SEC Network's Chris Doering talks top SEC storylines two weeks from kickoff

Key notes from Chris Doering interview

• It's pretty exciting right now with football just two weeks away.
   
• Peter Burns makes fun of me for just about everything, and he was on me for wearing shorter shorts. I have a 17-year-old son who makes fun of me for wearing long shorts, and Burns makes fun of me for wearing short shorts. I can't win. I can get away with a 7" bath suit and maybe a 5" one. Us older guys, we wear the Fab Five longer shorts.
   
• We're doing SEC Now, and you feel like you've exhausted every way to present stuff heading into the year. Most intriguing games, favorite offensive, and defensive players. We're getting more talking points, and that happens around SEC Media Days. We hear and say things without anything to disprove anything else. It's like an echo chamber. It'll be interesting how much is disproven when we actually kick the ball off.
   
• Georgia surprised me the most with what they brought back. I thought they would be ranked higher. You could make the opposite argument for Alabama with how much production and coaching they lost. I guess we're going with historical ability. At some point, it's going to hurt them. Nick Saban & Co. keep proving it right, though.
   
• With the center potentially being out, that's a potential issue. Georgia's offensive line will have some difficulty acclimating, and they shuffled some stuff around this offseason. That's the most important group on the field, and they're going to face what might be the best defensive line in Clemson. I thought Georgia's pass-catchers would be good this year, but now George Perkins is hurt, and Arik Gilbert is out. That has created some concerns.
   
• Why are we talking about Oklahoma hype? Because they think the defensive line has made strides. They think they've improved to the SEC's level, but it would be interesting to see them against SEC offensive lines every week. I don't necessarily believe it. They've controlled the Big 12, but I think that semifinal exit at the hands of the SEC is a prelude to what you'll see when they join the conference.
   
• We're talking about DeMarivn Leal as one of the best defensive linemen in the country. Jimbo Fisher has coached in the SEC for a long time as an assistant and understands what it takes to win. Practices are very physical, and it reminds me of the practices I was a part of.
   
• Mike Elko's commitment to being a great run-stopping defense. If you look at A&M's defensive line, they're very similar to Alabama's and have the depth. That's what separates you in our conference.
   
• Everybody has a preference with how they'd like to play schematically, but a good coach tailors his offense to the makeup of his roster. Remember when A&M didn't have the tight end? Now Jalen Wydermyer is one of the best in the country. Isaiah Spiller loves running behind a full back as well. As we move to the spread offenses, Jimbo has implemented some of that into his offense.
   
• A&M has so many weapons. I want to see more realized potential from the wide receiver position. I was sick seeing Caleb Chapman get hurt, and I'm excited to see him get back and healthy. We've only seen the tip of the iceberg from that position. I'm not sure there are many coaches or staffs capable of developing talent the way Jimbo Fisher has done.
   
• Paul Finebaum has said Mike Leach has not done a good job of indoctrinating himself into that community. It seems like he finds himself in a gray area. A coach's job is not to be a politician but to win football games. If you win, you can be a little grumpy. I think Leach focuses on what's important. I think there were some misnomers out there about the type of coach and community member he has been in Starkville.