SEC RACE HOTTER THAN EVER

It is still early and a lot can happen, but the SEC race looks like it has slimmed down to 4 teams.

The SEC’s divisional races are ratings gold. In the latest edition of the South’s edition of "Must See TV", the SEC West race between Alabama and LSU is barreling down the tracks to November 5th in Tuscaloosa. This game will be out of hand, and no doubt be one of the best games of the year. Both have had their downs, but South Carolina and Georgia are both improving and appear to be on the upswing.


Over in the West...
LSU has been sensational. This team is playing with so much confidence, even their punter is talking trash. Les Miles has to be one of the most entertaining coaches in the history of the game. His players love him, and it is easy to see why. Tyrann Mathieu is making a claim for the Heisman and he's a cornerback, so that gives you a good indication of the talent in Baton Rouge. The QB situation has largely been a non-issue, and LSU's ground game has been solid behind Spencer Ware and Michael Floyd. Both LSU and Bama are body slamming opponents with clinical grade nasty-jaw dropping defense. Looking ahead, LSU heads to Rocky Top, then to Auburn, then has a bye week, and then Tuscaloosa.

Bama has been trotting out, quite possibly, Nick Saban’s best defense ever. They have pitched 2 shutouts they have a legit shot a pitching a couple more. Gameballs to Hightower and the entire defensive secondary at this point. The offense is clicking behind AJ McCarron, Trent Richardson, and Marquis Maze. Trent Richardson is another Heisman hopeful. He's been having a solid year. There are still some games left to play, but The Crimson Tide have to head to Oxford, then to Rocky Top, off week, then host LSU. The Crimson Tide could have a legitimate shot at another undefeated season.

Back in the East...
With South Carolina losing to Auburn back in Week 5, the door is still cracked open for Georgia to hang around. The Gamecocks, behind Conner Shaw (for the moment), look to continue the momentum they harnessed in this past weekend’s game against one the SEC’s most futile teams, Kentucky. They have to hit the road, head over to Starkville and face a damaged Mississippi State team, then an off week, then the Gamecocks go to Rocky Top, to Arkansas, and then host Florida. This could be a rocky 34 days for Carolina fans. With the offense appearing to be on the rebound this Carolina team could be tough to stop. The defense has been stellar this year. Melvin Ingram, Jadaveon Clowney and Marcus Lattimore get the Carolina mid-season game balls.

As for Georgia, they have seen the ship righted on the defensive side of the ball. A few Dawgs get some mid-season game balls: Jarvis Jones, Brandon Boykin, Bacarri Rambo on the Defensive side and Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Mitchell on the offensive side. Showing tremendous upside, Todd Grantham’s defense is getting that foamy-at-the-mouth look that Georgia fans have been praying for in Athens. The offense for Georgia is showing signs of running smoothly, just not for long. As Georgia came of the second half gates and put up 14 points, they quickly popped the clutch in the second half and kept Tennessee in the game. Let’s give Tennessee credit. Injured, they have one of the best passing attacks around that is on the verge of full tilt. Isaiah Crowell and the return to a legitimate running threat at Georgia, have been the other driving forces in Georgia’s leveling off of the program. Malcolm Mitchell has stepped up in the wake of AJ Green.

Georgia heads to Vandy, then have an off week (which comes in at a big time with Crowell and Mitchell both needing to heal up), then head to The Cocktail Party, host New Mexico State, host Auburn, host Kentucky, and finish the season in Atlanata against GA Tech. The regular season finale has nothing to do with the SEC race, but watching GA Tech's ground game, against Georgia's increasingly stingy defense will be a fun one indeed.

Odds are muddy on Coach Richt bringing home the "W" from Jacksonville and running the table AND The Gamecocks dropping another SEC game, maybe Arkansas on the road. Who knows?

Both SEC matchups are equally interesting to keep an eye one. One matchup, The West, is a race between 2 thoroughbreds. The Dysfunctional SEC East is going to really show us what the 2 teams trying to find their way really have in them. Who wants it?

Look for Garcia to get thrown back into the fire before this one is done and on a big stage.

This is surely going to be fun watch pan out.

CAN'T MISS IT 2011: OREGON vs LSU

Recent news of Coach Steve Kragthorpe being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, has me writing this article with an air of sadness. Coach Kragthorpe (46) has been a stalwart of the college football community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. He is going to stay involved in the day to day operations and guide the offense where he can, but Greg Studrawa, stepping up from his offensive line coaching duties, promises to lead a balanced attack.

