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The SEC West will look pretty different in 2016 with lots of new faces.
That’s especially true at quarterback as four of the teams (and possibly five depending on Auburn) within the division will have new starting guys under center.
Unlike the East, all the head coaches are coming back in the West, but there are five new coordinators.
Regardless of just how hard your school pressed the reset button, this is the time of year where fans can fantasize about everything going exactly as planned on the way to an SEC West title.
So, what are three things that could make Atlanta a reality for these teams?
Alabama
- Find the quarterback that can effectively spread the ball around to the numerous playmakers that offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will have at his disposal: WRs Calvin Ridley, ArDarius Stewart, Robert Foster and Gehrig Dieter as well as TE O.J. Howard.
- Stay healthy at running back. There’s not much doubt in Tuscaloosa that sophomores Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris will be a good one-two punch in the backfield, but Alabama is thin right now outside of that pair.
- Navigate a tough schedule. Alabama has a Week 1 matchup against USC in Arlington, Texas and will have road games against Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU. In other words, you could argue all of the Tide’s toughest games are away from Bryant-Denny Stadium. The team could also stand to improve on third downs offensively (37.4 percent conversion rate in 2015, ninth in the SEC).
Arkansas
- Brandon Allen’s brother, Austin, has to play at the level his sibling eventually rose to, but right away. Austin probably needs to be even better, which is a lot to ask of the junior. However, he’ll certainly have some great weapons to help with that.
- Improve the pass defense by leaps and bounds. The Hogs were shredded in the air for 275.2 yards per game last season, dead last in the SEC and tied for 117th in the FBS. That’s why the program made a big hire by bringing aboard former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads as the new defensive backs coach.
- Don’t take a step back on the offensive line despite needing to replace the entire left side. The group is losing center Mitch Smothers, left guard Sebastian Tretola (First-Team All-SEC) and left tackle Denver Kirkland.
Auburn
- The first one is obvious: Find the quarterback that can move this offense. The Tigers were 11th in the SEC last season in yards per play (5.4), which was only ahead of Florida, Vanderbilt and Missouri.
- Build on last season’s defensive performance against Memphis. What should be exciting for Auburn fans about that game is that it wasn’t an anomaly. It was a glimpse into the defense’s potential. New defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has to hope junior LB Tre’ Williams helps along the young group, but there’s talent.
- Develop playmakers on offense. A lot is expected of a couple seniors, RB Jovon Robinson and WR Marcus Davis, but the team will need others to step up.
LSU
- QB Brandon Harris has to gain the trust of LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in order to open up the offense like the coaching staff wants to. There’s really no reason for the Tigers to not make big gains in play-action with RB Leonard Fournette, WRs Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural as well as maybe the best offensive line in the SEC.
- Adjust to new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s 3-4 scheme. The Tigers’ starting four defensive linemen return this season, which will also help when they want to switch to a 4-3. The players seem thrilled about the potential pressure the Tigers can bring in the system.
- Fix the penalties. In 2015, LSU committed 8.1 penalties per game, which was last in the SEC and 122nd in the FBS. Only Miami (9.3), Baylor (9.1) and UCLA (8.3) averaged more among Power 5 programs.
Mississippi State
- Mississippi State has some pressing concerns this season. For starters, the team needs to fill the shoes of the best player to ever wear a Bulldogs uniform in Dak Prescott. Whether it’s Nick Fitzgerald, Damian Williams, Elijah Staley or Nick Tiano, they have to do it with confidence.
- Replace elite defensive talent and transition to a new coordinator. Mississippi State loses DL Chris Jones, LB Beniquez Brown and the cornerback tandem of Taveze Calhoun and Will Redmond. Meanwhile, Manny Diaz followed Mark Richt to Miami, and the team will need to adjust to Peter Sirmon, who comes over after two years at USC.
- Somehow survive a brutal schedule. Mississippi State will visit Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss this season while also traveling to BYU for a non-conference game.
Ole Miss
- Get incredibly fast maturation from a new-look offensive line. The Rebels are losing four starters, including LT Laremy Tunsil. The group will have to somehow gel while facing a front-loaded schedule. Six of the team’s first seven games will be vs. Florida State, vs. Alabama, vs. Georgia, vs. Memphis, at Arkansas and at LSU.
- Solidify the defensive front. As you can see with the teams mentioned above, the Rebels’ defensive front will be tested in a major way early as it faces Dalvin Cook, Bo Scarbrough/Damien Harris, Nick Chubb/Sony Michel, Rawleigh Williams/Kody Walker/Devwah Whaley and Leonard Fournette/Derrius Guice over that span.
- Beat Alabama for a third straight season. Who’s done that since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, you ask? No one. In fact, Ole Miss is one of only two schools to even record back-to-back wins over the Tide since 2007 along with LSU from 2010-11.
Texas A&M
- New offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and QB Trevor Knight must revive the passing attack. Last season, Texas A&M ranked 11th in yards per attempt (6.9) and 9th in QB rating (125.5) while throwing 15 INTs. Only Kentucky and Vanderbilt threw more picks.
- The Aggies have to replace three starters from an offensive line that allowed 37 sacks last season. Only Florida (45) allowed more. Outside of Avery Gennesy, the group is very inexperienced, so O-line coach Jim Turner will have to work wonders.
- Stop. The. Run. Over the last three seasons, Texas A&M has ranked 14th (2013), 14th (2014) and 13th (2015) in the SEC in rushing yards allowed. In Year 2 under John Chavis, the team is hoping it can follow in the footsteps of the pass defense, which made a huge leap from 13th in the league in 2014 to 2nd last season.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
