The days of bland, vanilla offenses are indeed becoming more obscure. The biggest equalizer against dominant defenses, other than sheer talent, is hurry-up, no-huddle offenses. We’ve seen it with Alabama and Nick Saban over his dynasty-stricken tenure with the Tide.

The speed of no-huddle offenses like those of Gus Malzahn, Kevin Sumlin and Hugh Freeze have become a defining characteristic in college football. It’s almost a loaded weapon waiting to deploy at anytime. And in a copycat game like football, it’s being displayed even in the country’s best defensive conference, and it’s even been successful at football’s highest level in the NFL.

And that isn’t sitting too well with some current head coaches.

Saban’s Tide lost to the spread-‘em-out, hurry-up Aggies last season in what was the only blemish on Bama’s historic championship run. But the hurry-up offense had Alabama worried long before the Aggies. Alabama seemed invincible early in the year, only to look mortal against seven-win Ole Miss’ style of play. And after the Tide beat the Rebels and after Saban had another refresher against the hurry-up offense, he had a few negative words to say about it during the coaches’ teleconference in the name of player safety.

“I think that the way people are going no-huddle right now, that at some point in time, we should look at how fast we allow the game to go in terms of player safety,” Saban said. “The team gets in the same formation group. You can’t substitute defensive players. You go on a 14-, 16- or 18-play drive and they’re snapping the ball as fast as you can go, and you look out there and all your players are walking around and can’t even get lined up. That’s when guys have a much greater chance of getting hurt … when they’re not ready to play. I think that’s something that can be looked at. It’s obviously created a tremendous advantage for the offense when teams are scoring 70 points and we’re averaging 49.5 points a game. More and more people are going to do it.”

But it’s not just Saban; he has a new partner in town in Arkansas’ Bret Bielema, who is also lobbying against this style of offense. Bielema told AL.com that he wants to implement a rules change also in the name of player safety to allow a 15-second substitution period after every first down, in an effort to slow down the high-octane offenses and keep guys fresh.

“Not to get on the coattails of some of the other coaches, there is a lot of truth that the way offensive philosophies are driven now, there’s times where you can’t get a defensive substitution in for 8, 10, 12 play drives,” Bielema said. “That has an effect on safety of that student-athlete, especially the bigger defensive linemen, that is really real.”

Will Muschamp and Steve Spurrier were also quoted as being proponents of slowing down the no-huddle attacks, while Gus Malzahn and Hugh Freeze are against it, for obvious reasons.

While Bielema and Saban lobby to slow these sexy offenses down in the name of ‘player safety’, they really only want a remedy that benefits their team. Who can blame ‘em for that?

Rules preventing up-tempo offenses would give any defense an advantage. And the game of football is all about finding a schematic advantage to exploit your opponent. Defenses with tremendous depth like Alabama – with an added rules change – could rotate players at a higher pace, keeping players fresher, and ultimately help swing some momentum back toward their direction by getting more stops.

Hugh Freeze points out that offenses have big uglies who move at a fast-pace, too. Why are we not talking about them? The quantity of plays run also affects the offensive team, which sets the pace in any drive.

“If the offense doesn’t sub, the defense shouldn’t sub, and that’s the way the rules are,” Freeze told AL.com. “Offensive players are playing, too, the same number of snaps. Are they in danger also? … They’re having to play the same number of plays.”

But Saban alluded to the real reason why coaches don’t want to face hurry-up attacks last fall, and it isn’t because of player safety.

“I just think there’s got to be some sense of fairness in terms of asking: Is this what we want football to be?”

Fairness.

Just like Les Miles wants to abolish permanent cross-divisional rivalries in the name of ‘fairness’, Saban points that direction, too. Fairness doesn’t belong in the SEC, and it doesn’t belong in lobbying for a rules change to slow down offenses that give your defense trouble.

What’s to stop defenses from having more multiple looks than offenses? In fact, some defenses have just as many looks, if not more, than offenses. Advantage? Defense.

