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Halfway through the season, each SEC team has weaknesses it can improve down the stretch. Here’s a list of one for each conference team:
Alabama: The Tide needs to shore up its placekicking. Adam Griffith has been undependable, making only 8 of 14 field-goal attempts including two misses from inside 30 yards. It’s also hard to ignore that the Tide is last in the conference in third-down conversions.
Arkansas: The offense has converted only 11 of 25 chances inside the red zone, ranking ahead of only Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks have to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks — they have only six sacks.
Auburn: The Tigers need to fill holes against the run. They’ve given up 5.1 yards per carry to opponents, making it hard to get their offense on the field.
LSU: The Tigers don’t allow many punt returns. But they need to cover better when forced to make a tackle. On five returns, they’ve given up an average of more than 32 yards. Penalties can also be cut down — the Tigers are the conference’s most-penalized team.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs need to hold onto the football better. They’ve fumbled 11 times, losing seven of them.
Ole Miss: The Rebels need to take better care of the football. They’ve committed 15 turnovers, including 10 interceptions. But that may be symptomatic of a larger issue: the offensive line has struggled once again. Some additional patience — no more going for it on fourth-and-1 in their own territory in the first half — would help, too.
Texas A&M: The run defense may be improved, but the front seven still needs to do a better job defending the run. On offense, this became pretty obvious after the loss to Alabama — Kyle Allen needs to be more careful with his throws. None of his four interceptions against the Tide were on tips or diving catches. Three were returned for touchdowns.
Florida: It’s difficult to find much to offer the Gators. The kicking duties loom as a potential problem in tight games as Austin Hardin and Jorge Powell have each struggled. Finding competency there is a major concern.
Georgia: The most-telling statistic about the Bulldogs’ offensive problems against good competition — they’ve converted only 33 percent of third downs. The Bulldogs could make more high-percentage throws to Sony Michel, a dangerous receiver out of the backfield.
Kentucky: The Wildcats need to apply more pressure on defense. They’ve gotten only seven turnovers and they’re at the bottom of the conference in tackles for loss.
Missouri: The Tigers need to make some changes on offense, if only to help for next season. They’ve already moved freshman Cam Hilton into the lineup at receiver. It’s time to go with some younger players, including on the offensive line. Touted running back Chase Abbington, a junior-college transfer, could get more carries as an option behind Russell Hansbrough.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks need an identity on offense. The injuries at quarterback have hindered the development. Connor Mitch and Lorenzo Nunez provide different looks at quarterback. When both are healthy, Shawn Elliott needs to find out which player offers the most promise for the future.
Tennessee: The defense needs to guard against big breakdowns in the secondary. The Vols have given up a conference-most six passes of 40 or more yards and 11 of 30 yards or more.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores have plenty of room for improvement in various areas. Cutting down on turnovers — they’ve made 16 — might give them an opportunity to pull an upset.
