Georgia Bulldogs: Dawgs Picked To Finish Third In SEC East

The Birmingham News released their 65th Annual SEC Spring Football Preview this past Sunday and the general consensus is that South Carolina and Alabama will meet at the Georgia Dome for the 2011 SEC Championship. It's a prediction that seems popular but leaves me scratching my head for a couple of reasons.

For one, aside from Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, the Gamecocks aren't likely to overwhelm anyone with their returning talent.

If Stephen Garcia plays—and that's more a when than an if to be honest—he has shown little in the way of maturity as far as his decision-making is concerned. Quite frankly, the guy should be pumping gas at an Exxon station based on the amount of trouble he's been in over the past five years.

Secondly, after Marcus Lattimore, who is responsible for keeping the running game afloat? This kid is the real deal, but if he has to miss a couple games again due to being banged up, Spurrier's in trouble.

As for Alabama being the team South Carolina meets in Atlanta, well, I guess that's fair—if only by default. There aren't any other teams in the SEC West that look like semi-pro conglomerates when you peruse their active roster. That said, Saban still has to address the fact that both Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram are gone.

Sure, Trent Richardson is there and he's going to be money, but he's spent the better part of his career playing in the media shadow of Mark Ingram. How will he handle receiving the brunt of the criticism should he hit a rough patch in the season? Even more, there's still the matter of replacing Julio Jones—ya know, the guy who caught better than 85 percent of their former quarterback's passes?

It just seems to me that the decision to make Alabama the favorite has more to do with a weak SEC West than a great Alabama team.

Georgia was picked to finish behind South Carolina and Florida, respectively, and the reason behind the choice had to do with the fact that "...Georgia had a lot of players taken in the NFL Draft in April and now the Bulldogs are in search of a bevy of starters. Even worse, leading rusher Washaun Ealey was given his unconditional release because of off-the-field issues during the offseason. The biggest name missing is receiver A.J. Green, who will next be seen in the NFL."

While I can certainly agree that Georgia will miss the defensive talents of both Justin Houston and Akeem Dent, as well as offensive starters A.J. Green and Kris Durham, I am not ready to hang the possibility of a questionable running game on the departure of Washaun Ealey.

To be honest, there are more than a few Georgia fans who would be willing to argue that the ball security issues, suffered by both Caleb King and Washaun Ealey, played a key role in several of Georgia's losses (South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Colorado to name a few) last season.

Ealey's loss will be felt on the depth chart, but his release became a necessary evil if Georgia was to move in a more productive and positive direction in 2011.

Even so, it's nice to see the Bulldogs in the underdog position as they just might be able to sneak up on a few folks this season if they perform at a more consistent level this year.

The Birmingham News also selected "the best in the SEC" for 2011 and Blair Walsh, Drew Butler, Aaron Murray, and Orson Charles were selected as tops at their respective positions.

Ben Jones and Brandon Boykin also made an appearance on the list.

What say you...will Georgia finish third in the East?

Related articles

• Georgia Bulldogs: Ben Jones Named To 2011 Rimington Watch List (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)
• Ex-UGA RB Ealey to drop down a level, play in '11 (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Washaun Ealey: "...I probably need to go somewhere I can focus." (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)

Steve Spurrier Wants To Give Players Food and Beer Money

Okay, so the headline above sort of wreaks of attention-seeking behavior but, oh well.

 I read where Steve Spurrier extended his voice, and his pockets, towards the "pay-for-play" debate. Apparently, the Ol' Ball Coach is for giving a few dollars to his players for a job well done—$300 per game to be exact.

Over the course of one season, assuming you are allowed to carry a full 70 man roster, you would be giving out roughly $21,000 per game or about $250,000+ per season.

Now, for a guy that makes $2.8 million per year like Spurrier does, that's a drop in the bucket, but you shouldn't be surprised if every other coach in the conference isn't willing to jump on board the money train. That said, his idea is less about the money than it is about the conversation: Should the NCAA allow universities to start paying players for what they do for college football programs both on and off the field?

I, for one, have been on the fence with this one. Well, wait, I was on the fence until I saw what happened to former Georgia receiver, A.J. Green.

Green, in case you forgot, was forced to serve a four-game suspension by the NCAA after it was determined that he sold his Independence Bowl game jersey for $1000 to some agent-type (an offense that I am still scratching my head over. I mean, it's not like he was trading his signature for tattoos or anything).

Once the suspension was handed down, I felt bad for Green, bad for coach Richt, bad for the fans, and bad for Georgia because one of their most prized commodities was being forced to sit out because he sold something that belonged to him. I mean I've heard rumors that certain players are told to give up their game jerseys after each game so that memorabilia dealers can sell them at their stores for top dollar. I don't know what kind of kickback the university or the NCAA gets for such a sale, but you can see where this might be considered a little shady.

However, Spurrier is merely proposing coaches spread the wealth a bit. After all, he says, if not for the performance of the players on the field, there would be no million dollar contracts for coaches in the SEC.

I get what he's saying and I can definitely see where he is going with his argument, but it's not something that's likely to happen so long as it's not possible in every sport at the college level—both male and female—because too many people are still willing to believe that their sport is every bit as important as football.

It kind of makes you wonder, though, with all the forgiveness in Spurrier's heart for the oft-suspended Stephen Garcia, if he's funded a few of the beer-guzzling quarterback's all-night excursions himself. Or maybe he just didn't want to answer any questions about why he's for over-signing. Or maybe, he's just trying to be a pot-stirrer (he's always been good at that)...or maybe he's just, well, who knows what he's doing? Either way, this conversation is being had yet again.

Related articles

• Steve Spurrier, others propose paying football players (theglobeandmail.com)
• Seven SEC coaches would pay players - out of their own pockets (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Stephen Garcia: Back In The Saddle Again...Almost (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)

Steve Spurrier: Giving New Meaning To The Word "Procrastination"

So, Stephen Garcia is suspended again for something, assuredly stupid, and will likely find himself embroiled in yet another position battle this spring.

However, less interesting than Garcia's suspension—because let's face it, it would be more interesting if Garcia actually didn't get into trouble—is the fact that it took so long in the first place.

According to James Kratch of The Daily Gamecock, the suspension is as a result of something Garcia did in December when the Gamecocks played Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. Coach Spurrier stated it was something they "...were finally getting around to handling".

Honestly, waiting until now to announce Garcia's punishment only guarantees more unneeded publicity for your team. If you knew he was going to be punished, why not say as much shortly after the bowl game and not months after it—at least that way it's not a surprise.

Whatever Spurrier's intentions, he hopes the suspension will make Garcia a better man for his team as the season progresses. Honestly, it sounds to me like Garcia isn't Spurrier's only problem heading into an expectation-filled 2011.

I found this comment particularly interesting, "...it’s not fun not being on a team, from what I understand. Hopefully, all these guys will understand if they want to be on our team, just follow the few simple rules we have and everybody will be happy.

Sounds like they might be ripe for the SEC East picking in Columbia if Spurrier's players continue to get the big head.

We shall soon see.

SEC Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week 11

See week ten here.

1. Cam Newton, Auburn (12/15 for 148 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 30 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Georgia.

Newton continues to be the driving force behind the high-powered offense of the Auburn Tigers. His ability to distract and destroy defenses has led to the success of other talented players like Michael Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb—making Auburn a tough proposition for any team this season.

