Who’ll grab hold of the SEC East – UGA or South Carolina?
Will Isaiah Crowell and Georgia leave South Carolina in the dust? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
For the first 10 years of the SEC East’s existence, Florida usually won. When it didn’t, Tennessee did. Then Mark Richt arrived at Georgia — and, not incidentally, Ron Zook took over in Gainesville — and the Bulldogs won the division three times in four seasons. Then the Gators, under new and better management, won three times in four years. And then, in 2010, something strange happened: The East was taken by none of the above.
South Carolina finally broke through, and two weeks into the 2011 season the Gamecocks were poised to consolidate that gain. They’d beaten Georgia in Athens. The Gamecocks had four of the more talented players — Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffery, Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney — in the nation’s most talented league. But Carolina lost at home to Auburn and booted wayfaring quarterback Stephen Garcia from the squad for good and lost Lattimore to a knee injury and then lost at Arkansas. Georgia won the East for the first time since 2005, and today the Bulldogs stand where South Carolina did a year ago.
Georgia is a good young team coming off a lousy ending. Just as South Carolina did in 2010, the Bulldogs were routed in the SEC title game and contrived to lose their bowl. The 2011 Gamecocks, by way of contrast, finished by thrashing Clemson, which would win the ACC, and then Nebraska to wind up 11-2 to Georgia’s 10-4. And the Bulldogs must go to Columbia next season.
In sum, the SEC East remains in heavy flux. South Carolina has cause to believe it was the division’s best team, but was undone by luck and scheduling. Georgia can point to its 10 wins and its 15 returning starters as proof that its rise was no trick of the light. And then there are the others.
Various recruiting rankings indicate that Florida, which had to win its bowl to finish above .500, is poised to sign the top class among SEC East programs. Tennessee finished 5-7 and won only one conference game and could well be seeking a new coach soon. In Year 2 under James Franklin, Vanderbilt figures to do more than simply scare some of the big boys. About all Kentucky accomplished in Year 2 under Joker Phillips was to beat Tennessee for the first time since 1984. And this fall Big 12 expatriate Missouri, flouting geography, opens play as a member of the SEC East.
Most projections for 2012 show Georgia and South Carolina in the preseason top 10, and whichever one takes the East this year — it’s hard to envision anyone else rising past both — can lay claim to being the class of the SEC’s lesser division. (SEC West zealots may consider this the equivalent of being the world’s strongest weakling, but you can’t win the conference unless you play in Atlanta on the first Saturday in December, can you?)
Once again, all schedules aren’t created equal. Georgia, which managed not to play any of the West’s Big Three in the 2011 regular season, will miss them again. South Carolina has to play LSU in Baton Rouge and Arkansas in Columbia, which means the Gamecocks could again beat Georgia and still lose the East.
Loading ...In a division laden with uncertainty, signing day can have an outsize impact. The Gamecocks won the East in 2010 because Lattimore chose them over Auburn. Georgia won in 2011 largely because freshmen Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Mitchell became playmakers. This year the Bulldogs have gained commitments from running backs Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley, making the matter of Crowell’s durability less significant. South Carolina’s top commitment is receiver Shaq Roland, who should slide into the spot vacated by Jeffery.
Looking toward autumn, it’s a close call between the two, but the pick here is Georgia. The Bulldogs have the kinder schedule and figure to have more good players returning, and South Carolina’s best player will be coming off knee surgery. That said, seizing control of a division — even if it is only the SEC East, as opposed to the West — requires a level of consistent excellence above and beyond what was required to break through once.
South Carolina knows this all too well. The Gamecocks were a better team in 2011 than in 2010 but didn’t play for the conference title. They missed their chance to stamp themselves as the post-Urban Meyer power in the SEC East. Now it’s Georgia turn to try.
By Mark Bradley
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SEC Headlines – 1/26/12 Part Two | My Blog
January 27th, 2012
3:44 am
[...] Will it be Georgia or South Carolina who grabs control of a SEC East this fall? (Or someone [...]
fla dawg
January 27th, 2012
7:33 am
dranodrago… the only thing wrong with your post is that for some reason Murray is slightly considering leaving after next year to enter the draft. I can’t figure out his logic unless he is talking about joining the Army because surely he doesn’t think a NFL team will draft him.
JMac1220
January 27th, 2012
12:03 pm
Bottom line… Georgia will not be able to win the East this season. They have a habit of losing to the good teams on their schedule, and in 2012, the only really good teams they play are USCe, Mizzou, and Florida, with a vastly improved Vandy a distinct upset possibility. They are also coached by one of the worst gameday coaches in the SEC, CMR. This season, they were extremely lucky to get the chance to get hammered 42-0 by LSU in what was basically a Georgia home game. Who knows, they might get that lucky again, in 2012, but probably not. No one, not me, you, or swami Mark Bradley, have anything more than a best guess as to what will happen in September, October, or November. (And yes, I did mean to say 42-0)
Bulldawgman49
January 27th, 2012
12:47 pm
Well of course being a bulldawg fan I have to pick them..But I think South Carolina is going to be good to . I think next years game being pushed back will make a difference you will see where each team strength and weakness will be . maybe our young o line will jel by then we will see. Go DAwgs!!!!
