A conference built on its defensive reputation could be turned on its head next season with the departure of many of its biggest stars in addition to some coaching moves that saw defensive coaching legends leave the conference and buzz names enter... not to mention “a 3-4 defense at Georgia?” I’m shaking up the Magic 8-Ball to get a good reading on how the end of 2009 and the offseason will forecast the 2010 fantasy season in the SEC East.
Georgia
2009 Record: 8-5
Returning Starters: 10 Offense / 5 O-Line, 7 Defense
2009 Wrap Up
The Bulldogs managed to salvage a rather disappointing season by ending with a win over then #7 Georgia Tech, and an impressive 44-20 victory over a red hot Texas A&M squad.
Who They Lose
It’s not easy to be the guy filling the shoes of a #1 overall draft pick (Matthew Stafford), but Joe Cox made use of the arsenal of young weapons around him and did a serviceable job as the Dawgs' signal caller (2584-24-15). Once again this year the Bulldogs will be replacing their quarterback, and there appears to be three in the mix to step in. Junior Logan Gray served as the primary backup to Cox last year and redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger is a tall, big-armed, pocket-passer type that could work well with this corps of receivers, but the money is on fellow young gun Aaron Murray.
The more significant losses come on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs had their tail between their legs most of the year on defense giving up 26.4 points per game (10th SEC), and losing the likes of Rennie Curran, Reshaud Jones, and Geno Atkins doesn’t leave us optimistic heading into 2010.
Who Returns
I cannot stress enough how important it is that Georgia is returning all five offensive linemen; of whom four of the five started all 13 games last season. Running behind that wall of man meat will be the running back tandem of Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, who combined for 1,311 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009 (expect both numbers to increase drastically). Also returning for the Dawgs is superstar receiver A.J. Green and breakout freshman tight end Orson Charles.
Coaching Changes
Following 2009’s disappointing showing the Bulldogs brought in Todd Grantham, former defensive line coach from the Dallas Cowboys, who will change the defensive scheme to a 3-4.
Breakout Player
Ealey or King would be easy calls here. I’m going to go with 6’5” sophomore Marlon Brown, a heavily-sought-after four star recruit who should serve as a compliment to Green.
Magic 8-Ball Fantasy Outlook: “You May Rely On It”
It’s hard not to like the fantasy potential of the Bulldogs this season. With a running back stable like Ealey, King, and Carlton Thomas, a receiving corps of Green, Tavarres King, and Marlon Brown, and five returning offensive linemen it seems we could line “Uga” up at quarterback and be successful. The bigger question may be if this Dawg defense can give their offense enough chances.
Florida
2009 Record: 13-1
Returning Starters: 6 Offense / 3 O-Line, 5 Defense
2009 Wrap Up
The Gators may not have won another National Championship as many predicted, but they did manage to go 12-0 in the regular season before losing to eventual BCS Champ Alabama, which was followed up by a 51-24 thumping of Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.
Who They Lose
How do you replace a player like Tim Tebow? 9,285 career passing yards, 88 career passing touchdowns, 2,937 career rushing yards, 57 career rushing touchdowns, two National Championship rings, the single most heard name on ESPN, and a multitude of arm bands.
In addition to Superman, the Gators are losing three of their top four receiving threats in senior David Nelson, safety valve Riley Cooper, and tight end Aaron Hernandez, who bolted early for the NFL.
The offensive line loses two starters with Maurkice Pouncey leaving early, but brother Mike and two other full-time starters (Carl Johnson and Marcus Gilbert) return in addition to Xavier Nixon who started a few.
The other hit comes in the Gators losing three of top four leading tacklers in Ryan Stamper, Brandon Spikes, and Joe Haden. Early departures from defensive end Carlos Dunlap and safety Major Wright won’t help the fourth ranked (nationally) defense retain that high a mark either.
As we’ve seen with the Gators though, they never run out of bullets, they just reload.
Who Returns
In mop-up duty to Tim Tebow last year, quarterback John Brantley completed 75% of his passes (36 of 48) for 410 yards and seven touchdowns. Brantley may not be quite the fullback type battering ram Tebow was running the ball, but he’s a much purer passer. Deonte Thompson, who finished third on the Gators yardage list last year, will return at receiver but expect to see some young talent step up here.
The offensive line returns 47 starts and will be paving the way for speedsters Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps. Expect to see big bodied Emmanuel Moody continue to grind out some tough yards for the Gators, and sophomore Mike Gillislee who showed some flashes of brilliance last year, will look to get in on the party as well.