2010 stats: 135/198 for 2,038 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 206 carries for 1,297 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

2. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/28 for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns) at Auburn. 

Give Murray his due, he played some tough football on Saturday and, despite the outcome, Georgia fans have to feel good about the future with Aaron Murray standing behind center. Now, if they could just get the offensive line working more consistently so he doesn't get killed...

2010 stats: 173/285 for 2,580 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

3. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (18/34 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Ole Miss.

Listen...ya hear that? That's the sound of Derek Dooley wading in a pool of satisfaction—he just found Tennessee's next starting quarterback.  See ya, Matt Simms—been nice knowing ya.

2010 stats: 62/114 for 950 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (19/26 for 215 yards and 5 interceptions) vs UTEP. 

UTEP looked like they might make a game of in Fayetteville in the early-going, but Mallett killed that dream on the next play...and then the next...and then the next, etc. as he led the Razorbacks to 35-points on five successive offensive possessions.

2010 stats: 212/315 for 2,967 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

5. Greg McElroy, Alabama (12/18 for 227 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Mississippi State. 

McElroy had two big passes in the second quarter to put the Tide comfortably ahead of the Bulldogs and help put an exclamation point on a solid win for Alabama.

2010 stats: 170/246 for 2,231 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/23 for 232 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Vanderbilt. 

Thanks to some nice running by Randall Cobb (10 carries, for 170 yards, and 2 touchdowns), Hartline didn't have to do too much to lead the Wildcats to victory. It also didn't hurt that they were playing Vanderbilt, a team that, at this point, just needs this season to be over.

2010 stats: 237/361 for 2,906 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/22 for 156 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Florida.

When your featured back is killing the opposing defense for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns, there is little you have to do except not be careless with the football. Garcia owes Marcus Lattimore all the glory for being the primary reason the Gamecocks finally won an SEC Eastern Division Championship.

2010 stats: 166/245 for 2,221 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 

8. John Brantley, Florida (16/31 for 130 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. South Carolina. 


Willing to make a bet that not many Florida Gator fans believed John Brantley would be this ineffective when the 2010 season began. This system is not made for a player of Brantley's skill-set. It doesn't matter what Adazzio does, Brantley doesn't fit and everyone knows it—including Urban Meyer and John Brantley.

2010 stats: 172/282 yards for 1,746 yards, 8 touchdowns, and  7 interceptions.

9. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/26 for 128 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Kentucky. 

Larry Smith is probably ready to get the heck out of Nashville after this season. He still has one more year to play but, after seeing a coaching change, numerous injuries, and getting the gift of an anemic offense, he can't be too thrilled about what 2011 has to offer.

2010 stats: 106/220 for 1,106 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

10. Tyler Russell/Chris Relf (12/23 for 150 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Alabama.

Mississippi State's offense has been suspect all season, to be honest, and they finally ran out of time against a Tide defense that was determined to play well on Saturday—despite the knowledge that Auburn was taking their SEC West title.

11. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (7/18 for 80 yards and 3 interceptions) at Tennessee.

 Masoli looked pretty awful on Saturday. Of course, it didn't help that his offensive line had no answer for a swarming Tennessee defensive front. He was pressured and punished all day long as Tennessee coasted.

2010 stats: 128/229 for 1,601 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. 99 carries for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

12. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (4/10 for 51 yards) vs. Louisiana-Monroe. 

Ya know, they say if you can't say anything nice, then say nothing at all.

2010 stats: 79/146 yards for 815 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 88 carries for 304 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

SEC Football: Power Ranking The Quarterbacks After Week 10

See week nine here.
1. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (19/33 for 325 yards and 5 touchdowns) at Memphis. 

Yes, it was Memphis and, yes, the Vols were expected to whip up on the Tigers. Still, you have to give credit where credit is due.

Bray didn't make many mistakes and he played one heckuva game—giving his team a much-needed victory.

2010 stats: 44/80 for 628 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (15/21 for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns. 8 carries for 24 yards and 1 
touchdown) vs. Chattanooga.

It's Cam Newton. He's been making defenses look silly all season—this week was no exception.

2010 stats: 123/183 for 1,890 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 176 carries for 1,46 yards and 15 touchdowns.

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (19/27 for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs Idaho State.

For a minute, it looked like Murray was still suffering from the headache that beset him after performing so uncharacteristically at Florida. The offense was sputtering and, by the end of the first quarter, they only managed to score three points against one of the worst defenses in college football.

However, he seemed to find his bearings by the second quarter—leading Georgia to 35-points before retiring to the sidelines early in the third.

2010 stats: 158/257 for 2,307 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns.  

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (21/30 for 303 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. 4 carries for 6 yards and 1 touchdown) at South Carolina.

Bobby Petrino's club really has that running game going now and that has opened up even more possibilities for Mallett in the passing game.

Mallett played, nearly, lights-out in capturing a huge road win for his Razorbacks—aided in large part by the tough running of Knile Davis and a defense that came ready to shut the Gamecocks down.

2010 stats:  193/289 for 2,752 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 3 rushing touchdowns. 

5.  Greg McElroy, Alabama (21/34 for 223 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at LSU.

McElroy has taken his fair share of lumps this season as he's already seen more losses this year than he did in the previous two. However, he still played well enough on Saturday to lead the Tide to a win—if not for the maverick playcalling of LSU's Les Miles.

2010 stats: 158/228 for 2004 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 1 rushing touchdown. 

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/24 for 272 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Charleston-Southern.

Hartline finally got the Wildcats back in the win column against a, tougher than expected, Charleston-Southern team that looked like it might steal one early on.

2010 stats: 222/338 for 2,674 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 1 rushing touchdowns. 

7. John Brantley, Florida (11/18 for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Vanderbilt.

The Commodores are falling apart at the seams and Florida took advantage of it by routing them—setting up an SEC Eastern Division showdown at the Swamp this weekend.

2010 stats: 156/251 for 1,616 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

8. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/13 for 141 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Alabama. 

He didn't appear to be his, usually, head-scratching self on Saturday—that helped. However, the biggest pass of the night belonged to Jarrett Lee (a 47-yard bomb to win the game).

2010 stats: 75/136 for 764 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 5 rushing touchdowns. 

9. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (14/29 for 161 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) vs. Arkansas.

Garcia didn't have the complimentary rushing game from Marcus Lattimore to help him out this week (the freshman gained only 30-yards on the day) and that, obviously, hurt the passing game.

2010 season stats: 151/223 for 2,065 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 4 rushing touchdowns. 

10. Nathan Stanley, Ole Miss (6/14 for 108 yards) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.


Jeremiah Masoli looked to be on his way to a good game before being knocked out with a concussion (5/7 for 72 yards and 1 touchdown. 3 carries for 17 yards and 1 touchdown), but Stanley came in to manage in relief. He got the win for the Rebels, but deferred to his running game for most of the dirty work.

11. Jared Funk and Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/36 for 63 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Florida. 

It seems to go without saying, Vanderbilt needs some help at quarterback.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Nine

See week eight here.
1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (27/44 for 409 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Vanderbilt. 

Mallett is finally coming back from the haze that beset him when he was knocked out of the Auburn game a couple weeks ago—he and his big arm came to play on Saturday.

