Five burning questions about the SEC championship game
Five burning questions about the SEC Championship game:
1. What impact will the loss of DE Carlos Dunlap have on Florida? There are two levels of concern if you’re Florida. No. 1 is the fact that you just lost a first round draft choice for the biggest game of the year. Dunlap, the defensive MVP of the BCS championship game last January, was tied for team lead in sacks at seven. He’s a great player. The second impact is just the mental distraction. The other players on that team, who have been busting their butts since February, see one of their key guys do a stupid, selfish thing. It has to be disheartening. This is where really good coaches earn their money.
2. Was it a surprise to see Urban Meyer let Dunlap go so quickly? Not at all. Meyer learned an important lesson from his handling of the Brandon Spikes suspension, which was roundly criticized in the media. That was a one-day story that turned into a five-day story because it wasn’t properly handled. Meyer knew he couldn’t let questions about Dunlap’s status dominate the conversation this week. The break had to be quick and clean.
3. What is Nick Saban telling his guys this week? It goes something like this: “Fellas, we pride ourselves on playing a complete football game. We didn’t do that against Florida last year. We played great for three quarters and then they beat us in the fourth quarter. And if we don’t take control of the fourth quarter on Saturday we’re going to get beat again.” Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News points out that only one coach, Steve Spurrier, has ever beaten Saban in consecutive meetings. That’s because Saban pays great attention to detail, especially when he loses.
4. What is Urban Meyer telling his guys this week? It goes something like this: “Fellas, we are the defending national champions. We have won 22 straight football games in the toughest conference in college football. And there are STILL people out there who don’t think you’re that good. Well, Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock we’re going to show them how good we really are.”
5. Is this Alabama team better than the one that played Florida a year ago? Yes and I think it is significantly better. The offensive line may not be quite as good but the line last season was one of the best that Alabama has ever had. This offensive line had to replace three starters and has improved as the season went along. This team can do more things on offense, like put Mark Ingram into the Wildcat formation. Defensively, despite the loss of linebacker Dont’a Hightower, this has been one of the best units at Alabama since the national championship defense of 1992. After losing to Florida last December, Saban knew he was going to have to have a different kind of team to beat the Gators should they meet again. He has basically been getting ready for this game for 11 months.
BONUS QUESTION
What is the key stat that nobody is talking about? I think it’s the fact that Florida has given up 28 quarterback sacks this season. Florida won the game a year ago because Tim Tebow had time to make big throw after big throw with the game on the line. Alabama’s pass rush this season has been better. Alabama has 31 quarterback sacks in 12 games. The Crimson Tide had 26 sacks in 14 games last season. Florida is going to have to throw the ball to win. It appears Tebow will have less time to throw than he did a year ago. It’s just something to keep in mind.
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201 comments Add your comment
Stir proof pot
December 3rd, 2009
4:45 pm
stir the pot,
Sorry to expose you but Saban isn’t even being considered by ND. Just a little fact you might want to check in.
U-no
December 3rd, 2009
5:00 pm
Gators take the trophy, too much Tebow, not enough Tide.
Big Fat Alligator
December 3rd, 2009
5:42 pm
Nick Saban is gonna blow a fuse on National TV Saturday, it should be very amusing. Urban Meyer will be drenched in Gatorade once again. Don’t you bulldog fans wish you had a coach like that?
Let’s say it all together now with Corrine Brown, Won, too, free fo fivuh, dem da gatuhs don’t take no jives!
Go Gators!
Tide Rising
December 3rd, 2009
5:53 pm
Hard to go against what Corrine Brown has to say(she of the esteemed and articulate voice). But tell coarch Meyer and the gator that Forrest Gump is awaiting fer ya. Rolls Tide.
Jefferson
December 3rd, 2009
5:55 pm
Auburn just about beat Bama. Unranked teams beat a top ten every year — just an upset. UF wil win.
Jury
December 3rd, 2009
6:06 pm
For once, I agree with you. Good.
Ga boy
December 3rd, 2009
6:13 pm
Like I said we get to beat on the losers for the next 12 months- and we will!!!
Bill Lodthridge
December 3rd, 2009
6:30 pm
The only real question is this:
Will Verne Lundquist wash Tebow’s feet at the 50-yard line before kick-off???
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
December 3rd, 2009
6:41 pm
Bill Lodthridge Tebow is Jesus….you didn’t know..????
he not only has never cheated on his girlfriend…..he’s saving him self for marriage….
Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson
December 3rd, 2009
7:11 pm
When we come back from a commercial break “Its Tebow time!”- Verne
If anyone spent just 10 minutes alone with Tim Tebow he would be a better man for it- Gary Danielson
Nope. Wasn’t no pro Tebow lovers in that sportscast booth last year now was there?
Timmy Tivo
December 3rd, 2009
7:15 pm
I am not over rated. Just because I was talking to Urban last week about going straight into coaching for Florida as a GA rather than pursuing a non existent pro career does not mean I’m over rated! I got plenty of highlights to get me drafted as a 6th round fullback or tight end.
