SEC West Snapshot, Studs and Duds for 2021 Season pt. 1

[Sarge]

I'm on a 24 hour shift and I understand there's one more game to play but I think our sample size is large enough to capture season reviews for the conference members, their bright spots (studs!) and underperformers (duds!). So, if you disagree with the timing... well it will be okay.

 

The rules are simple here. Everything I write is opinion based, it just happens to be the best opinion! I kid. I will be tackling the SEC West first then discussing my beloved SEC East next. Two teams per post so as to not break myself off making one massive post (and to keep the readers coming back for more). Let's get this started with our two favorite teams from Alabama. (For the record, one team is named after the state they reside in. Good. Auburn has only been called "Auburn University" only twenty years longer than UGA's last national championship. Bad.)

 

(Stats being used are as of 5 OCT 21 1:02 CST)

 

SEC WEST

: Let's start with the Crimson Tide. As of writing this, they currently sit as the #4 team in the country with a pristine 10-1 record with one to go, setting up a clash between themselves and the Wildcats for the SEC Championship. This is in large part to their ground game, that ranks currently #1 in the conference by a slim margin of 77 yards over the Aggies. They sit in a comfortable 8th place in the passing attack that is more used it seems to simply keep teams honest than their main point of attack. I say all this but something stills bothers me about this team from Tuscaloosa. They're also second to last in the conference in sacking the opposing QB with only 5(!) on the season so far and tied for 12th in total turnovers generated. Is this something some would raise a red flag over? Probably. Their matchup against Kentucky in the SEC Championship looks like it may be the best indicator of how elite Alabama actually is.

 

ALABAMA RBs - STUUDDDDDSSS

Alabama has TWO of the top ten leading rushers in the conference coming in at #8 and #9 respectively. To put it in perspective, the top three rushers in the conference right now have a difference of 29 yards between #2 and #4. If you were to combine the two RBs Ryan Figueroa and Jhan Peters, they'd slide in at #2 and only be 30 yards short from the lead. Both backs also own the top two longest runs of the year inside the SEC.

 

DE Daurice Reed [speed Rusher] - DUD

It's weird to place a team's sack leader as the dud of the team, but here we are. Why you may ask? Because he's the sack leader with TWO - yes - TWO. Their entire defensive line has had an almost impressive inability to get after the quarterback. He also wasn't that great a stopping the run behind the line of scrimmage either over 11 games coming up with only four TFLs while the other three on the line posted 10, 18, and 24 TFLs respectively. Reed has to do better or he may find himself riding the pine next season.

 

: Auburn had middling season this year, quite literally. .500 in conference play and .500 for the regular season and had the #4 rushing attack this season only to be offset by the #10 passing game in the conference respectively. Nearly as many rushing touchdowns (9) as passing touchdowns (11) and their longest rush of 70 was only one yard more than their longest pass of the season (69, nice). What Auburn lacked in ability to move the ball was made up for on the defensive side of the house in spades with an opportunistic defense that gambled each week with risk vs reward. Between fumble recoveries and INTs, the Tigers lead the conference in defensive turnovers with 19, was #3 in the conference in sacks, and #4 with TFLs. An aggressive defense proved to be their identity all season which we all know it as a double edged sword. If Auburn can get their act together on the offense and recruit talent at the QB position, the SEC West may be dealing with two juggernauts from the state of Alabama instead of just one for now.

 

ILB Mo Travis [Run Stopper] - STUUUUUUD

#5 in the conference in TFLs with 20, (three tied above him with 21), #5 in the conference in Solo Tackles, and two FFs to his name. Travis was the heart and field general of the Auburn defense. Diagnosing plays at the line of scrimmage, putting in the film work to get everyone into the right position and kept opposing QBs and RBs up at night with his football IQ. In my always correct opinion, he was definitely the best linebacker in the conference this year.

 

WR Brian Hernandez [Red Zone Threat] - DUD

The leading receiver for the Tigers did absolutely no leading in any statistical categories inside the conference or out other than successfully pulling down 5 TDs. Those five touchdowns were nearly 25% of his total receptions for the season after playing over 600 snaps and receiving 52 targets. Of his 387 total receiving yards so far, 53 of them came on one play. Nearly averaging 40 yards of receiving a game will not do the run game or the offense any favors.

 

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That wraps it up for the first two teams. If there's any additional info you'd like me to look into or if I overlooked some STUDS or DUDS let me know below!