Vanderbilt looked over-matched, tired, and defeated long before halftime and, not surprisingly, failed to show up in the second half at all as the Razorbacks traipsed all over them en route to another win.

2010 season stats: 172/259 for 2,449 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. 

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (18/24 for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Ole Miss. 

Okay, so he wasn't SuperCam this past week, but he still accounted for 21 of Auburn's 51 points in their rout of Ole Miss.

Most impressive in this game was he added a third-dimension to his march towards the Heisman (is there really anyone else that can touch him?) by acting as wide receiver—scoring on a 20-yard touchdown touchdown pass. 

2010 season stats: 108/162 for 1,573 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 168 carries for 1,122 
yards and 14 touchdowns. 

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (13/22 for 223 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. 10 carries for 18 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Tennessee. 

Garcia wasn't brilliant as a passer, but his legs and arm led the way for the Gamecocks as they managed to withstand a determined Volunteers team—the return of Marcus Lattimore (who rushed for 184 yards and a touchdown) didn't hurt his efforts much either.

2010 season stats: 137/194 for 1,904 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. 62 carries for 86 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

4. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (9/15 for 159 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. South Carolina. 

It was a noble effort for Bray who rallied the Volunteers' offense to 14 second half points to tie the game at 24. However, as has been the case all season for Dooley's bunch, they simply couldn't sustain their intensity for the whole 60 minutes—giving up 14 points to the Gamecocks late in the fourth quarter—ending their comeback bid.

2010 season stats: 25/47 for 302 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

5. Chris Relf, Mississippi State (7/16 for 111 yards and 1 touchdown. 16 carries for 79 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Kentucky.

Relf sealed the win with a late touchdown run in the fourth quarter and, as has been the case for this entire season, he didn't have to be impressive—just deliberate—as he led Dan Mullens crew to their 7th win of the season.

2010 season stats: 70/131 for 926 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 123 carries for 507 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

6. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (20/33 for 189 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Auburn. 

There was little Masoli could have done to stop the Newton train from plowing through Oxford on Saturday. Auburn had too many weapons and Masoli's average effort wasn't going to be enough to stay in the same league as the Tigers.

Still, he gets marginal credit for being, for the most part, smart with the football and not leading his team to a worse beating than they could have suffered.

2010 season stats: 116/203 for 1,449 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. 89 carries for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

7. Aaron Murray, Georgia (18/37 for 313 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions) at Florida. 

Well, for the first time this season, Aaron Murray looked like the redshirt freshman that he is—fumbling once and throwing three picks. While he gets an 'A' for the effort he took in bringing the Bulldogs back in the fourth and forcing overtime, his costly interception in the overtime period all but sealed the deal on a Georgia loss—a painful one to be sure.

2010 season stats: 139/230 for 2,079 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 62 carries for 181 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

8. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (23/41 for 258 yards 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions) at Mississippi State.

It has been an emotional ride for the Wildcats all season as they always seem to be just a few minutes shy of sealing the deal on a win. This past weekend was no different as the team let another one slip away late in the game. Hartline wasn't nearly as impressive this week—throwing the last-minute interception that ended all hopes of the Wildcats upsetting another Top 25 team.

2010 season stats: 207/314 for 2,402 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

9. John Brantley, Florida (16/25 for 193 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Georgia.

Lucky for Florida, they really didn't need Brantley—who saw the turf more than he saw the endzone—as Trey Burton (17 carries for 110 yards and 1 touchdown), Chris Rainey (16 carries for 84 yards and 1 touchdown), and that opportunistic Florida defense led the way to a Gator victory.

2010 season stats: 145/233 for 1,459 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

10. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (4/12 for 25 yards and 1 touchdown) at Arkansas.

25 yards?...Really. What else can you say about Larry Smith as an SEC quarterback?

2010 season stats: 89/176 for 1,030 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 75 carries for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Eight

See week seven here.

1. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss ( 21/36 for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns. 15 carries for 98 yards) at Arkansas.

Masoli played some of his best football of the season, accounting for 425 of the 512 yards the Rebels tallied against the Hogs on Saturday.

Down early to Arkansas, the Rebels seemed headed for a rout by Mallett and his crew, but Houston Nutt's team showed a lot of heart in rallying from an 18-point deficit to make a game of it late. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Rebels only trailed by seven.

But, alas, the tough running of Knile Davis was the difference in the fourth where, minus Mallett,  Arkansas staved off the rally and won the game.

2010 season stats: 96/170 for 1,260 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 75 carries for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. 


2. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (27/43 for 353 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Georgia


Mike Hartline did all he could do to get his team back in the game on Saturday, but the 'cardiac cats' just didn't have quite enough steam to overcome another early deficit.
 

2010 season stats: 184/273 for 2,144 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (31/39 for 355 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Vanderbilt.


The Gamecocks averted another disaster at the hands of the Commodores, and they didn't even need Marcus Lattimore to get the job done.

Garcia took advantage of his team's strong rushing attack—led by a 146-yard effort from Brian Maddox—to get the ball rolling through the air, as he made mince-meat of the Commodores' secondary. 


2010 season stats: 124/172 for 1,681 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

4. Greg McElroy, Alabama (21/32 for 264 yards) at Tennessee


McElroy didn't have eye-popping totals through the air, but his steady-handed play put Mark Ingram in position to score two big touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.


2010 season stats: 137/194 for 1,781 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

5. Cam Newton, Auburn (10/16 for 86 yards. 28 carries for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns).


It would be easy to place Newton in the top spot again this week based on his rushing totals alone—they are simply other-worldly. That said, a quarterback, by definition, is supposed to spend the better part of his game passing the ball, not running it.

Spread or no spread, the lack of genuine playmakers around Newton will become a problem at some point—he can't keep doing it alone.

2010 season stats: 90/138 for 1,364 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 157 carries for 1,077 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

6. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (13/24 for 196 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Ole Miss.

Mallett's night ended early for the second straight week, this time due to a bruised shoulder, but his team managed to seal the victory on the strong running of Knile Davis in the fourth quarter.

2010 season stats: 145/215 for 2,040 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

7. Aaron Murray, Georgia (9/12 for 113 yards) at Kentucky.

Murray wasn't spectacular on Saturday, but he didn't have to be. He kept it simple, let Ealey do the dirty work, and didn't hurt his team by throwing ill-advised passes.

The kid has been steady, focused, and smart with the football all season. It's a trend that will, hopefully, continue to be seen next week when Georgia faces Urban Meyer's Gators. 

2010 season stats: 121/193 for 1,766 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 54 carries for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

8. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (13/31 for 142 yards. 15 carries for 48 yards and 1 touchdown).

Smith has never been a world-beater. He's got some skills at running the ball, but his arm is nothing to write home about on a weekly basis. Vandy made a valiant effort at upending the Gamecocks on Saturday, but it just wasn't meant to be.

2010 season stats: 85/164 for 1,005 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 66 carries for 195 yards and 3 touchdowns.   



9.  Chris Relf, Mississippi State (8/19 for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. 20 carries for 51 yards) vs UAB.

It's hard to say what's more amazing: the fact that Mississippi State manages to keep winning with Relf or the fact that they might be worse off without him.

