The 42 Questions I intend to ask (or have addressed) at the 2023 SEC Media Days

Well folks, SEC Media days – the unofficial start of the 2023 campaign and the official climax of talking season – are upon us. Like any off-season covering the conference Where it Just Means More, this year’s gathering is loaded with growing buzz, developing narratives, hot takes, and stone-cold facts palpably swirling around the event. 

No doubt, plenty of my contemporaries will want to address the same items I do. I cannot deny the universal intrigue around Alabama’s QB battle, Hugh Freeze’s return to the conference, and Juice Kiffin’s social media following. The people will all want answers on those fronts. 

So in an effort to root out redundancy and shared interests, I whittled down my list of potential asks. Ultimately, I was left with 3 questions for all 14 of our conference coaches. And to honor Mike Leach’s loony legacy of delivering pearls at pressers, I decided to throw in a fun one as well. 

The goal is to get all of these answered (or at least addressed in some shape or form) this week. Err – meaning the serious ones. But as most of you know, sometimes SEC coaches are skilled audiblers. 

MONDAY

LSU

1. Coach Denbrock mentioned this spring your offense wanted to emphasize getting better in racking up yards after the catch. Was that a direct response to maximize Jayden Daniels’ skill set or do you still yearn to have more passing verticality to deliver explosives? CONTEXT: LSU had the SEC's 2nd-lowest YAC average at 5.4 as well as the 2nd-lowest Explosive Pass% at 7.4% last year.

2. Harold Perkins is becoming a buzzy name this off-season. But, I wanted to ask about Omar Speights. Can you elaborate on how he helps round out your defense and where he stands to be the most impactful?

3. Do you foresee any of your backs taking control of the rotation or do you plan to lean into a committee system like last year? If it’s still to-be-determined, what’s the top quality you’re wanting out of your RB1? 

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What’s the most overrated aspect to Cajun cuisine?

TAMU

1. Within the SEC, your offense has out-paced only Kentucky and Vanderbilt in terms of capturing pass plays that gain 20 yards or more over the last three seasons. Can you articulate exactly how Bobby Petrino’s hiring will help change that?

2. Has Conner Weigman locked up the QB spot? What did he do to win it or what qualities do you value that he seems to possess?

3. Your staff brought in a number of defensive transfers to bolster your secondary. So far, who has impressed you the most or looked to have the most impact this fall? CONTEXT: Tyreek Chappell, Tony Grimes, Josh Deberry and Sam McCall are all vying for starting CB spots; the latter three are transfers.

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: Do you believe ketchup belongs in the fridge or the pantry?

Missouri

1. Your offenses are consistently near the top of the league in at-snap motion usage. And that trend within the SEC is on the rise. Would you mind expanding on how that tactic fits into your wide-zone based scheme and helps create explosive passes?

2. I couldn’t help but notice dependance on outside zones waned after the midpoint of last season before rallying in the bowl game. Do you plan to feature it less this year or was that circumstantial? CONTEXT: No SEC offense has featured off-tackles as much as Missouri over the last two years.

   
   

3. Your offensive line simply didn’t get the job done last year. SEC’s 3rd-lowest rush yard before contact and Negative Run Rate. Only Auburn has less OL continuity within the league. What’s your best sales pitch to make me a buyer in your boys up front?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: F/M/K - Ice Cream, Cake, Pie

   
   

TUESDAY

Vanderbilt

1. Your offense’s multiple TE usage was consistently one of the SEC’s highest last year . Would you mind expanding on why that approach fits your overall goals rather than leaning into smaller personnel sets? Or will this change moving forward?

2. It appears to be AJ Swann’s boat now. What has been the single greatest year-over-year leap in his game that has caught your attention?

3. Even though they didn’t help your bottomline too much last year, your offense had the SEC’s 2nd-highest shift rate and pre-snap motion rate. Being a defensive mind, can you explain how altering formations adds extra stress?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What’s your favorite romantic comedy of all-time?

