Strong defense should carry LSU
006 OVERALL/ SEC RECORD, SEC WEST FINISH: 11-2 , 6-2, tied for second place.
GOOD NEWS: Eight starters return from a defense that ranked third in the nation. All three linebackers return to shore up this unit that is led by LB Ali Highsmith and tackle Glenn Dorsey. With so many talented running backs - Keiland Williams and Richard Murphy for starters - playing ball control is easy. Unless they want to throw it to speedy WR Early Doucet.
BAD NEWS: Four of the top playmakers are gone to play in the pros. QB JaMarcus Russell, WRs Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis and S LaRon Landry will be missed. While starter-to-be Matt Flynn shined in earning MVP honors in his start in the 2005 Chick-Fil-A Bowl, the status of backup Ryan Perrilloux is unclear following his suspension.
HI, MY NAME IS: Gary Crowton. The new offensive coordinator replaces the celebrated Jimbo Fisher, who left for Florida State. With a history of wide-open attacks, Crowton will have to teach his offense to at least five new starters. At Oregon for two seasons, Crowton led the Ducks to No. 9 in the country in total offense. Before that, he guided high-flying BYU.
THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: Talent. Lots of talent. And more talent. Did we mention talent? Does it matter that the Tigers lost four players to the NFL draft's first round? Does it matter that a new starting quarterback will take snaps? Not much to pollsters, who consider them in the nation's preseason top 5. The schedule helps - the only challenging road game is at Alabama.
AUBURN 2006 OVERALL/SEC RECORD, SEC WEST FINISH: 11-2, 6-2, tie for second.
GOOD NEWS: Quarterback Brandon Cox is healthy and, considering what he went through last season, that's very good news indeed for the Tigers. The guy who was routinely sacked, and routinely hurt last season, turned in a solid spring because defenders weren't knocking him down. He seems ready to thrive.
BAD NEWS: The Tigers could be significantly better than last year's 11-win season - and have little to show for it because of their tougher-than-dirt schedule. Auburn has to play at Florida, LSU, Arkansas and Georgia, and while coach Tommy Tuberville has the schedule set up the way he likes it (easy game, hard game, easy game, hard game) it still smells like a daunting task. Oh, yeah, Auburn is now without the best kicking trio in the nation.
HI, MY NAME IS: Mike Blanc. The Auburn defensive lineman was redshirted last season, but he got so much praise in spring practice that he is either really good or has a heck of a PR firm working with the coaching staff. We know the latter isn't right, so look for him to move nicely into the playing rotation this fall.
THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: Auburn, as it is wont to do, will fly under the big-time national radar for much of the season before threatening to win the SEC West again. Will the Tigers be offended? Hardly. Tuberville will let others get the glory in the preseason, and come in and sweep up the pieces. He's won eight of his past nine games against Top 10 teams, so, he figures, bring it on.
ALABAMA 2006 OVERALL/ SEC RECORD, SEC WEST FINISH: 6-7, 2-6 , tied for fourth place.
GOOD NEWS: Alabama hired Nick Saban - perhaps you heard. Many fans expect Saban to solve every problem. Minus inconsistent star back Kenneth Darby, everyone returns for this offense, including QB John Parker Wilson and receivers DJ Hall and Keith Brown. This team should score. If the emphasis on conditioning continues, the Tide may even win a game in the fourth quarter.
BAD NEWS: A team that lost six SEC games and trailed Duke at halftime has a ways to go, and Saban has been the first to say it. The defense lost six starters and is woefully inexperienced. Plus, the schedule doesn't help. A huge nonconference game against Florida State is an upgrade from the cakewalk that was 2006.
HI, MY NAME IS: Nick Saban. Every storyline surrounding Alabama revolves around Saban and with good reason. One of nation's lightning rods for attention merged with one of the most high-profile programs. With an emphasis on recruiting, Saban hopes to change the team's makeup. But what difference will he make this season? Will changing the culture of the team be enough to satisfy the fans?
THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: Saban hates expectations, and he's done what he can to lower them. He'll mention the lack of depth and emphasize how important getting the team in shape is. So don't expect a national championship just yet. With the tougher schedule, merely one or two more wins would go a long way in stomping in the right direction.
