2009 Spring Preview
Key SEC West Questions Answered
-
2009 SEC Spring Analysis
- Is the SEC worthy of the
hype?
- SEC East Spring Questions
Answered
Q:
Did Utah expose Alabama
or was the Sugar Bowl an aberration? Who will replace John Parker
Wilson? Also, what's the key position battle to watch out for in spring
ball?
A:
By Kirk
McNair from BamaMag.com …
Alabama Coach Nick Saban
has addressed the matter of Alabama having a poor Sugar Bowl game
against Utah, although he recognizes that Utah was a good football team.
It is the Saban nature to make every experience a learning example, so
expect the Crimson Tide to come out stronger as a result of the Sugar
Bowl. There were extenuating circumstances, although "settling" for the
Sugar Bowl probably was not among them. It may have been disappointing
for a team that spent five weeks at number one to lose the Southeastern
Conference Championship Game to Florida, but going to New Orleans is not
a disappointment. A far bigger factor was losing left tackle Andre Smith
for the game just days before kickoff. Alabama's patchwork offensive
line was ineffective, giving Utah ball possessions and confidence.
John Parker Wilson finished his Alabama career owning
every meaningful passing record, and Bama has had some good quarterbacks
over the years. As many teams, the Crimson Tide rarely used a backup
quarterback and so Alabama goes into 2009 with no experienced player at
the most important position on the field. Although he has had little
playing time, Greg McElroy, a former Offensive Player of the Year in
Texas, has been Wilson's practice backup and has been active in the
play-calling process during games the past two years. The upcoming
junior would seem to be the leader over redshirt freshman Star Jackson.
McElroy has experience as a long-waiting backup. At Westlake High School
he was two years behind Chase Daniel, who went on to star at Missouri,
before McElroy finally got the starting job as a senior. The quarterback
battle may or may not be decided in spring practice (March 13-April 18).
As important as quarterback is, it is not the only
position where Alabama has replacements to make. Defense isn't too bad.
Rashad Johnson at safety and Bobby Greenwood at end were key players,
but are the only starters lost. Bama also lost tailback Glen Coffee, who
elected to make an early entry to the NFL.
It’s the offensive front, however, that may be most
critical to rebuild. Bama lost three starters, along with two men who
split time at tight end, so blocking is an issue. Among the losses are
star players at the two most important offensive line positions, left
tackle (Andre Smith) and center (Antoine Caldwell). Offensive line coach
Joe Pendry has his players learn at least two positions, so there could
be some shifting of starters or backups from last year. Left guard Mike
Johnson and right tackle Drew Davis are the returning starters. John
Michael Boswell was the best of an impressive group of freshmen
offensive linemen in the 2008 signing class. David Ross got a starting
job at guard in the Sugar Bowl. Bama also has a couple of offensive line
signees, including junior college transfer James Carpenter, who arrived
in time for spring practice.
Q:
What’s the first thing Gene
Chizik is working on at Auburn? Are the pieces in place for Gus Malzahn
to do what he wants to? Also, what’s the key position battle to watch
out for in spring ball?
A:
By Mark Murphy from
AUTigers.com … The first
thing Gene Chizik and his staff will be concerned with when spring
practice starts is installing their offensive and defensive schemes so
there will be a lot of teaching on the practice field.
On Malzahn,
Auburn's new offensive coordinator has inherited enough talent to make
significant improvement in the offense this season, but there is no
doubt that he will be counting on help from signees who won't be on
campus until this summer.
For a second straight spring the big
key position battle is at quarterback. Chizik and Malzahn are both
saying the competition is wide open with returning starter Kodi Burns, a
junior, expected to be be challenged by redshirt freshman Barrett
Trotter and junior Neil Caudle along with former starter Chris Todd, a
senior who should be ready to practice after having offseason shoulder
surgery.
Q: Is Ryan Mallett really going
to be worth the wait for Arkansas? What’s the biggest battle this
spring?
A: By Clay Henry from
HawgsIllustrated.com …
Ryan Mallett would seem to be the front runner at quarterback because he
was the nation's No. 1 player two years ago, but he will have
competition.
Bobby Petrino said the battle will play itself out
over the spring and that Jim Youngblood and Tyler Wilson are also
serious candidates. Neither has Mallett's physical gifts -- size, arm
speed. And, neither have that obvious mental edge, that wonderful
confidence that Mallett exudes. Petrino said a starter will be named by
the end of spring and most expect that will be Mallett. But I'm like the
coaches. I'll wait and see.
Nothing will compare to the battle at
quarterback this spring. It is THE key battle and may be the most
watched in many years at Arkansas.
However, there are other spots to watch that will be
highly important. There have been very few snaps taken by anyone other
than Jonathan Luigs over the last four seasons. So, the center battle
should be huge. Seth Oxner was the backup last year, but Wade Grayson
took some snaps for one of the teams in the Red-White game and was tried
there briefly early in fall. That experiment ended when Mitch Petrus,
the starter at guard, was declared ineligible. Hence, Grayson had to
stay at guard where he started. With Petrus back, Grayson will get a
look at center. There will be others get a try there.
With Michael Smith out for the spring after hamstring surgery after the
season, there will be plenty of chances for several backs to work with
the first team. True freshman Knile Davis, a midterm enrollment, joins
USC transfer Broderick Green in the battle at running back, along with
sophomores De'Anthony Curtis and Brandon Barnett.
No one
scrimmages as long or as intensely as Bobby Petrino. There will be time
to look at all three quarterbacks in pressure situations. Typically,
Petrino's scrimmages go 180 plays. That will give him time to figure out
if Mallett is really the man and who will snap to him. All of those
backs are going to find all the hitting they'd ever want.
Q:
Is Jordan Jefferson absolutely, positively the main man for the LSU
offense? Besides better quarterback play, what’s the main reason why
last year was such a stunning disappointment? What’s the most important
position battle to watch for this spring?
A:
By Sonny Shipp from
TigersSportsDigest.com …
I think as Jefferson, assuming he is your starter, goes then so will the
Tigers. However, while I think he’s the key, I think Charles Scott will
be just as important. I think the lack of leadership affected last
year’s team in a big way. The QB play hurt but not having that one
person that everyone looks at as the leader to rally the troops was
missing. Receiver and defensive end will be two areas to watch. At WR,
someone has to step up as not only the No. 2 but also the No. 3 and 4
receiver spots. Terrance Toliver came on late but is he ready to be a
No. 2? With Jared Mitchell likely sticking to baseball it becomes a
battle for that 3 and 4 spot with Chris Mitchell being the most
experienced of the bunch. The receiver position will really get
interesting in the fall when Rueben Randle arrives. At DE, 3 of the top
4 are gone with only Rahim Alem returning. One of the redshirt freshman,
Chase Clement, Lavar Edwards, Chancey Aghayere, will need to step up and
will have an opportunity to challenge Lazarius Levingston opposite of
Alem.