We are three weeks into the 2015 SEC Football season, and things are beginning to take shape. The West has two teams in the AP Top 10, with four more teams inside the Top 25 in either the AP or the Coaches Poll.
Alabama: Controversy
The University of Alabama has long been synonymous with winning football, but something just seems off about this year’s team. At the forefront, the quarterback competition has still not been decided, and they are approaching their fourth game of the season. Without a quarterback to make plays down the field in Lane Kiffin’s offense, the Crimson Tide is destined to fail. If Nick Saban wants to get back to his championship winning ways, he needs to find himself a quarterback, and quick.
Arkansas: Overhyped
Arkansas was supposed to be the next contender from the SEC. I thought it, everyone else thought it. They were supposed to challenge and compete for the Western Division crown behind an absolute stable of thoroughbred tailbacks. It just hasn’t happened. Losing to Toledo and Texas Tech at home just doesn’t scream SEC contender to me. Maybe they will turn it around in SEC play, but if they continue to play like this, it could be a long season in The Ozarks.
Auburn: Disappointing
I pride myself on being an optimistic person. Being able to see the good in any situation is something my parents engrained in me from birth. But my goodness y’all, it’s getting tough. Auburn was a trendy pick for the National Championship in the preseason, was the media’s pick to win the SEC, and Jeremy Johnson was on the fast track for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. As the old saying goes, “That’s why they play the games.” Auburn has turned in lackluster performances in wins against Louisville and Jacksonville State, and was absolutely waxed in Death Valley against LSU. It seems as if Auburn can’t stop the run, and if that continues, it’s going to be a LONG season. The offense is going to have to get back to its roots with the read option if they are going to have to be in shootouts every game.
LSU: Fournette
LSU was supposed to be down this year. They had a new quarterback to break in, graduated playmakers all over the defense, and the offensive line had to gel. But none of that matters because of the way Leonard Fournette is running the football. The man is playing like a man possessed. He is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and it’s not even close right now. He is going to be an absolute nightmare for SEC defensive coordinators for the rest of his tenure at LSU.
Mississippi State: Irrelevant
So far, Mississippi State has played LSU, an overmatched Southern Miss team, and a Division 2 team. There’s not a whole lot to judge from. MSU played a good second half in the LSU game, but couldn’t quite make the comeback, and that’s really it. Dak Prescott is still the leader of that team, no doubt about it. But he doesn’t really have anybody in the backfield to make plays beside him. De’Runnya Wilson is a beast in the passing game, but he’s getting blanketed in coverage left and right. The defense was loaded with seniors, but those guys are all gone, and they need the new guys to step up if they are going to compete in the West. We will learn a lot about Mississippi State in the coming weeks, starting with their trip to the Plains this weekend.
Ole Miss: Real
This team is for real. It takes a GOOD football team to go into Bryant-Denny Stadium and come out with a win. They are averaging 64 points a game. Sixty-four. That’s just absurd. The offense is clicking on every cylinder imaginable with Chad Kelly, Laquon Treadwell, Jaylen Walton, Evan Engram, Cody Core and all the other playmakers they have over there in Oxford. If anyone can keep up with the Rebels, they’ll have their hands full, but good luck keeping up with them.
Texas A&M: Improved
The Aggies will always have a powerful offense with Kevin Sumlin at the helm. Where they are improving drastically this year is on the defensive side of the ball. New DC John Chavis has revamped the defense and made them into a legitimate SEC defense. Myles Garrett is a beast off the edge, leading the nation in sacks. This defense is for real, and they can stack up with some of the best offenses in the SEC.
