The 2016 season in the SEC West was both good and bad. At times it was even ugly. Here’s a look back at each team and a couple of decisions that made it look good. Oh, and one decision that made each look very bad.

ALABAMA

Good – Naming Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback. Nick Saban and OC Lane Kiffin have shown an ability to make the right choice at the crucial position over the last couple of seasons.

Good – Plugging in NG Da’Ron Payne with senior bookends Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson, which solidified the run defense.

Bad – Nick Saban’s emphatic confrontations on the sidelines with assistants. In some cases, that could lead to their departures.

 

ARKANSAS

Good – Allowing young RBs Rawleigh Williams III and to a lesser extent freshman Devwah Whaley to flourish. Williams led the SEC with 1,326 rushing yards.

Good – Turning the reins over to QB Austin Allen, who finished third in the SEC with 3,152 passing yards and tied for second in the conference with 23 touchdown passes.

Bad – Not making any changes in a veteran defensive line that gave up an average of 6.16 rushing yards per carry, tied with California for dead last in the nation.

 

AUBURN

Good – Making Kamryn Pettway the featured back. The sophomore led the SEC with an average of 124.78 yards per game.

Good – Allowing OC Rhett Lashlee to call the plays, which seemed to be somewhat of a spark. The Tigers won six consecutive games in the middle of the season before losing two of their final three.

Bad – Juggling quarterbacks, which doesn’t say much for the stability of your offense. The Tigers struggled out of the gate.

 

LSU

Good – Allowing Derrius Guice to become the featured back when Leonard Fournette injured his ankle.

Good – Firing Les Miles four games into the season when it became apparent the program wasn’t moving forward.

Bad – The botched toss to Guice at the goal-line on the final play of a 16-10 loss at home to Florida, which cost the Tigers a Sugar Bowl berth.

 

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Good – Dan Mullen choosing QB Nick Fitzgerald to take the place of Dak Prescott. The sophomore led the team in rushing, with 1,243 yards and 14 touchdowns, as well as in passing (2,287 yards, 21 TDs). The combined total offense of 3,530 yards was most by any individual in the SEC.

Good – Making sophomore Aeris Williams the feature back. He averaged 5.25 yards per carry.

Bad – Having a fifth defensive coordinator in five years. It was obvious the unit is in desperate need of continuity. The Bulldogs allowed more touchdowns (51) than any team in the SEC.

 

OLE MISS

Good – Not only was it a good move to recruit him, but a good option to play freshman Shea Patterson in place of injured QB Chad Kelly. In three games, Patterson threw for 880 yards and six touchdowns.

Good – The decision to feature Evan Engram in the passing game. Third in the SEC with 926 receiving yards, the senior led the team with 65 catches and eight touchdowns.

Bad – Letting up after a 24-3 lead over Alabama near halftime and eventually losing 48-43 sent the season spiraling. The Rebels never recovered.

 

TEXAS A&M

Good – Starting true freshman RB Trayveon Williams. He played in all 12 games and rushed for 1,024 yards.

Good – Handing Trevor Knight the keys to the offense,  one of the better moves in the SEC this season. Knight was 7-3 as a starter and, despite missing two-plus games, threw for 2,122 yards and 16 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 594 yards and 10 more scores.

Bad – Poor decisions coupled with poor play that relegated a seemingly improving defense to near the bottom of the SEC. The Aggies finished 10th in the conference, allowing 444.2 yards per game.