ARKANSAS
2006 OVERALL/ SEC RECORD, SEC WEST FINISH: 10-4 , 7-1, first place.
GOOD NEWS: The Heisman Trophy runner-up returns, and so is his tag-team partner. One of the nation's best backfields returns with Darren McFadden (1,647 yards) and Felix Jones (1,186 yards). Teams will gear up to stop McFadden again, which doesn't seem to matter. Rangy receiver Marcus Monk will try to improve upon his 50 catches for 962 yards.
BAD NEWS: Perhaps you've read about the Hogs in a newspaper or two. Houston Nutt's name and controversy seemingly appeared together every day, from stories about his cell phone records to why his quarterback didn't trust him. Now, Mitch Mustain is gone, leaving tested but shaky Casey Dick at the helm. All will have to learn a new offense.
HI, MY NAME IS: David Lee. Another new offensive coordinator in the West. Lee left his job coaching quarterbacks with the Dallas Cowboys to replace high-school whiz Gus Malzahn. The former Sprindale High coach and his spread offense are now at Tulsa. By contrast, Lee's offense will feature mostly handoffs to McFadden and Jones. Can you blame him?
THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: It's sink or swim time. The most pertinent offseason question is whether the constant off-field drama will affect the team's performance. If it does, if the players do not rescue a season stung with chaos before it began, Nutt may be looking for work at this time next year. To save his job, Nutt should just give the ball to McFadden.
OLE MISS 2006 OVERALL/ SEC RECORD, SEC WEST FINISH: 4-8, 2-6, tied for fourth place
GOOD NEWS: Coach Ed Orgeron is a good recruiter, and that may begin to pay off. The running game is solid with All-SEC performer BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who eclipsed 1,000 yards. Three offensive line starters return, led by tackle Michael Oher. New defensive coordinator John Thompson, who has worked at Alabama, should allow Orgeron to focus more as a head coach.
BAD NEWS: The quarterback situation is a serious question. Former coveted juco recruit Brent Schaeffer was benched by the end of the year and replaced by former Division II player Seth Adams. That's not good. Losing star linebacker Patrick Willis to the NFL is just another problem. At least six assistants either left or changed positions.
HI, MY NAME IS: Seth Adams. Don't kick yourself if you don't know him. Few Ole Miss fans did until recently. He replaced Schaeffer late in 2006 and impressed Orgeron by not turning it over. The former Delta State and Hinds CC player competed eight of 11 passes for 84 yards in the spring game, giving him the inside track at the starting job.
THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: This could be a brutal year, especially if the opener at Memphis proves tougher than expected. If Schaeffer does not improve to supplant Adams, this offense will sputter. Still, this team was scrappy last year and hung around some good teams. If this season spirals downward, though, pay attention to Orgeron's job status.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 2006 OVERALL/ SEC RECORD, SEC WEST FINISH: 3-9 , 1-7, sixth place.
GOOD NEWS: Nearly everyone on offense returns, including QB Michael Henig and emerging WR Tony Burks. Freshman Anthony Dixon was a revelation. Six offensive linemen who started return, which gives the Bulldogs as solid a base as they've had in years. Derek Pegues is back as a safety and returner.
BAD NEWS: Three defensive tackles - the team's strength in 2006 - are gone, and so is coach Brick Haley. Henig may be solid when healthy, but he is rarely healthy. He broke his collarbone twice last season. The schedule is one of the toughest, with nonconference road games at West Virginia and Tulane. Even minor improvement may be difficult to attain.
HI, MY NAME IS: Tony Burks. The 6-foot-5 receiver led the Bulldogs with 35 catches for 850 yards in 2006 after arriving from junior college as a big-play threat. He made two catches for longer than 70 yards. Several tall receivers are enrolled to him help. Brandon McRae, a transfer from Morehead State, and signee Co-Eric Riley bolster the attack.
THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: The talent pool in Starkville has improved, and coach Sylvester Croom is saying as much heading into his fourth season. But the wins have not come as he would have hoped. Even with an influx of players, there are still questions on offense and youth on defense. A more difficult schedule gives the Dogs an uphill climb to escape the basement. Compiled by News staff writers Ian R. Rapoport and Charles Goldberg.
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