SayHeyDawg
January 27th, 2012
2:56 pm
Mark Richt is bad at adjustments. He hates change. Off season, Richt does nothing that works usually.
In 2008, 2009, 2010, Richt’s team had more LOSSES than the previous year. 2011 was the lone exception.
It’s obvious to anyone, the need for:
a) special teams coach
b) new qb that doesn’t throw multiple interceptions and fumble in key games
c) run the football, get a 100 yard rusher and Richt is 41-4.
Yet Richt will not change any of these 3 issues.
WrinkledVet
January 27th, 2012
3:23 pm
Spurrier has lost 5 coaches this off season.
Includes defensive head coach, special teams coach, running backs coach, and strength and conditioning coach.
Got to be a learning curve there in 1st year, Spurrier will struggle in 2012 with those 5 new coaches installing their new systems.
brick
January 27th, 2012
4:42 pm
SC beat us in 11, congrats to them, but they act like they beat us 30, which isn’t the case at all. In fact if we hadn’t given them 28 points directly off of turnovers we would have beaten them by 30. Yes turnovers are a part of the game, but not many times you get 28 points off of them without running an offensive play. If we give you 28 in 2012 we will likely lose again, but if we only give you 20 we win. UGA was 3 tds better than SC this year, even the mighty SOS said the better team didn’t win that it was better to be lucky sometimes. SC used up all their luck in 11, Dawgs win by 25+ in Columbia.
Dawg Style
January 27th, 2012
7:29 pm
This may be the best GA team in 10 years with all these dream team recruits—GA will beat sc easy and dominate the SEC east. Fla will be way down again and ut has nothing. Ga v. lsu for the title–book it.
Swamp Thing
January 27th, 2012
9:54 pm
It’s not the economy – It’s the schedule Stupid. UGA won the SEC East last year by scoreboard watching when Arkansas beat South Carolina..What were the SEC records of the teams UGA beat – the SEC Championship was very predictable since UGA didn’t beat any ranked team last year. Can you explain in 10 words or less how UGA has avoided Alabama and LSU for 3 years and Arkansas for two? Also how was the scheduled Alabama game in Tuscaloosa cancelled this year for a trip to Missouri? UGA will not win the SEC East this year – SOS will beat them and sao will MusCHAMP.
But MR will beat up a bunch of losing teams this year and all of you Dogs can bark and bark and bark.
Busch Leaguer
January 27th, 2012
11:28 pm
I just have Bad feeling that the 2012 season will get derailed in Columbia ,Missouri . The Dawgs have had trouble out west recently and their season can get ugly early if they are not ready to play a tough road conference game early in the season. With so much talk about the soft 2012 schedule ,This game may determine the success of the Dawgs 2012 season.
Dogs Win East!
January 28th, 2012
9:27 am
Georgia has a lot more talent than any team in the east, including usc—with all these top recruits that Richt is bringing in, the only teams that match the dogs are lsu and alabama. Ga wins the east with big wins over usc and fla. the dogs will play alabama for the title.
zbulldawg
January 28th, 2012
11:57 am
Well now back to show me ! Dawgs are back on track ! And as this unfolds It will be hard to stop them from getting their Due ! The lack of depht hurt the last two years & that’s being adressed !! The gamecocks will always be a big game Always has ! The same goes with the Gators & Vandy Auburn etc. Nothing changed But the Dawgs have made MAJOR changes in their off season Prep ! Their approach to recruiting “Not having the coaches secure DID NOT HELP” All those who beleive you can just flip a switch and turn things around need to get real !! Yes Uran Meyer did it at Fla. But the team was in place He just added some pieces & an offense the SEC hadn’t seen ! Saban stepped into the same thing but added a great off season program & pieces ! Les was the lucky one also ! And don’t forget Petrino ! Nutt have that program well under way He did bring in a better offense ! Gamecocks will always have problems They will be in the hunt but the ball coach has a history of players with that cocky don’t measure up attitude ! But UGA is putting it together to LAST !! A solid foundation So any one who does not see that happening over the last few years NEEDS TO GET REAL !!!!! Go Dawgs
zbulldawg
January 28th, 2012
12:02 pm
WHERE’S MY COMMENT ?
Wreckmaniac
January 28th, 2012
7:21 pm
The SEC East is merely a group of practice squads for the SEC West.
Wreckmaniac
January 28th, 2012
7:22 pm
Dawgs win east. You’re a slow learner. UGA has better talent than any SEC team and always has. But they go nowhere with it and will go nowhere next year.
3PRONG
January 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
UGA had a top 10 recruiting class last year and lost to every team they played that finished in the AP Poll top 25. South Carolina beat UGA 2 year sin a row, with a lot worse recruiting classes. Spurrier just develops talent better, and chooses playmakers better.
MacKid
January 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
Who cares? That’s like asking who’s going to win the NIT consolation game. UGA is garbage. Their coaches are garbage. Their players are garbage. Winning a crappy division is meaningless. I’d rather beat a few ranked teams, but Richt and his pathetic attitude have hijacked the UGA program. Whatever. Scuk it, UGA.