Regardless of whether or not any coach wants to slow down offenses – even the Coaching Czar Saban himself – the college football rules aren’t going to simply change because coaches are hiding behind the veil of player safety in the name of fairness. College football is asymmetrical, and that uneven nature is what makes this sport we love so unique.

The continued evolution of hurry-up, no-huddle offenses is only the latest response to the long and drawn out struggle between offenses and defenses in a game we like to call football.

Photo Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

Nine SEC players made the top 25. Five players were ranked in the top 10. It’s reload or get out of the way.

You can view the full rankings here, but below are the SEC players added with a snippet:

1. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

Skinny: Johnny Football is the most electric offensive player in the league, but, ironically, even I doubt he’s the best quarterback in the league. Nonetheless, Manziel owning the No. 1 player overall isn’t all that surprising. Still, some say he’s due for a letdown.

3. Todd Gurley, Georgia

Skinny: Todd Gurley bullies teams, and no one in college football runs between the tackles as well as Gurley, much less notch yards after contact. Gurley is known for his physical beast mode, but don’t underestimate this guy’s speed.

4. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

Skinny: The most surprising pick on the entire top 25 is Jadeveon Clowney at No. 4. Not only do I think he’s the best player in college football, he could be the best pure, raw and explosive player with God-given talent who I see in my lifetime. How is he at No. 4 again?

9. AJ McCarron, Alabama

Skinny: AJ McCarron will go down as one of the most underrated quarterbacks of his era, even if he wins three in a row. Most are quick to discredit him, saying his team is the reason for his success. Breaking: it does take an entire to win a championship, but it takes a championship-level leader to orchestrate it.

10. TJ Yeldon, Alabama

Skinny: Gurley and TJ Yeldon are the two best running backs in college football, bar none. Yeldon is the total package and looks more fluid running the ball than Gurley, but I’d still have Gurley ranked ahead. Yeldon is absolutely a top 10-caliber player.

15. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M

Skinny: Jake Matthews is a boss at tackle, and the Aggies’ O-line will once again get under-inked because of the hyped Manziel. Matthews could give the Aggies back-to-back Outland Trophy winners at left tackle.

17. Aaron Murray, Georgia

Skinny: I have no problem ranking Aaron Murray lower than AJ McCarron. Murray’s 10,901 passing yards and 95 touchdowns are impressive, but they take a back seat to championships. Still, you can rank Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron and Murray in whatever order you want and justify it.

19. Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida

Skinny: Sporting News’ blip about Loucheiz Purifoy says he’s the best pure cover corner. I’m not sure he’s even the best pure cover corner on the Gators’ defense, but he’s the most explosive athlete Florida has. He’ll play corner, receiver and special teams throughout 2013. He’s a very worthy player to include on the list.

21. CJ Mosley, Alabama

Skinny: CJ Mosley is the best linebacker in the country, but he’s not even the best linebacker on their countdown. What makes Mosley so good is his ability to cover receivers and tight ends in the open field. He’s made five INTs and returned three of them for touchdowns in his three-year career.

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

• Ranking the SEC schedules by strength of schedule
• Ranking the SEC’s non-conference schedule
• August/September’s toughest schedules
• October’s toughest schedules
• November’s toughest schedules
• SEC East toughest three-game stretches
• SEC West toughest three-game stretches

SDS has turned all the SEC’s schedules on their head for 2013 in the last few weeks. We looked at each SEC team’s toughest three-game stretch, which included bye weeks, the last two days. Now, let’s look at the overall most brutal three-game stretches in the SEC that don’t involve bye weeks.

A gauntlet of three SEC games in a row is tough enough, but these six schedules are just remorseless:

1. Arkansas

• Oct. 5 – at Florida
• Oct. 12 – South Carolina
• Oct. 19 – at Alabama

Hogs Buzz: Welcome to Fayetteville, Bret Bielema. I wouldn’t wish a three-game stretch at Florida, South Carolina and at Alabama on Bill Belichick. And if you thought three wasn’t enough, Arkansas also plays Texas A&M before Florida. So, yeah, that is one nasty schedule.

