SEC Key Games: September 24–Arkansas at Alabama

Bobby Petrino hopes he doesn't have to continue to empty his pocket book to get a call or two.

The fourth weekend of the NCAA football season always provides one of the best games of the year in Arkansas vs. Alabama.  These two teams have routinely played some of the more memorable games of the past 10 years.  Multiple overtimes, last-second touchdowns, and running through eight defenders on the way to the end zone have are some of the many things that have highlighted a series that both head coaches will tell you can make or break their team’s attitude very early in the season.  Tyler Wilson will be at the helm of the Arkansas offense this year after putting up some good numbers last season in relief of the departed Ryan Mallett.  Bobby Petrino hopes that Wilson will be able to lead this offense down the field numerous times this year on their way to another possible berth in the Sugar Bowl or beyond.  However, on this day they will face an Alabama defense that returns just about every starter and key player from a squad that allowed only 13.5 points per game last season.  Courtney Upshaw and Donta’ Hightower will once again lead a relentless pass-rush, while the Tide’s depth in the defensive backfield continues to grow with the incoming Hasean Clinton-Dix looking to contribute this season.  Nick Saban also reeled in four 4-star defensive ends to provide a vast amount of depth across the defensive line.  This game will also expose just how bad the Razorbacks will miss Knile Davis, who will miss a significant amount of time, if not the entire season, with a broken ankle.  The SEC’s leading rusher at the running back position last year, Davis was going to be relied upon to provide balance to what has become a pass-heavy offense since the departure of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones from Fayetteville.  His shoes must now be filled by a fairly inexperienced duo of Ronnie Wingo, Jr. and Dennis Johnson.  With the absence of Davis, look for the Tide to bring the heat on Wilson all day long.

Nick Saban may literally kill someone if the Tide loses to Arkansas.

The Tide returns a veteran offensive line with a running back that’s already being mentioned in the Heisman Trophy race.  The only question mark for Nick Saban’s team at the moment is the same question that many have had since the final seconds of the Capital One Bowl fell off the clock—which quarterback will be taking the majority of the snaps?  The only test the Tide will have before this game is in Happy Valley in the second half of a home-and-home series with Penn State.  The quarterback that emerges from that game as the clear-cut starter will likely be the one who leads the Tide through the rest of the season.  However, with Trent Richardson accompanying the Tide’s QB in the backfield, it might not really matter who is handing him the ball.  Richardson leads a fierce rushing attack, along with Eddie Lacy, who was rumored to be out for the season but has since shown he will be able to play through the injury.  Jalston Fowler, a wrecking ball with legs, could also handle some important carries against the Hogs.  Jake Bequette and company may try to disrupt the running game early and often in order to test the Tide’s passing game.  However, Arkansas’s extremely inexperienced defensive backfield could ultimately cost them even greater than Richardson running for 200 yards.  It will be interesting to see what kind of defensive game plan is put together to stop the Tide’s offense.

Some “experts” say this game could decide who wins the SEC West.  With LSU’s quarterback currently suspended, that assumption may well be more fact than fiction.  It should be a very interesting 60 minutes of football in Tuscaloosa when the Hogs come to town.  History has taught us that the football gods wouldn’t have it any other way.

-Chris

Check out the other SEC Key Games:
September 15–LSU at Mississippi State
September 10–South Carolina at Georgia

Player To Watch: Alabama RB Trent Richardson

Beast

Mark Ingram was the first player from the University of Alabama to ever win the Heisman Trophy, and within two seasons experts are already saying that the school may have a chance to have their second Heisman winner.  Trent Richardson comes into the season as the guy for the first time in his career despite the fact that even last year people were predicting that he may end up being better than his predecessor before he is done.

Richardson is a freak of a human being, a punishing 224 pound straight-line runner who can punish defenders but still has good speed and the ability to move well in space.  The junior from Pensacola has been compared to Emmitt Smith, who went to the same high school as Richardson, an incredible compliment for a player who has been a backup for his entire career so far.

During his sophomore season, Richardson rushed for 700 yards on 112 carries, and in the two games that Mark Ingram missed with a knee injury, Richardson filled in admirably.  Against San Jose State, in limited action before the game turned into a blowout, Richardson carried the ball 10 times for 66 yards and had 3 catches for 46 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.  Against Penn State he rushed 22 times for 141 yards and caught 4 passes for 46 yards.  Richardson also added impressive games against Arkansas, Tennessee and Ole Miss to name a few.

This year, however, Richardson is the guy, and nobody in the country is expecting anything less than a great year from him.  Most pundits will agree that he is on the short list for the Heisman trophy, and with the Tide expected to be playing for the SEC Championship in December, many believe that he may end up being the front runner by the end of the season, similar to how Mark Ingram captured the trophy in 2009.

