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SEC Football

Boom or Bust: Cooper poised to burn Bulldogs’ secondary

Ethan Levine

By Ethan Levine

Published:

Here are this week’s candidates to “boom” and to “bust” around the SEC:

BOOM

1. Amari Cooper: Alabama’s star wideout has proven himself to be the best wide receiver in the SEC, perhaps even the nation. He’ll face a Mississippi State defense that has allowed more completions of 30 or more yards and more touchdowns of 20 or more yards than any other team in the SEC, meaning he should have plenty of opportunities to break a big play in Saturday’s game. Cooper recorded at least 83 yards in eight of Alabama’s first nine games this season, and he went for at least 130 in six of those games. If he can do so again Saturday, it’ll be bad news for the Bulldogs.

2. Josh Dobbs: Kentucky has historically struggled against running quarterbacks, and Tennessee’s dual-threat signal caller has been as hot as any quarterback in the SEC in the last month. In one and a half games since being inserted into the lineup he’s thrown for 493 yards, run for 241 and scored seven total touchdowns. LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings had his best day as a runner in facing UK earlier this season, and Dak Prescott led Mississippi State to 45 points against the Wildcats’ defense earlier this season. Playing in a packed house in Neyland Stadium, Dobbs could have a big game in store for Kentucky on Saturday.

3. Shane Ray: Missouri’s star defensive end has 12 sacks in nine games this season and has already set a school record for sacks in a single season. He’s rested following last week’s bye, and will face a Texas A&M defense ranked in the bottom-third of the SEC in sacks allowed this season. The Aggies are led by freshman quarterback Kyle Allen, who’s never had to face a pass rusher as imposing as Ray in his collegiate career. Look for Ray to wreak havoc in the Texas A&M backfield as Missouri aims to lock down its second straight SEC East title.

BUST

1. South Carolina’s defensive line: The South Carolina defense has recorded the fewest sacks and tackles for loss of any team in the SEC this season, which does not bode well for the Gamecocks in their showdown with Florida this weekend. Florida has run the ball as well as any team in the conference during back to back wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt, averaging 316 yard per game on the ground in those two victories. South Carolina, meanwhile, ranks last in the SEC in run defense, and its under-achieving defensive line has its work cut out for it against a physical Gators offense this week.

2. Brandon Allen: Arkansas is already a run-first offense, and the potential snow showers in Saturday’s forecast in Fayetteville won’t make Allen’s job any easier against a physical LSU defense. The Tigers know the key to slowing the Hogs is to attack their rushing attack, meaning Allen may be asked to make some plays with his arm to keep the Tigers honest. Unfortunately for Allen, LSU also leads the SEC in pass defense, meaning he might be in store for a rough day in the cold this weekend.

3. Sammie Coates: Without D’haquille Williams (sprained MCL) playing opposite Coates in Auburn’s passing game this weekend, Coates may struggle to make plays the way he has in recent weeks. The Tigers wideout was a no-show in the first half of the season, and although he’s begun to emerge as the playmaker Auburn needs in recent weeks, he’ll struggle to maintain his production without Williams attracting most of the focus of opposing secondaries. Both Auburn and Georgia operate run-first offenses, so Coates’ touches may be limited by that fact alone, but in obvious passing situations it remains to be seen whether he can break double-coverage and be the guy Nick Marshall looks to through the air.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.

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