2. Mississippi State

• Nov. 2 – at South Carolina
• Nov. 9 – at Texas A&M
• Nov. 16 – Alabama

Bulldogs Buzz: The meat of MSU’s schedule comes all in November. The three-game stretch that includes road trips to South Carolina and Texas A&M before hosting Alabama is part of the brutal five-game stretch in consecutive weeks. The Bulldogs close out November with Arkansas and Ole Miss. Dan Mullen will have another November to remember.

3. Ole Miss

• Sept. 28 – at Alabama
• Oct. 5 – at Auburn
• Oct. 12 – Texas A&M

Rebels Buzz: The Rebels travel to the state of Alabama in back-to-back weeks before hosting Texas A&M. We know the difficulty of the Tide and Aggies, but Auburn will be improved and difficult to prepare for. Nonetheless, that’s two hurry-up offenses in consecutive weeks. Hugh Freeze will get a taste of his own game plan and attack.

4. Kentucky

• Sept. 28 – Florida
• Oct. 5 – at South Carolina
• Oct. 12 – Alabama

Cats Buzz: Mark Stoops is another first-year coach that welcomes a brutal three-game stretch. Florida, South Carolina and Alabama are enough to gut any team. The three games are sandwiched between bye weeks before Florida and after Alabama.

5. Florida

• Nov. 2 – vs. Georgia
• Nov. 9 – Vanderbilt
• Nov. 16 – at South Carolina

Gator Buzz: Florida’s toughest three-game stretch features two games away from The Swamp against Georgia and South Carolina, with nine-game winner Vanderbilt sandwiched in between. November will decide whether Florida is a pretender or contender.

6. LSU

• Sept. 28 – at Georgia
• Oct. 5 – at Mississippi State
• Oct. 12 – Florida

LSU Buzz: LSU is one of the few teams that doesn’t play Alabama with the worst three-game stretch. The Tigers play two SEC East powers in Georgia and Florida. But road trips to Starkville have proven to be challenging for the Tigers, too. More cowbell please.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

• Coaches talk about the SEC East teams

One of my favorite sections of Athlon’s preseason magazines is the ‘Coaches Sizing Up Opposing Teams’ section.

Athlon asked current coaches to talk anonymously about their opponents, and it’s always interesting to get opposing coaches’ impressions off the record, especially when it’s not bland ‘coach speak’.

Here are some excerpts as to what coaches thought about their opponents in the SEC West:

Alabama

“They’ll be really good again, don’t worry. They lost a lot of guys on the defensive line. Last year wasn’t their best defensive line, and they might not have been quick enough to handle fast quarterbacks who could turn broken plays into big gains like Johnny Manziel. On offensive, they can be better than last year. Obviously a lot depends on how well the defensive develops. Linebackers and secondary, they’ll be fine. CJ Mosley is probably the best linebacker in the country…They really didn’t’ have an answer for Manziel last season. They could stand to get quicker up front.”

Arkansas

“They are going to be terrible. What they are doing now, it’s the product of bad recruiting. They have a long ways to go. That’s nothing against the new coaching staff. But they are going to be terrible in Year 1. I think they’ll struggle up front, they’ll struggle in the secondary, the linebackers should be average. It’s going to take them three years to get a good foundation. It’s a product of bad recruiting – which is typical of Bobby Petrino. It’s the same thing that happened at Louisville that got Steve Kragthorpe fired. Petrino didn’t leave him any players. It’s the same thing at Arkansas. They have no players on defense…I think the young running back, Jonathan Williams, is going to be good for them.”

Auburn

“Auburn’s biggest problem was trying to be a pro-style offense with spread-type personel. I’m not sure what is going to happen at that position [quarterback] with Gus Malzahn taking over. Malzahn has an outstanding reputation. It is a little different when you are the head coach than just he offensive coordinator, but he knows what he’s doing. The tackling is suspect. The defensive wasn’t overly physical. It’s a really athletic team. They were really young, so there wasn’t much consistency there.”

