Blog...SEC Keys to the Season

First in a two-part series detailing each SEC teams keys to their season. Today, the SEC West.

By Gabe Harris

SEC Keys to the Season – Part 1 (SEC West)

Every year in the Southeastern Conference there are experienced lettermen coming back for another run at the championship along with new faces that will make a difference between winning and losing on any given Saturday. The upperclassmen get one last chance to cement their legacy for better or worse while the underclassmen have to step in for someone who has already made their mark at their school.

While each team has a mix of the above types of players, there is always one guy a team can point to and say if he has the type of year we expect we will be in the hunt for a championship in November.

The following players are the keys to each SEC team’s season and the player that needs to step up the most.

Auburn University – QBs Kodi Burns & Chris Todd

Right off the bat I’ve named two players at Auburn who are the keys to their season when I said above there was one guy each team needed to step up to have the type of season the fans expect. The problem with naming one player at Auburn is that these two players, for better or worse, are going to be linked when this season is finished. Also, going into the season, it looks like both will get the same amount of snaps depending on the game situation.

Burns was picked by Coach Tuberville as the number one candidate to be the starter heading into the spring and deservedly so as he showed flashes during the season, especially during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. No one doubts his athleticism but can he throw the ball with the accuracy demanded of the offense that hopes to keep defenses off-balance? All signs out of Auburn show that he has corrected this but there is a big difference between spring practice and playing on fall Saturdays.

Todd looks to be the perfect fit for Coach Tony Franklin's Spread Eagle System with solid accuracy, good size at 6'2" and 212 pounds and decent speed as he was clocked at 4.7 in the 40 yard dash. Todd’s knowledge of the offense is his advantage and he seems closer to 100% after arm troubles slowed down his spring practice.

University of Alabama – QB John Parker Wilson

Wilson is going into his third year as a starter and has a chance to become one of the most prolific passers in school history. Showed flashes of brilliance like in the 41-17 win over Tennessee in 2007 when he completed 32 passes for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns. But then he will disappear when his team needs him the most evidenced by his 16/34, 2 INT, 121 yard performance in the loss to Mississippi State. For Alabama to escape the clutches of another season-ender in Shreveport at the Independence Bowl, Wilson needs to stay somewhere in between the highs and lows and stay consistent.

University of Arkansas – QB Casey Dick

Houston Nutt? Gone. Darren McFadden? Gone. Felix Jones? Gone. Marcus Monk? Gone. Casey Dick? Still here.

Ouch. A team that has lived and thrived with a run first, pass only when necessary (and even then let McFadden throw it) is going to Coach Bobby Petrino’s pass-happy offense. There are sure to be growing pains with this group and Casey Dick has largely under whelmed during his time in Fayetteville. With unproven running backs behind him and safety net Marcus Monk in the NFL, can Dick make enough plays to keep defenses honest? Short of Steve Spurrier, Dick has one of the best quarterback teachers around and should have his best season yet. But will it be enough?

University of Mississippi – DE Greg Hardy

Speaking of Houston Nutt, he lands a talented team at Ole Miss thanks to former head coach Ed Orgeron’s recruiting. Ole Miss’ offense has plenty of weapons and should improve this year but the defense needs help. And that help comes in the form of one-man wrecking crew, Greg Hardy. If he stays out of trouble and stays on the field he will be one of the stat leaders in the SEC. He played in only 10 games last year and still led the SEC in sacks with 10 and was second with 18.5 tackles for loss. Had one of the all-time games in a loss to Alabama with 13 tackles (9 solo), 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 QB hurries. He’s unblockable when he wants to be and UM will need him on the field as much as possible.

Mississippi State University – FS Derek Pegues

Pegues is Mr. Do Everything for the Bulldogs and one of the best defensive players in the SEC. He started all 13 games at free safety on defense, was named to the 2007 SEC 2nd team by the coaches and won the 2007 Liberty Bowl MVP trophy. In addition to his great defense he also is the kick and punt return specialist for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs look to be offensively challenged in 2008 and if they want to build on last year’s amazing run to a bowl game Pegues will need to give MSU great field position by leading the defense and returning kicks. Every yard counts in Starkville.

LSU - DE Tyson Jackson

Jackson goes into the season as one of the nation's top defensive ends. He has already played in 40 games for the Bayou Bengals including 26 starts. Plays the biggest in LSU's biggest games and he will need to have his best season yet with the loss of Glenn Dorsey. Jackson could have been a first round draft pick last year but chose to improve his stock since last year's defensive line class was deep and talented. LSU's defense will need to step up their play from last year's disappointing (by LSU's standards) play and carry the offense for a while. - SEC Keys to the Season (SEC West), July 2, 2008