West could be wild, wide open this fall

In Saturday’s editions, I offered a thumbnail sketch of the Southeastern Conference East Division teams. With the SEC media gathering this week in Birmingham, here’s a look at the West teams, in no particular order.

LSU — Everybody is concerned about the loss of quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, and that can’t be overstated. But I think the Big Three up the middle on defense is a much more costly deficit. Glenn Dorsey, Ali Highsmith and Craig Steltz were All-SEC performers at tackle, linebacker and safety, respectively. I don’t care how good their replacements may become, they won’t top that trio. The Tigers also go to Auburn and Florida and host Georgia out of the East.

ALABAMA — There are so many questions surrounding the club, it’s hard to know where to begin. Can John Parker Wilson be more consistent? Will a go-to running back and wide receiver emerge? Can Nick Saban plug the enormous holes at linebacker and across the defensive front? Will this team learn how to win close games? The only certainty is the difficulty of the schedule, which has road games at Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU and a home tilt with Auburn. Brutal.

AUBURN — We won’t know if Tony Franklin’s offense will be the mega-hit many hope for until things kick off, but we do know it’s already the most talked-about attack to come along since the forward pass was invented. As much as Franklin says he wants to play both Kodi Burns and Chris Todd, one has to emerge as a play-maker. Defensively, the Tigers should be good again, and the schedule has three of the four difficult conference games at Jordan-Hare Stadium in LSU, Tennessee and Georgia with the ’Bama game in Tuscaloosa.

OLE MISS — This is one of many intriguing storylines going into the season. If Jevan Snead pans out and former Auburn commitment Enrique Davis is as good as advertised, the Rebs will be much-improved offensively. They also return nine starters on defense, including All-Everything end Greg Hardy, a kid that hasn’t been blocked in his career. A crucial stretch midway of the season includes games at Alabama, at Arkansas and at home against Auburn. That will likely determine if Houston Nutt can get this bunch in a bowl game.

MISS. STATE — You have to admit, the league has a lot more respect for this pack of Bulldogs than it did a year ago. Sylvester Croom has a lot to do with the progress, but his staff has also upgraded the talent via recruiting. Anthony Dixon is the best power back in the league and Derek Pegues is a ball-hawking safety who can change a game with his coverage or his kick-return ability. Win eight games again this year, and Croom may have turned the corner in Starkville.

ARKANSAS — I still think the Razorbacks made the steal of the century when they got Bobby Petrino. Only problem is, the players on campus were recruiting to an offense that is about as far away from what Petrino ultimately wants to do as possible. Casey Dick will likely throw more passes this year than the other three seasons of his career combined. Beat up on the Hogs now if you can, ’cause these times won’t last long.