DEL.ICIO.USCOLLEGE FOOTBALL
5 SEC football questions to be answered in spring
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
To many Southern sports fans, there are two seasons that count — football season and spring football season. The latter is upon us. And, in the SEC and ACC, there are questions that need to be answered. Among the SEC questions are:
Wade Payne/AP / Knoxville News Sentinel
Tennessee first-year coach Lane Kiffin looks over Vols at an early spring practice.
Dusty Compton/AP
Is Greg McElroy (12) ready to take over at quarterback for Alabama?
1. How will Florida replace offensive tackles Jason Watkins and Phil Trautwein?
• Why should Gators fans care? Because Tim Tebow’s life may depend on it. And as Tebow goes, so go the Gators, who are trying to defend a national championship. Watkins covered Tebow’s blind side for two years, and now he’s gone.
• How spring will answer it: The Gators will look for replacements even among defensive line candidates.
2. Who will new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin make his starting quarterback?
• Why should Vols fans care? Because the latest recruiting class did nothing to address the position.
• How spring will answer it: The competition is among Jonathan Crompton, Nick Stephens and B.J. Coleman. Quarterbacks coach David Reaves has said he wants to settle the question before summer camp opens.
3. How will Alabama replace three-year starter John Parker Wilson?
• Why should Crimson Tide fans care? After season-ruining losses against Florida and — gasp! — Utah, Tide backers would love the security of knowing that the new guy is ready for the task at hand.
• How spring will answer it: Greg McElroy (below) would appear to be the front-runner, with freshman Star Jackson being his chief competition.
4. What’s LSU going to do about that defensive line?
• Why should Tigers fans care? Because even Les Miles doesn’t know, and that’s a scary prospect for the season when the head coach is fumbling for answers.
• How spring will answer it: New defensive coordinator John Chavis, new defensive line coach Brick Haley and new linebackers coach Ron Cooper will implement new ideas.
5. Is new Auburn coach Gene Chizik up to the task in the toughest conference in college football?
• Why should Tigers fans care? Here are four numbers to think about: The first two are 36 and 0. The last two are 5 and 19. And Auburn fans know exactly what they mean. But, for the uninitiated, 36-0 was the final, humiliating score by which archrival Alabama took it to the Tigers last season. And 5-19 was the won-lost record Chizik amassed at Iowa State, which left Auburn fans scratching their noggins.
• How spring will answer it: Unfortunately, it won’t. But Chizik’s decision to bring Ted Roof in as defensive coordinator means the defense is in good hands.
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