News came out this week concerning the USA Today Coaches Poll. LSU is #4 and Oregon is #3, so you could not have asked for a better Saturday night match up in Arlington, Texas. In our second installment in the Can't Miss It 2011 Series, we cover the upcoming game between the Oregon Ducks and the LSU Tigers.

Oregon vs LSU
8:00 PM - September 3rd
ABC

Coach Les Miles is one of the best Coaches in the country. Often misunderstood and second guessed, he finds himself in the toughest division in the toughest conference in the country, The SEC West. Last year's squad went 11-2, and convincingly beat Texas A&M in The Cotton Bowl (41-24).  They return 8 offensive and 7 defensive starters.

LSU has been known over the years for a menacing disruptive defense, and this year looks to be more of the same. D Coordinator, John Chavis, who is an SEC veteran, knows what it takes to get the 3 and out. There were some key losses to the NFL draft this year, including 2 All-Americans in CB Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals) and DT Drake Nevis (Indianapolis Colts). Losses on the defense include big time contibutors including Lazarius Levingston (DL) and All-SEC Kelvin Sheppard (LB), so some impact will be felt there. LSU is loaded with players, and they will step up.

On the Defensive short list of players to keep a close eye on this year and this game in particular include a pair of great cornerbacks in Morris Clairborne and Tyrann Mathieu. They lead a very talented LSU secondary. The defensive line is headed up by Sam Montgomery, and the line backing crew looks solid with Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois. Last year's defense ranked second overall just behind Alabama, and this year should stay near the top of the pack again.

The Offense is a bit of a different story. Last year they were near the bottom of the SEC in almost every category, and a lot of attention has been paid by Coach Kragthorpe and company in tweaking for improved numbers. It all starts up front with the O Line, and LSU loses just one on the front lines in Joseph Barksdale (Oakland Raiders). Holding down the O Line will be P.J. Lonergan (Center), some combination of Will Blackwell, Josh Dworacyzk, and T-Bob Hebert at Guard, and Alex Hurst (Tackle), and Chris Faulk at Left Tackle. They should give Senior QB, Jordan Jefferson, some time to distribute the ball. His efficiency has to go up this year and his interceptions have to come down for LSU to navigate a very tough schedule.

A pair of solid receivers in Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard, and a very solid Tight End in Deangelo Peterson will be stretching the defense as LSU's downfield passing game looks to be improved. The ground game will be led by Spencer Ware, who has a shifty bruising style made for goal line and 3rd and short conversions. Ware was showcased in The Cotton Bowl as a sign of things to come were he produced 102 yards on 10 carries. Look for a team as good as last year's squad on both sides of the ball.

Oregon's Head Coach, Chip Kelly as well as Les Miles, have been dealing with Willie Lyles talk during this off season, and I'm sure they are both ready to get through camp and onto the season. Coach Kelly is entering his 3rd season at Oregon and he's lost just 4 games in the stretch. Oregon has secured 2 PAC-10 titles in his 2 years, and they now find themselves in the PAC-12 North (which also includes, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, and California). So aside from Stanford, the North is there for the taking.

The NFL draft did not pluck Oregon completely dry, but they will feel the loss of 1st Team PAC-10 Linebacker Casey Matthews (Philadelphia Eagles), and a pair from the D Line in Rowe and Bair. The Defense last year was at or near the top of every conference statistic, with D Coordinator, Nick Aliotti, at the helm. This year should be a bit different as Oregon returns only 5 on Defense. Stopping the run, which looks to be their weakness, will have to be a focus in this game against LSU.

The Linebackers will be a step down from last year's squad. Take note the team's returning tackle leader is Strong Safety, Boyett. Look for sack production to continue from one of Oregon's best threats, Senior, Josh Kadu (LB). Big things are also expected from Michael Clay (LB).

The secondary will be led by All-American, Cliff Harris, but not for this game. He was driving a University employee's car earlier this year at 100+ speeds, and he has been suspended from the team. He will miss the LSU game. Harris will be missed, he is a great defensive back and is also proficient at returning kicks. He is always a menacing threat. The rest of the Oregon Secondary is highlighted by John Boyett (SS) and Eddie Pleasant (FS).

Oregon has been known recently for their high powered offense, and with All-American, LaMichael James at RB, Darron Thomas at QB, and Kenjon Barner it is no wonder. These three combined for a formidable force racking up almost 3000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Look for another boost in the backfield as the very anticipated Lache Seastrunk (RB) gets on the scene. The receivers have benefited from opposing teams stacking the box, and look for Lavasier Tuinei (WR) and David Paulson (TE) to take the lead as the Ducks rebound from the loss of their top 2 receivers in Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis, who combined for 119 receptions, 1546 yards, and 15 touchdowns last year. This could be another sore spot, especially on 3rd and long as Darron Thomas needs to finds a sure handed go to receiver to step up.


