ESPN SEC Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The guy who was on the receiving end of Brandon Spikes' attempted eye gouge doesn't seem too upset by the whole thing.

In fact, Georgia running back Washaun Ealey said he doesn't think Spikes should have been suspended.

Forgive and forget, right?

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

It’s been pretty well established by now that Florida isn’t as explosive offensively as the Gators were a year ago.

Still, they've already locked down a spot in their second straight SEC championship game and a chance potentially to play for their second straight BCS national championship if they remain unbeaten.

Just how different are the offensive numbers from a year ago? Well, the Gators are averaging more than two touchdowns less than what they did a year ago through six SEC games. Here's a breakdown (SEC games only) thanks to the ESPN Stats & Information crew:

Gators' offensive production in SEC play Category 2008 2009 Points PG 43.5 28.3 Yards PG 415.7 381.0 Pass yds PG 213.5 154.7 Yards per play 6.7 5.7

The most glaring difference statistically between the two seasons, however, comes in the red zone numbers. Last season, the Gators scored a touchdown 75 percent of the time when getting into the red zone, which was tied for sixth among FBS teams. This season, they’re 108th nationally with a 43.6 percent touchdown rate.

The numbers are even more disparaging when you look only at SEC play.

Gators' red zone offense in SEC play Category 2008 2009 Red zone trips 43 29 Scoring percentage 90.7 72.4 Touchdowns 31 8 TD percentage 72.1 27.6

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

It’s no secret that linebacker Rolando McClain is one of those guys Alabama’s Nick Saban loves coaching.

For starters, McClain’s a great player. But he and Saban are also a lot alike.

Senior cornerback Javier Arenas joked that having McClain out on the field is the equivalent of having Saban in uniform, albeit a bigger, faster, more athletic version of Saban.

“He’s real smart and has all the features that a great linebacker should possess,” Arenas said of the 6-foot-4, 258-pound McClain. “He’s smart. He’s fast. He’ll hit you, and he’s just like coach Saban being out there on the defense.

“Picture coach Saban being huge and able to play football. That’s what it’s like out there.”

McClain got a chuckle out of Arenas’ analogy, but he readily admits that he and Saban have their similarities.

Neither is easy to please.

“We’re both perfectionists, have a low tolerance for guys who don’t know what to do, and that’s what makes us somewhat similar,” McClain said. “Being in my third year, I pretty much know a lot about this defense, and we’re both good leaders.”

SEC blogger Chris Low takes a look at some key players who need to deliver for the teams at the top of the conference.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Who has the best defense in the SEC?

If ever there was a loaded question, that’s a loaded question.

Depending on what zip code you’re in, what statistical categories you’re looking at and which game tape you watch, you could get an assortment of different answers.

If you haven’t noticed, there are a few good defenses in this league.

But with November upon us, we’ve narrowed it to four. At least the four defenses that are playing the best right now.

Again, these aren’t necessarily the four most talented defenses or the four defenses with the gaudiest numbers. Rather, they’re the four defenses that are having the greatest impact on the game heading into the final month of the season.

In alphabetical order, they are Alabama, Florida, LSU and Tennessee.

We’ll make a case for each being No. 1:

ALABAMA

Numbers: The Crimson Tide are ranked fourth nationally in total defense (240.9 yards per game), fifth in scoring defense (11.4 points per game) and seventh in third-down efficiency defense (29.8 percent).

Players:Rolando McClain might be the best inside linebacker in college football, and Javier Arenas is one of the most versatile cornerbacks in the SEC. Defensive end Marcell Dareus is a budding star. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was also an All-SEC caliber performer, but was lost for the season in the Arkansas game with a knee injury.

Scheme: Alabama operates out of a 3-4 scheme and loves to move people around, disguise coverages and come with pressure from all sorts of different angles. Nick Saban’s defenses have always feasted on getting teams into third-and-long situations and then lowering the boom. This defense has done that as well as any.

Results:If the Crimson Tide are going to win a national title, it will be with their defense. In a lot of ways, this season bears some similarities to the 1992 national championship season when that Alabama defense gained legendary status. The Tide have given up just one touchdown in their last three games, and coming off the bye week, should be rested for LSU on Saturday.

