By the time everyone returns to work after the weekend, every SEC team will have begun fall camp and the race to Week 1 will be fully underway.
With that in mind, we wanted to highlight a top item on each team's to-do list, beginning with the East. Tomorrow, we'll examine the West.
Florida: Develop a feature back
Quiz time! Who was the last Florida running back to lead the league in rushing? Answer: Ciatrick Fason … in 2004. And what's worse, from 2005-2015, there wasn't a single Gator to finish in the top three. For a program as rich in history as Florida's and with the talent pool they draw from, that's unacceptable. The days of Emmitt Smith, Errict Rhett and Fred Taylor feel like too long ago now. Last year, Kelvin Taylor ranked eighth in the league. Now he's gone and it's high time to find a back who can deliver, taking the pressure of a quarterback situation that's been as underwhelming as it is overanalyzed.
Georgia: Don't worry so much about Jacob Eason
Look, we all know that the passing game needs to improve. And we can all probably agree that Eason has the best shot of elevating it to an elite level. But the fact remains that Eason is a true freshman and it's going to take some time for him to develop. While that happens, the rest of the team needs to get better. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel need to get healthy. Receivers other than Terry Godwin must develop into playmakers. And the defensive front, which underperformed at points last year, has to live up to its potential. If all that happens, the necessity for a star under center won't be there. And with less pressure, maybe Eason will come along quicker.
Kentucky: Improve defense up front
The secondary is going to be fine. In fact, coach Mark Stoops thinks it's “by far” the best since he's been there. But the front seven is another story. That's where the experience is lacking. Through the middle, they need to add more size. Matt Elam, the Wildcats' prized recruit from a few years back, needs to develop, and Nebraska transfer Courtney Love needs to be the tone-setter at middle linebacker they're hoping for. Because for Kentucky's defense to improve -- they finished 13th in the SEC in points per game -- it's going to start with them. If the front seven doesn't hold up, the improvement in the secondary won't matter.
Missouri: Steady the ship
There was a protest and a walkout. Then, during only the second losing season in the last 10 years, coach Gary Pinkel, announced that he was ill and must retire. And just as Missouri was getting ready for the de-facto kickoff of the season at media days, news dropped that the athletic director was leaving. So, yeah, forget the intricacies of returning starters and scheme for a moment. The job in front of first-year coach Barry Odom is to be the leader that program needs. Establishing what has to be a lost sense of stability in the locker room must be priority No. 1.
South Carolina: Establish identity for future
When players began winter conditioning, they were shocked. It was all so … difficult. Workouts were more intense, and when spring practice rolled around it was the same story. Suddenly there was no more time to catch your breath. And so marked the end of an era, the Steve Spurrier Era. Now, as the Gamecocks approach a season in which they're expected to struggle, it's up to new coach Will Muschamp to continue to put his foot on the gas and challenge players. Sure, the QB situation needs to be addressed and there are six starters to replace on defense, but those are short-term issues. To return to prominence, it's going to take a while. Muschamp's first fall camp will not only set the tone for this season, but it will continue an important process of establishing an identity for the program beyond 2016.
Tennessee: Develop a downfield passing game
Josh Dobbs does a lot of things well. His leadership is unquestioned, as is his toughness as a runner. But for the Vols' offense to take that next step -- and in turn for the entire team to take that next step -- so must Dobbs, becoming a more aggressive passer. Finishing 12th out of 13 qualifying SEC quarterbacks in air yards per attempt as he did last year isn't going to cut it. But for him to move the ball more downfield, he needs help. As coach Butch Jones put it, Dobbs needs his receivers to step up and win more of those one-on-one battles and 50-50 balls.
Vanderbilt: Open up Andy Ludwig's playbook
Ludwig had to play it safe last season, his first as Vanderbilt's offensive coordinator. After all, he was without one of the team's top receivers and wound up starting a true freshman at quarterback. But Kyle Shurmur isn't a rookie anymore and C.J. Duncan is back at 100 percent. Meanwhile, Ralph Webb returns at running back and wideout Trent Sherfield is ready to build on his breakout sophomore season. So it's time for this offense to start pushing the envelop. The defense is certainly there to support them if there's a rocky start.
