SEC East=SEC Least?

The Southeastern Conference has become the defining conference in college football.

The conference has won 7 National Championships in the BCS era, including 5 consecutive heading into the 2011 season.

The conference is widely considered to be the best in football from top to bottom.

The gap between top and bottom appears to be widening though and the bottom these days is pretty much populated by the SEC's East division.

Six teams in the SEC won 9 or more games last season, including four with 10 or more wins.  Only one team came from the East (South Carolina).

The division's traditional powers (Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia) have recently found themselves on tough times.  The three teams combined for only 10 SEC wins last season or 2 less than eventual National Champion Auburn had on its own.

Between regime changes and youth a season similar to 2010 is not out of the realm of possibility for the SEC East.

Coach On The Hot Seat

The SEC East's hot seat belongs to Georgia's Mark Richt this season.  Richt is the longest tenured coach in the league right now, but will likely face the most on-the-job pressure this year.  In ten seasons leading the Bulldogs, Richt has amassed 96 victories, but only 2 SEC championships.  He is coming off back to back disappointing seasons (8-5 in 2009 and 6-7 last season).  He has not won an SEC title since 2005 and his highest ranking (#2 in 2007) came in a year when the Dawgs did not even play in Atlanta.  

There is good news for Richt though.  He will have two big opportunities to relieve some of the pressure right out of the gate.  Georgia opens up with a high profile matchup against Boise State in Atlanta, and then hosts pre-season East division favorite South Carolina a week later.  He also doesn't have to face Urban Meyer again (1-5 over the last 6 seasons).

Square Pegs For A Round Hole?

Florida heads into its first season under new coach Will Muschamp, who replaces the legendary Urban Meyer.  Meyer was an excellent recruiter of talent, but his offense was very unique.  Because of that, new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' pro-style offense could struggle.  Tailbacks Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey return and provide a great deal of speed, but neither is a prototypical pro-style running back.  Fortunately Weis has a solid QB for his system in John Brantley and Weis has had success integrating new QB's into his offense (Tom Brady, Brady Quinn, Matt Cassel).  Deonte Thompson should lead the receiving corps and Rainey will probably see some time playing as a slot receiver.  Former QB's Jordan Reed and Trey Burton, recruited by Meyer, will move to Tight End and Running Back, respectively.

The Gators may have to lean on their defense this season and the October schedule looks to be brutal with a home game against Alabama followed by back to back road games against LSU and Auburn, then the annual matchup with Georgia in Jacksonville after a bye week.

Inexperience Is The Word

The word to best describe the SEC East in 2011 may be inexperience.  Florida (Will Muschamp) and Vanderbilt (James Franklin) will be led by new head coaches.  Kentucky (Joker Phillips) and Tennessee (Derek Dooley) are led by second year head coaches.  Tennessee comes into 2011 with 57 freshmen and sophomores on his roster, including sophomore starting QB Tyler Bray.  Georgia's hopes also depend on a sophomore QB in Aaron Murray.

The Team To Beat
South Carolina is the reigning SEC East division champion (for the first time in school history) and looks to be the favorite again heading into 2011.

This year's squad looks to be the most talented of the Steve Spurrier era, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Alshon Jeffery returns to lead the receiving corps after an otherworldly season in 2010.  Jeffery set school records with 88 receptions and 1,517 yards and added 9 touchdowns.  Their second leading receiver from 2010, Tori Gurley, left for a shot at the NFL (went undrafted) and will need to be replaced.  Senior Jason Barnes (6 receptions in '10), Junior D.L. Moore (17 receptions), and Sophomores Ace Sanders (25) and Deangelo Smith (1) project to contribute behind Jeffery in the receiving corps.  Jeffery, Barnes, and Moore are all listed at 6'4 which could create matchup problems for defenses.

The 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year, Marcus Lattimore, returns to carry the load in the backfield.  Lattimore  ran for 1,157 yards (4.8 YPC) with 17 touchdowns a year ago.  He also proved to be a weapon in the passing game adding 29 catches for 412 yards and 2 TDs.  South Carolina has him listed at 231 pounds, up from the 218 he was listed at in 2010 and he is said to have improved his speed.  It is imperative for Lattimore to stay healthy as there is not much experience behind him.  Kenny Miles is listed as his backup, but he saw only 40 carries last season after 117 in 2009.

The Gamecocks' biggest question mark comes at Quarterback.  Fifth year Senior Stephen Garcia has been suspended indefinitely but Spurrier says he will be present when camp opens.  He has had a host of behavioral issues in the past but should regain his starting role if he stays in line.  Garcia enjoyed his best season at USC in 2010, throwing for 3,059 yards with 20 TD's and 14 interceptions.  If Garcia blows his opportunity the job will likely fall to sophomore Connor Shaw.  Shaw has only attempted 33 passes in his career and struggled as the top QB in the spring.

Defensively the strength of the team should be up front along the line.  Defensive end Devin Taylor returns for his junior season.  He has racked up 9.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss for his career and is a beast physically at 6'7 and 248 pounds.  The nation's #1 recruit Jadeveon Clowney figures to step in and contribute right away as well.  Senior Travian Robertson (6'4, 298) will be the anchor on the inside.

Linebacker is the team's biggest question area on the defensive side of the ball.  Junior Shaq Wilson and Senior Rodney Paulk are expected to step into the middle and weak side linebacker positions, respectively, but both have had injury issues.

The secondary returns 3 starters, including both cornerbacks in senior Akeem Auguste and junior Stephon Gilmore.  Junior safety D.J. Swearinger also returns.  Gilmore was the team's leading tackler last season and also led the team in interceptions with 3.

The Gamecocks could benefit from another weak year overall in the East, but their issues at QB, offensive line, and linebacker need to be solved quickly because a trip to Athens to meet Georgia looms in week 2.  Their toughest stretch should be a string of three straight road games against Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Arkansas, but they do have the benefit of not playing either Alabama or LSU in the regular season (though they likely will see one of them in Atlanta in December). 

(Thanks to Todd Helmick at nationalchamps.net as well as USC's official athletic site for depth chart and other information on the Gamecocks, all stats came from ESPN's USC clubhouse page and USC's site)

To read part 2 of my SEC preview, on the SEC West, click here.

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