FLORIDA

Numbers: The Gators are ranked second nationally in total defense (236.6 yards per game), second in scoring defense (11 points per game) and second in third-down efficiency defense (24.6 percent).

Players: There are future NFL players all over the field. Take your pick: middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, defensive end Carlos Dunlap. cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden and safety Major Wright. The Gators returned all but one player from their two-deep in last year’s BCS National Championship Game.

Scheme: Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong uses a traditional 4-3 set, although the Gators like to move Spikes around on passing downs. Sometimes he will line up outside, but he will also line up over the nose occasionally and blitz up the middle. The key to the Gators’ scheme is being so good in man coverage. Strong isn’t afraid to leave Haden and Jenkins out there alone.

Results: The Gators were dominant defensively in their 13-3 win at LSU several weeks ago. They haven’t been quite as dominant the last few weeks. Arkansas moved the ball some on them, and Georgia had some success in the first half. But the Gators just have that knack for coming up with the big play when they need it and lead the SEC with 14 interceptions. They’re getting healthy, too, which is bad news for the rest of the league.

LSU

Numbers: The Tigers are ranked 15^th nationally in total defense (293 yards per game), seventh in scoring defense (12.1 points per game) and 68^th in third-down efficiency defense (38.7 percent).

Players: Sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson is one of the best lock-down corners in the SEC. He’s also big enough and physical enough to be a force against the run. Chad Jones has had a big year at free safety, and the Tigers’ defensive front is one of the most underrated in the league.

Scheme: First-year LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis uses a 4-3 base, but often times will go to multiple defensive backs. He moved Harry Coleman from safety to outside linebacker before the season and loves to bring pressure up the middle. He’s also a big believer in his cornerbacks being able to play man coverage.

Results: It’s difficult to find much wrong with anything the Tigers have done defensively the last month. They haven’t given up more than 13 points in their last four games and have played much more instinctively as they’ve gained a better understanding of Chavis’ scheme. It's a defense that's clearly playing its best football heading into the Alabama game on Saturday.

TENNESSEE

Numbers: The Vols are ranked 13^th nationally in total defense (281.6 yards per game), 22^nd in scoring defense (17.7 points per game) and 13^th in third-down efficiency defense (32.2 percent).

Players: Junior Eric Berry is the best safety in college football and likely a top 2 or 3 pick in April’s draft. Tackle Dan Williams has turned his game up and is playing as well as any interior lineman in the league right now. Outside linebacker Rico McCoy is another guy who’s taken his game to another level.

Scheme: Monte Kiffin’s famed “Tampa-2” defense has been plenty effective in the SEC, and Kiffin thinks he’ll be able to do even more once Vols improve their talent and improve their depth in coming years. He’s used Berry a lot more around the line of scrimmage this season. The Vols’ linebackers may blitz on one play and then drop all the way back into coverage on the next.

Results: The Vols have given up just one defensive touchdown in the last three games and allowed just three trips inside their 20-yard line during that span. They don’t give up big plays and are rarely out of position, as evidenced by the fact that they lead the country with fewest plays allowed of longer than 25 yards (5). This is a unit that’s gone from being a good defense to being a great defense.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Maybe there's something about the latter part of the season and South Carolina football that just don't mix.

The Gamecocks, trying to avoid another late-season collapse, will be without two more starters this weekend at Arkansas. Defensive end Cliff Matthews had already been ruled out by coach Steve Spurrier after injuring his shoulder at Tennessee.

But Spurrier said on Tuesday that safety Chris Culliver would also miss the game after injuring his shoulder last week. Offensive tackle Jarriel King is out with a concussion.

It hasn't been the best year for the Gamecocks on the injury front. Defensive tackle Travian Robertson and middle linebacker Rodney Paulk were lost earlier this season to knee injuries.

The loss of Culliver in the secondary is a big blow. The Gamecocks were already playing two true freshmen back there and don't have any depth. This is the last week you wanted to be short on defensive backs going against Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas passing game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

A few SEC links for your reading pleasure:

• Alabama coach Nick Saban wants to see the Crimson Tide follow the lead of the New York Yankees.
• Saban and LSU coach Les Miles will always be connected, but they're doing their best to shift the focus from themselves to the game.
• Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes apologizes for his attempt to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in last week's game.
• Auburn is in need of safety help and may get a chance to experiment with a few players this week against Furman.
• Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says he can only motivate so much. He's seeking help from his players.
• Tennessee's plan to wear black jerseys against South Carolina last week was done in secret. The jerseys may end up being auctioned off.
• After playing extremely well for most of this season, Ole Miss' defense takes a beating in the loss at Auburn.
• South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward will reunite with Arkansas' Bobby Petrino on Saturday after spending a year on the Hogs' staff last season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Slotting teams into bowl games with a third of the season remaining is a complete crap shoot. But since we’re in the month of November, I thought I’d try.