LSU

“[Defensive coordinator] John Chavis, he’s done the same stuff schematically for what feels like forever. It’s not very difficult. They do a lot of two-man, a lot Tampa 2. That’s one thing that he’s just not going to change. I don’t think they will be the same up front at all. They lost a lot of players. In my opinion, there’s a slow, steady decline of that program. Athletically, they can reload up front. But developing fundamentally sound players, that takes time, time they might not have this year. So, I’m not sure they can recover that quickly. Zach Mettenberger, to me, is very average. With Cam Cameron coming in as the offensive coordinator, it will be a different offense. It’s probably going to open up things a lot more, and Mettenberger will probably be a better fit with doing that.”

Mississippi State

“I’m thinking they [defense] are pretty good, or at least a lot better. On defense, they just aren’t as athletic as the top teams. Our defensive big guys were bigger than some of their offensive big guys. They can get pounded up front. Linebackers are average athletically. I think schematically they are always going to put up some points. It all depends on whether they can put up a defense that can stop people. It’s not effort, they just don’t have the guns…The quarterback, Tyler Russell, I think most people like him – he can be a little erratic but has some natural ability. He didn’t play very well against some of the better teams team sin the league. But he’s a good player.”

Ole Miss

“They have a lot of tricks up their sleeve. They always get guys open. They put you in tough situations. They do so many different things. They have a good plan…They have to be a little concerned about Bo Wallace’s shoulder surgery. James Franklin at Missouri had the same thing, and he wasn’t at full strength at the beginning of last season. He [Wallace] needs to eliminate turnovers. You shouldn’t have a freshman offensive lineman come in and play early unless he’s a complete freak. The Laremy Tunsil kid, he’s a complete freak. He will find a way to get on the field this season.”

Texas A&M

“I think offensively they are still going to be really, really good. I actually think they are going to be the team to beat in the West, just because of who they have coming back overall, what they do schematically, how fast their offensive goes…Mark Snyder is a good defensive coordinator. Still, they almost beat Florida. I don’t really know why LSU was so hard for them. You’re really limited what you can do against A&M’s offensive line. They only run about eight plays or so. It’s just so fast. Where Johnny Manziel is really good – and how he got us – he gets you is the same way Cam Newton did. Once you’ve got everyone covered, if you don’t account for the quarterback, he’s going to run for a first down.”

Photo Credit: Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRE

Johnny Manziel made more headlines off the field this past winter and spring than he made on it last fall, but let’s talk about Johnny Manziel, the football player.

The electrifying sophomore has been a lightning rod of debate regarding his ability and how it projects to, you know, the NFL.

Opinions always change and will change throughout a player’s career. But one thing that isn’t changing – Manziel will remain the most debated player in next year’s draft class, if he declares for the 2014 draft.

You thought Tim Tebow was debated exiting college? Well, get ready for Manziel overload, which already adds to your existing fatigue.

Opinions seem to be divided right down the center for Johnny Manziel and his NFL future.

One current NFL general manager even told Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com that Manziel might be better than Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, three of the best rookie quarterbacks ever. Another GM told Freeman that Manziel could end up being a better passer than any of the spectacular trio.

But not all opinions are pro-Manziel. Two other GMs told Freeman that Manziel is Canada bound, and another added he would have a hard time making an NFL roster.

Manziel has often been compared to former NFL quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia, as both were “sandlot” style performers.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks thinks Manziel is a sexy college player, but because of a lack of arm strength, he doesn’t project well in the NFL. Some say he’s too small at 6-1, and regardless of arm strength, he’s just too short to be an effective NFL passer. Try telling the 5-11 Russell Wilson that.

With just one season in College Station, the sample size just isn’t there to make an accurate decision.

I’ve contended that Manziel will improve as a player in 2013, but he may not have the spectacular plays, highlights or numbers to go along with it.

If you look at his film from last season, he was such a raw player with unpolished passing skills, living on nothing more than pure explosiveness – and it was explosive. This year, he should improve as a passer, and this spring he showed added arm strength.

Manziel may not combine for 5,116 yards and 47 touchdowns again, but his dedication to continuing to develop his game seems relentless, regardless of his Twitter account or party pics.

Let’s not forget that Manziel is just 20 years old, and his game is now just evolving and beginning to scratch the surface of the future player he’ll become.