And shut up Matt Stafford. Kiss my butt with all your millions and millions of dollars. You’re not better than me. You just make a lot more money playing football than I ever will. That don’t mean nuthin.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
December 3rd, 2009
7:23 pm
Timmy Tivo …..please get laid…..you’ll like it…you’re young life is short
Ga boy
December 3rd, 2009
7:31 pm
Verne and Gary D were absolutely pathetic. They should both be ashamed of their performance. So much for independence in your presentation.
Rabun Dawg
December 3rd, 2009
7:32 pm
To Spike, we all know the Dogs won last Sat., so who cares what TB has to say about that! Old news by now.Looking forward to a great game by the two best teams in the land on Sat. Afternoon,that is, not night!
Adam Lambert
December 3rd, 2009
7:50 pm
Bammers defense is too BIG, too FAST and too BLACK for the lizards. Revenge is sweet, Bammers win
Oh yeah and Allbarn still sucks.
Atlanta Gator
December 3rd, 2009
7:51 pm
Rarely have I had less sense of what to expect from a Gators football game than I do from this Saturday’s SEC championship game against Alabama. Alabama and Florida are two good teams that, in many ways, are mirror images of each other. Florida has a better quarterback, Bama a better featured running back. Two great defenses. Two great head coaches, two great defensive coordinators, two great staffs. Two perfect records. Comparable performances against shared opponents.
One thing is certain: after Saturday, one team will be 13-0; the other will be 12-1. And there should be four quarters of great football to determine which is which.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
December 3rd, 2009
8:17 pm
Atlanta Gator …relax…Gators will win….they own the dome…
OldTimer
December 3rd, 2009
8:32 pm
Bama takes this one.
Sonny Perdue
December 3rd, 2009
8:34 pm
I might be fat and I might be stupid but at least I’m a Dawg.
joe taxpayer
December 3rd, 2009
8:36 pm
Tech rolls over Grorgia. TB has a man crush on CPJ.
Chomp
December 3rd, 2009
8:57 pm
Dog Fans,,,,Great words by the Man about this years SEC East Coach of Year, Urban Meyer THE MAN!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy-LQH8N6Ug&feature=related
Saint Nick
December 3rd, 2009
8:58 pm
Where is M????? I guess that ass whipping last week FINALLY shut his dumbass up!!!!
Now, Bama beats Fla 24-21…. Tebow gets the ball with 2 min left but is denied because this is Bama’s year. But doesn’t really matter who wins because the winner gets to put a beatdown on Texas.
Saint Nick
December 3rd, 2009
9:01 pm
ATL GATOR,
With the 6 common opp. Bama has perfomed much better with the only exception being UT.. Look things up before you start comparing idiot!!!!!
Chomp
December 3rd, 2009
9:07 pm
Number of football National Championships won by UGAY this decade = ?
Number of football National Championships won by GATORS this decade
Gator in the Hootch
December 3rd, 2009
9:09 pm
Bama thinks it has a fast, big defense. Well, wait to they see the big, fast, aggressive, down-right mean Gator defense on Saturday. Tebow and Spikes don’t want to go out without another SEC ring on their finger. Check your ring finger, boys, for current ring size fellows! Here come the Gators!
Gator in the Hootch
December 3rd, 2009
9:10 pm
Saint Nick…common opponents don’t mean ditty do.
Chomp
December 3rd, 2009
9:13 pm
GATOR fans are punching the UGAY neutered dawg fans in face today!!!!
Lame Duck
December 3rd, 2009
9:14 pm
Tony, Spikes will come off Dunlap’s RE edge in passing situations. And Trattou will do just fine on downs 1 and 2. No differene there. Stamper will take Spikes’ place in the middle. Not much difference there either. That is what makes the Gators so good. There depth is unbelieveable. The Gator offense will let it all hang out on Saturday too. Gators Big Time!!!
Gator in the Hootch
December 3rd, 2009
9:20 pm
What happened to all the “wait till Urban Meyer goes to Notre Dame” blog idiots. Oh, they are now “wait till Tebow is gone” posting idiots. This summer it will be them posting idiotic posts like “Charlie Strong was why Florida was so good.” Then “next year” their idiot posts will be, “Wait till Brandley graduates.” Then those idiots will be posting, “Fire, Richt, just like Willie, and I’m tired of losing to the Gators.”
Gator in the Hootch
December 3rd, 2009
9:22 pm
Then the Alabama Crimson Tide will pull out of the SEC and join the ACC so they can win a conference championship. But then they lose to the 5th place SEC game the last game of the season and it spoils their national championship hopes.
RULES
December 3rd, 2009
9:28 pm
Urban Meyer “THE MAN” RULES the SEC!!! And, Dawg fans KNOW IT and HATE IT!!!CHOMP!!!CHOMP!!!CHOMP!!!CHOMP!!!CHOMP!!!
Don't Forget
December 3rd, 2009
9:35 pm
Since the inception of football at the University of Alabama, the program has won 21 SEC championships and 12 national championships. In addition to the 12 championships claimed by the university, the NCAA recognizes Alabama as National Champions for the 1945, 1966, 1967, and 1977 college football seasons. However, those championships are not claimed by Alabama.
