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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Most games are decided in the red zone. The better offenses score touchdowns, not settle for field goals. The better defenses limit offenses to nothing or three, not seven.
Florida won the East last year in part because it stopped LSU on third and fourth down from the 1, securing a pivotal win in Baton Rouge. Tennessee lost the East in part because it couldn’t keep South Carolina out of the end zone on a first-and-goal situation. Had the Vols held the Gamecocks to 3 instead of 7, maybe they would have won by 1 instead of lost by 3.
As the 2017 season nears, here is a reminder of how SEC East teams fared in the red zone, offensively and defensively, in 2016 — and a clue about which have the most room to improve.
Missouri had the most red zone attempts in 2016 with 51, the only SEC East team to top 50. Vanderbilt had the best scoring percentage (93.48) once teams reached the 20.
Tennessee produced the most touchdowns with 36, and Georgia settled for the most field goals with 13.
Defensively, Tennessee gave up the most scores (43). Florida allowed the fewest (28), no stand more impressive than stopping LSU four times from inside its 7 yard line. Georgia gave up the most red zone touchdowns (32). Vanderbilt had the best overall defense with opponents only scoring 65.31 percent of the time.
The SEC East had minimal coordinator changes this offseason, so don’t expect a ton of fancy new alignments and play calls on either side; only Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky made changes, all being internal promotions.
Randy Shannon was promoted to Gators’ defensive coordinator in 2017 after being co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. It will be the first time Shannon is a defensive coordinator since 2001-06 when he was at Miami.
Kentucky promoted Matt House to defensive coordinator after being on staff last season as the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.
Tennessee promoted Larry Scott to offensive coordinator after being tight ends coach in 2016. Scott will be calling plays for the first time in his career with a first-year starter at quarterback.
2016 Red Zone Numbers
Florida
[table “” not found /]Georgia
[table “” not found /]Kentucky
[table “” not found /]Missouri
[table “” not found /]South Carolina
[table “” not found /]Tennessee
[table “” not found /]Vanderbilt
[table “” not found /]
Dan Harralson covers Tennessee football for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Dan on Twitter @danharralson.