Georgia

1. Wheel/Vertical Switches are on the rise within the SEC and your offense is one of the drivers behind that trend. From a defensive perspective why do you feel that concept is being featured more? Especially effective off PA to beat rotations, the matchups/angle it creates for inside WR, etc?

2. You brought in 2 intraconference transfers at WR to mesh with Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers. What attracted you to Rara Thomas and Dominic Lovett rather than some other quality pass catchers in the portal?

3. There’s no secret on your offense’s affinity for 12/13p sets. Should folks expect to see significant I-formation usage with Mike Bobo calling plays. CONTEXT: His last 2 SEC offenses were among the league’s highest in I-form usage those years. 

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What is your favorite roller coaster that you’ve ridden?

Auburn

1. Would you mind expanding on the importance of retaining Caddy Williams on your staff? Do you plan to utilize some of the tactics he implemented down the stretch or completely turn the page?

2. While most people are fixated on the QB position, who has emerged as your most dependable receiver this off-season? What makes them stand out in a group ripe with opportunity?

   
   

3. Your transfer class was commonly ranked among the top hauls in the nation. Do you expect to be a major bidder every year in that space or do you believe this year was an exception ?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: Would you rather have smelly feet or bad breath?

Miss State

1. As brilliant as Coach Leach was, his offenses as of late were not prone to big gainers. I couldn’t help but notice one of your first moves was hiring someone to steer that side of the ball towards a more explosive scheme. As a defensive mind, Can you speak how winning the explosive play battle trumps things like time of possession?

2. Since the Air Raid didn’t have much need for TEs, can you speak to the importance of bringing Geor'quarius Spivey back to MSU thru the portal to help your run efforts and versatility (as well as Seydou Traore)?

3. Football is cyclical. But It seems the 3-3-5 defense is as popular as ever. Do you feel this is fad to counterbalance RPOs and lighter personnels or a sign of coaches molding their schemes for the modern defender?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What dinosaur best sums up your personality ?

WEDNESDAY

Alabama

1. I know you’d like to see less third downs no matter who’s at QB. Why do you think your offenses the last couple of years have struggled to run the ball on first down compared to years passed? CONTEXT: The Tide has logged a sub-42% rushing Success Rate on first down and a sub-30% clip on pulling gap scheme (excluding pin/pull designs) each of the last 2 seasons.

2. Offenses around the country are trying more than ever to feature eye candy. Your defense demonstrated tremendous improvement YOY In SEC play against at-snap motions (jet, return, orbit). You allowed the league’s lowest Comp% (56%, lowest by 5%) and 4th-best Success Rate (61%) and Y/P (4.9) against about 10/game. What do you credit for that turnaround and are you confident that performance can continue?

3. One of Coach O’Brien’s core characteristics is featuring empty formations – with a new OC and QB, will that still be a visible feature or does that not fit this year’s plan? CONTEXT: Alabama had SEC's 2nd-highest empty usage and 3rd-best success rate at 50%

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: Would you rather retire right now and keep eating all the Little Debbies you want OR go the rest of your coaching career without them? 

Arkansas

1. Coach, it’s not a secret your offense wants to establish the run. Your standard time Run Rate has been top3 within the SEC each of the last two years. But you brought in a number of transfer pass catches. Does that mean you plan to get the ball in KJJ’s hands and pass it more on first downs ?  

2. Year-after-year, OL continuity seems to be one of the best factors for predicting a unit’s success. Led by Beaux Limmer, your OL has the 5th-best returning continuity in the conference. Can you speak to that importance paired with your experienced backfield?

3. Coach Briles helped lead your offense to an SEC-high Explosive Play% back-to-back seasons. 40 more by volume in that time than anyone else. Dan Eno’s passing script at Maryland wasn’t exactly that as it preferred to stress short. Is that a sign you’re willing to trade some potency for consistency or are you 100% confident you can remain the SEC’s best at logging big plays?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What song makes you think of summertime the most?

Florida 

1. By average size, your OL is the nation’s 2nd-biggest. Zone-based run teams usually go the other way. Would you mind expanding on your roster building strategy and why size seems to matter?

