The Hurry Up: Biggest Takeaways from the SEC (Week 5)

ByJohn Richardson|

In the weekly Hurry Up from Southbound and Down, I’ll provide that one thing that stuck out most to me from each SEC team from the weekend. After that it is up to you. We’ll leave the comments section open and you are free to tell me I’m an idiot, agree, or explain why you know something we don’t. This is an SEC page, after all, home of some of the most boisterous fans in the country. As always, we’ll go in the order the teams played.

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Florida:

Will Grier is legit. Grier had more touchdowns than incompletions in the first half. He only had one more incompletion (5) than touchdowns (4) in the entire game. The defense used the same game plan that Vandy did to stifle the Rebel’s high flying offense…except they have better athletes and completely shut the Rebels down.

Ole Miss:

Ole Miss is a matchup nightmare…sometimes to itself. Over the last three losses, the Rebels have been outscored 110-13. During that same stretch, however, the Rebels have beaten two top 5 teams. Freeze and Co. are going to have to start doing some better game planning against teams they do not match up well against if they have any intentions of becoming a true national player.

Georgia:

Sep 26, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt shown on the field prior to the game against the Southern University Jaguars at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The. Most. Mark. Richt. Thing. Ever. In a flashback to the infamous 2008 “blackout” debacle, Alabama destroyed Georgia in a game that many, myself included, expected the Bulldogs to legitimately contend in. Odds are Richt will find a way to win the East and cap off yet another high-low season in Athens. This program is as predictably unpredictable as they come.

Alabama:

What is there to say? Coker played efficient, Henry pounded the ball, the D and special scored touchdowns and the defense intercepted Georgia 3 times. This was domination in every aspect of the game. For those that think Bama is back, they never left.

LSU:

LSU sleepwalked to a 22 point victory over Eastern Michigan. They scored 44 points with their quarterback completing 4 of 15 passes. Yes. 4 of 15. Leonard Fournette, and his regular 200+ yard efforts, makes this team major upset proof.

Texas A&M:

TAMU has an upcoming (after a bye) date with Alabama. If they are able to win, they will hands down be the favorite in the West. After the game in the Swamp, TAMU and LSU are the only SEC West teams left without a blemish on their record.

Mississippi State:

Oct 3, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) throws a pass against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State is not the 2014 version of itself. MSU saw the ball bounce their way several times last season. Two lost fumbles in prime scoring position doomed the Bulldogs in this contest. While State is about where most thought they would be, Auburn and Arkansas are much, much worse than most thought they were. State will avoid the cellar and could spring an upset, but they’re not an SEC West contender.

Missouri:

Missouri has to be the most maddening team in the SEC. Outside of winning most of their games, their most consistent attribute is their unpredictability. Missing Maty Mauk and coming of a loss to Kentucky, most people thought Spurrier would find a way to pull this game out in Columbia. The Tigers instead won by two scores.

South Carolina:

Steve Spurrier either doesn’t have the same passion he once did or has lost his touch. When the Gamecocks have played programs like UCF, they have won relatively easily. But they’ve lost to Kentucky and Missouri and were dominated by Georgia. The point here is that the Gamecocks have only won when they clearly have more talent and coaching is not as big a factor.

Auburn:

San Jose State is not LSU or Mississippi State, but Auburn’s offense seems to be beginning to click. The Tigers rushed the ball 48 times and only passed 10 times. They accumulated 234 yards on the ground and 5 touchdowns. They aren’t the contenders we thought they were, but they should make a bowl…which hasn’t always been a certainty this season.

Arkansas:

Forget any stats. The biggest takeaway here is just how much the Razorbacks players love Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks are 3-0 (LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee) in games that would have put Bielema in serious hot seat trouble had they lost. They’ve also been expected to lose each of these games, showing the Razorbacks show out when their coach’s livelihood is on the line.

Tennessee:

Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones prior to the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Stick a fork in Butch Jones alleged 2015 breakout season. It’s done. The Volunteers still have a host of games they have a slim chance of winning and are only 2-3 at this point. They needed to be no worse than 4-1 to have a chance to living up to preseason expectations. 3-2? There was a chance. 2-3? Fuhgetaboutit.

Vanderbilt

At least they won. I am mind blown that a week after playing Ole Miss as tight as they did, the Commodores were only able to secure a 4 point victory against Middle Tennessee State. But again, at least they won.

Kentucky

Take everything I just said about Vanderbilt and repeat it here. Replace playing tight with winning and Ole Miss with Missouri, and you’re good to go. Kentucky is one step closer to securing a bowl, which is what will determine whether this season is successful.

Next: SEC Heisman Hopefuls

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