The continual evolution and evaluation of Johnny Football’s ability will continue to be one attractive and bewitching storyline.

Photo Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Note: CBS Sports’ original article only included two SEC teams. A third team was added after the original article was published.

The SEC bias is sometimes at its height when talking about non-conference schedules.

SDS ranked the SEC’s non-conference schedules, and Vanderbilt exited the weakest. The Commodores play Austin Peay, UMass, UAB and Wake Forest.

CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman produced the top 10 softest non-conference schedules in the country, and three SEC teams are included.

Feldman had Auburn, Alabama and Vanderbilt as three teams that play the softness non-conference schedules in the country based on a formula he derived. Here’s the snippet, via CBS Sports:

3. (tie) Auburn – Index: 1.50: New coach Gus Malzahn couldn’t ask for a much better non-conference schedule. All four games are at home. The Tigers open with a visit from a Washington State team coming from the opposite side of the country and the Cougars have also won just 12 games in the past five seasons combined. Then comes an Arkansas State team from the Sun Belt that’ll be playing for its fourth head coach in four seasons. Later in the season, the Tigers get one of the worst FCS programs in Western Carolina (1-10 last fall) and FAU, which is 4-20 the past two seasons.

8. Alabama – Index: 1.69: The only team on this list that faces a traditional power team. The Tide opens the 2013 season with Va. Tech, which has finished in the Top 20 of the Coaches Poll in eight of the past nine seasons. Tech did just go 7-6, but the Hokies do have nine starters back on D. Even with a bunch of questions on offense, VT, at a neutral site, is more than a respectable draw. It’s the rest of the Tide’s non-con that brings the index way down. Colorado State has won only four of its past 20 games. Ga. State was 1-10 in 2012, while Chattanooga was 6-5 in FCS.

9. (tie) Vanderbilt – Index: 1.75: James Franklin’s program has gained momentum beating up on mediocre opponents and the Commodores have four more likely Ws here. They get FCS Austin Peay, UAB, visit hapless Umass before facing a decent Wake Forest squad.

Ohio State was also included on the softest schedules list tied at No. 9. It seems like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer are on a collision course for the BCS Championship.

Photo  Credit: Daniel Shirey/CFA-pr via USA TODAY Sports

But the two hottest teams in the country right now are Alabama and – wait for it – Kentucky. Alabama is Alabama, but what Mark Stoops is doing at Kentucky is phenomenal. Of 17 commitments, eight of them hail from Ohio, the same state the Stoops’ brothers call home. And it’s not just three-star prospects. Stoops is going after the big boys, and with the SEC brand at their back, the Wildcats are doing some serious damage. Are the Wildcats this year’s Ole Miss? February is still eight months away.

Alabama picked up the nation’s top pro-style QB David Cornwell from Norman, Oklahoma. The five-star Cornwell will fit perfectly into Alabama’s offensive system. I guess Nick Saban won’t sign a top dual-threat quarterback after all.

The SEC currently has eight of the top 15 classes in the country, along with three of the top five.

Here’s how the SEC stacks up against each other.

Rankings are based on composite team rankings from 247Sports.com.

Texas A&M
14 commitments
No. 1 class in SEC
No. 1 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* OLB Hoza Scott
Headlined by 4* QB Kyle Allen, 4* CB Nick Harvey and 4* S Dylan Summer-Gardner

Alabama
13 commitments
No. 2 class in SEC
No. 2 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 5* ATH Bo Scarbrough
Headlined by 5* QB David Cornwell, 4* CB Kalvaraz Bessent and 4* LB Zach Whitley

Tennessee
16 commitments
No. 3 class in SEC
No. 4 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 5* RB Jalen Hurd
Headlined by 4* S Todd Kelly, 4* CB D’Andre Payne and 4* LB Gavin Bryant

Kentucky
17 commitments
No. 4 class in SEC
No. 7 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* DE Denzel Ware
Headlined by 4* QB Drew Barker, 4* S Darius West and 3* RB Stanley Williams

Ole Miss
17 commitments
No. 5 class in SEC
No. 9 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* S CJ Hampton
Headlined by 4* OT Andy Bauer, 4* ATH Jeremy Liggins, and 4* RB DK Buford

