Alabama Football: Power Ranking 2022 SEC football defenses
By Ronald Evans
13 Other SEC Football Defenses
No. 14 – Vanderbilt Commodores
- Clark Lea is a good coach overall and an especially good defensive coach. But he has to make do with too many players that are far from being SEC-level elite.
- Lea does have one of the SEC’s best linebackers in Anfernee Orji.
No. 13 – Missouri Tigers
- Eli Drinkwitz has a similar problem as Clark Lea in not having enough high-level talent. Defensive end Isaiah McGuire is a good player, along with Missouri’s safeties, but otherwise, there are not enough defensive playmakers.
No. 12 – Tennessee Volunteers
- The considerable enthusiasm in Knoxville is warranted for the Vols’ offense. The problem for Josh Heupel is his 2022 defense could be improved and still be terrible. Tennessee is weak on the defensive line and at cornerback.
No. 11 – Ole Miss Rebels
- The front half of the Ole Miss schedule is so favorable, statistically, the Rebels may look pretty good. Added schedule value is the time for the Ole Miss defense to develop before facing a capable offense in October. Maybe Lane Kiffin’s defensive transfers will pan out, or the Rebels could have one of the SEC’s worst front sevens.
No. 10 – South Carolina Gamecocks
- Shane Beamer has one of the SEC’s best at cornerback in Cam Smith. Smith has enough talented secondary teammates that offenses are not guaranteed success by scheming around him. But the Gamecocks’ defensive front is mediocre and rushing opposing quarterbacks will be a problem.