Caster
January 28th, 2012
11:03 pm
Mark Richt rarely does better than his preseason rankings.
Steve Spurrier usually meets or does better than people expect.
http://www.pollspeak.com/data/over-underrated-2010-AP-5-Year-OtoU.htm
Ga > Lsu
January 29th, 2012
5:28 am
Georgia and lsu are the two best teams in the SEC in 2012—this time, GA pulls the big upset and wins the SEC title—take it to the bank. The Dogs are back!
Spurrier has no class
January 29th, 2012
9:32 am
All UGA fans hate spurrier and his trashy classless ways, clearly youve never met a georgia fan at all.
DawgVoiceofReason
January 29th, 2012
11:34 am
Please ignore the ignorant ramblings of DranoDragon. He has no idea what he is talking about regarding Aaron Murray and interceptions in the SEC. AND he apparently has no idea that Murray definitely owns the ALL TIME UGA single season passing touchdown mark by a HUGE margin. Yes he has thrown some interceptions but those numbers will come down as he continues to progress.
Here are UGA’s interception leaders for comparison purposes. To spell it out for DragoDragon, these are also among the greatest QBs in UGA history.
Pass Interceptions Thrown – Career
•68 – Zeke Bratkowski, 1951-53 (SEC Record)
•42 – Larry Rakestraw, 1961-63
•37 – Eric Zeier, 1991-94
•33 – Matthew Stafford, 2006-08
•32 – David Greene, 2001-04
•32 – Buck Belue, 1978-81
——————————————————————————–
DawgVoiceofReason
January 29th, 2012
12:23 pm
And for good measure, to further underscore how misinformed DranoDragon is, from the SEC web site, here are the SEC career interceptions thrown leaders. Funny, I don’t see Jay Cutler’s’ name anywhere.
CAREER:
1. 68— Zeke Bratkowski, Georgia (734 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1951-53
2. 59— John Reaves, Florida (1,128 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1969-71
3. 53— Randy Jenkins, Kentucky (716 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1979-83
4. 52— Stan White, Auburn (1,231 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1990-93
5. 47— Jamie Howard, LSU (722 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1992-95
47— Loran Carter, Auburn (476 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1966-68
7. 46— Shane Matthews, Florida (1,202 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1989-92
8. 44— Rick Norton, Kentucky (598 atts.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1963-65
44— Kurt Page, Vanderbilt (936 atts.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1981-84
44— Stan White, Auburn (960 atts.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1990-92
Too Short
January 29th, 2012
12:31 pm
Aaron murray is too short to play QB in the SEC—many of his INTs are from not being able to see over the Dline, LBs, etc. Ga needs to switch to a taller QB, ASAP! I’m getting tired of this.
MrQ
January 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
Actually, Aaron Murray’s interceptions got WORSE in 2011, Murray went from throwing 8 in 2010 to throwing 14 in 2011.
he’s on pace if Murray keeps throwing 6 more per season, to throw 20 interceptions in 2012, and 26 in 2013
That would be:
8 interceptions in 2010
14 in 2011
20 in 2012
26 in 2013
to finish with 68 interceptions.
A new SEC record.
MrQ
January 29th, 2012
5:20 pm
As a %, Murray threw 75% more interceptions in 2011, than 2010.
If Murray continues to throw 75% more interceptions his last 2 seasons than the previous season:
8 interceptions in 2010
14 in 2011 (75% increase)
25 in 2012 (75% increase)
43 in 2013 (75% increase)
Murray would then finish with 90 interceptions.
LARDASSIO
January 30th, 2012
12:14 am
UGA is a LOSER…….A LARDASSIO’S LOSER…………..WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO……………http://lardassio.blog.com/2012/01/02/lardassios-losers-2011-12-bowl-extravaganza/
MrQ
January 30th, 2012
10:00 am
In 2010, Murray threw 3 interceptions against 5 ranked teams. So he averaged .6 interceptions per game in 2010.
In 2011, Murray launched 6 interceptions against 4 ranked teams, averaging 1.5 interceptions per game.
Murray got 250% worse in interceptions in 2011 against ranked teams.
If the trend of getting 250% worse in interceptions against ranked teams continues:
.6 a game in 2010
1.5 a game 2011
3.75 a game in 2012
9.4 a game in 2013
GAMECOCK
January 30th, 2012
10:58 am
We always play better in the first three games. Now that UGA is later in the schedule we certainly will not win the game!
MR. Krinkle
January 30th, 2012
11:01 am
UGA! duh
Fanny
January 31st, 2012
8:50 am
Every year we hear the same things from Georgia fans – going to win the SEC – going to win the national championship. Get a life!! All of you live in the past. Georgia has been an underachiever for years and will not be a contender this year. Your “5-star” recruits that you take such pride in rarely perform as advertised, and seem to lack the character and work ethic that are so much more important than 5 stars. You are not the “only game in town” in the SEC East and have more good competition than ever. This will not change, Get used to it.