Georgia
10 commitments
No. 6 class in SEC
No. 12 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* RB Sony Michel
Headlined by 4* QB Jacob Park, 4* DT Dontavius Russell and 4* CB Malkom Parrish

LSU
10 commitments
No. 7 class in SEC
No. 13 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 5* S Edward Paris,
Headlined by 4* OG Garrett Brumfield, 4* S Devin Voorhies and 4* OG Will Clapp

Florida
10 commitments
No. 8 class in SEC
No. 15 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 5* RB Dalvin Cook
Headlined by 4* QB Will Grier, 4* DT Anthony Moten and 4* CB Duke Dawson

Auburn
9 commitments
No. 9 class in SEC
No. 18 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* LB Tre’ Williams
Headlined by 4* DE Justin Thornton, 4* S Derrick Moncrief and 4* CB Nick Ruffin

Vanderbilt
9 commitments
No. 10 class in SEC
No. 29 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* QB KJ Carta-Samuels
Headlined by 4* RB Mikale Wilbon, 3* S Emmanuel Smith and 3* ATH Dallas Rivers

Mississippi State
10 commitments
No. 11 class in SEC
No. 32 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* ATH Jamoral Graham
Headlined by 3* OT Norman Price, 3* RB Dontavian Lee and 3* QB Elijah Staley

Missouri
11 commitments
No. 12 class in SEC
No. 33 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 3* S Greg Taylor
Headlined by 3* OT Michael Fairchild, 3* CB Logan Cheadle and 3* OLB Grant Jones

South Carolina
5 commitments
No. 13 class in SEC
No. 53 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* OLB Bryson Allen-Williams
Headlined by 4* TE Kevin Crosby, 3* TE Kalan Ritchie and 3* ILB Joe Blue

Arkansas
5 commitments
No. 14 class in SEC
No. 62 class in the country
Top committed prospect: 4* DT Bijhon Jackson
Headlined by 4* Dual-threat QB Rafe Peavy, 3* TE Jack Kraus and 3* RB Juan Day

Photo Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

• Ranking the SEC schedules by strength of schedule
• Ranking the SEC’s non-conference schedule
• August/September’s toughest schedules
• August/September’s easiest schedules
• October’s toughest schedules
• October’s easiest schedules
• November’s toughest schedules
• November’s easiest schedules
• SEC East toughest three-game stretches

Every SEC schedule features a rough three-game stretch that will present a survival of the fittest challenge, and we’ll rank the toughest three-game stretches in the coming days.

But for now, here’s a look at each SEC West team’s toughest three-game stretch – and yes, Alabama cannot play Alabama:

Alabama

• Aug. 31 – vs. Virginia Tech
• Sept. 14 – at Texas A&M
• Sept. 21 – Colorado State

Buzz: Alabama’s schedule is favorable overall, but the first two games against Virginia Tech and Texas A&M will test the Tide as they make another run at a championship.

Arkansas

• Oct. 5 – at Florida
• Oct. 12 – South Carolina
• Oct. 19 – at Alabama

Buzz: The Razorbacks have a gutless four-game stretch in the middle of the schedule, and the three against Florida, South Carolina and Alabama are downright nasty.

Auburn

• Nov. 9 – at Tennessee
• Nov. 16 – Georgia
• Nov. 30 – Alabama

Buzz: Auburn’s three-game stretch against Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama is brutal, but a bye week between the Bulldogs and Tide will give the Tigers a chance to regroup before playing in the Iron Bowl.

LSU

• Nov. 9 – at Alabama
• Nov. 23 – Texas A&M
• Nov. 29 – Arkansas

Buzz: LSU’s three-toughest games fall in the last half of the season, with a road game to Tuscaloosa and hosting both Texas A&M and rival Arkansas. What a nasty stretch.

Mississippi State

• Nov. 2 – at South Carolina
• Nov. 9 – at Texas A&M
• Nov. 16 – Alabama

Buzz: Much like LSU’s back-loaded schedule, MSU plays a nasty three-game stretch featuring two road games to South Carolina and Texas A&M while hosting Alabama. That’s just brutal.

