Reason for optimism:
The Southeastern Conference coaches who entered the season fac i ng questions about their job security haven’t done much to quiet them.
In fact, the heat from fans has intensified around Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn, Arkansas’ Bret Bielema and Tennessee’s Butch Jones. The season’s only about a quarter of the way done so much could change the rest of the way — good and bad.
There’s been some bad already for each of those four coaches.
Fans and bosses don’t exactly celebrate blowing 34-point leads (Texas A&M), managing a feeble 117 total yards (Auburn), losing on a last-play heave to a rival (Tennessee) or dropping three of four games (Arkansas).
The Aggies (2-1) and Razorbacks (1-1) square off Saturday. Sumlin and Bielema are longtime friends from previous stops as Big Ten assistants but their job security doesn’t typically come up when they talk.
“As coaches, those are the kinds of things you don’t talk about,” Bielema said. “When (Sumlin) and I have gotten together, whether we’re at SEC meetings or different times, or just shoot the breeze with a conversa- tion or a phone call or a text, they’re usually about everything other than those kind of scenarios or situations.”
Those kinds of scenarios or situations are covered well enough on talk radio and message boards, anyway. And in other forums, including critical posts on social media after the Aggies’ opening loss to UCLA from a regent. Houston attorney Tony Buzbee’s reac t ion included a Twitter post saying “Sumlin has got to go” that drew mixed responses from fans.
Jones came under intensified fire following a 26-20 loss at No. 20 Florida for the Volunteers’ play-call- ing in the red zone and the defensive alignment on the final play, a 63-yard touchdown pass.
“The sense of urgency, it starts with me,” Jones said. “It starts with our coaching staff. It starts with our leaders. I’m responsible.”
There’s also unrest among fans over Barry Odom at Missouri, who is 5-10 in just over one season and has the league’s worst defense. He’s already fired his defen- sive coordinator. And for Jim McElwain at Florida, which has the league’s most unpro- ductive offense — but two straight SEC East titles, too.
Here’s a look at each of the other four coaches’ situations:
On the hot seat because:
Went 8-5 three straight years after much more promising 5-0 starts and had high-profile quarterback defections.
Cause for concern:
The Aggies blew a 34-point third-quarter lead to the Bru- ins. Trailed Louisiana-Lafayette 21-14 at halftime before winning 45-21.
Reason for optimism:
Freshman quarterback Kellen Mond is gaining experience after getting thrust into the UCLA game with Nick Starkel’s foot injury.
On the hot seat because:
Auburn has gone 11-13 in SEC games since making it to the national championship in Malzahn’s debut season, 2013.
Tigers are 0-6 against top rivals Georgia and Alabama in the past three seasons and have struggled at quarterback, Malzahn’s supposed area of expertise.
Cause for concern:
Pro- duced just 117 total yards against No. 2 Clemson, the lowest of Malzahn’s time as a college coach. Struggled to put away FCS Mercer. Has just two scholarship QBs, one of whom hasn’t played in a college game, after Malzahn’s dismissal of backup Sean White. The defense has been among the nation’s best. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s performance against Mercer renewed hopes that he’s the answer at that position.
On the hot seat because:
He’s 1-4 against Florida, 0-4 against Alabama and 2-2 against Vanderbilt. The Vols are 6-5 since an 11-game winning streak ended last season.
Cause for concern:
The defense has lost lineback- ers Darrin Kirkland Jr. to a season-ending injury while safety Todd Kelly Jr. and line- backer Cortez McDowell are out indefinitely. Ranks 10th in the SEC in scoring defense, 11th in total and pass efficiency defense and last against the run.
Reason for optimism:
Running back John Kelly is leading the SEC in rushing. The Vols have shown resilience in battling back from double-digit deficits against Georgia Tech and Florida.
On the hot seat because:
He has a 26-27 record at Arkansas, including 10-22 in SEC games. Has dropped three of the last four games and failed to score in the second half of those losses.
A 28-7 loss to No. 16 TCU, strug- gles by quarterback Austin Allen and a coach frustrated enough to deliver withering criticism of his kicker following that TCU game.
Cause for concern: Reason for optimism:
Bielema still has the vocal support of Athletic Director Jeff Long. The next few games against Texas A&M, New Mexico State and South Carolina are certainly winnable. Allen remains one of the SEC’s more experienced passers, but is working with an overhauled group of receivers.
Jordan Leslie went BEREA — from thinking he would make the Browns’ 53-man roster to sleeping on a couch in Chicago. It wasn’t far from where he thought he had made his closing argument, a three-catch, 50-yard game that included a score in the Browns’ final preseason game at Soldier Field.
“I thought I was going to be on the team,” the receiver said Wednesday, a day after the Browns officially added him to their practice squad. “You never know for sure, it’s a business, but I kind of had that mindset.”
Leslie had friends and family in attendance for the game, too, including Jermaine Thomas. Thomas lived with Leslie and his mom in Texas during high school, along with Minnesota Timber- wolves guard Jimmy Butler. Leslie refers to both of them as brothers. Thomas lives in Chicago now, where he is the founder and CEO of Spring Creek Management Group.
“We all went out and had a good dinner and celebrated with the mindset of, ‘OK, Jordan had a great preseason, most likely he’ll be making the Browns,’” Thomas said in a phone interview.
The next day, Leslie used his family’s group text to let everyone know that it didn’t happen. So Thomas told Les- lie to make the six-hour drive back to Chicago, take some time and then get back to work.
“I have a roommate and my girlfriend lives with me,” Thomas said, “so it was like, ‘hey, Jordan, you’re more than welcome to come here but the only place you can stay is on the couch.’ He was like, ‘man, I’ll take anything, I just want to get back to work and just try to figure out the next step.’ “
That’s where Leslie spent nearly two-and-a-half weeks waiting for the workout calls to come.
He got one — with the Houston Texans.
Still, there was work to be done. Jason Phillips, a former Division II college quarterback who also played in some 7-on-7 leagues, helped him stay sharp by throwing him some passes.
Finally, on Sunday, he found out he might have a chance to return to Cleveland.
“Monday morning they told me for sure and I just made the drive from Chicago,” Leslie said.
Leslie said he tries to keep the slights of getting cut within and use it as motivation.
“Hopefully I can go from sleeping on my brother’s couch to playing in some games,” Leslie said, “and getting some catches and getting some touchdowns.”