It’s time to look at key questions across the SEC involving Saturday’s Week 2 slate of games:
PERCEPTION: TENNESSEE’S DEFENSE MAKES THEM AN SEC EAST CONTENDER
With a veteran defense returning this season, the Tennessee Volunteers are once again a contender in the SEC East. Butch Jones’ squad has a dynamic pass-rushing group, led by Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett, which, in turn, helps to strengthen and ease the burden on the secondary, led by talented junior Cameron Sutton.
REALITY: BOWLING GREEN EXPOSED THE VOLS DEFENSE
Tennessee might have won big over Bowling Green in Week 1 by a 59-30 score, but the Volunteers hemorrhaged yards to the Falcons. Bowling Green posted 557 yards on the Tennessee defense — including 433 of them in air or roughly 200 more yards than the Falcons averaged last year per game. The front seven essentially held their ground. It doesn’t help matters that Volunteers defensive backs coach Willie Martinez was suspended for Week 1 due to recruiting infractions. Tennessee gets Martinez back this week, just in time for a visit from Oklahoma. The Volunteers will need to make some corrections fast against the Sooners and quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns in Week 1 against Akron. Not helping matters, is the suspension of starting DT Danny O’Brien for violating team policy. The Tennessee secondary should be a strong unit, considering it’s manned by the likes of Cameron Sutton and Brian Randolph. But it will have to prove itself with a huge matchup against the Sooners.
PERCEPTION: THE SEC IS THE BEST CONFERENCE, THE RANKINGS PROVE IT
The SEC is the best conference, that’s evident by its record-setting 10 teams inside the AP poll’s top 25 after Week 1 play. The conference rolled over its opponents, dropping only one game in the season’s opening weekend — and even that one was close.
REALITY: LET’S JUST WAIT AND SEE
“Best” is a relative term and one too early to be affixing to any conferences, teams or players just yet. The SEC ranked nine teams inside the AP’s top 25 at some point in 2014, with Tennessee the newest addition this year. Of those nine teams, only four (Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss) remained in the rankings all season long. The conference is riding high right now, especially after the Big Ten and Pac-12 lost six and five games, respectively, in Week 1. Let’s be honest, however. The SEC is full of great teams, but the conference does fatten up on one of the weakest out-of-conference schedules in the country. It’s just another reason why rankings should be delayed until later in the season.
PERCEPTION: UPSIDE DOWN STAT LINE
Looking at the stat lines from Week 1 and several items jump out, including Vanderbilt with the SEC’s No.1 rush defense and Auburn with the conference’s worst offense. Could it be a sign of things to come and a new guard taking over in the SEC?
REALITY: IT’S WEEK 1, RELAX
Nah. That’s ridiculous, but it’s worth mentioning as far as deciphering perception versus reality. The reality is, that the Auburn offense isn’t that bad and the Vanderbilt defense isn’t likely “that” good.
The Commodores deserve some credit, however, shutting down a Western Kentucky team that returned the core of its lineup that finished No. 6 in the nation in total offense last year with 534.6 ypg last year — including 4,000-yard passer Brandon Doughty and 1,500-yard running back Leon Allen. If Vanderbilt can fix its red zone woes, or put a big enough Band-Aid on it for a game or so, it’s reasonable to suggest the Commodores might be able to upset someone this season with a respectable defense.
Auburn’s offensive numbers are somewhat skewed by the fact that the Tigers faced a Louisville defense that should be among the better defenses in the nation this year. That said, Auburn needs to address some of its issues. Among them is the team’s offensive line which was whistled for five holding penalties, one of which negated a 56-yard touchdown score. The line will need to improve vastly to help quarterback Jeremy Johnson—who threw for 137 yards, a touchdown and 3 interceptions in Week 1 against the Cardinals — acclimate to being a full-time starter. Until then, the plan should be to constantly feed running back Peyton Barber, who rushed for 115 yards versus Louisville. Expect Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to right the Tigers’ offensive ship.
Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.