Ole Miss

• Sept. 28 – at Alabama
• Oct. 5 – at Auburn
• Oct. 12 – Texas A&M

Buzz: Ole Miss’ toughest three-game stretch features trips to Alabama and Auburn before hosting Texas A&M. That is three consecutive weeks of madness.

Texas A&M

• Sept. 14 – Alabama
• Oct. 21 – SMU
• Sept. 28 – at Arkansas

Buzz: Texas A&M’s overall schedule sets up favorably, and Alabama, SMU and Arkansas provide the toughest three-game stretch.

Photo Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

• Coaches talk about the SEC West teams

One of my favorite sections of Athlon’s preseason magazines is the ‘Coaches Sizing Up Opposing Teams’ section.

Athlon asked current coaches to talk anonymously about their opponents, and it’s always interesting to get opposing coaches’ impressions off the record, especially when it’s not bland ‘coach speak’.

Here are some excerpts as to what coaches thought about their opponents in the SEC East:

Florida Gators

“Oddly enough, and I don’t think they were the best offense, but Florida was the most difficult offensive team to prepare for last year. They have so many different personnel groupings, and they can do so many different things, and their identity changed on a weekly basis. They are kind of like South Carolina – they want to win games on defense and not turn the ball over. They are trying to find their identity. They probably thought they had their identify at one point, but then some of the bigger, stronger teams of our league kind of challenged that identity. I like Will Muschamp. I respect him a lot. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. His mentor is Nick Saban, and he put his stamp on the team in Year 2 in regard to toughness and winning games in the kicking game and on defense.”

Georgia Bulldogs

“Aaron Murray is really good. If you commit people to stop the run and put one-on-one on the perimeter, he has such a nice feel with his wide receivers. If you play two deep or quarters, then they will kill you with the run. It’s the combination of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall that kills you…They don’t wow you with Xs and Os because they don’t have to. They will remind you of the Miami teams in the 2000s. They lined up in pro sets and twins and you got a chuckle out of it, then 450 yards and 42 points later they got the last laugh…Gurley and Marshall complement each other so well. Gurley runs tackle to tackle as well as anyone. He bullies you and he is a big boy, but don’t underestimate how fast he is.”

Kentucky Wildcats

“Kentucky, for the past few years, hasn’t had anybody that’s scared you on offense, on the perimeter or at running back. When your best player is your right guard [Larry Warford], that’s probably a little bit of a problem. I’m sure Mark Stoops will come in and attract some talent. The fact of where Lexington is and his ties to Ohio, you will see an outside the box thinking as far as recruiting. Stoops is well regarded as a defensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Neal Brown is very confident. He has a little bit of a swagger to him.”

Missouri Tigers

“I respected their scheme tremendously. They got off to a decent start last year. Between James Franklin and some of the other guys getting hurt, especially on the offensive line, they really had trouble moving the ball. And I think the overall SEC took its toll on them as the year went on. WR Dorial Green-Beckham didn’t do much at all, and he was the No. 1 recruit in the nation. I get the impression he needs to mature a little bit. The running back coming back from injury, Henry Josey, he’ll be dangerous if he returns healthy. Really talented back.”

South Carolina Gamecocks

“I like quarterback Connor Shaw. He’s underrated. All he does is win. And he is fiercely tough. Dylan Thompson may be the more talented of the two, and clearly South Carolina knows that their defense is legit, and if they don’t turn the ball over and make mistakes, they will win a lot of games. They should be able to absorb the loss of Marcus Lattimore. Mike Davis is a very good back. Ace Sanders was a great return guy and a good slot receiver. I always thought he was dangerous, but I didn’t look at him and say he was an elite wide receiver in the league. He’s a loss, but they have established some really solid depth at receiver.”