It looks like the SEC will again get two teams in the BCS, which is good news for the league. That means everybody else moves up in the pecking order.

The only team to be eliminated from bowl contention is Vanderbilt. Of the teams still trying to become bowl eligible, Mississippi State probably has the hardest path. Arkansas needs to win this week against South Carolina, or the Hogs could be in trouble.

The hot team right now is Tennessee. If the Vols keep winning, they’re going to be a commodity come selection time.

Here’s the way I see the SEC bowl lineup going at this point. I’m sure it will look different this time next week:

• BCS National Championship Game, Jan. 7, 8 p.m. ET, FOX Sports, Pasadena, Calif. -- Florida vs. BCS team
• Allstate Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m., FOX Sports, New Orleans -- Alabama vs. BCS team
• Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET, ABC, Orlando, Fla. -- LSU vs. Big Ten team
• Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN, Tampa, Fla. -- Tennessee vs. Big Ten team
• AT&T Cotton Bowl, Jan. 2, 2 p.m. ET, FOX Sports, Arlington, Texas -- Auburn vs. Big 12 team
• Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, Atlanta -- South Carolina vs. ACC team
• Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, Nashville -- Georgia vs. ACC team
• Autozone Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Memphis -- Ole Miss vs. Conference USA team
• Advocare Independence Bowl, Dec. 28, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN, Shreveport, La. -- Arkansas vs. Big 12 team
• Papajohns.com Bowl, Dec. 29, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN, Birmingham, Ala. -- Kentucky vs. Big East team

More than just football, Todd Blackledge is the "Taste of the Town." He makes his living as a college analyst, but it's his alter ego as "the food guy" for which people know him best.

Blackledge hit several Southern hotspots on his tour, including stops at Doe's in Fayetteville, Ark., Cabo's Island Grill and Bar in Tallahassee, and Chandler's Deli in Tennessee.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Arkansas is hopeful of being back to full strength in the secondary this Saturday against South Carolina.

The Hogs could use the help, too, especially against a South Carolina team that loves throwing the ball down the field.

The Gamecocks are second in the SEC in passing offense and averaging 237 yards per game. The Razorbacks, meanwhile, are last in the SEC in just about every defensive category against the pass. They’re giving up 264.1 passing yards per game, which is 35 yards more than anybody else in the league.

They’re also last in the SEC in pass efficiency defense and have allowed 16 touchdown passes, which is the second most in the league to Georgia’s 17.

Freshman David Gordon started at one of the cornerback spots last week against Eastern Michigan, but Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is hopeful of getting junior Ramon Broadway back for this game after Broadway sat out last week with a hamstring injury. Junior cornerback Andru Stewart may also be back after landing in Petrino’s doghouse for academic reasons.

The Hogs, after playing better defensively the first part of October, were torched in their last SEC outing. Ole Miss’ Jevan Snead passed for a career-high 332 yards, and Dexter McCluster had 100 yards both rushing and receiving.

Petrino hasn’t downplayed how important this game is for the Hogs (4-4, 1-4).

“We need to go out there and win the game,” Petrino said. “Much like the Texas A&M and Auburn games, it is a must win for us.”

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The open date this week was exactly what Mississippi State needed.

While it might have been nice to continue some of the Bulldogs’ best momentum of the season, it was more important for everybody to catch their breath and get their legs back under them.

These final three games are crucial for this program, in particular, the development of this program under first-year coach Dan Mullen.

The Bulldogs (4-5, 2-3) need to find two more wins to become bowl eligible, and there certainly aren't any sure things left.

Alabama comes to Starkville on Nov. 14. Mississippi State then travels to Little Rock to face Arkansas on Nov. 21 and gets Ole Miss at home on Nov. 28.