Coaching Changes
Perhaps more so than losing players like Haden, Dunlap, and Spikes the Gators will miss Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong, who left to take the HC position at Louisville. His recently hired replacement, Teryl Austin, led both the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks to NFC Championships as a defensive backs coach.
Meyer is staying… for now.
Breakout Player
As if Demps and Rainey weren’t enough speed, lets add to that redshirt freshman Andre Debose. The former five star wide out who has been clocked in the low 4.4’s could stand to be the primary benefactor of a shift toward more of a pass focused Gator offense.
Magic 8-Ball Fantasy Outlook: “Reply Hazy, Try Again”
It’s difficult to leave the Gators off the list of elite fantasy producing offenses, but considering their losses on the offensive side of the ball (which struggled at times last year), significant changes on defense, and the instability of their coaching staff an optimistic fantasy prediction here is tough.
Kentucky
2009 Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 7 Offense / 1 O-Line, 3 Defense
2009 Wrap Up
A big win for this Wildcats program in Athens was followed by close losses to Tennessee at home and Clemson in the Music City Bowl. What could have possibly been a 9-4 season turned into an average 7-6.
Who They Lose
The offensive losses for Kentucky aren’t quite as drastic as many of the other SEC teams. The Cats only lose backup running back Alfonso Smith (245-2) and part time quarterback starter Will Fidler.
Eight starters are gone from the Kentucky defense, most notably leading tackler Micah Johnson.
Who Returns
Mike Hartline (802-6-7) began the 2009 season as the Wildcats quarterback starter, and then freshman Morgan Newton (706-6-3) took over down the stretch, including the bowl game start. This quarterback battle will likely extend to the season's start; both are talented and will benefit from working with new quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders.
Regardless of who is calling the shots from under center they will still have senior running back Derrick Locke (907-6), who passed on the NFL Draft, to receive the handoffs. In addition to Locke, how could I not mention the return of the Wildcats Mr. Everything, Randall Cobb, who rushed for 573 yards and 10 touchdowns last year in addition to 447 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
Coaching Changes
Rich Brooks called it a career and long-time offensive coordinator Joker Phillips took over as head coach. Randy Sanders (former Tennessee offensive coordinator) who produced the likes of Andre Woodson as quarterbacks coach at Kentucky was moved to the offensive coordinator role, and one of his former students Tee Martin was hired as the Wildcats receivers coach.
Breakout Player
It’s hard to call him “breakout” but I think Randall Cobb only adds to his impressive fantasy resume from 2009, and goes all Dexter McCluster on the SEC in 2010.
Magic 8-Ball Fantasy Outlook: “Cannot Predict Now”
The Cats have several key players returning on offense, so the potential to have a solid fantasy season is there, but much will depend on the development of Hartline or Newton and whether or not we see another round of quarterback merry-go-round.
South Carolina
2009 Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 9 Offense / 4 O-Line, 7 Defense
2009 Wrap Up
As if we were watching Rocky VIII, we saw the same story with different characters for the Gamecocks. After starting the season 6-2, the Gamecocks lost four of their last five including an embarrassing 20-7 loss to UConn in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
Who They Lose
Backup quarterback Reid McCollum left the program, which leaves no viable option to replace Stephen Garcia should he go down with an injury. Garcia will lose his #2 receiver target with the departure of senior Moe Brown, but South Carolina only loses one big-fella on the offensive line (Lemuel Jeanpierre).
Like several of their SEC East counterparts the Gamecocks are taking the hit on defense. Eric Norwood, Darian Stewart, and Clifton Geathers (Jr) are among the four defensive loses for the Gamecocks.
Who Returns
Quarterback Stephen Garcia was average at best last season, throwing for 2,862-17-10, and if “The Ole Ball Coach” can’t finally produce a quarterback this season he may hang it up.
In the backfield the Gamecocks will return running backs Jarvis Giles, Kenny Miles, and Brian Maddox, and Spurrier also added super recruit Marcus Lattimore to his running back stable. Gamecock fans are surely hoping that Lattimore doesn’t join the long list of four and five star backs to flop in Columbia (Demetrius Summers, Eric Baker, Brian Maddox, Ben Axon). Normally it’s encouraging to have four returning offensive linemen to pave the way for a group of backs like this, but the Gamecocks finished dead last in SEC Rushing last season (125 ypg) for the third year in a row.
Coaching Changes
Offensive line coach Eric Wolford left the Gamecocks to take the head coaching position at Youngstown State, which could turn out to be a blessing in disguise considering their recent run blocking performance. South Carolina recently hired Appalachian State offensive line coach Shawn Elliot as his replacement.