Tennessee Volunteers

“They will be an up-tempo, no huddle spread offense that will play with a lot of enthusiasm. Butch Jones hired some coaches with some experience in the SEC, like John Jancek and Willie Martinez, who know the league and the type of player it takes to be successful in this league. The offensive line was very good. Losing OL coach Sam Pittman may hurt more than losing any of the players. They have won two SEC games in two years. That is bizarre. It just shows you how fiercely competitive the SEC is – for a school with those resources to have only two wins in two years. Butch Jones is a hit ‘em in the face kind of guy who will try and win back the state of Tennessee in recruiting.”

Vanderbilt Commodores

“Their wide out, Jordan Matthews, is pretty good. He’s really good, actually. He’s pretty athletic, and he will make guys miss. Keeping him is pretty big. He had a chance to go to the NFL. The quarterback that transferred from Wyoming [Austyn Carta-Samuels], they feel he’s as talented as the guy they had, Jordan Rodgers. You know, the won nine games and play you really tough, but I think they’ll be middle of the road – the middle of the pack in the SEC. But the next step is to become an elite SEC team, and I’m just not sure they have the personnel yet.”

Photo Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

While what’s happening in Tuscaloosa is fascinating, let’s be honest, we expect greatness every season for the Tide. The consistent domination of Nick Saban’s team isn’t as exciting as some other teams. It’s a bit like the San Antonio Spurs being unfairly labeled as boring because of how consistently good they are.

When it comes down to being interesting in college football, the Aggies are it in 2013. Get ready for some serious media coverage…

One can easily argue that no SEC team has a more important season ahead of them than the Texas A&M Aggies. 2012 was a coming out party for the Aggies. They had a new coach, a new quarterback and were simply happy to be a member of the SEC. They were excited for the future… you know, a few seasons down the road. 11 wins and a Heisman Trophy later, expectations have been moved up, and now the Aggies sit at a crossroads.

Do the Aggies take the next step to secure a place as a consistent top ten team in college football? Domination of the state of Texas and the opportunity to regularly make a run at winning the toughest division in college football are both at stake in 2013.

What’s so fascinating is the Johnny Manziel situation. He’s been so instrumental in just one short season in catapulting the Aggies to the forefront of college football, yet what is at stake for the Aggies is the program’s post-Manziel era.

If this team can put together another dominant season and even play for a national championship, Kevin Sumlin has everything in place to put a machine in place that keeps the talent flowing into College Station and keeps the team in the BCS/playoff conversation year after year. The impact of the 2012 was and continues to be significant, but putting together back-to-back seasons of extraordinary success has the potential to lead to a new era of domination for Texas A&M.

Confidence is high in Kevin Sumlin. Truly he’s one of the more impressive individuals in the head coaching club in the SEC. In fact, if I had one word to describe Sumlin, that would be it. Having the opportunity to meet the SEC coaches at recent press events, one-word descriptions are easy: Les Miles? Goofy. Nick Saban? Machine. Mark Richt? Relaxed. Will Muschamp? Football. Spurrier? Hilarious. James Franklin? Enthusiastic. Sumlin? Impressive.

Physically impressive. Smooth. Confident. Youthful. The Aggies have a leader in Kevin Sumlin that could lead to big, big things down in College Station… if they can keep him.

And, then we get back to Manziel. It’s one thing to exceed all expectations when you come out of nowhere. It’s another to stay on top when the entire world is looking at you. Manziel’s been a bit all over the place this off-season, most notably on Twitter. Anything to overreact to? No, but not exactly encouraging either.

Manziel was the best athlete on the field essentially all season in 2012. While his athleticism will again be on his side, it’s safe to assume that teams will better prepare for him in his second season in the SEC. For the Aggies to win the SEC West and contend for a national championship, Manziel will need to do more than just make plays. He’ll need to become the leader of the team that pushes them to greatness. Tweeting about wanting out of College Station isn’t cause for panic, but it’s also not the leadership that his team will need in 2013.

If Sumlin can get his quarterback to lead, the potential is there for a significant run in 2013. A significant run in 2013 could help cement the next decade of football in College Station, especially while teams like the Texas Longhorns struggle to get back to greatness. Many teams have special, single seasons. Auburn had one just a couple years ago.

2013 will be a pivotal year to see whether the coming years in College Station look more like Alabama’s recent seasons or Auburn’s.