Hats off to Dan Mullen for maximizing the potential of his junior quarterback—he's been just good enough to get the job done.


2010 season stats: 63/114 for 815 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 107 carries for 428 yards and 2 touchdowns. 


10. Matt Simms, Tennessee (12/22 for 117 yards and 1 interception) vs Alabama.


Simms is a tough kid but he's been beat up this season—badly. Clearly, it's beginning to take its toll, too, after a big hit from Marcel Dareus, the junior called it a night.


2010 season stats: 100/176 for 1,253 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.


11. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (7/14 for 46 yards and 1 interception. 16 carries for 74 yards and 1 touchdown) at Auburn. 

Jordan Jefferson is awful. He's been awful all season. He was benched in favor of the, slightly less awful Jarrett Lee, but after Lee's atrocious performance against McNeese St. last week, LSU's coach, Les Miles, was looking for a spark.


Well, in case he hasn't figured it out yet, Jefferson is not "THAT" guy—he never will be.

2010 season stats: 65/123 for 623 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 78 carries for 281 yards and 5 touchdowns.

College Football: Power RankingThe SEC Quarterbacks After Week Seven

See week six here.

1. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (32/42 for 349 yards, and 4 touchdowns) vs. South Carolina.

Don't look now but, the SEC has a new passing leader, and his name is not Ryan Mallett. 

Mike Hartline took another big step towards legendary status, in Lexington, as he led his team to a big victory over the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks. The senior has been nothing but steady-handed all season long and that has been the primary reason for the success this team has had through the air.

He's definitely come along way in four seasons and this year is most certainly his best yet.

2010  season stats: 157/230 for 1791 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (10/14 for 140-yards, and 1 touchdown. 25 carries for 188-yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Arkansas.

You ever get the feeling that it's just not fair that Cam Newton has been able to be this dominant? People like to compare him to Tim Tebow but, if memory serves, Tebow did most of his damage inside the 20-yard line, on dives, and on designed QB sneaks. Newton is, literally, a runner who happens to have an arm—how on earth do you stop that?

Newton, again, took the game in his own hands as his Auburn Tigers outlasted the Arkansas Razorbacks in a 65-43 shoot-out at The Plains.

2010 season stats: 80/122 for 1278 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 129 carries for 860 yards (net) and 12 touchdowns.  

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/24 for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Vanderbilt

Murray left the running game to his running backs this week and just let his arm do the talking—and did it talk. The redshirt freshman continues to show poise and character in the pocket as he settles into this offense and gets to know his receivers.

On Saturday he sent a stern message to all of those who believe he only has eyes for A.J. Green as he made it a point to pass the ball to Georgia's other receivers—particularly Kris Durham, Tavares King, and Aron White—and proved that this team will no longer succumb to being a one-trick pony where the air game is concerned.

Murray continues to, quietly, impress and mature into his role as the Bulldog's quarterback of the future.

2010 season stats: 112/181 for 1,653 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 51 carries for 158 yards and 4 touchdowns.

4. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas (25/34 for 332 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) at Auburn.

Give the young man a little credit for keeping the Razorbacks close—for a time—in a game that most wrote off after Ryan Mallett exited with a head-injury. Wilson did his best impression of Mallett, leading the Hogs up and down the field against a porous Auburn pass defense that can thank the, equally, porous Arkansas secondary, as well as the legs of Cam Newton, for their big win.

If Mallett is out for an extended period, there are no guarantees that Wilson can duplicate this performance, but with Greg Childs, Jarius Wright, and Joe Adams on the field to catch his passes, you have to like his chances to remain an able substitute for at least one more week.

2010 season stats: 26/37 for 338 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

5. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (20/32 for 382 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) at Kentucky.

It was a losing effort, but Garcia looked good for, roughly, 58 minutes, and he nearly brought his team to victory in the closing seconds.  However, Kentucky proved too strong and too determined and the Gamecocks utter elation from defeating No. 1 Alabama the week prior, became utter deflation as they watched their BCS hopes fall yet again.

That said, Garcia has done a fine job this season of not making too many mistakes and keeping his team in the hint, but now the team will be forced to find out how much of their success is due to the presence of Marcus Lattimore's running, rather than the progression of Garcia's skills.

2010 season stats: 93/133 for 1,326 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 45 carries for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns.

6. Greg McElroy, Alabama (17/25 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Ole Miss.

McElroy didn't have to do too much, despite a still-absent rushing attack, but he managed to do what was needed to secure a win for the Tide—while letting the defense do the dirty work.

2010 season stats: 116/162 for 1,517 yards, 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. 

7.  John Brantley, Florida (24/39 for 219 yards, and 1 interception) vs. Mississippi State

Brantley is floundering in this Gator offense and he needs an exit-strategy if this is all this team has planned for him. He's been average all season and, in the Gator's last three losses, he's been as unimpressive as a Florida quarterback can be without being on the bench (56/129 for 566 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions).

That's not going to cut it in Gainesville, folks.

2010 season stats: 129/208 for 1,266 yards, 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. 

8. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (18/40 for 110 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Alabama. 

Masoli tried his best to find room to run against Alabama's defense, but he found no success. Once he was shut down, there went the Rebel offense as well.

2010 season stats: 75/134 for 933 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 60 carries for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

9. Jarrett Lee, LSU (9/16 for 75 yards) vs. McNeese State. 

LSU is desperate for good quarterback play and, for a moment, it seemed Lee was the answer they were looking for. Well, the chariot has returned to its pumpkin status and the Tigers are back to looking for a better alternative—unfortunately for them, there isn't one.

How much luck do you think Les Miles has in his headset because he's going to need it this weekend.

2010 season stats: 36/50 for 405 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 

10. Chris Relf, Mississippi State (4/9 for 33 yards. 22 carries for 82 yards and 1 touchdown) at 
Florida. 

If someone had told you, at the start of the season, that Chris Relf would be the quarterback of a team  ranked ahead of both Georgia and Florida, would you have believed it?

2010 season stats: 55/95 for 708 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 87 carries for 377 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

11. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (5/14 for 70 yards and 1 interception) at Georgia.  

Larry Smith didn't stand a chance against a Georgia defense that was playing for pride as much as they were a win. The junior found few passing lanes, no running lanes, and no points for his Commodores.

2010 season stats: 72/133 for 863 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 51 carries for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Steve Spurrier Gets Cocky and Cat's Go Wild: Kentucky Steals Big Win Over Top 10 Foe (VIDEO)

Remember all that chatter about Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks suffering a letdown this week over the Kentucky Wildcats, after defeating the former No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in Columbia last week? Well, that came to fruition tonight as the Kentucky Wildcats and, new head coach, Joker Phillips, got their first signature win over a ranked opponent.

The Gamecocks were leading the game with less than 1:00 minute to go in the fourth-quarter, but then Kentucky quarterback, Mike Hartline connected with Randall Cobb for a 24 yard touchdown reception—followed by a two-point conversion—making it 31-28 Kentucky with less than :15 seconds to play.

Stephen Garcia took over on his own 31 but, two big completions to both D.L. Moore and Tori Gurley placed the Gamecocks within striking distance of a field goal. Then, the unthinkable happened, Spurrier used his final timeout to draw up a play for one last shot at the end zone—he likely should have just gone for the tie but, for whatever reason, he decided to try and go for the win instead.

