It’s simple – teams that don’t have a running game in the SEC will not win football games. Sure, teams will win a couple with a high-powered passing offense, but a balanced offense wins more games than non-balanced. You know this already.

Obviously there are more factors than just the running backs that make up the total running game, like the play of the offensive line, quarterback, etc. Still, the play of the running backs is crucial to a team’s success.

Make no mistake about it – the SEC West could have the best running backs in any half of any division in America.

Here is an outlook of each team’s running game as we know it:

Good Outlook

Alabama – The Alabama Crimson Tide is a team that has a tremendous outlook in the running game. Alabama returns Trent Richardson, who figures to be a top-tier back across the country, as well as formidable backup Eddie Lacey, who could start at many other schools. With Richardson’s ability aside, the Alabama offensive line alone would propel an average back to have a great season, but Trent Richardson is not your average back. Alabama’s ability to run the football has an opportunity to set them apart this season. This will certainly be an exciting run game.

Auburn – Auburn could have the best backfield tandem in the SEC with Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb – thunder and lightning as they call them on The Plains. Dyer crushed for over 1,000 yards on the season last year, and McCalebb can take it to the house at anytime and averaged 8.5 yards-per carry. I am a little concerned about the offensive line because so many starters are gone from a year ago, but the running game will be the base for Gus Malzahn’s offense this season, and he certainly has a great cast of backs to work with in both Dyer and McCalebb. The running game will carry this football team.

Arkansas – Knile Davis is possibly my favorite SEC running back right now. He has a nice combination of size and speed, and he looks faster than both Lattimore and Richardson, all the while being just as explosive as either one. Behind Davis, Dennis Johnson returns to the lineup after being injured early last year that forced him to miss the rest of the year. Along with Johnson, Ronnie Wingo, Jr. will help to provide depth, as he is a bruiser who can run for tough yardage (not that Davis couldn’t handle that task). Arkansas does return some experience on their offensive line, so this running game should be firing on all cylinders come fall.

Ole Miss – Believe it or not, Ole Miss has one of the stronger backfields and offensive lines in the conference. I absolutely love Brandon Bolden, who is an underrated player, and he could run for 1,000 yards this season. Along with Bolden, Jeff Scott is a blazer who can provide the homerun threat Ole Miss needs, and Enrique Davis also returns as well. With Ole Miss having such a strong offensive line and a talented backfield, the Rebels’ ground game will be better than average – even in the talent-filled SEC West. It will carry this football team.

Mississippi State – Believe it or not, I think this Mississippi State offense has a chance to have a top-three running game in the entire league. Dan Mullen knows rushing offense like Bo knows football. Vick Ballard and LaDarius Perkins form a formidable duo in the backfield to give this State team a legit backfield duo. Ballard led the league in scoring just last year. Yes, more than Cam Newton. Along with Ballard and Perkins running the football, quarterback Chris Relf will carry quite a punch in the running game as well. His bruising 240 lb body can take 15 carries a game or more. There is nothing pretty about this offense, but it plays ball-control and keeps its competitor’s defense on the field to eventually tire them out in the fourth quarter.

Questionable Outlook

LSU – LSU lost their top running back from a year ago in Stevan Ridley, but don’t expect them to just lie down. Even though the running game may be questionable at this time, I fully expect Spencer Ware and Michael Ford to form a great one-two punch. Along with Ware and Ford, Jakhari Gore adds a spark to the depth of this position. Make no mistake about it – Spencer Ware is the next guy at LSU at running back. The only reason this running game is questionable right now is because there is no one returning that is proven. Now, Ware did show incredible flashes of talent in the Cotton Bowl, but I’m going to wait a game or two before I buy that stock. I will in all likelihood be too late.

4-14, 102 yards passing, 31 yards rushing, 1TD, 1 INT, 2 Fumbles, and 2 Sacks.  If you want to prove to the fans that you have improved, you don’t have a spring game stat line like this.  I don’t care how any coach or any person wants to spin it, Jordan Jefferson did not have a good game.  Where were all of the TD passes we heard about during practice?

Where was the decision making and leadership?  I have watched the practice twice and Jefferson looks the same.   Exactly. The. Same.

