http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/sec-teams-with-fewest-weaknesses/
Every team comes into a new season with weaknesses, or at least question marks they hope don’t turn into full blown weakness, but each team has them. It’s practically built into the college game. The best a coach can hope to do is pile up the depth and cushion the blow.
With that in mind, here are the SEC teams with the least amount of weaknesses heading into the 2016 season.
LSU
The Tigers have wondered for a few years now what this program could be without the usual mass exodus to the NFL. Well, the 2016 season could very well provide the answer. LSU returns a plethora of talent on both sides of the football and probably the Heisman Trophy preseason frontrunner in RB Leonard Fournette. The offensive line isn’t quite as experienced but possesses a wealth of talent. Dave Aranda takes over a loaded defense, and it will be interesting to see how his 3-4 scheme plays in Baton Rouge. Once again, the question mark is at quarterback where Brandon Harris tries to finally reach his potential. If he can do that, the Tigers will be very hard to beat in 2016.
ALABAMA
On paper, the Tide have weaknesses at a few positions, but we’ve been fooled by that before. It seems no matter what the circumstances, Nick Saban is able to overcome with that aforementioned depth playing the key role. Alabama has many question marks, but we’ve learned from the past that question marks rarely turn into weaknesses in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s entire backfield is a question mark. We’ve seen it all before. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin seems to pull rabbits out of hats year after year. It’s that ability that puts Alabama at the top of the list of teams with fewest weaknesses.
TENNESSEE
The Vols have been on the doorstep for a while now. They are once again the trendy pick in the SEC East and with good reason. QB Joshua Dobbs is among the best in the conference, and Jalen Hurd behind him makes for one of the most talented duos in the SEC, toiling behind one of the most talented offensive lines around. The ingredients are all there for Tennessee to have that breakthrough season it’s been impatiently waiting for. It’s a complete team with equal amount of talent on defense and very few question marks, let alone weaknesses. Yes, this certainly looks like the year. But Vols fans have heard it all before, and they’ll believe it when they see it.
OTHERS CONSIDERED
Ole Miss: The Rebles’ biggest weakness could be off the field. On the field, they have as good a quarterback as any, and that goes a long way in covering up for certain weaknesses. Make no mistake, Ole Miss has its share of question marks both in the offensive line and on defense. But another big year from QB Chad Kelly should be enough to overcome a lot of that.
Florida: The defending SEC East champs have got to find a quarterback. If coach Jim McElwain can develop one, given the talent around him, it could be a big year once again for the Gators.
Every team comes into a new season with weaknesses, or at least question marks they hope don’t turn into full blown weakness, but each team has them. It’s practically built into the college game. The best a coach can hope to do is pile up the depth and cushion the blow.
With that in mind, here are the SEC teams with the least amount of weaknesses heading into the 2016 season.
LSU
The Tigers have wondered for a few years now what this program could be without the usual mass exodus to the NFL. Well, the 2016 season could very well provide the answer. LSU returns a plethora of talent on both sides of the football and probably the Heisman Trophy preseason frontrunner in RB Leonard Fournette. The offensive line isn’t quite as experienced but possesses a wealth of talent. Dave Aranda takes over a loaded defense, and it will be interesting to see how his 3-4 scheme plays in Baton Rouge. Once again, the question mark is at quarterback where Brandon Harris tries to finally reach his potential. If he can do that, the Tigers will be very hard to beat in 2016.
ALABAMA
On paper, the Tide have weaknesses at a few positions, but we’ve been fooled by that before. It seems no matter what the circumstances, Nick Saban is able to overcome with that aforementioned depth playing the key role. Alabama has many question marks, but we’ve learned from the past that question marks rarely turn into weaknesses in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s entire backfield is a question mark. We’ve seen it all before. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin seems to pull rabbits out of hats year after year. It’s that ability that puts Alabama at the top of the list of teams with fewest weaknesses.
TENNESSEE
The Vols have been on the doorstep for a while now. They are once again the trendy pick in the SEC East and with good reason. QB Joshua Dobbs is among the best in the conference, and Jalen Hurd behind him makes for one of the most talented duos in the SEC, toiling behind one of the most talented offensive lines around. The ingredients are all there for Tennessee to have that breakthrough season it’s been impatiently waiting for. It’s a complete team with equal amount of talent on defense and very few question marks, let alone weaknesses. Yes, this certainly looks like the year. But Vols fans have heard it all before, and they’ll believe it when they see it.
OTHERS CONSIDERED
Ole Miss: The Rebles’ biggest weakness could be off the field. On the field, they have as good a quarterback as any, and that goes a long way in covering up for certain weaknesses. Make no mistake, Ole Miss has its share of question marks both in the offensive line and on defense. But another big year from QB Chad Kelly should be enough to overcome a lot of that.
Florida: The defending SEC East champs have got to find a quarterback. If coach Jim McElwain can develop one, given the talent around him, it could be a big year once again for the Gators.