The prestige of getting to a bowl in Mullen’s first year on the job would obviously help recruiting, but even more important would be the extra practice time the team would get there in Starkville and then at the bowl site.

Mullen said it equates to about 18 more practices, essentially another spring practice. And with all the young players on this team who’ve already played key roles, and especially those who haven’t played and are redshirting like quarterback Tyler Russell, that extra practice time with the staff would be vitally important.

While there remain limitations on offense, this is a team that’s gotten better as the season has progressed.

Finding two more wins will be difficult, but the Bulldogs are playing their best football right now.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain and Florida cornerback Joe Haden have made their way onto ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's Big Board.

Kiper doesn't include juniors on his Big Board unless they are certain top 15 to 20 picks. Haden checks in at No. 11 this week and McClain at No. 15.

Seven of the 25 players on Kiper's list this week are from the SEC. Tennessee safety Eric Berry remains No. 2. Also in the top 10 is Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap at No. 7.

Others making the cut were Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody at No. 18, Ole Miss defensive end Greg Hardy at No. 23 and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes at No. 24.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Ready or not, it’s time to find out who’s hot and who’s not in the SEC:

En Fuego

Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon: It may not have been the best start to the season for Dixon, who was suspended the first game following his DUI arrest during the summer, but he’s been a champ ever since returning to the lineup. The 6-1, 235-pound senior rushed for a school-record 252 yards last week in a 31-24 victory over Kentucky and now has 1,001 yards for the season. He leads the league with nine rushing touchdowns and is pushing Alabama’s Mark Ingram for the SEC rushing title. Dixon is one of those players that just gets stronger the more you give it to him, and you can bet Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is going to give it to him a few more times this season. Dixon is averaging 22.8 carries per game, which leads the SEC. He’s a true workhorse.

Hot

Tennessee’s defense: The Vols’ defense has allowed just one touchdown in the last 12 quarters and only three trips inside its 20-yard line during that span. Tennessee forced three turnovers in the first 16 minutes last Saturday against South Carolina and is playing as well as any defense in the country right now.

Not

Ugly uniforms: Those black helmets and black pants Georgia broke out for the Florida game were ugly. The only thing uglier was Georgia’s performance. But then Tennessee took ugly to a new level Saturday night with those gimmicky black jerseys. So much for tradition.

Hot

Auburn running back Ben Tate: He’s been Mr. Consistency for the Tigers and is coming off another 100-yard rushing performance last week in the 33-20 win over Ole Miss. Tate has 1,067 yards on the season and is averaging 131.8 yards in his last four games. He deserves to be up there with the top backs in the country.

Not

Georgia’s swagger: It’s difficult to find anything that the Bulldogs are doing well or with any confidence right now. That is, other than punter Drew Butler kicking the fire out of the ball. But when you lose to your two biggest division rivals (Florida and Tennessee) by a combined 96-36 score, confidence is going to be in short supply.

Hot

Florida receiver Riley Cooper: The Gators needed some pop in their passing game, and Cooper delivered with a pair of touchdown catches. His second scoring grab gave Florida a 14-0 lead and was a one-handed gem, ranking up there with the best catches we’ve seen in college football this season.

Not

Kentucky’s defense: Dixon’s career day came against a Kentucky defense that took a beating up front and simply wasn’t very physical. In addition, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said the Wildcats’ linebackers and safeties were out of position all game. All in all, a disappointing outing for a defense that had played well the last two weeks.

Hot

Ole Miss running back Rodney Scott: He was the one carrying the ball when Auburn’s Zac Etheridge suffered his neck injury. Realizing how serious it was, Scott had the presence to lie completely still for several minutes with Etheridge on top of him. Scott didn’t want to chance injuring Etheridge further until medical personnel were able to get him immobilized. That’s what you call pure class.

Not

South Carolina: Nobody’s predicting another late-season collapse for the Gamecocks. This team appears to have much better leadership than a year ago. But the Gamecocks have to play smarter and with more discipline if they’re going to keep from stumbling down the stretch for the third year in a row. They’re last in the league with 24 sacks allowed, 10^th in penalties and eighth in turnover margin. That’s an ominous combination.

