Voting the SEC

by cocknfire on Jul 24, 2008 10:51 PM EDT in Football Comment 0 comments

One of the fun parts about attending SEC Media Days is getting to fill out a ballot for the utterly meaningless preseason All-SEC teams and for the media rankings of the teams. This, of course, is a weighty responsibility, though C&F must convinced he just closed his eyes and pointed his finger at a name to get the offensive line for the All-SEC team. (Not really, but close.)

In the blog tradition of full disclosure, I'm posting my ballot before the full results are announced Friday.

The All-SEC team ballot:

Tight End	Cornelius Ingram, Florida
Offensive Line	Michael Oher, Mississippi
	Trinton Sturdivant, Georgia
	Chaz Ramsey, Auburn
	Andre Smith, Alabama
Center	Antoine Caldwell, Alabama
Wide Receiver	Kenny McKinley, South Carolina
	Percy Harvin, Florida
Quarterback	Tim Tebow, Florida
Running Back	Knowshown Moreno, Georgia
	Arian Foster, Tennessee
Place Kicker	Daniel Lincoln, Tennessee
Return Specialist	Brandon James, Florida
Defensive Line	Peria Jerry, Mississippi
	Antonio Coleman, Auburn
	Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU
Linebackers	Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
	Brandon Spikes, Florida
	Darry Beckwith, LSU
	Rico McCoy, Tennessee
Defensive Backs	D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
	Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina
	Derek Pegues, Mississippi State
	Rashad Johnson, Alabama
Punter	Ryan Shoemaker, Auburn

Without doing a breakdown of each of the 25 positions, there are a minimal number of South Carolina players -- three, and all justifiable to C&F. The East-West balance is not too bad, 14-11, though he admits the skill players are tilted eastward. (Would you recommend John Parker Wilson for QB?)

The team projection ballot:

East
Georgia	C&F has been on this bandwagon all preseason and sees no reason to change it now
Florida	De facto runner-up. Florida and Georgia are more 1a and 1b, but the Gators will fall in Jacksonville.
South Carolina	This is equal parts a vote for South Carolina and a vote that no one else in the division looks worthy.
Tennessee	Lose Cutcliffe and Ainge. That's too much to overcome.
Kentucky	No, Kentucky fans, I'm not just sticking you in the traditional spot without thinking. But you don't lose as much talent as the Wildcats did and come back stronger.
Vanderbilt	It'll be a long season. Even by the Dores' standards

West
Auburn	It's about time for Tuberville to rise up again. LSU is headed for a good but not great season; no one else will come close.
LSU	Always scarily talented. This team could almost coach itself, and some would argue it does.
Alabama	St. Nick continues his five-year plan with a solid No. 3 showing.
Mississippi State	The Bulldogs won't be world-beaters this year, but they won't regress too far from last year.
Mississippi	Houston Nutt might get them to a bowl, but it's going to take another year for him to put them in contention.
Arkansas	Houston Nutt players + Bobby Petrino system = MASSIVE FAIL