Aaron Murray has Georgia heading in the right direction. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)
Now that the first month of the football season is in the books, it’s time to assess just where each SEC team stands.
It is obvious for some teams but for others you have to look a little below the obvious, the won-loss record, to make an assessment.
We started by taking a look at teams in the SEC West, but now let’s switch over to the teams in the SEC East.
Florida (3-1 overall, 2-0 SEC) has been hit hard by key injuries and lost a game to in-state rival Miami, but the Gators are regrouping and continuing to chase an SEC East title — and they are doing it behind a rabid fan base.
“We have the best fans in the country, and our last home game was outstanding, the Gator Walk, and our crowd certainly made a difference in the game,” said Will Muschamp. “And that makes a difference here. I’ve been here on the opposing sideline, there is a difference.”
The season-ending injury to quarterback Jeff Driskel could have been a killer, but redshirt junior Tyler Murphy has stepped up and is playing well.
“I think that’s one of his strengths, his demeanor and how he handles things,” said Muschamp. “Those are things that would want to be able to see, a guy that doesn’t get too high or too low; again I’ve always said this: he is extremely intelligent. He doesn’t get caught in the moment, so to speak, as far as his emotions. And that’s something you have to have at that position.”
Georgia (3-1, 2-0) has overcome its opening loss to Clemson, has established itself as the team to beat in the SEC East and is still very much alive in the national championship picture. With one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Murray and running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, and a defense that is growing better each week, the Bulldogs have the ingredients to return to the SEC Championship Game.
“I think our adrenaline is pumping right now,” said Mark Richt. “I’m excited about how things have gone, especially as of late, and with what I’m seeing in this team. I’ve said it all along — they’re a great bunch of guys. They’re very, very coachable, and they’re very teachable. They try extremely hard to do it the Georgia way, and to do it the way that coaches ask them to do it. If you can have that kind of an atmosphere and culture on your team, and then you win, it’s exciting. We just have to keep it rolling.”
Things haven’t gone well for Kentucky (1-3, 0-1) and coach Mark Stoops are far as the record goes, but Stoops sees some signs in improvement.
“We did some good things, we really did,” Stoops said. “I know I may set myself up for the shots or whatever, I can’t worry about all that, all I’m worried about is getting better every day,” said Stoops. “I thought our players did a good job, I really do. Our coaches did a good job after being very frustrated after the game and during the game. I was – just like everybody, I was frustrated. You go in Sunday and start nitpicking everything that we do and making sure that we’re doing everything we can to be successful. I thought we gave ourselves some chances, I really did.”
The Missouri Tigers (4-0, 0-0) have been a pleasant surprise, but coach Gary Pinkel knows the soft part of the schedule is over and the grueling SEC schedule awaits. One of the high points of the first four games has been the play of the Missouri defensive and offensive lines.
“I think we are doing some good things up front. That is where it starts is at our line of scrimmage, for both sides of the ball. That allows you to play on offense and defense. I think we are coming along,” said Pinkel.
“Obviously, the tests are going to get bigger here. We understand that and physicality of the plays. I am pleased with the players thus far, their work ethic and the tackle position. Marvin Foster really played well in there too. Here is a senior that has been hurt the whole time he has been here.
“They are all big tests. It is the next big test. The next one is bigger and bigger. I think we will see overall from our non-conference schedule to our conference schedule, there is no question. The competition is tougher and more competitive and that is good.”
Tennessee (3-2, 0-1) got off to a good start, but Butch Jones’ team has lost two consecutive games. With Georgia up next, it doesn’t get any easier.
“I like the mentality of our players, I like everything that we are doing but we just have to continue to progress,” Jones said. “One of those areas is, we cannot turn the football over. It is inexcusable, that is making good choices and good decisions with the football. I think that has been the one area when you look to in terms of being a disciplined football team where we have to take great strides and continue to move forward. We have been careless with the football when we throw it and we can’t continue to have those catastrophic mistakes as we move forward with this football team.
“As we continue to progress, the evolution of this football team is understanding what it is to compete for 60 minutes. It is a 60-minute game. I spoke to our team about this, there is a different between playing the game and competing. We are searching for competitive greatness. High achievement takes place in the framework of high expectations. We have extremely high expectations for every member within our football family and our football program, from the coaches to the players to the support staff. It is our players understanding that every play has a life of its own, you have to play that play to the best of your ability and then snap and clear.”
South Carolina (3-1, 1-1) was expected to challenge for the SEC East title behind defensive tackle Jadeveon Clowney, but Georgia’s win over the Gamecocks put Steve Spurrier’s team behind the eight ball.
“We aren’t sitting around here patting ourselves on the back, we’re very fortunate to be top-25, very fortunate to start the season in the top-10,” said Spurrier. “Somebody asked me the other day, ‘How’d you guys get to be number seven in the country?’ and I said, ‘Because of Jadeveon Clowney’s hit was shown the whole off season.’ But it’s not a one-man game, it’s a team sport. Jadeveon (Clowney) is playing hard, he’s playing well. I think he’s playing very hard, he’s got about two guys blocking him all the time, in fact, they had about seven guys blocking and only sending three guys out last week. So we’ve got some coaching to do, if we want to turn around this season. We’ve been on the verge of really blowing a couple games and we know that, and the coaches know that.
“We’ve had some down-to-the-wire games, so we’re actually going to lighten up on the guys during practice as far as not beating them into the ground too much. We are 3-1 right now, that’s where we are, we’re 3-1 and (No.) 13 in the country, which is flattering for the way we’ve played at times.”
Vanderbilt (3-2, 2-0) came into the season with the league’s longest winning streak but Ole Miss took care of that in the opener. But the Commodores have bounced back and won two consecutive conference games behind coach James Franklin.
“I’m excited about the direction of the program and what we have been able to accomplish. In our last 12 games we are 10-2,” said Franklin. “We are really excited about those things. I couldn’t be more proud of what the kids have done, what the assistant coaches have done, what the staff/administration has done and the way the community is rallying behind us.
“I think that the fact that we have done some good things and played well last week is something that we are going to build on this week. Our focus is to be 1-0 this week and focus on Missouri. It is going to be a tremendous challenge for our offense, our defense and our special teams, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
