By Zack Steele
Last week I talked about how excited I was to see Mike Leach in the SEC. I also talked about how they probably wouldn’t be very good.
After dropping 44 points on defending champs LSU, I may need to re evaluate the second part of last week’s prediction.
Transfer QB K.J. Costello, in his first SEC game no less, broke the conference passing record with 623 yards through the air. He threw 60 passes. Sixty.
The question is: Are the Bulldogs really that good or is LSU Auburn circa 2011? LSU lost 18 of 22 starters from last year’s championship team, including a quarterback who went #1 in the NFL draft. Throw in losing both offensive and defensive coordinators and that likely means regression.
Still, I was mesmerized by college football’s old pirate Mike. That offense will give a lot of people fits for the next few years. And with Costello putting up those numbers, don’t think that the top high school quarterbacks in the South won’t be giving State a second look.
Bama and Auburn Take Care of Business
Alabama showed that the machine that Saban has built in Tuscaloosa is still humming. Mac Jones looks like an absolute stud throwing the ball. The running game is there and the defense is stout as usual. I have very little doubt that Alabama has the best process for dealing with COVID. I can guarantee Nick has Tuscaloosa on lockdown. Heck, Saban probably developed the vaccine and isn’t sharing it with anyone else.
Bama has an early test this Saturday when the Texas Aggies come to town. How much of a test remains to be seen, as the Aggs looked pretty ordinary in a 17-12 win over Vanderbilt.
Auburn got off to a slow start against a pretty good Kentucky team who return a truckload of starters, especially on the offensive line. The Wildcats controlled the time of possession and chewed up the clock. Still, Auburn’s defense only gave up thirteen points. That is impressive, considering all of the new faces on defense. And Chad Morris has, at least for a week, put his touch on Auburn’s offense. Bo Nix made some NFL throws and Seth Williams made NFL catches. Auburn’s run game is still a bit of a concern, as a real workhorse running back has yet to emerge. I love Shaun Shivers, but at 5’7” 180, he is not an every down SEC back.
Auburn renews the South’s oldest rivalry with Georgias this weekend. The Dogs looked less than impressive against Arkansas Saturday. Don’t be surprised if Auburn comes away with their first win in Athens since 2006.
Till next week…