Urban Meyer makes bold prediction on SEC teams, College Football Playoff
Urban Meyer knows how tough it is to win in the SEC after spending six years as the head coach at Florida. He believes strongly that the league is the best in college football and made that clear Saturday morning on Big Noon Kickoff.
Yes, there are some negatives about being in the best conference in the country, but it can also be a positive when it comes time to make College Football Playoff selections.
“The good news and bad news is you’re the deepest and most talented conference in America,” Urban Meyer said. “But the bad news is you’re the deepest and most talented conference in America. I was in the conference. I mean every week it’s a freakin’ street fight and anything can happen.”
Because the league is so good, Meyer believes that seven teams are worthy of making the College Football Playoff this year.
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He doesn’t believe that many will ultimately get in, but he does feel that there are that many teams worthy.
“For sure I have seven teams that I think of the top 12 should be in the playoff,” Meyer said. “I don’t think they’re all going to make it, because they’ll beat each other up.”
“At some point you went to South Carolina [and lost],” Meyer said to Mark Ingram. “I’ve gone to other stadiums. Went to Auburn and we were favored and we lost. That’s the toughest, deepest, most talented conference. Someone’s going to get knocked off.”
While Urban Meyer doesn’t believe seven teams should get into the CFP playoff, he does feel that the SEC will get more than any other conference.
“I’ve got five or six,” Meyer said. “I think seven [should]. But I think five or six will be in.”
Urban Meyer lists three areas Jalen Milroe must improve
Alabama is one of the teams Urban Meyer believes could reach the College Football Playoff. In order to do so, quarterback Jalen Milroe will have to play well.
While Meyer believes Milroe is on the right track with Kalen DeBoer leading the way, there’s always room to get better. Some specific areas have stood out to the former coach, like Milroe becoming a general of the field, trusting the pocket and learning to get through a progression.
“Jalen Milroe is transitioning from a running quarterback, which primarily relies on his feet, to a quarterback, a complete quarterback,” Meyer started. “Last year, he got benched, and then he went on to be the SEC Championship Player of the Game. … Last year when I watched him, I thought he was Reggie Bush, Percy Harvin, playing quarterback. … I talked to Kalen DeBoer this week. He taught Michael Penix to be one of the most efficient, best passers in all of college football. We talked about the three areas that Jalen has to work on.
“No. 1, he’s got to become a general on the field. That means he’s got to be able to check plays, not always look at the sideline. He’s got to check protections. … No. 2, he’s got to trust the pocket. Great athletes have a tendency to bail the pocket, because they’ve done that their entire career. They feel pressured, they’ve got to step up at times, take it and deliver the ball.
“No. 3 is, as you develop a quarterback, I think the most important piece of a quarterback is learning to get through a progression. One, two, three, sometimes four, and the art of the check down, you have a great athlete, get him the ball. … Check the ball down, live to see another day, get the first down.”