Week 5: SEC recap

That could be the case at Georgia, where Mark Richt’s offense has sputtered badly in recent weeks. After averaging 14 points and 266 yards of offense in narrow wins over Colorado and Ole Miss — a pair of teams that have combined for one win this season — the Dawgs will hand the ball back to Tereshinski, assuming the fifth-year senior is fully recovered from a right ankle sprain.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is (the starter vs. Tennessee),” Richt said Sunday. “I want to see how he does before we start saying what we are going to do. I am thinking he is going to be fine, and I am thinking he is going to be ready, but I want to see it before we make any calls out there.”

Redshirt freshman Joe Cox, who made his first career start against Ole Miss, and true freshman Matthew Stafford split time against the Rebels. The duo combined to complete 11-of-28 passes for 115 yards. Despite his modest numbers (7-of-18, 91 yards), Stafford received praise from the head coach.

“Matthew (Stafford) would be a solid No. 2 if not the starter,” Richt said. “I like what Matthew did in this last ball game. He went back to feel pretty comfortable back there.”

Tereshinski, if he gets the nod, will be charged with jumpstarting a Georgia offense that ranks 89th in the nation and 10th in the SEC with a 297.0 yards-per-game average. The Georgia quarterbacks have combined to complete 62-of-123 attempts (.504) for 818 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions. On third down, the numbers are alarmingly bad — 11-of-30 (.367) for 119 yards (4.0 yards per attempt), with two touchdowns and two picks.

And it’s not like the Dawgs have faced the stiffest defensive competition; their four Division I-A opponents currently rank between 35th (South Carolina) and 87th (Ole Miss) in the nation in total defense.

Team of the Week
It didn’t come with as much ease as expected, but Florida’s closer-than-the-score-indicated 28–13 win over Alabama improved the Gators’ record to 3–0 in SEC play. The offense, which totaled only 330 yards, wasn’t as sharp as Urban Meyer would have liked, but the defense continued to dominate. This unit, led by its ferocious front seven, has allowed only one touchdown in the past nine quarters.

Disappointment of the Week
The Georgia offense. Only 248 yards and 14 points against Ole Miss? That is unacceptable.

Player of the Week
Neither quarterback faced the most difficult competition, but it’s hard not to be impressed with the performances put forth by LSU’s JaMarcus Russell and Tennessee’s Erik Ainge. In a 48–17 win over Mississippi State, Russell completed 18-of-20 attempts for 330 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Ainge, meanwhile, connected on 23-of-27 for 324 yards, four touchdowns and no picks as the Vols rolled past Memphis 41–7 at the Liberty Bowl.

Freshman of the Week
Redshirt freshman LaMarcus Coker earned his first career start and responded by rushing for 125 yards on 26 carries in the Vols’ easy win in Memphis. Coker is averaging 7.2 yards per carry for the season.

Red Zone Blues
The Alabama offense has reached the Red Zone an SEC-high 23 times this season, but the Crimson Tide have converted those opportunities into just six touchdowns. On 10 occasions, Alabama has settled for three points, and seven times the Tide have come away without any points. “No matter what plays they call we have to take advantage of it and score touchdowns and get our defense out of binds,” senior fullback Tim Castille told the Mobile Press-Register. “They’ve won enough games for us. I’m just tired of the excuses that we've got. It’s time for us to make plays when we have chances in the red zone.”

Syvelle the Quarterback
Syvelle Newton is no longer a wide receiver who plays quarterback. The Gamecocks’ senior is simply a quarterback. And a very good one. In his three starts this season, Newton has completed 46-of-73 attempts for 706 yards, with eight touchdowns and two picks. Newton was at his best last Thursday night in South Carolina’s 24–17 nationally televised loss to Auburn. He completed 21-of-35 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns and added 44 yards on the ground. Blake Mitchell, USC’s opening-day starter is healthy, but this appears to be Newton’s team the rest of the way.

Vegas Likes Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt opened as a two-point favorite against Ole Miss this Saturday. It is just the fourth time since 1985 that the Commodores have been favored on the road in an SEC game. The others: 2004, -3 at Kentucky (UK won 14–13); 1999, -4.5 at South Carolina (VU won 11–10); and 1994, -3 at Kentucky (VU won 24–6).

Cope Can’t Go for Auburn
The Auburn offense must make do without the services of senior center Joe Cope, who will be out four-to-six weeks with a sprained knee. Cope, who has started 16 games over the last two years, suffered his injury during the Tigers’ 24–17 win over South Carolina. Sophomore Jason Bosley will get the first crack at replacing Cope, but the coaching staff could elect to move starting senior tackle Jonathan Palmer over to center. Palmer started at center against Alabama last year while Cope was sidelined with an injury.

Touchdown MSU
Omarr Conner’s 46-yard strike to Tony Burks in the fourth quarter of Mississippi State’s 48–17 loss at LSU was the first time all season that one of the Bulldogs’ three quarterbacks has tossed a touchdown reception. Colorado is the only team in the nation that has not thrown for a TD this year; Mississippi State is one of eight teams to have just one.

BenJarvus on Track
The Ole Miss offense has struggled to put points on the board all season, but the Rebels continue to get strong play from tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis, a transfer from Indiana. Green-Ellis rushed for 135 yards on 24 carries in the Rebs’ 14–9 loss to Georgia Saturday night and now has 470 yards (on a 4.8-yard average) for the season. Ellis is third in the SEC in rushing, behind Auburn’s Kenny Irons and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden.

Andre’ the Giant
Tennessee’s Erik Ainge would get a lot of votes for the hypothetical Most Improved SEC Quarterback award, but don’t forget about Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson. As a sophomore, Woodson threw for 1,644 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Through five games this season, he has 1,197 yards with 14 touchdowns (tied for the league lead) and only two picks. Woodson ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards per game (239.4) and fifth in the league in passing efficiency.

Run Hogs Run
Arkansas hired offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to restore some balance to the team’s one-dimensional attack, and while the passing stats have improved, the Hogs continue to be the SEC’s top rushing team. Arkansas leads the SEC in both rushing yards per game (187.8) and average yards per carry (5.6), and the Razorbacks have two of the league’s top seven ball-carriers — Darren McFadden (second, 102.2 ypg, 5.6 ypc) and Felix Jones (seventh, 64.8, 8.4).