By Skeeter Smith
Week 1 is officially in the books, and teams will take the week to look at what needs to be improved upon. While many teams had tune-up games against lesser opponents, others were forced into action right off the bat by playing high-quality opponents. Here’s how each team in the SEC East fared in their season debuts.
Florida – (Lost to Utah 24-11)
The Good
Graham Mertz looked the part in his debut, displaying solid passing skills and making good decisions throughout most of the game. On the defensive front, many young talents flashed.
The Bad
The offensive line struggled in both pass protection and run blocking, consistently putting the offense behind the sticks. The team looked unprepared, leading to avoidable errors. Concerns are also to be had about play-calling and time management, particularly late in the game.
Georgia – (Won against UT Martin 48-7)
The Good
The Dawgs’ defense remains formidable and impossible to run the ball against. Brock Bowers continues to dominate from the tight end position, and the receiving corps looks as deep as ever.
The Bad
The offensive line struggled to open up space in the run game at times against a far inferior opponent. Carson Beck displayed early-season jitters with inconsistent throws throughout the game.
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Kentucky – (Won against Ball State 44-14)
The Good
The Wildcats displayed a strong physical presence upfront against the run and consistently applied pressure on the quarterback. Dane Key and Barion Brown’s performances were electric and eye-catching.
The Bad
Devyn Leary’s Kentucky debut was underwhelming as he took some time to find his rhythm. Defensively, the Wildcats faced challenges getting off the field on 3rd downs, allowing the Cardinals to convert over 50% of the time.
Missouri – (Won against South Dakota 36-10)
The Good
Cody Schrader excelled in the running game, while Brady Cook demonstrated some improvements he made during the offseason. The defense also looks like it hasn’t lost a step from last season.
The Bad
The team played with a lack of discipline, resulting in numerous penalties. Kicking appeared to be a potential concern for the future.
South Carolina – (Lost to North Carolina 31-17)
The Good
Spencer Rattler picked up where he left off at the end of last season with an impressive performance. He connected well with Xavier Legette, who also had a great game. On the defensive side of the ball, they played optimistic football, forcing 2 turnovers.
The Bad
The run game remained stagnant, mirroring last season’s woes. The offensive line didn’t fare much better in pass protection, allowing nine sacks throughout the game.
Tennessee: (Won Against Virginia 49-13)
The Good
Defensively, the front 7 dominated, constantly getting into the backfield and pressuring the QB. Offensively, the backfield was a highlight, accounting for 287 yards and five touchdowns.
The Bad
The offense had difficulty on third downs and struggled to find rhythm in the first half. Concerns are to be had regarding punting and kickoffs, as execution was poor in both units.
Vanderbilt: (Won against Hawaii 35-28, Won Against Alabama A&M 47-13)
The Good
The offense showed improvement in the first two games, consistently putting up points. Defensively, the team excelled in forcing turnovers, accumulating three in just two games.
The Bad
AJ Swann’s accuracy with the football left room for improvement in both games and the running game showed inconsistency at times. On the defensive side, the secondary occasionally gave up big plays.