Breakout Player
After a slow start to the season, then freshman Alshon Jeffery piled up 702 yards and six touchdowns in his last eight games. If Garcia can stay healthy and these running backs take some heat off the passing game, Jeffery could be one of the top receivers in the SEC.
Magic 8-Ball Fantasy Outlook: “Don’t Count On It”
No doubt the potential exists for guys like Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore to put up solid fantasy numbers, but it’s just so difficult to ever have faith in this South Carolina Gamecocks program.
Tennessee
2009 Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 6 Offense / 2 O-Line, 7 Defense
2009 Wrap Up
The Vols lost four close ones in the first half of the season which included losing by a combined 12 points to #1 Florida and #2 Alabama. Then with the chance to turn it all into a 9-4 season they got drilled by Ole Miss (42-17) and then Virginia Tech (37-14) in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl to leave a bitter aftertaste from what could have been an impressive season.
Who They Lose
Most Tennessee fans were longing for the day the Jonathan Crompton era was over, but the guy did throw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. Freshman Taylor Bray, who is already on campus and participating in Spring Practice, could possibly see immediate playing time.
The more significant offensive loss will be running back Montario Hardesty who carried this Volunteer squad last year and was one of the most consistent running backs in the nation for 2009 (1,345-13, 302-1/scored in 10 of 13 games).
The consistent theme running throughout the SEC East is significant defensive losses, and the Volunteers follow suit. Gone from 2009’s 22 nd ranked defense are future first round safety Eric Berry who will enter the NFL early following senior tackle Dan Williams and backer Rico McCoy; the teams three leading tacklers in 2009.
Who Returns
Returning is sophomore back Bryce Brown who was the #1 running back in the nation for the 2009 recruiting class. Brown managed 460 yards and three touchdowns in spelling Hardesty last year.
Whoever takes over the quarterbacking duties in Knoxville will have top receiving threats Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore returning, in addition to tight end Luke Stocker, who decided to forego the NFL Draft.
Coaching Changes
In perhaps the biggest College Football story of the offseason, Lane Kiffin broke the heart of Vol Nation after only one season and with only weeks until Signing Day when he bolted for Southern Cal and took with him father Monte as his defensive coordinator. Tennessee hired upstart coach Derek Dooley from Louisiana Tech, who pulled a shocker and still managed to reel in a Top 10 recruiting class. Dooley also reeled in Harry Heistand from the Chicago Bears as his offensive line coach, Boise State defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox to replace Papa Kiffin, and Rams assistant Charlie Baggett as an assistant head coach and receivers coach (who coached Randy Moss and Chris Carter).
Breakout Player
After a year of learning from one of the best in Hardesty, Bryce Brown should be more than prepared to add his name to the long list of great running backs to play in Knoxville. Brown is also a receiving threat out of the backfield catching 10 balls for 137 yards and a score last year. Keep an eye on fellow sophomore David Oku though.
Magic 8-Ball Fantasy Outlook: “Ask Again Later”
With the returning talent in Knoxville and the amazing job Dooley has done with recruiting both players and coaches to wear a putrid color orange willingly, it seems like the Vols should have some fantasy value next season, but I’ve got a reputation to protect here and there’s just too many questions for me. Brown and Jones are pretty safe bets for fantasy production, but beyond that you’re rolling the dice.
Vanderbilt
2009 Record: 2-10
Returning Starters: 7 Offense / 2 O-Line, 4 Defense
2009 Wrap Up
The only team in the SEC East to be held out of a bowl game, the Dores' only wins in 2009 came against Western Carolina and Rice.
Who They Lose
The oft-injured Mackenzi Adams will be graduating. Adams started the final four games for Vanderbilt, but only finished the season with 630 yards and two touchdowns. Graduating with Adams will be three of Vandy's five starters on the offensive line.
Surprisingly enough Vanderbilt was a middle of the pack defensive team in the SEC and ranked 9th nationally in passing defense, but losing seven defensive starters may have them right back to watching teams run up the score.
Who Returns
Quarterback Larry Smith started as the top signal caller for Vanderbilt before getting injured, and he will look to improve upon his 1,126-4-7 mark from 2009. Joining Smith in the backfield will be the dynamic sophomore duo of Warren Norman and Zac Stacy, who combined for 1,261 yards and six touchdowns last year.
Breakout Player
If he can stay healthy… Larry Smith. Smith is a dual threat quarterback who also rushed 85 times for 213 yards and a couple scores.
Magic 8-Ball Fantasy Outlook: “My Sources Say No”
No offense to Earl Bennett, but come on…this is Vanderbilt.