Matt INTERCEPTION Stafford
December 3rd, 2009
9:40 pm
UHHHHHHHH,,,,I helped to get Joe Cox to where he is today.
Another record
December 3rd, 2009
10:23 pm
There is another record at stake in the Tide-Gators war, one that no one has even mentioned… Namely that JPWilson has never lost a game where he was the starting quarterback, going back to when he was in high school. Just thought to mention— Bama 17 Fla 10
Starring Henry Wilcoxon as Bishop Pickering
December 3rd, 2009
10:34 pm
I see the inmates have escaped the aslyum. UGA to play in the SECCG in 2010. Just because you fired Martinez & Tebow is leaving. Get ready for 18 of 21 next year necks. Gators in the “home away from home” Georgia Dome in 2010. Book it!!
Gator in the Cooch
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 pm
If your boy was so damn good you’d know his name is Brantley, not Brandley.
Bama’s D is going to be all over Teblow and the midget running backs. Teblow’s boy toy Riley Cooper will be shut down and Julio has a huge game as Bama rolls.
indianman
December 3rd, 2009
11:21 pm
tony barnhart georgia show they can stop tech go tigers go alabama
indianman
December 3rd, 2009
11:23 pm
georgia will play in the dome next year book it
Bulldog
December 4th, 2009
12:35 am
Bo Williams is obviously slow. The real people who populate the state of Georgia couldnt care less about Basketball. The name evokes stupidity. BASKETBALL? Football!
Bulldog
December 4th, 2009
12:38 am
i is so have fun, mys are writing word ookie
obomaisaclown
December 4th, 2009
1:35 am
Tony,Auburn has won 4 of the 7 games played against $aban counting LSU and bama so what is this not besten him 2 years in a row. Fla. 27 bama 13 fla beatsthe spead by 7
Let's Talk About UGA!
December 4th, 2009
2:22 am
Go DAWGS!
Who cares about this SEC championship crap.
Everyone knows that we’re the best team in the nation.
We have far more National Championships than either Florida or Alabama.
Go DAWGS!
7-5 Rocks!
We’re number one!
Go DAWGS!
Let's Talk About UGA!
December 4th, 2009
2:24 am
Go DAWGS!
Let's Talk About UGA!
December 4th, 2009
2:26 am
Have we found a replacement for UGA VII?
Is he pretty?
Will he be able to lick his own nads like the other UGAs?
Go DAWGS!
Anonymous
December 4th, 2009
4:19 am
“Don’t Forget”,
You need to carefully read the explanations on the NCAA records pages where it lists “national championships for Division I (FBS) football. The NCAA does not “recognize” any championship in Division I/FBS football. On its webpage, the NCAA merely reports the consensus “national championships” of the various polling and rating services for any given year:
http://www.ncaa.com/history/football-fbs.html
And, no, the NCAA does NOT “recognize” Alabama as having won national championships in 1945, 1966, 1967 and 1977. In fact, it acknowledges Alabama as having been awarded “retroactive poll championships” in 1925, 1926 and 1930, for a total of nine (9) claimed national championships.
In its official Football Bowl Subdivision Records Book for major college football, the NCAA does acknowledge every “championship” awarded by any recognized selector:
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009FBS.pdf
(Starting on page 76.) According to the official NCAA FBS records book, you will note that in 1966 and 1977 a small minority of secondary polling services recognized Alabama as one of several “national champions”; in neither year was Alabama the consensus champion. No selector recognized Alabama as anything in 1967.
Please learn some college football history before spouting off again. There are many knowledgeable college football fans who do, and you are embarrassing yourself.
» SEC links: Alabama-Florida headed for the big game John Clay’s Sidelines
December 4th, 2009
8:33 am
[...] For the AJC, Tony Barnhart offers five burning questions on the SEC title game: “5. Is this Alabama team better than the one that played Florida a year ago? Yes and I think it is significantly better. The offensive line may not be quite as good but the line last season was one of the best that Alabama has ever had. This offensive line had to replace three starters and has improved as the season went along.” [...]
Bull Gator
December 4th, 2009
10:32 am
For all of you Gator hating PUPS, payback is a bitch. I’ve got 2 words for you, MONTEZ ROBINSON. Now grow up.
Show Your Armchair QB Brilliance! | Piazza Siena
December 4th, 2009
5:48 pm
[...] a look here for 5 burning questions everyone wants [...]
dawg
December 6th, 2009
6:40 am
Defense, Defense, Defense! Bama’s got one and it showed. Put pressure on Tebow and Florida ain’t SH..! Yeah, Florida whipped or butts bit that’s old news. Was Myer Cryer making excuses again, whole team have swine flu? Tebow had deems jocky straps on his mind too!!! Will like to see how Texas handles a real SEC defense. Congrats Bama from the Dawgs
longDawg
December 6th, 2009
3:07 pm
barnhart you are as stupid as most say’I think it should be RIPS rather than nips fl