His gamble ended up being a poor one as Stephen Garcia was intercepted in the end zone—Wildcats win:



So close...yet, so very far away.

Nice win for the Cats' though, after the close loss to Auburn last week, they were bound to come out on the winning end of one of these eventually.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Six

See week five here.

1. Aaron Murray, Georgia (17/25 for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns. 7 carries for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs Tennessee.

It was only a matter of time before Aaron Murray made his presence felt against an SEC opponent. The reconfigured offensive line, and a healthy A.J. Green on the football field, made the passing and running lanes easier for Murray to take advantage of as he scrambled, passed, and tip-toed his way into SEC Freshman of the Week Honors. He's for real folks...don't let any one tell you otherwise.

2010 season stats: 97/157 for 1366 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 45 carries for 122 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

2. Cameron Newton, Auburn (13/21 for 210 yards and 1 interception. 28 carries for 198 yards and 4 touchdowns) at Kentucky.

People talk about the run of luck that Les Miles has had over at LSU, but Gene Chizik has had quite a run of good fortune himself—thanks in large part to Cam Newton. The junior transfer has been the x-factor in four of the six come-from-behind wins the Tigers have this season. Against Kentucky, he was the driving force behind several key downs where a first down was necessary if Auburn were going to have any chance at winning the game.

Newton showed, yet again, why he is one of the most dominant players in college football.

2010 season stats: 70/108 for 1138 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 104 carries for 672 yards and 9 touchdowns).

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (17/20 for 201 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Alabama.

Garcia finally came up big in a big game. The junior found redemption for his mishap at Auburn two-weeks ago (where his last-minute gaffes contributed to a Gamecock loss)—upending No. 1 Alabama at Williams-Brice Stadium, and getting Steve Spurrier one step closer to realizing his goal of winning an SEC Championship at South Carolina.

2010 season stats: 73/101 for 944 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 42 carries for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns).

4. Greg McElroy, Alabama (27/34 for 315 yards and 2 touchdowns) at South Carolina. 

McElroy finally faced the first loss of his collegiate, starting, career at the hands of a better-than-advertised South Carolina team that had plenty of time to prepare for his Tide's arrival. McElroy spent much of the day on his back—thanks largely to holding on to the ball too long in multiple situations—but he still managed to protect the ball and keep his team close for a time.

2010 season stats: 99/137 for 1238 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

5. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (27/38 for 310 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Texas A&M.

This game was likely too close for comfort for Razorback fans, as it took a last-minute interception of Aggies quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, to seal the victory at home. However, Mallett continues to be stellar this year—ringing up yet another 300+ yard passing game to add to his season total.

The senior is averaging just under 350 passing yards per game.

2010 season stats: 122/176 for 1748 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.  

6. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (16/27 for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Eastern Michigan.

The Commodores had no problem dispatching Eastern Michigan, relying mostly on the rushing talents of Warren Norman and Zac Stacy, but Smith tossed a couple touchdowns in the second quarter for good measure.

2010 season stats: 67/119 for 793 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

7. Jarrett Lee, LSU (9/11 for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Florida. 

Given the opportunistic nature of the Florida Gator's secondary this season (they lead the nation with 13), you have to be impressed with the poise of Jarrett Lee. After coach Les Miles called for a fake field goal late in the fourth, Lee tossed the game-winning touchdown to seal the victory for the Tigers.

2010 season stats: 27/36 for 330 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 

8. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (23/28 for 220 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Auburn.

Hartline was as steady and poised as you would have wanted him to be for this game against the Auburn Tigers. He didn't hurt his team with costly mistakes or turnovers and he kept his cool when his Wildcats were down early in the third quarter—tossing the touchdown that, eventually, led to the start of a Wildcat rally.

Sadly, Cam Newton proved to be too much for the defense, and Kentucky simply couldn't hang on.

2010 season stats: 125/188 for 1442 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. Matt Simms, Tennessee (9/13 for 178 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Georgia. 

Simms did all he could to get the offense going but the Volunteers were mauled on both sides of the football field by a motivated Georgia Bulldog team. Still, Simm's scramble to shake off a potential Justin Houston sack and find Justin Hunter for the score, early in the game,  was one of the few shining moments of the day for the offense.

2010 season stats: 88/154 for 1136 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

10. John Brantley, Florida (16/24 for 154 yards and 1 interception) vs. LSU

Cracked ribs or no, Brantley is not the right guy for this Florida offense so long as his new coordinator, Steve Adazzio keeps calling the plays. Brantley is a pocket-passer trying to run a spread offense that is built for a guy like Trey Burton. It seems only matter of time before either Brantley or Adazzio is replaced because this offense has been anything but fluid this season.

2010 season stats: 105/169 for 1056 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

11. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (5/9 for 72 yards) at Houston.

Russell came in to replace Chris Relf who, to be honest, did more damage with his legs than his arm (rushing for 96 yards and a score).

2010 season stats: 35/58 for 555 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 

Georgia QB Commit, Christian LeMay, to Play In Televised Bowl on New Year's Eve

According to 247sports.com, Georgia Bulldog quarterback commit, Christian LeMay has agreed to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl. The Bowl will be televised on Versus and will air on December 31st at 4pm from Myrtle Beach, SC.

The O-D Bowl, as it is more commonly known, is in it's third season of existence, but has already built a reputation for fielding some of the best prospects in the country.

2007's (the inaugural year of the O-D Bowl) roster, alone, featured Stephen Garcia (South Carolina), Cam Newton (Auburn), Joe Haden (Florida), Jarvis Jones (Then an LSU commit), and Chad Jones (LSU).

However, there is a history of Georgia commitments making their appearance:

2008 saw Cordy Glenn (OL), Brandon Boykin (DB), and Marcus Dowtin  (LB) take the field.

While 2009 saw Mike Gilliard (LB),  Kwame Geathers (DT), and dismissed former players, Zach Mettenberger (QB) and Montez Robinson (LB).

LeMay is currently sitting out his senior season due after a rules violation led to a 30-day suspension from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System. The suspension, once served, would have dampened any possibility of his playing for his high school team so LeMay elected to sit out the year.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Four

See week three here.

1.  Cameron Newton, Auburn (16/21 for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. 25 carries for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns) versus South Carolina. 

Pretty soon the Auburn Tigers might take on the moniker of the "cardiac cats" as the last two weeks have both seen some dramatic come-from-behind victories by the Tigers. Once again, Cameron Newton put on his Superman cape in the fourth quarter as he led his team to another victory over a worthy opponent.

2010 season total: 43/68 for 683 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 75 carries for 485 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

2. Matt Simms, Tennessee (19/34 for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. UAB

Simms sealed the Volunteers second victory of the season on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Denarius Moore to win in double overtime. The junior quarterback showed plenty of poise and leadership on the field against a feisty UAB team that seemed determined to walk out of Neyland with a win. Simms has made subtle progressions each week and, so far, has given Vol fans a reason to be hopeful for the future.

2010 season total:  67/118 for 836 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

3.  John Brantley, Florida (24/35 for 248 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Kentucky.

Brantley finally did two things for the first time this season—break 200 yards passing and throw his first interception. The latter is impressive, the former not so much. Though he was largely overshadowed by his freshman counterpart, Trey Burton, Brantley still gets credit for being steady, if not stellar, for the Gators in their win over Kentucky.