2. Play action was incredibly important to your passing offense last year and Graham Mertz was often his best self operating as a secondary facet off that tactic at Wisconsin. Outside of his starting experience, was that the element that excited you most about his game? 

3. Your high-energy wunderkind of a defensive coordinator seems to be a major fan of generating havoc. Can you elaborate on why you want your defense to play with zeal and aggression? Context: Florida had SEC's 2nd-lowest turnover-worthy play rate forced with below average havoc, pressure, and sack rates in league play.

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: Do you feel boneless chicken wings have received unfair slander from people labeling them as “chicken nuggets?” It was my understanding that chicken nuggets are awesome. 

Kentucky

1. Though an underrated unit the past few years, your defense appears to have an area of opportunity defending at-snap motions. Each of the last 2 years in league play, you’ve been bottom3 in Yards/Play allowed. Last year, only TAMU saw more on a per-play basis. From a defensive perspective what makes those plays difficult to defend?

2. You have previously stressed the importance of a healthy marriage between the run and the pass for your offense. But your First Down Run Rate in standard time dipped 10 points year-over-year and was the SEC’s lowest. Do you plan to recapture the “balance” ? Context: UK's clip dipped from 44% to 34%

3. Coach, you added some bricks to your big blue wall thru the transfer portal this off-season. Ideally, who do you foresee your starting five to be? Who has impressed you the most?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: If you could travel to any era in history, where would you go?

   
   

Ole Miss

1. Your offenses have a clear affinity for eye candy. In meaningful minutes last year, however, you averaged 1.2 rush yards less and 3.5 pass yards less per play when using at-snap motions. Is that a sign of defenses knowing your tendencies or a momentary backstep? 

2. Last year, Your offense was the only one in the SEC to place inside the conference’s top5 in both rush yards before and after contact – you have the 2nd-best OL continuity in the league. Coming off 3 straight years of improving your yards/game – is a fair goal for your team to average 275 on the ground? CONTEXT: the best average by SEC offense since 2018 was UK's 2019 effort 273 rush yd/gm

3. Your pass defense allowed the worst Accuracy% with the 2nd-worst Completion% and Success Rate in SEC play last year. You seemed to have taken notice bringing in a number of defensive transfers. Who so far has impressed you the most and stands to be the most impactful fixing your secondary? CONTEXT: Ole Miss added three top150 transfers in DeShawn Gaddie, John Saunders, and Zamari Walton.

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: Which animated Disney villain would make the best SEC head coach?

Tennessee

1. While the sexiest aspect of your offense is the vertical choice stuff, you have consistently displayed balance among your top run concepts. Would you mind elaborating on that aspect of your play calling? CONTEXT: Only 12 reps separated Tennessee's top run concept from its 6th in meaningful minutes last year.

2. Do you believe your receiving corps is the fastest in college football even with the loss of Jalin Hyatt?

3. You stand to return the most OL snaps from last year within the SEC. You decided to add John Campbell from the portal - who adds to that experience. Outside of being a seasoned vet, what made him attractive to round out your starting five upfront ?

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What fast food joint has the best french fries?

South Carolina

1. The last 3 games, Spencer Rattler logged almost as many deep attempts as the previous ten games combined (25 vs 29). His Deep Pass Rate doubled in comparison. Was the late-season verticality a mirage or glimpses of what’s to come within your offense? 

2. Your offenses have struggled to run the ball consistently. While it’s clear you’d like to have you guys play with an edge per you affinity for duo and counter, what other things have you explored to get better on the ground?

3. Your defenses have placed last or 2nd-to-last within league play the last two years in Success Rate allowed and TFL Rate. Yet, your SEC record is near .500 – do you think this is a sign your team could be ripe for regression or a rallying cry since a lot of new faces stand to play ? CONTEXT: SC rankts bottom20 nationally in returning defensive production per ESPN's Bill Connelly.

   
   

4. Mike Leach Memorial Question: What’s the longest you’ve gone (or think you can go) without bathing?