Franklin will make much of a difference at Vanderbilt, especially in his first season since coming over from Maryland.
It will take several recruiting classes for Franklin to upgrade a program that had very little talent when he took over.
5. Tennessee.
The battle for the fourth and fifth spots in the division will likely come down to the season-ending game for both Tennessee and Kentucky. The teams meet in Lexington on Nov. 26.
If he can manage to keep his job long enough, Derek Dooley will eventually be successful in Knoxville. But nowadays, few fan bases want to be patient enough to allow a coach to finish a major rebuilding job.
Dooley stepped into a program that was left in shambles by Lane Kiffin. It is going to take him awhile to get it back to competing for a title.
4. Kentucky.
The Wildcats will miss Randall Cobb, who did a little bit of everything last season. But the ’Cats should still be able to put points on the board.
It is on defense, where they must improve the most. Former South Carolina defensive coordinator Rick Minter was brought in to help in that regard. But it remains to be seen how long it will take for the players to adjust to his new schemes.
3. Florida
Former Georgia standout Will Muschamp took over for Urban Meyer during the offseason. His first spring was a rough one, as injuries really took a toll.
In addition, the Gators still have a big question mark at quarterback. John Brantley struggled in Meyer’s offense last season, and he didn’t look too good in the spring game, either.
But he is better suited for new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis’ pro-style offense, so he should improve as the season goes along.
2. Georgia
The Bulldogs have been on a downward spiral for the past three seasons. Last year was a complete disaster as the Dogs finished 6-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
Last season’s debacle was much more about heart and desire than talent. While the 2010 team was certainly not as talented as some of coach Mark Richt’s teams in the past, the teams had serious problems in the locker room and between the ears.
For proof of that, go back and look at a replay of the Liberty Bowl loss to UCF. There was not a lot of desire to be seen -- that performance could easily be classified as mailing it in.
Georgia returns quarterback Aaron Murray, who had a solid freshman season. And the team should get a big boost from incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell. The former Carver standout is expected to step right into a starting role at tailback.
1. South Carolina
The Gamecocks are the favorite to win the division only if Garcia is reinstated. If they are forced to go with sophomore Connor Shaw at QB, then the top half of the division will look completely different, opening the path to the Georgia Dome to either Georgia or Florida.
South Carolina returns two of the best skill players ion the conference in running back Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Most of the defense returns as well for coordinator Ellis Johnson.
Kevin Price, 706-320-4493, kprice@ledger-enquirer.com
This story was originally published April 24, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Kevin Price commentary: Here's how SEC East football teams will finish in 2011."