2010 season total: 73/114 yards for 700 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

4. Aaron Murray, Georgia (18/31 for 274 yards and 1 touchdown) at Mississippi State

Murray continues to be impressive for Georgia, in spite of the teams' overall anemia on offense, and offers plenty of reason for fans to believe he is the future at quarterback. He looks more comfortable in the pocket each week and, even minus A.J. Green, has developed solid chemistry with his other receivers. Now, if the rest of the team could play with as much passion, the Bulldogs might have something.

2010 season total: 64/105 for 879 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

5. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (8/12 for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Fresno State

The Rebels left most of the dirty work to their running backs this week, but Masoli helped get the party started with a touchdown early. He's not been the spark that Houston Nutt hoped he would be, but he hasn't been downright abysmal either.

2010 season total: 48/77 for 733 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Chris Relf, Mississipi State (8/13 for 135 yards and 1 touchdown. 20 carries for 109 yards) vs. Georgia.

Leading your team to victory over a cross-division rival has to count for something, right? This was, without question, one of Relf's best SEC performances so far this season.

2010 season total: 33/57 for 409 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 48 carries for 249 yards. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/21 for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs Auburn.

You're probably wondering why Garcia isn't ranked a bit higher, right? Well, his position here has less to do with what he did do, than what he didn't do. Garcia fumbled twice in the second half, clearing the way for 14 of the points Auburn needed to win the game and spoil the Gamecocks bid to go 4-0 on the season—2-0 in the SEC.

2010 season total: 56/81 for 743 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

8.  Greg McElroy, Alabama (18/26 for 194 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) at Arkansas.

McElroy was mediocre for the majority of the day, but money when it mattered. He made a drive saving play on fourth-and-inches and helped engineer two touchdown scoring drives in the second half.

2010 season total: 61/86 for 899 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (25/38 for 357 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions) vs. Alabama.

It was a valiant effort that nearly turned into a big win for the Razorbacks, but Mallett lost his groove after throwing his first interception—in the fourth quarter—and never recovered. Arkansas was close to being the beasts of the West...but, as we all know, close only counts in horseshoes.

2010 season total: 95/138 for 1438 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.  

10. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (21/39 for 242 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) at Florida.

Hartline couldn't continue the momentum of the Wildcats in the face of the Gators smothering defense, but he did give a valiant effort. 

2010 season total: 75/114 for 922 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.  

11. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/22 for 75 yards and 2 interceptions) vs West Virginia.


Jefferson has been atrocious this year. Is he the victim of bad coaching or does he really suck this bad? My goodness, it's an utter miracle that the Tigers are 4-0 —an. utter. miracle. If Jefferson continues to play his uninspired brand of football the rest of the way, it's a miracle that should end very soon.

2010 season total: 43/79 for 419 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Three

See the power rankings for weeks one and two at the respective links:

1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas(21/33 for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns) at Georgia.

The senior leader of the red hot Razorbacks continued to prove why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this season. His dismantling of the Georgia Bulldog offense, including tossing the game-winner with only seconds left to play, sent a message to the rest of the nation that he is for real.

2010 season total: 70/100 for 1081 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

2. Greg McElroy, Alabama (14/20 for 258 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Duke

Speaking of senior leaders, the Crimson Tide once again took care of business against a lesser opponent. Mark Ingram made his season debut and he didn't disappoint. The dynamic duo will need to be at their very best this week as they prepare to take on the Razorbacks high-powered offense led, of course, by Ryan Mallett.

2010 season total: 43/60 for 705 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception). 

3. Matt Simms, Tennessee (19/31 for 259 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) vs. Florida

The Vols are going to be a good team, at some point, they simply need to find a way to keep up their intensity for 60 minutes. Simms did a fine job getting against a talented Florida secondary that leads the SEC in interceptions this season (10). His maturation process grows with each passing week.

2010 season total: 48/84 for 591 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

4. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/27 for 253 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Arkansas

For all the question marks the Bulldogs have on both the offense and defense, one thing is very clear: Aaron Murray can play ball. The redshirt freshman engineered the comeback that nearly won the game for the Bulldogs. He's still got a lot of growing to do, but he's done a fine job thus far.  

2010 season total: 46/74 for 605 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.


5. Cameron Newton, Auburn (7/14 for 203 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) vs. Clemson

For a while it looked like the Tigers would be upended by Clemson, but Auburn showed why they have every bit the reason to be optimistic about their chances of winning the west. The offense finally woke up in the second half (scoring 21 points), thanks in large part to Cameron Newton, and Auburn was able to stay undefeated on the year.

2010 season total: 27/47 for 525 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

6.  Mike Hartline, Kentucky (21/29 for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Akron

The Wildcats have done well this season. Hartline's team stands at a comfortable 3-0 so far this season. Of course, they haven't played anyone yet, we'll have to see how well they do once they get into conference play. That said, Hartline continues to manage the game as well as anyone and his confidence appears to grow with each win under his belt.

2010 season total: 54/75 for 680 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.  

7. John Brantley, Florida (14/23 for 167 yards and 1 touchdown) at Tennessee

Brantley managed to escape his first true road test with a win—the accolades end there. The Gators offense continues to look mediocre and all the hype about Brantley still seems as if it may have a come a year too soon. He's not awful, he's just not as impressive as many thought he might be.

2010 season total: 49/79 for 452 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. 

8. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (13/20 for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) vs. Furman

Garcia looked about as uninspired as he could playing against Furman and, although the Gamecocks offense put 24 points on the board against the Paladins, they didn't look nearly as crisp as most might like. Perhaps Spurrier's team was simply saving some of that fire for next week when they face the Auburn Tigers...at least, that's what Gamecock fans should be hoping.

2010 season total: 41/60 for 508 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/16 for 97 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions) vs. Mississippi St.

Jefferson...what can you say about him at this point? He's been bailed out each week by a particular unit. In week one, it was Patrick Peterson (special teams). In week two, it was Stephen Ridley (running backs), and this week it was his field goal kicker. At some point, Jefferson's luck is going to run out.

2010 season total: 33/57 for 344 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.

10. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (19/35 for 190 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 19 carries for 104 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Vanderbilt.

Masoli's mobility has to be the only thing keeping him from being completely worthless to the Rebels this season.

2010 season total: 40/65 for 580 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions 

11. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (5/10 for 81 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions

Russell is a long way from his week one performance. He's not proved to be nearly as prolific against better defenses and his performance against LSU last week just shows that he's still got a long way to go yet.

2010 season total: 22/35 for 356 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

12. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (9/19 for 73 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions)

Larry Smith is not good. There is little that can prove the contrary right now. The Commodores won on Saturday, but not much of that was due to the play of Smith.

2010 season total: 36/67 for 383 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Two

After week two, the magnifying glass has a broader view of who's doing big things for his team and who, likely, benefited from a soft opponent in week one.

You can find the week one quarterback power rankings here.

1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (28/43 for 400 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT) at Louisiana-Monroe

Ryan Mallett still hasn't faced any true competition yet, but that doesn't make his arm or that Arkansas offense any less impressive. It took the Hogs two quarters to find their groove, but by the time the third-quarter ended in Louisiana, it was clear who had the best team.

