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A Very Early Look. SEC East
The SEC has been the dominating conference this century, but a closer look reveals that while 3 SEC West Teams have won the NC (Alabama, Auburn, and LSU), only one SEC East team has managed that feat, and they lose their Head Coach. Here is a look at the SEC East.
1. Georgia. To put it simply, it is "do or die" for HC Richt. The offense loses WR Green, but had to play without him for parts of last season. They return QB Murray and 5 other starters. The defense also returns 5 starters, but gets hit hard at the LB position. The schedule is not too bad. UGA gets South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Auburn at home, and ducks Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas. They open with Boise State in Atlanta. If Richt can not make a divisional winner out of this group, with an unusually soft SEC East, he will be gone next season. He had better find some consistancy with this team.
2. South Carolina. The old ball coach finally won a divisional title, but was no match for Auburn in the Conference Championship game, or Florida State in their bowl game. QB Garcia returns, along with 5 other starters on offense, but the line will need work. The defense loses 4 starters, and will need work up front. The schedule is tricky, going to Georgia, and then Missisippi State, Tennessee, and Arkansas, with a bye thrown in. That is a long time to be away from home. They also host Florida and Auburn. A lack of consistancy has always haunted South Carolina, and it could cost them this season.
3. Florida. The start of a new era, and Will Muschamp takes over for Urban Meyer. Muschanp inherits a team that loses 4 out of 5 starting linemen. QB Brantley returns after a questionable season. The defense gets ripped, losing 9 starters. This will be a huge rebuilding project. The schedule offers little help, with away games at LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, and the Cocktail Party against UGA. 'Bama and Floirda State come calling. Muschamp has a huge rebuilding job this season, and an unfriendly schedule. Florida will do very well to win 8 games.
4. Tennessee. New H.C. Dooley did exactly what he was expected to do last season, going 6-6 in the regular season. This season will not be much better. The Vols lose 5 on offense, and get hit very hard at WR and TE. Their QB's are all unproven. The defense loses 6 starters, including all of their starting LB's. The schedule only as 4 away games on it, but 3 of those are very loseable, at Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas. Home games against UGA, LSU, and South Carolina are no bargain deals either. The Vols still need more talent to compete in the SEC East. Another 6 wins season seems to be in the cards.
5. Kentucky. Another 6 win team in the SEC, thanks largely to a very soft non-con schedule. Kentucky went 4-0 against their non-con opponents, but 2-6 against the SEC. This year, they lose their QB, RB's and WR's on offense. That will be a huge rebuilding job. The defense returns 7 starters, but the line will need work. Once again, the non-con schedule is very soft. Kentucky is going to need that to match last years win total of 6 games this season.
6. Vanderbilt. Vandy only won two games last season. The good news is that they return 9 starters on both sides of the line. The bad news is that there is not a lot of talent returning. The schedule is a bit kinder, with Elon, Mississippi, and Army traveling to Nashville. Vandy will need a lot of overall improvment from their returning starters to win more than 3 games this season. With their coaching situation settled, they may get just that.
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Originally Posted by BigdaddyQH