The Tide will go only as far as Richardson can take them on offense, and odds are that will be pretty far.

-Sadler

Also, check out some of our other Players to Watch:  Arkansas RB Ronnie Wingo, Jr. and Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw

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When it Rains it Pours, LSU edition

"What now?"

The news coming out of Baton Rouge keeps getting worse for the Tigers.  Starting QB Jordan Jefferson and reserve LB Josh Johns have turned themselves into authorities after warrants were issued for their arrests for their part in the brawl outside a local bar last week.  The two have posted bail but are also suspended indefinitely by LSU.  Police have interviewed witnesses that say that the LSU players were not the one’s to throw the first punch, but also have implicated Jefferson as kicking one of the victims in the head as he lay on the ground.

In place of Jefferson, Sr. Jarret Lee will most likely get the start against the Ducks.  Like I said, when it rains it pours.  Lee has a career stat line that has more interceptions than TDs and a completion percentage close to 50.

Shepard, practicing for his part in the Oregon game

But it is still raining.  Jr. receiver Russell Shepard has also been suspended for the season opener and could miss more than that while LSU seeks to get him reinstated.  Shepard is tied for the lead in receptions amongst returning receivers from last season and even rushed 32 times last season for 226 yds and 2 TDs.  His presence will be missed.  Shepard is not suspended in connection with the bar fight, but for breaking NCAA rules by discussing an interview he had with NCAA investigators with a teammate who was also scheduled to talk to the NCAA.

I have no doubt that Les Miles will have the reserves coached up, and prepared for Oregon, but at some point you have to wonder just how much of a distraction all this negative publicity will be.  Very quickly LSU has gone from preseason top 5 team and favorite to win the SEC West in some circles to being considered a 4 or more loss team before this season is over.  Best of luck to the Tigers this season, but keep your umbrella handy, just in case.

-Jeff

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Players to Watch in 2011: Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox

Last year, MSU’s defense was impressively stingy, especially the against the run.  The Bulldogs ranked 4th in the conference and 15th nationally in rush defense.  However last years top two leading tacklers have moved on.  Linebackers Chris White (110 total tackles) and K. J. Wright (98) will both play on Sundays this year.  Emmanuel Gatling, the other starting linebacker was also a senior last season.  That means that there will be three new starters at linebacker for State this season.  The starters are still in flux, as the coaching staff is trying out everyone at different positions.  If MSU is to maintain or improve on last years stats, these new backers will need some help from Junior defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.

Cox will not be the leading tackler on this years squad but he will be the catalyst in stopping the run.  Cox checks in at 6’4″, and just under 300 pounds.  When on his game he commands a double team and keeps the linebackers free to flow to the ball and make the plays in the hole.  Fletcher is such a gifted athlete that in an interview with Brandon Marcello, HC Dan Mullen said that he would be comfortable putting Cox “anywhere on the field”.  Mullen went on with a strait face, “He could probably play corner for us, he’s that athletic.”  While the thought of a near 300 pounder playing corner sounds like a bit of a stretch, Cox has been seen lining up at tight end and fullback in goal line formations at practice.

While Coach Mullen has no problem playing Cox anywhere, I know we will definitely see him down in the trenches this season taking on double teams and disrupting the oppositions offensive schemes.  Fletcher Cox is a physically gifted beast and will be the difference maker for MSU on D this year, watch for him.

-Jeff

Like what you read here?  Check out some of our other articles.                     Players to Watch:  UT’s Malik Jackson; Vandy’s Chris Marve                             AND check us out on Facebook or follow us on twitter @SEC_Dweller

Barry Brunetti Wins Ole Miss QB Battle by not getting Arrested.

Yesterday Coach Houston Nutt announced that So. Barry Brunetti would be the starter for the Rebels against BYU in the season opener.  The announcement came on the heels of Jr. QB Randall Mackey’s arrest for disorderly conduct early Tuesday morning.  Nutt promptly suspended Mackey for the BYU game.

This is not how Brunetti envisioned winning the starting job, but will try and make good on the oppurtunity given him.  “It’s kind of exciting, but at the same time it’s kind of sad, because Mackey’s like my best friend here,” Brunetti said. “I’ve just got to prepare, take each day one step at a time.”  Brunetti is a transfer from West Virginia where he was second string last season.  The NCAA ruled that he is eligible for this season because of a family hardship that required him to be closer to his home in Memphis.

As for Mackey, Nutt has said that he must earn his way back on to the field and will not get many reps at practice.  The arrest happened because Mackey struck an officer in the mouth during a fight at a local bar.  Mackey claims he was pushed into the officer.

-Jeff