2010 Season Total: 49/67 for 701 yards, 6 TD's, and 2 INT's

2. Greg McElroy, Alabama (16/24 for 229 yards and 2 TD's) vs. Penn State

McElroy had the distinction of being the quarterback who often lost his focus in the big games. If nothing else, the win over Penn State, in Tuscaloosa, proved that McElroy has truly come into his own as the leader of his team. His poise and confidence in the pocket have been a steadying influence on a team that is currently playing without two of its best players—Marcel Dareus and Mark Ingram.

2010 Season Total: 29/40 for 447 yards and 3 TD's

3. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (16/20 for 213 yards and 3 TD's) vs Western Kentucky

Whatever Joker Phillips is selling in Lexington, the Wildcats are buying it, and Mike Hartline is carrying it out on the field. The senior is a markedly better passer and seems much more comfortable leading this Kentucky offense this season than the last.

2010 Season Total: 33/46 for 430 yards and 3 TD's

4. Cameron Newton, Auburn (11/19 for 136 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 INT—18 carries for 70 yards) at Mississippi State

It wasn't as dynamic a performance as exhibited in week one, but, in Auburn's first SEC road game, against a rowdy home crowd, Newton led the Tigers to a key conference victory.

2010 Season Total: 20/33 for 322 yards, 5 TD's, and 1 INT—33 carries for 241 yards and 2 TD's

5. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (12/17 for 165 yards and 0 TD's) vs. Georgia

Garcia's stats don't jump off the page but, watching him play, you get the sense that he may finally be coming into his own as a leader. The Gamecocks have found their running game in Marcus Lattimore, and Garcia is content to make the big plays when called upon. So far, he's been stellar on third downs, and he hasn't made the mistakes that cost his team in key situations last year. If he can continue on the right path, the Gamecocks will definitely be in Atlanta come December.

2010 Season Total: 28/40 for 358 yards and 0 TD's 

6. Aaron Murray, Georgia (14/21 for 192 yards and 0 TD's) at South Carolina

The scoreboard is what everyone pointed to at the end of the game, but that doesn't change the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs have found a player Aaron Murray. The redshirt freshman, in his first road game, showed veteran poise in the pocket, and made some timely throws on key downs. Despite the final outcome, the young gun kept Georgia in it til the end against a highly-motivated talented South Carolina team—that's saying a lot.

2010 Season Total: 31/47 for 352 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT

7. John Brantley, Florida (18/31 for 172 yards and 3 TD's) vs South Florida

The problem with John Brantley is he's not Tim Tebow—let's just put that out there. He's got a decent arm and a lot of potential (once he gets going), but he's been vanilla to this point in two blowout wins against subpar opponents. He's going to need to do a lot more if he expects to get by in the SEC.

2010 Season Total: 35/56 for 285 yards and 4 TD's

8. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (14/20 for 281 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT) at Tulane

Masoli hasn't bombed in his two appearances at quarterback this season, but the Rebels certainly haven't been the team they thought they would when they acquired him. He's done a decent job of transitioning into the offense so far and, considering the lackluster play of Nathan Stanley, it won't be long before it's the Masoli show in Oxford.

2010 Season Total: 21/30 for 390 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INT's

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (8/20 for 96 yards, 0 TD's, and 1 INT) at Vanderbilt 

The Tigers seem to win football games in spite of Jordan Jefferson, not because of him, and that's not a good thing. In week one, Patrick Peterson bailed him out and, in week two, it was running back Stephen Ridley. One would have to think his luck will run out soon and, when it does, he will only have himself to blame.

2010 Season Total: 23/41 for 247 yards, 2 TD's, and 2 INT's

10. Chris Reif, Mississippi State (12/26 for 110 yards and 0 TD's) vs. Auburn

Reif still isn't going to floor you with his passing prowess, but he did play fairly well against Auburn—his mobility likely kept the Bulldogs in the game. He isn't markedly better than 2009, but until Tyler Russell has his first go-round in SEC play, Reif is likely the better option.

2010 Season Total: 19/35 for 226 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

11. Matt Simms, Tennessee (15/29 for 151 yards, 0 TD's, and 1 INT) vs Oregon

Give Simms a little more time and he will be a decent quarterback for the Vols but, right now, you get the feeling that the passing game isn't ready for the better defenses of the world. In time, as the receivers mature, and Simms gets more comfortable, that could change.

2010 Season Total: 29/53 for 332 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

12. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (8/15 for 70 yards, 0 TD's, and 0 INT's) vs LSU

Smith is what he is and that may never change. He struggled mightily against a much better defensive front and, despite the efforts of Vanderbilt running back, Warren Norman, the Commodores simply could not do much offensively to match the Tigers.

2010 Season Total: 27/48 for 310 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Coach Richt's Post-Game Press Conference (VIDEO)

This is the press conference that followed the Georgia Bulldogs' 17-6 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday (h/t bulldawgillustrated). Richt discusses the fact that the team tackling wasn't so much the issue as it appeared to be an overall inability to keep Marcus Lattimore from gaining yards after contact.

Furthermore, he states the obvious by saying that it's time to take the training wheels off quarterback, Aaron Murray, see what he can do—you think?




Some further post-game video from the Georgia locker room (h/t bulldawgillustrated):
 

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• Initial Impressions: Georgia Bulldogs Fall to South Carolina Gamecocks (dawgsports.com)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About The South Carolina Gamecocks

After an impressive win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, the Georgia Bulldogs will start to find out how "for real" they really are this season when they face-off against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday—at high noon.

Steve Spurrier's team looked impressive in their victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (a team considered by many to be one of the best in their conference this season) last Thursday, and the team hopes to continue their winning ways against Mark Richt's team this weekend.

Despite what the polls say (the Gamecocks were left off the coaches' and AP preseason polls), the feeling in Columbia is that this will be the year that Spurrier will finally take his team to an SEC Championship.

Most Bulldog fans can tell you plenty about their rival to the north, but here are ten quick points anyway—just for kicks.

1. They may finally have found their running game. 

For years the Gamecocks have lacked an adequate run game to compliment the passing attack. This has been a familiar sticking point for Spurrier, for as long as he's been in Columbia, because he hasn't been able to field a phenomenal passer in that time either. As a result, his offenses have stalled more often than he'd like, and his teams have performed disappointingly in the process. Marcus Lattimore may be the cure to what ails them at the tail spot—opening up a plethora of possibilities on offense.

2. Marcus Lattimore is the real deal. 

It was just a Conference-USA team, but it was hard not to recognize the talent that Lattimore will bring to the field this season. The true freshman has the size, speed, and hands to be a big-time threat out of the backfield. Furthermore, it is clear that he offers a legitimate goal line option for the Gamecocks this season—his 6'0", 200+ pound, frame makes him a load to bring down at the line.

3. Ace Sanders needs to be accounted for because he's a playmaker. 

The speedy receiver out of Bradenton, FL had one very impressive run on Thursday night. On a clear reverse, Sanders took big advantage of the Golden Eagles lapse in defensive concentration as he sprinted down the field for 31-yards. Sanders is only 5'7", but he is just the type of player that Steve Spurrier likes to have fun with on offense—he will definitely find his way onto the field.