Jordan showed that he can’t stay in the pocket and find an open man after his first look.  He takes too much time to make a decision and is lucky to have the feet to bail him out.  His rushing yards aren’t so much a product of keeping a play alive as they are a result of him being confused.  Jordan has trouble looking off his receivers and finding plan B when the hot route isn’t open.  Also, for those of you making the insane comparison to Cam Newton, Jordan isn’t going to line up and pile up rushing yards because he isn’t a threat to beat you with the pass.  Opposing defenses know this and will be keeping him in the pocket.  Coach Kragthorpe better pull Mett along quickly and hope Jefferson can manage the offense enough to let the rushing attack and defense win the games….again.

Speaking of Mett, he is the real deal.  Laser beam on the slants and outs and great touch on the deep ball.  If it weren’t for a couple of fantastic plays by the LSU secondary, Mett’s performance (5-8, 87 yards, 1 TD) would have eclipsed Jefferson’s.  For now, Miles and company are protecting the senior QB, but that changes in the fall.  In the fall it is about the W’s and who can get them, not lose them.  Jefferson better push himself like crazy, because his position and a championship are riding on his commitment.  Fortunately for Jefferson, he knows how to win despite his limitations and if Kragthorpe can channel this, Jefferson might be able to keep a hold of the reigns while leading the Tigers to New Orleans.

Luckily, for all the Tiger QBs, there is an embarrassment of riches at the RB position.  Spencer Ware ran for 94 yards and had 51 yards receiving.  He should be penciled in as starter and should create some real mismatches coming out of the back field..  He has great power between the tackles and is a legitimate receiving threat.  Alfred Blue and Jakhari Gore both showed some great footwork.  Blue showed a nice second gear once he hit the corner and Gore could be that change of pace, turn your ankles to jell-o, scat back that Trindon Holliday was envisioned to be.  Gore has great burst through the gap and a tremendous first move that puts him in the secondary in a flash.  Also in the mix will be Michael Ford and Kenny Hilliard.  Both were inactive for the Spring Game, but both are punishing runners with the ability to pile up yards after first contact.

Making time and lanes for the backfield will be an experienced and improved offensive line.  Blackwell is back at guard and it looks like Chris Faulk has locked up the left tackle position.  Lonergan has cemented himself into the center position while Hurst and Dworaczyk bring the beef back on the right side.  Hebert is capable of playing all interior positions and there will be tons of talented depth once the super recruits, led by La’el Collins show up.

In the receiver department, Randle and Shepard have the 1 and 2 spots locked up.  The battle for the third spot is turning into a war.  Both Kadron Boone and James Wright are flashing future number 1 skills while vying for the last starting role.  On Saturday, Wright was making all the hard catches and chucking defensive players while Boone was able to turn on the jets for his routes.  However, all of this will be for naught if no one can get the ball to them.

On the defensive side of the ball, John Chavis has a full arsenal at his disposal.  His two-deep are all capable of starting and with six starters sidelined; others stepped up and put their names in the mix.  Tharold Simon made his presence known as a future star at cornerback.  He just has to fight past Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne.  Simon is just another reason that LSU will be fielding the best secondary in the nation next year. Safeties Eric Reid and Craig Loston also played extremely well.  Crazy as it seems, LSU’s secondary will be better next year, even with the loss of Patrick Peterson.

This will make life miserable for opposing QBs because the Tiger defensive line will be flying into the backfield.  This speed combined with the coverage from the secondary will be a nightmare for offensive coordinators.  Adams, Montgomery and Mingo are lighting quick coming off the end.  In the middle, the bulls are on parade.  Brockers, Downs and Logan all look to be dominant and none could overshadow super-freshman, Freak Johnson.  Johnson has cracked the 2 deep in just 15 practices.  He could be really special for LSU.  Dorsey special.

At linebacker, it will be toughest replacing Kelvin Sheppard.  No one player can replace his production or leadership.  It will take the whole unit.  On Saturday, the linebackers looked able.  They were quick to the ball and solid against the run.  Once they gel as a unit, they should be one of the SEC’s best.  Minter and Barrow played very well and Ryan Baker looks like he could be a real leader on the defense.

Overall, this is what you would expect from a spring game.  It was very tame with just enough spice mixed in to get a few cheers from the crowd.  Miles knows he has a serious title contender on his hand and he showed just enough of his hand to make the other coaches take notice.  However, there is no hiding the hand he has been dealt at the quarterback position.  His cards are on the table and the only questions are whether Mettenberger can be pocket aces this year and if Jefferson can turn into a wild card instead of a deuce.  We will have the answers to those two questions on September 4^th.  The day after LSU takes on the Oregon Ducks in what will likely be a top 5 match-up.