We’re playing around with the format, but now that we’re three weeks in- we feel pretty safe saying there have been some big performers (Arkansas’s and Georgia’s defenses won’t show up here, except on the wrong end of highlights).

Top players:

QB Joe Cox (pictured left, thanks Icon SMI)  & WR AJ Green-Georgia

We expected a 137-yard, 2-TD performance from AJ Green at some point this season, right?  After all, he was one of the most explosive WR in the SEC last year as a true freshman, so it stands to reason that he’ll only get better this season – provided Joe Cox could get him the ball consistently.  Well, he certainly did; passing for a nearly-absurd 375 yards and 5 TDs.  Typically, I’d say we’ve seen the best we’ll see out of Cox from a fantasy perspective, but after last week’s 41-37 win over South Carolina, we’re close to taking that line off the board.

 QB Ryan Mallett &  WR Greg Childs-Arkansas

Of course, any time 375 and 5 TDs isn’t the best line from a QB in the game, it should stand to reason they’ll both make players of the week.  Not to be outdone by Joe Cox, Mallett passed for 408(!) and 5 TDs, and didn’t even throw a pick to go along with it.  His preferred target was Greg Childs, who rolled up 140 yards and 2 TDs on only 5 catches.  Perhaps the most shocking set of numbers from the 52-41 loss were: 28.0, 27.0, 14.5, 18.3.  Those were the yards per catch of Arkansas’ top 4 receivers.  That’s impressive no matter how you slice it.

RB Montario Hardesty- Tennessee

Going up against Florida’s stellar defense, Hardesty was probably an auto-bench for nearly everyone.  Still, with that he was able to rack up 95 yards and a TD on 20 carries.  Having been fortunate enough to see Hardesty most weeks this season, he’s running like a man possessed – which happens to work pretty well, since Ohio’s coming to town and their run defense can be roughly defined as “well, he can’t run past the goal line”.

RB Terry Grant- Alabama

You’re not going to learn a whole lot about Alabama’s run game from watching last week’s massacre of North Texas, but boy are they balanced.  Grant gets the nod here due to notching 2 TDs to go with his79 yards, but ‘Bama’s top three backs (Grant, Trent Richardson, and Mark Ingram) all ran for between 91 and 79 yards with at least 1 rushing TD.  How’s that for balance?

QB Chris Todd- Auburn (!)

Yeah, what?   The much-maligned Chris Todd has somehow pulled it together in style, going 16-for-31 for 286 and 4 TDs against West Virginia last week.  I mention that 16-for-31 for a reason; while the stats are gaudy he hasn’t been particularly accurate.  It’s looking better, but there’s a fine line between better and good.

 

Tim Tebow shouts out the line call during the game between the Troy Trojans and the Florida Gators (thanks Icon SMI)

QB Tim Tebow-Florida

Of course, we still have to talk about him…

With very little working for Florida on offense against Tennessee, Tebow took the game into his own hands, putting up 75 yards and a TD on the ground to go with a pedestrian 115 and 1 TD through the air.  It was a performance that took everyone back to the halcyon days of 2007; while it’s not likely he’ll put himself through that kind of punishment again, his numbers should get better through the air.
 

Big games – Week 4:

Arkansas @ Alabama

The moveable object meets the Running Game o’Doom.  Alabama’s offense should be in great shape here, and if you’ve been paying attention you’ve probably noticed that Greg McElroy hasn’t looked too bad early, passing at nearly a 67% clip with 4 TDs so far.  Bet someone that he’ll outperform Ryan Mallett and watch the sparks fly – and watch you collect at the end of the game.

Florida @ Kentucky

Ole Miss @ South Carolina

Your in-conference games du-jour.  This will be Stephen Garcia’s toughest test to date – unless you think Georgia’s bend-then-break defense was pretty stout.  Brandon Bolden has yet another chance to prove me wrong with thinking that Enrique Davis had a shot to jump him on the depth chart.  On the other hand, Jevan Snead has been a bit underwhelming so far, with a lackluster completion percentage of 56.8%.  Speaking of bounce-backs, this’ll be a good opportunity for Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey to rebound from disappointing performances against Tennessee.    Stay tuned on that game to see if Mike Hartline and Randall Cobb excel against a defense with a pulse.

Vanderbilt @ Rice

Arizona State @ Georgia

Somehow, I’m intrigued to see how Zac Stacy rebounds from getting absolutely shut down against Mississippi State; since he’s only a freshman, he may be limited. However, he’s done really well so far – how many times has it been said that a Vanderbilt back still has a semi-realistic shot at 900 yards this late into the season?  On a related note, I’m intrigued to see if Joe Cox can keep it up for another week.

Ohio @ Tennessee

Ball State @ Auburn

Both these games are only really notable in a “hey, start everyone you can against these guys” kind of way, although if you’re waiting on Gerald Jones to break out …well, you may want to hang on to that.  Ohio actually has a pass defense.

Related posts:

1. SEC Bookends: Threat Down
2. SEC Bookends: Unusual Suspects
3. SEC Bookends: Green with Envy
4. SEC Bookends: Yes, This is a Game
5. SEC Bookends: Who Cares Who’s #1?

Tags: SEC