The Southeastern Conference went through a terrible 2016 season. Alabama was great, and no one else was. The other 13 teams in the 14-team conference all lost at least four games before the bowl games, and in the bowl games, Auburn absorbed a decisive Sugar Bowl defeat while Texas A&M and Arkansas also suffered disappointing losses. This isn’t a full look at the SEC conference, but here are five teams which must answer central questions.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Burning Question: Is Hurts Ready For The Next Level?
The Crimson Tide thought they had an offensive coordinator after their title game loss to Clemson, but then Steve Sarkisian surprised many in the industry by bolting for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Alabama had to search into the middle of February for a replacement, and Nick Saban came up with Brian Daboll, who had been a position coach on the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. These transitions come at a time when the Crimson Tide need quarterback Jalen Hurts to take the next step. He was very good for a freshman, but he has to be able to round into form as a passer in his sophomore season. If Daboll turns out to be a bad hire, the Alabama offense could become bad enough to prevent the defense from being able to win games.
LSU Tigers
Burning Question: Who’s The Quarterback?
There are no worries about a loaded defense. This is all about the offense and two questions in particular: Will Matt Canada prove his worth as an offensive coordinator after coming over from Pittsburgh, and will LSU find a quarterback good enough to turn Canada’s offense into the success Tiger fans hope it will be? Coach Ed Orgeron is known as a good recruiter, but he is relying on Canada to handle the Xs and Os for the LSU offense. No quarterback strongly emerged last season as the obvious candidate to take hold of the offense in 2017, so it’s up to Canada to groom the next signal-caller and give him a winning plan on Saturdays. If LSU gets that, the Tigers could topple Alabama in the SEC West.
Auburn Tigers
Burning Question: How Will Stidham Fit In?
When the season ended, the outlook seemed bleak for Auburn because the Tigers watched multiple quarterbacks get hurt in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma. Those quarterbacks didn’t look good, either, when they did play. Auburn has struggled for the past three seasons to find the right answer at quarterback. However, Jarrett Stidham announced that he would transfer from Baylor to be the Tigers’ new quarterback. Everyone is wondering how Stidham will adjust to the SEC after playing in a Big 12 Conference which featured very little defense. If Stidham is the real deal, Auburn can make a title run given the strength of its defense.
Georgia Bulldogs
Burning Question: Can Eason Step Up?
The Bulldogs return 10 defensive starters, plus star running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. They have the makings of a special team, one which can end Florida’s reign in the SEC East. The question mark is sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason. If he is brilliant, it will all come together for Georgia. If he remains the erratic thrower he was last season, the Dawgs will have a tough time climbing past Florida.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Burning Question: Does Bielema Have Solutions?
One of the coaches that will enter the 2017 season on the hot seat is Bret Bielema. He came to the SEC from the Big Ten with big plans of building a big offensive line, a strong running game and a steady defense. However, the Hogs have been anything but steady in SEC play. They finished the year with losses in four of their last six, and many are wondering what Bielema can do to change the tide in 2017. There are signs of light – as in when the Razorbacks built a 24-0 halftime lead on No. 22 Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl. That showed that the team what the team is capable of when they put it all together. However, they followed that up with a disastrous second half where they allowed the Hokies to score 35 unanswered points. That shows just how bad things can get. That game was a microcosm of the Bielema era and he has to show that this team can somehow put it all together.
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