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The SEC has won eight of the past 10 national championships.
The SEC West accounted for six of them.
There’s no suspense about which coach runs this league, much less this division, so let’s jump right in by handicapping the SEC West’s coaching staffs, top to bottom.
1. Alabama
Most important assistant: OC Lane Kiffin
Non-coordinator: Strength coach Scott Cochran
Nick Saban has called Cochran the Tide’s secret weapon, and put his money where his mouth was to keep Cochran from joining Kirby Smart at Georgia.
Kiffin is quickly becoming the most important assistant in college football, remaking the Tide’s offense each season all while breaking in another new quarterback.
The question quickly is turning from when Kiffin will get another head coaching job to whether he might succeed Saban. Not that we’re rushing to plan a Saban special section. That’s years away.
2. Texas A&M
Most important assistant: Noel Mazzone
Non-coordinator: Offensive line coach Jim Turner
Texas A&M is a trendy pick to do damage in the West next season, in large part because of what Mazzone brings to the offense.
The defense is championship-ready.
John Chavis’ group allowed just 22.0 points per game last season and returns most of the players responsible. Offense and intangibles sabotaged last season.
Turner returns to College Station, where he built he once built the Aggies’ line into one of the nation’s best. He coached two of the Aggies’ recent first-round picks, Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews.
The Aggies averaged just 4.35 yards per carry last season, tied for 10th in the SEC.
3. LSU
Most important assistant: OC Cam Cameron
Non-coordinator: WR coach Dameyune Craig
Les Miles nearly lost his job last fall after his offense fell apart in November.
It’s on Cameron to save the day — and save Miles’ job.
Both have promised revisions — not overhauls — and a renewed interest in the passing game. Remember, it was just three seasons ago that Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both topped 1,000 yards receiving.
If they can’t get the offense going, it won’t matter how well the defense plays for new coordinator Dave Aranda.
Craig was brought in to help develop the passing game. A former Auburn quarterback, he spent the past three seasons working with the the Tigers’ offense.
He’ll play a key role in getting Brandon Harris, Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural on the same page.
4. Ole Miss
Most important assistant: DC Dave Wommack
Non-coordinator: co-DC, cornerbacks coach Jason Jones
Hugh Freeze’s staff is entering its fifth season together, and the Rebels have improved each year.
The offense must replace some key parts, but it returns the SEC’s best quarterback in Chad Kelly, which will make the offensive coordinators’ job easier.
Wommack and Jones lost two key pieces from the secondary. The Rebels must replace six starters on defense overall.
Kelly’s offense will score. The question in 2016 is how far Ole Miss’ defense slips.
5. Arkansas
Most important assistant: OC Dan Enos
Non-coordinator: Offensive line coach Kurt Anderson
Arkansas put its offensive linemen on the media guide cover last season. Players wanted position coach Sam Pittman to stay, but he joined Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia instead.
Anderson spent last season in the same position with the Buffalo Bills, who led the NFL in rushing yards per game.
Enos received a ton of credit for developing Brandon Allen into an NFL prospect. Next up is little brother Austin, a first-time starter in 2016.
6. Mississippi State
Most important assistant: Co-OC Billy Gonzales
Non-coordinator: QB coach Brian Johnson
The Bulldogs have a new defensive coordinator in Peter Sirmon, and any coordinator change brings inherent interest.
But just about everything the Bulldogs do in 2016 will be viewed through the standard Dak Prescott set at quarterback.
Hence the obvious: How much production can the Rebels get from a first-time full-time starting quarterback in 2016?
That’s the key question, regardless of who wins the competition. Gonzales and Johnson are the two most responsible for the passing game, so it fall on them to help pick the right guy and then build the right plan.
7. Auburn
Most important assistant: OC Rhett Lashlee
Non-coordinator: Associate HC/DL Rodney Garner
Auburn occupied the No. 2 spot in this ranking last year, but nobody handled the preseason expectations well. As a result, changes were made.
More changes are likely — this time starting at the top with Gus Malzahn — if 2016 follows suit.
Auburn’s defense will be fast, versatile and nasty under first-year coordinator Kevin Steele, who arrived from LSU.
The questions come on offense, just like last year. Lashlee couldn’t solve them. Jeremy Johnson struggled. Sean White seemed mis-fit for the Tigers’ system. Now the Tigers have added speedy John Franklin III to the mix and still aren’t quite sure what they’ll get.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
