Alabama Football: Big talk at SEC Media Days from Mullen and Orgeron

Nick Saban does not hit SEC Media Days until Wednesday but Alabama football was discussed on Monday anyway, particularly by Ed Orgeron.

Alabama football does not get center stage in Hoover, AL until Wednesday. That did not keep LSU head coach, Ed Orgeron from taking a swipe at the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Monday, head coaching lineup was Missouri’s Barry Odom, Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators and Orgeron. For those looking for substance, Barry Odom was a welcome mixture of straightforward and earnest. Regrettably, for Missou fans, there was not much interest in what Odom had to say.

Odom deserves credit for holding his team together after a ban on post-season play being announced by the NCAA. Missouri is appealing the penalty and it could achieve relief in midseason. The NCAA loosened the already loose transfer rules for Missouri players. None of them took advantage of an easy move to another team.

Dan Mullen dances into Hoover

Dan Mullen followed Odom and repeated his posture as a zany, football genius by adding foot flash to his wardrobe.

Mullen acknowledged on Monday that his second Mississippi State team took a big leap forward. Does he think something similar can happen with the Gators? Replicating such a feat will be very difficult for the Florida Gators. After 10 wins in 2018, jumping to 12 or more wins in 2019 could be insurmountable.

The Gators have to prove they deserved last season’s Top 10 finish. Mullen has something to prove as well. Mullen is 4-32 against ranked teams in his head coaching career. He is a great play-caller. He can develop quarterbacks. What he is as a head coach is yet to be determined.

Coach O takes a swipe at Alabama football

There is never a shortage of bold statements from Ed Orgeron. He did not disappoint on Monday. He said LSU defensive back, Grant Delpit was one of the best defensive players he has ever been around. Coach O added Delpit is the best defensive player in college football in 2019.

Orgeron also touted the 2018 performance of the Bengal Tigers, stating his team was only “two plays away” from being 12-1. He was forced to admit his team was shellacked by Alabama football but vowed the Tigers would be ready to “answer the bell” in Tuscaloosa in November.

Perhaps searching for a sign LSU is in the Crimson Tide’s league, Orgeron made a bold recruiting claim. Having again lost an Amite, LA top recruit to the Crimson Tide, O claimed the one he did not lose, Devonta Lee, was a better player than teammate and now Tide freshman, Ishmael Sopsher.

Orgeron also claimed (once again) that LSU will open up the offense more in 2019. Part of that “opened up” approach will be, according to O,  more running from Joe Burrow. Having the QB take even more pounding than he did last season does not seem to be a concern in Baton Rouge.

Day two of SEC Media Days on Tuesday features Kirby Smart, Matt Luke, Jimbo Fisher and Jeremy Pruitt. The MAN, will arrive on Wednesday.