Bottom Line:
This looks to be every bit of a great one with a cranked up runing game threat from Oregon lining up against LSU's proven run stoppers. LSU is geared to stop the run, and don't think for a second that they have not watched the championship game over and over, training up on Oregon's tendencies. Look for Chip Kelly to throw in a couple new wrinkles to consistently get past LSU's defense. There are 2 key match ups in this one. (1) LSU's run D against Oregon's Ground Game that at times last year was unstoppable. The relentless and creative Oregon play calling, makes it extremely difficult for opposing defenses to hang in there for 4 solid quarters, but if anyone is up to the challenge, then look no further than John Chavis. (2) LSU's passing attack against Oregon's secondary, minus Cliff Harris. How will LSU's newly renovated downfield passing attack stack up? Will Jefferson come up and play an efficient game, or will he chuck up a couple picks, with one going all the way to the house? Look for the proximity of this one, being so close to Louisiana showcasing a revved up LSU squad.


Update August 22nd:
Oregon Running Back Lache Seastrunk has been unconditionally released from the team this past Sunday. He reportedly wants to be closer to his family back in Texas. Oregon's high powered running attack will be without its newest highly touted star who was working his way onto the depth chart. Nothing official yet. He will be transferring to Baylor.


Update August 27th:
In a recent flurry of unexpected and quite frankly out of left field events, LSU will be without 3 players for the season opener against Oregon: Jordan Jefferson (6-5, 224 lb, SR, starting QB), Russell Shepard (6-2, 118 lb, JR, starting WR), and linebacker Joshua Johns. Jefferson and Johns were involved in the now infamouse Tiger Beatdown, where the 2 have been recently charged with second degree battery (Bar Fight). Reportedly there were a number of LSU players involved. Russell Shepard on the other hand, will miss the opening game against Oregon for discussing an ongoing NCAA investigation with a teammate, before the teammate was scheduled to be interviewed on the matter by the NCAA. The line opened at 2, but has recently moved to 1. If you have not read it, I highly encourage you read the Police Report involving Jefferson and Johns.You really have to woner what was going on in Jordan Jefferson's head.


Update August 31st:
LSU will have to go against Oregon without their most experienced offensive lineman, Josh Dworaczyk. Josh is a 6-6, 300 lb. Senior. He is an anchor at left guard. With him out the offensive line looks to get shuffled around. Look for T-Bob Hebert to jump in. Hebert is one of the best reserves on the O Line.

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LSU SPRING GAME: THOUGHTS FOR THE ROAD

I had the pleasure of watching the LSU spring game. Here are some quick thoughts:

• LSU looked really, really strong in their spring game.
• 107th Pass Offense will improve dramatically with Steven Kragthorpe behind the wheel masterminding an attacking offense game plan.
• QB Zach Mettenberger is just what the doctor ordered. He came out with a 60 Yard bomb to WR Kadron Boone to open the 2nd Half for a TD. He will serve as great backup QB this year, which will come in very handy in the brutal SEC West. Mettenberger gets a second chance after being dismissed from Georgia. Look for him to take advantage of his second opportunity.
• RB Spencer Ware has the stuff needed to propell this team to Atlanta. Hard nosed, shifty, great hands, and he's prepared to lower the boom. He had just under 100 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs.
• RB Alfred Blue looks like he has a nice burst as well. He finished up with just under 50 yards on 9 carries.
• 5th year Senior, QB Jordan Jefferson, passed for 102 yards and rushed for 31. He's picking up right where he left off (last year he was 11-2, and brought home a Cotton Bowl victory). His mechanics were good, and there was a crisp confident feel to his drives.
• The Defense which was best in the SEC last year on 3rd down defense, looks just fine. CB Tyrann Mathieu will be locking it down on the outside this fall. Don't think he was not learning all the tricks of the trade under Patrick Peterson last year.
• Look for a big time year from Russell Shepard. He will do whatever is needed for his team to get it done.
• Don't put anything past Coach Les Miles. He's one of the best in the business. He went 10 for 12 last year on 4th down conversions. That's 83% on 4th down, and the best posting in college football last year. His kids love him and he ends up finding a way to pull the win out of his hat.

Look for LSU to come out of the gate hot. The Tigers open the season at Dallas Cowboy Stadium against Oregon on September 3rd. Later on that month, they travel to West Virginia on September 24th to face The Mountaineers.


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