The SEC’s football coaches spoke on a teleconference Wednesday, giving reports about their recently concluded spring practice. The following is a summary for the 13 teams other than Georgia.
Alabama: Quarterback Blake Sims left spring practice as the clear No. 1, but didn't do much to distinguish himself in the spring game, with 17 incomplete passes and two interceptions. So the masses eagerly await the arrival of FSU transfer Jacob Coker, who has travelled to Tuscaloosa twice a week to study the playbook before he makes a permanent move this summer. Managing the situation is new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who has been unable to talk to the media because of Nick Saban's no-interview policy.
“Any time you make a change everybody’s going to have to make some adjustments,” Saban said. “We tried to keep some of the things we were doing and allow Lane the freedom to do some of the things he likes to do. I think everybody’s bought into that.”
Arkansas: Second-year coach Bret Bielema said one of the main points of emphasis was getting the defense to play faster and communicate more quickly in light of all the hurry-up offenses they face. Arkansas addressed that by running the scout-team offense against the defense from two separate huddles. Meanwhile, the Razorbacks played one of the nation's tougher schedules last season, and their slate next season has been tabbed the most difficult in the country based on last season's records. That's something Bielema said he embraces — and more. "It's something we wrap our arms around, hug it up and kiss it and make it as good as we can," he said.
Auburn: Injuries that sidelined several starters for spring practice may prove a "blessing in disguise" in terms of building depth, coach Gus Malzahn said. But his primary focus this week is on preparing to drive the pace car for this weekend's Talladega 500. "I think I'm going to get there early and do a little practicing," he said.
Florida: The Gators are undergoing a philosophical change on offense, where coordinator Kurt Roper will begin a transition to more of a spread/hurry-up look. Florida moved spring practice back a week to accommodate the return of quarterback Jeff Driskel from a broken leg and thinks that six or seven wide receivers emerged, at a position with shortcomings last season. Neither running back Matt Jones nor wide receiver Andre Debose could practice, but will in the preseason. Coach Will Muschamp is concerned about depth on defense, particularly along the line, where only four players have played any significant snaps.
Kentucky: Coach Mark Stoops hinted that the Wildcats might name a starting quarterback after Saturday's spring game. But he wasn't ready Wednesday. "I feel like we've been more consistent with our quarterback play throughout the spring, simply throwing and catching," he said.
LSU: Marietta's Anthony Jennings, who helped lead the Tigers to an Outback Bowl victory over Iowa, seemed to be the undisputed heir apparent to Zach Mettenberger heading into next season. But freshman Brandon Harris gave the coaches something to think about during spring ball and out-shined Jennings in the spring game. Harris passed for 195 yards and three touchdowns and scrambled for another 77 yards and a touchdown, while Jennings was picked off twice. Miles said simply, "neither one is playing well enough to be the starter" and said the competition will continue into preseason camp.
Missouri: Optimism remains high for the Tigers, with Maty Mauk prepared to step in for James Franklin at quarterback and 14-year coach Gary Pinkel at the helm for the defending SEC East champions. Most of the questions that Pinkel fielded Wednesday were about the SEC's scheduling decisions, which should allow the Tigers to get Kansas back on the schedule and makes Arkansas as a permanent West rival. "You've got to play before you can start a rivalry," Pinkel said. "But I think it could be great."
Mississippi State: Coach Dan Mullen likes the power-conference component of the new SEC schedule, but said the Bulldogs have a hard time getting major opponents to come to Starkville. They open this season against Southern Miss, "which is very exciting for our fans," Mullen said.
Ole Miss: Coach Hugh Freeze put an emphasis on "physicality" for the Rebels' 15 practices. "I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we're a better football team than we were two years ago, than we were last year," the third-year coach said.
South Carolina: Losing Connor Shaw — the quarterback with the most wins in school history — is a significant loss for the Gamecocks. But they feel comfortable replacing him with fifth-year senior Dylan Thompson. "He's the only one that's played a lot," coach Steve Spurrier said. "Nobody knew who Johnny Manziel was until he stepped on the field."
A bigger concern is on defense, where South Carolina has to replace Jadeveon Clowney along with the other end, tackle Kelcy Quarles and two starting corners.
Tennessee: Second-year coach Butch Jones understandably is excited about the NCAA's new eight-hour supervision rule for offseason workouts because the Volunteers welcomed 14 midyear enrollees this year. Now the challenge will be figuring out what to do with that time. "It's going to be a balancing act because you have to deduct that from your time in the strength-and-conditioning room, and having to play as many true freshmen as we're going to have to this year, every rep in the weight room is as critical as every mental rep in a classroom," Jones said.
Texas A&M: The Aggies weren't able to hold a spring game because of ongoing construction at Kyle Field. But it's another Kyle — freshman quarterback Kyle Allen — who has lots of people talking about him. He has the edge to start after sophomore Kenny Hill was arrested for public intoxication in the middle of spring workouts. Coach Kevin Sumlin confirmed Allen and wide receiver Speedy Noil, a freshman early enrollee, are "explosive offensive players."
Vanderbilt: A fairly intense quarterback battle between Johnny McCrary and Patton Robinette could get even more intriguing if Steven Rivers joins the competition. The 6-foot-7 signal-caller plans to transfer to Vandy from LSU this summer. That's just one of many changes afoot as the Commodores adopt to life after coach James Franklin. Former Stanford associate head coach Derek Mason is the new coach.
