GoGamecocks.com
Swarm of arms is lacking in SEC
Other than Tebow and Snead, confidence is low that conference signal callers have what it takes
South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia
BrettFlashnick.com/Special to The State
CommentsTwo questions into his first appearance at SEC Media Days, new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin was asked whether he would consider using Eric Berry at quarterback.
Yes, that Eric Berry. The one who was an All-American safety in 2008 and the SEC's defensive player of the year.
Is the quarterback situation that rocky on Rocky Top that Berry could switch to the position he has not played since high school and compete for the Vols' starting job?
Fans will never know. Kiffin said he plans to keep Berry on defense.
But the fact that the question came up at all might be an indication of how the national media views the quarterback crop at 10 of the conference's 12 schools.
The SEC's top two passers are as good as anyone in the nation. Florida's Tim Tebow already has two national championships and a Heisman Trophy on his resume, while Mississippi's Jevan Snead is projected by many experts to be a better NFL prospect than Tebow.
But the drop-off after Tebow and Snead is precipitous in terms of experience and past performance. Consider the third-team quarterbacks on the coaches' preseason All-SEC team were South Carolina's Stephen Garcia and Kentucky's Mike Hartline, who combined for 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in ‘08.
With nine career starts apiece, Hartline and Vanderbilt's Mackenzi Adams have the most experience among the SEC's second-line quarterbacks. Five teams, including USC, have projected starters with three career starts or fewer.
Georgia fifth-year senior Joe Cox, who started one game while waiting in the wings behind Matthew Stafford, understands critics who question the strength of the league's quarterbacks after Tebow and Snead.
"You look at when Matthew was here and Tim, you look at what they've done and how long they've played, they really would be considered head and shoulders above everybody else in the conference," Cox said last week at Media Days in Hoover, Ala.
"You've got me, I've started a game. A lot of other quarterbacks in the league have had limited playing time. It's a question mark. I definitely understand why they rank them like that."
Cox and the other new starters have been hitting the weight room, throwing with receivers and watching video in preparation for the season. But SEC coaches say the only way to prepare for the speed of the league's defenses is to experience it.
"Obviously, coming from the high school level to the Southeastern Conference, the speed of the game, those young quarterbacks look at you and say, 'Coach, it's looks like they've got 18 guys playing defense. They're all over the place,' " said first-year Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen.
Mullen, the former Florida offensive coordinator who is expected to start senior Tyson Lee, believes the best way to speed the learning process is to get wet-behind-the-ears quarterbacks into games early in their careers. During the Gators' 2006 national championship season, Florida would use Tebow to spell starter Chris Leak in spurts.
"We always had him in a position to be successful, doing things he did well in very small packages and built his confidence level up," Mullen said. "Because as that confidence level rises at that quarterback position, you feel like the game is slowing down for you."
It's not like these young guns are lacking talent. Almost every quarterback in the SEC was on someone's All-American list in high school.
Alabama junior Greg McElroy, who steps in for John Parker Wilson, is used to waiting his turn. McElroy did not start until his senior year at Southlake Carroll High in Texas, the national power where Chase Daniel preceded McElroy as the starter before moving on to Missouri.
"I think a lot of people will be surprised to see Greg's athletic ability," Crimson Tide offensive lineman Mike Johnson said. "People will be surprised at how he does in game-day situations."
While Tebow and Snead are among the preseason Heisman favorites, Cox is hoping there will be more surprises from the league's other quarterbacks.
"Guys like that deserve the praise and it's everybody else's job now to try to catch up with them," Cox said. "Every year it's going to (be like that). There's going to be somebody that's considered the top guy that's been playing the longest, and they're going to say it's a drop-off. But it's not a drop-off if you play good. It just all depends on how the season goes."
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Who’ll play quarterback?
The Southeastern Conference has only two established stars at quarterback, Florida’s Tim Tebow and Mississippi’s Jevan Snead. A look at the other teams’ new starters, likely starters or battles with:
ALABAMA
Greg McElroy, Jr
STARTS: 0
CAREER STATS: 16-20-1, 196 yards, 2 TDs
THE SKINNY: Built a strong edge on Star Jackson in spring practice after two seasons backing up John Parker Wilson. Put up huge numbers in lone season after replacing Chase Daniels at Carroll High School in Texas.
ARKANSAS
Ryan Mallett, So.
STARTS: 3 (at Michigan)
CAREER STATS: 61-141-5, 892 yards, 7 TDs
THE SKINNY: The strong-armed 6-foot-7 Mallett is lighter, down some 25 pounds from the 265 when he arrived on campus. Sat out last year. Backup Tyler Wilson received a medical hardship because of mononucleosis after playing in two games last season.
AUBURN
Kodi Burns, Jr. or Neil Caudle, Jr.
STARTS: Burns 8; Caudle 0
CAREER STATS: Burns 104-205-8, 1195, 4 TDs; Caudle 4-8-1 32, 0 TDs
THE SKINNY: Burns has far more experience but has been inconsistent. Both are laboring under their third offensive coordinator. Appears to be neck and neck. Chris Todd and Barrett Trotter trying to return from injuries.
GEORGIA
Joe Cox, Sr.
STARTS: 1
CAREER STATS: 33-58-1, 432 yards, 5 TDs
THE SKINNY: Regarded as savvy team leader, he had to wait his turn as understudy for Matthew Stafford. His only start came in a win against Mississippi as a redshirt freshman, but also made game-winning touchdown pass late against Colorado.
LSU
Jordan Jefferson, So.
STARTS: 2
CAREER STATS: 36-73-1, 419 yards, 4 TDs
THE SKINNY: Started the final two games last season and was offensive MVP in 38-3 Chick-fil-A Bowl win against Georgia Tech. So. Jarrett Lee was 4-4 as starter last season and top recruits Russell Shepard and Chris Garrett both went through spring.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Tyson Lee, Sr. or Chris Relf, So.
STARTS: Lee 8; Relf 0
CAREER STATS: Lee 153-260-5 1,519 yards, 7 TDs; Relf 2-9-0 13 yards, 0 TDs
THE SKINNY: Junior college transfer Lee started the final eight games last season. He threw his first 108 passes without an interception. Fr. Tyler Russell could work into the mix. New coach Dan Mullen has a terrific track record with QBs.
USC
Stephen Garcia, So.:
STARTS: 3
CAREER STATS: 65-122-8, 832 yards, 6 TDs
THE SKINNY: Highly touted recruit has had his share of off-the-field troubles and is 1-2 as starter. But he is only QB on roster with game experience and appears to have the talent to excel under coach Steve Spurrier, who indicated he’d like a more Tim Tebow-like commitment level.
TENNESSEE
Jonathan Crompton, Sr., or Nick Stephens, Jr.
STARTS: Crompton 7; Stephens 6
CAREER STATS: Crompton 124-245-9, 1,87 yards, 9 TDs; Stephens 63-130-, 840 yards, 4 TDs
THE SKINNY: Both struggled last season in trying to hold down the starting job, but Crompton seemed more prone to interceptions. Coach Lane Kiffin predicts a “great” battle.
VANDERBILT
Larry Smith, So., or Mackenzi Adams, Sr.
STARTS: Smith 1, Adams 9
CAREER STATS: Smith 19-34-1 167, 1 TD, Adams 193-366-15, 2,149, 14 TDs
THE SKINNY: Smith is a former Alabama prep player of the year whose only start was in a bowl win against Boston College. Adams has been a part-time starter the past two seasons. Both can run when needed.
- The Associated Press
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