4.  Stephen Garcia is still a significant running and scoring threat. 

The much-maligned quarterback didn't overly impress with his arm, but he's still got plenty of scoring ability as a scrambler. The junior was responsible for two rushing touchdowns in the win—one of which was a 22 yard scamper. Garcia has good instincts as a runner and he isn't afraid to use those instincts if he sees an opportunity to gain some positive yardage or score six.

5. Alshon Jeffery isn't showing any signs of a "sophomore slump".

Jeffery accounted for 106 yards on seven catches (15.1 ypc average) and he was clearly the go-to guy for Garcia. He's going to pose match-up problems for any secondary with smallish defensive backs because of his size. In order to disrupt him, a team is going to have to do it off the snap—otherwise he's as money as they come on the football field as a receiver.

6. Connor Shaw will be pretty darn good this year in his backup role. 

Shaw didn't get very many snaps (6), but in his limited appearance, he showed he is not intimidated by the SEC spotlight. He appears, from the outset, to have a run-first mentality. However, he's an effective runner too and he doesn't seem bothered by making plays with his feet. He keeps his eyes downfield at all times and he's a definite weapon if the Gamecocks decide to run a little wildcat this season—particularly with Ace Sanders and Marcus Lattimore in tow.

7. The offensive line still needs tweaking.

The Southern Miss defensive front didn't have much trouble handling the South Carolina offensive line early in the game. That said, the line is still likely one of the best Spurrier has had since he arrived at South Carolina and any inconsistency is likely due to a new line coach—the talent is there.

8. The secondary...well...it's not very good—yet.

South Carolina didn't impress early with the play of its secondary. The Golden Eagles, despite the loss, moved the ball very well against the Gamecocks and, if not for a couple of busted plays in the redzone, the end score might have looked very different. The team was without its star corner, Chris Culliver (moved from safety to corner during the spring), and there is the possibility that the shuffling of the secondary was the main issue behind a lackluster pass defense (Akeem Auguste also switched positions this past spring).

9. The defensive line is still searching for its identity.

South Carolina didn't shut the Eagles down, as mentioned earlier, so much as the Eagles shot themselves in the foot with crucial turnovers on potential scoring drives. Overall, the Eagles were effective when faced with a third down (10/19), and quarterback, Austin Davis, was able to elude the pass-rush most of the evening. He fumbled on a run play early in the first, but the pressure of the front seven led to only one sack—midway through the second quarter. Does that mean the defensive line at South Carolina is not up to par? No, but they have yet to find the answers for the departed Clifton Geathers and Eric Norwood.

10. They do a lot of damage on first and second down—third downs...not so much.

Again, this is only the first game of the season, but the Gamecocks struggled to complete third downs against the Eagles (4/10), while the Eagles converted better than 50 percent of theirs. Does that have to do with the playcalling, the confidence of Stephen Garcia behind his, still-jelling, offensive line, or just first game jitters?
We'll find out soon enough.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week One

Week one is in the books and all of the SEC games have been played. The actual pass efficiency ratings for each quarterback can be found here, but these power rankings not only take normal stats into consideration (i.e. touchdowns, interceptions, completion percentage, and total yards) but intangibles as well (i.e. game management, decision-making, pocket presence, etc.).

1. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (13/16 for 256 yards, and 4 TD's)
 
Russell, the redshirt freshman for Dan Mullen's Bulldogs, made a case for why he may very well supplant Chris Reif before long. In helping lead the Bulldogs to their very convincing 49-7 victory over the Memphis Tigers. Russell completed over 80 percent of his passes and finished with a near-perfect pass efficiency rating (298.15).

2. Cameron Newton, Auburn (9/14 for 186 yards, and 3 TD's—15 carries for 171 yards, and 2 TD's)

Newton turned out to be all that was adverstised—and then some. The JUCO transfer was as impressive running the ball as he was passing it, and he brought the home crowd to its feet when he broke one run off for a 71-yard touchdown run. The Auburn Tigers definitely have the duel-threat they were hoping for in Newton—who accounted for 357 of the teams 608 total yards on the day.



3. Greg McElroy, Alabama (13/15 for 218 yards and 1 TD)

Greg McElroy didn't have to do much to lead his team to victory, but the Tide rolled even without their Heisman winning running back out there to carry the ball. McElroy was concise on every throw and left little doubt where his focus will be this season—a third trip to the Dome for the SEC Championship.


 
4. Ryan Mallet, Arkansas (21/24 for 301 yards, 3 TD's and 1 INT)
Ryan Mallet was nearly perfect in the opening quarter of his first game of the season—a sure sign that his broken foot will not be an issue this season. The senior, a potential Heisman candidate, was in good form on Saturday as his Razorbacks mauled Tennessee Tech 44-3.

5. Aaron Murray, Georgia (17/26 for 160 yards, 3 TD's and 1 INT—4 carries for 42 yards, and 1 TD)

The redshirt freshman was better than expected in his home debut as he led the Georgia Bulldogs to an impressive 55-7 win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Some of his most impressive plays came while he was on the run—a 21 yard scramble to the end zone to end the half brought the fans to their feet. He still has some learning to do but, if he can remain healthy, Georgia could have a special player on their hands.



6. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (16/23 for  193 yards—5 carries for 38 yards, and 2 TD’s 

Garcia made a lot of high-percentage completions last Thursday night in the Gamecock's season opener, but it would have been nice to see him get a couple in the end zone—utilizing the obvious height advantage his receivers had over the Southern Miss secondary. However, he did manage to showcase his scrambling ability in netting two rushing touchdowns.

7. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (19/33) for 244 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT)

It's safe to say that Vanderbilt played the toughest opponent in the SEC this week and nearly ended up with the win. Smith performed notably better than expected given the holes in his offensive line—passing and running for nearly 300 yards on the day.

8. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (17/26 for 217 yards)

Hartline didn't walk away with any touchdowns on the day, but he did manage the game well on Saturday in helping to lead his team to a win over their in-state rival—Louisville.

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (15/21 for 151 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 INT)

The Tigers got the victory, but it was sloppy and unimpressive—much like Jefferson. The junior quarterback didn't necessarily do anything to hurt his team—save the silly interception—but he made several throws in the game that could be his undoing later. He's going to have to do better than he did on Saturday against the Heels because there is little that indicates he's remarkably better than 2009.



10. Nathan Stanley, Ole Miss (6/10 for 133 yards and 3 TD's)
You can say this much for Stanley: he made every completion count. The sophomore was forced to split time with Jeremiah Masoli, but not before netting 21 points off three of his six completions. Too bad for him, though, his performance will be erased by the overwhelming embarrassment that was the Rebels' loss to Jacksonville State—an FCS team.



11. John Brantley, Florida (17/25 for 113 yards and 2 TD's)
Brantley looked rather pedestrian calling the shots this weekend—he certainly didn't strike fear into the hearts of the SEC East. By the fourth quarter, his Gators had exactly 26 total yards of offense entering the fourth quarter—ouch.

12. Matt Simms, Tennessee (14/24 for 181 yards and 1 TD)

Simms performed fairly decent for his first time out, but he will need to do a lot better if he expects to make a game of it next week against the Oregon Ducks.