The SEC is the strongest conference in college football and some teams will get even better in 2014. There are some teams that will make big strides in the right direction offensively this season, and also teams that will improve on the defensive side of the ball as well.

 

Offense

Florida– 18.8 points per game in 2013

Returning Offensive Starters: 8

The Gators were one of the worst offensive teams in the country last season, some of that due to injuries. The biggest reason for a jump offensively next season will be the acquisition of offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who was at Duke a season ago.

Getting a healthy Jeff Driskel back will also help the Gators out. Last season the quarterback position really hurt them, especially when backup Tyler Murphy went down to injury as well.

Running back Kelvin Taylor will be one of the brightest young stars in the SEC this season. As a freshman last season he had four touchdowns and averaged 4.5 yards per carry.

Arkansas– 20.7 points per game in 2013

Returning Offensive Starters: 7

The Razorbacks had an effective rushing attack in 2013 and return two good running backs for this season. Alex Collins went over 1000 yards a year ago, and Jonathan Williams reached 900 yards.

Quarterback Brandon Allen looked good at times last season, but the balanced rushing attack should once again take some of the pressure off him in 2014.

A Bret Bielema coached team is going to have a strong offensive line and a well-balanced rushing attack, so with another offseason to mold his philosophy, I see the Razorbacks making a jump offensively in 2014.

Kentucky- 20.5 points per game in 2013

Returning Offensive Starters: 8

Losing Jalen Whitlow, who is transferring, will certainly make things interesting at the quarterback position.  Maxwell Smith, who played in nine games last season, threw nine touchdowns to only one interception in 2013.

Smith and Patrick Towles will likely battle for the starting spot, but 4-star true freshman Drew Barker will turn a few heads in summer practices as well.

The Wildcats were first in the SEC last season with only 15 turnovers committed, so that’s a positive sign for Mark Stoops’ group. They should be able to run the ball fairly well with three running backs that could get a decent amount of carries.

Kentucky won’t be a top offense in 2014, but they certainly should improve from 2013 with eight starters returning.

 

Defense

Kentucky- 89^th in scoring defense in 2013

Returning Defensive Starters: 8

Stoops is a defensive-minded head coach, so with another offseason to improve, this group is bound to get better. They return two defensive ends in Alvin Dupree and Za’Darius Smith, who combined for 13 sacks last year.

The defense only intercepted three passes last season, so finding consistency in the secondary will be a priority this offseason.

Quite frankly, the Cats were bad enough defensively a year ago that improvements have to happen this season. Only Texas A&M was worse in the SEC in points allowed in 2013.

Stoops added a big-time recruit with 5-star defensive tackle Matt Elam, so he could have an impact in year one. Kentucky’s defensive line will once again be their strength.

Georgia- tied for 78^th in scoring defense in 2013

Returning Defensive Starters: 9

Last year Georgia was young and inexperienced on defense as a whole, mostly in the secondary. What was a learning experience in 2013 will become a strength in 2014, with 9 starters returning. It would be 10 starters back this season, but Tray Matthews was dismissed recently.

The Bulldogs were able to lure Jeremy Pruitt away from Florida State, where he led a very talented Seminole defense last year.

I expect the Bulldogs to be much better in 2014 on this side of the ball because of Pruitt in as defensive coordinator, especially with what they have returning.

Texas A&M- 95^th in scoring defense in 2013

Returning Defensive Starters: 8

Two offseason dismissals will hurt Texas A&M, but they were so bad in 2013 that improvements are inevitable.

The returning starter list should be at 10, but starting defensive tackle Isaiah Golden and starting middle linebacker Darian Claiborne were recently dismissed.

The Aggies were terrible defensively last season, and there’s no other way to describe it. They played well enough on offense to upset top-ranked Alabama early in the season, but the defense could not stop the Tide, allowing 568 total yards.

With another offseason to improve and the majority of the starters returning, this Aggie defense will be better in 2014.

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