Ice, Ice Baby

Half-game suspensions: It was good of Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes to apologize, and I’m sure he’s telling the truth when he says he was merely retaliating for something that happened to him earlier in the game. But the only thing worse than his trying to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a pile last Saturday was the so-called punishment Spikes received from Florida coach Urban Meyer for this weekend’s game against Vanderbilt. Spikes was suspended for a half. That’s right, an entire half. Good thing he didn’t sucker punch Ealey. He might have gotten another half against Florida International in two weeks. What a farce, and better yet, where’s SEC commissioner Mike Slive? It’s good to see the league taking such a hard-line stance on dirty play. Just imagine if Spikes would have said something about the officiating. He might have gotten a public reprimand, too. Yikes!

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

A later-than-normal stroll around the SEC:

• Gentry Estes of The Mobile Press-Register takes an interesting look at what it's like for Alabama's Julio Jones living in the glare.
• Avoiding another late-season collapse is job. No. 1 for South Carolina, writes Joe Person of The State newspaper.
• Florida coach Urban Meyer deflects talk of a skirmish between Brandon Spikes and Tim Tebow following the Mississippi State game.
• Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says Meyer went soft on Spikes with only a half-game suspension for the Vanderbilt game.
• Tennessee has lost its second middle linebacker for the season. Dave Hooker of The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Savion Frazier tore his ACL against South Carolina and will miss the remainder of the season.
• The Alabama-LSU rivalry is still about the coaches, writes Glenn Guilbeau of Gannett Louisiana Newspapers.
• Auburn's Zac Etheridge is expected to make a full recovery from his scary neck injury against Ole Miss, but his future in football remains uncertain.
• MRI results confirm Larry Smith's hamstring tear, and the Vanderbilt sophomore quarterback will miss the remainder of the season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Georgia coach Mark Richt said back in August that senior quarterback Joe Cox was the least of his concerns going into this season.

	AP Photo/Phil Coale
	Georgia quarterback Joe Cox isn’t to blame for all the Bulldogs’ problems.

Now that the Bulldogs’ season appears to be headed down a path nobody in Athens is happy about, Richt is refusing to pull the plug on Cox.

“It was unanimous among our staff that Joe gives us the best chance to win, and that’s where our focus needs to be,” Richt said in a statement Monday. “There’s still a lot of football left this season. We tell our players to finish the drill, and were are committed to doing that this week and each week the remainder of the season.”

In other words, Cox is hardly the root of everything wrong with Georgia’s program right now.

He’s just a part of the problem.

The fifth-year senior, who had patiently waited his turn to lead this offense, threw three interceptions last Saturday in Georgia’s 41-17 loss to Florida. He’s now thrown an SEC-high 12 interceptions for the season.

There’s no doubt in watching Cox play now for eight games that he’s limited, and when your quarterback is limited, so is your offense.

Richt said the Bulldogs do plan to play sophomore quarterback Logan Gray some against Tennessee Tech this weekend. And then come three games that will make the difference in this season being somewhat salvageable and it being a total disaster.

The Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3) get Auburn and Kentucky at home before facing Georgia Tech in Atlanta to end the regular season.

A 6-6 finish would put Mark Richt on serious hot-seat alert heading into next season, although there’s nobody at Georgia who counts who thinks he’s in any kind of trouble this season.

Richt will almost certainly have to make changes on his staff at season’s end, though, which could mean parting ways with some guys he’s been with for a long time.

Whatever happens, dumping most of the blame on Cox is unfair. The Georgia staff knew exactly what he was and wasn’t capable of coming into this season. If either of the true freshmen -- Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger -- were any better at this point, they would have already been in there. Remember, they both went through the spring.

And the truth is that not a lot of guys offensively (other than A.J. Green) have played well around Cox. The running game has been stagnant all season, and the offensive line hasn’t lived up to its preseason billing.

The defensive side of the equation has been the most troubling to Georgia fans. There’s talent on that side of the ball, the kind of talent you’ll see in the NFL down the road.

Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez has a proven track record, too, as a defensive coach. But for whatever reason, it just hasn’t been a good fit.

When you go a stretch of 17 games and give up 37 or more points in nine of those game (at a place like Georgia) there are going to be changes.

The only dilemma is how many changes.

Whatever Richt decides, he’s a smart enough guy and has been around this league long enough to know that the program needs some find-tuning.

Otherwise, the gap between Georgia and Florida is only going to grow wider.