One reason to think there might be grounds for seeing a defensive resurgence in the conference next season is because of turnover at the quarterback position. John Pennington has a nice breakdown, comparing the situations going into last season and next season, here. This is how he describes the new crop:
School Top 2013 QB Returning Total Off. 2013 Yds/Gm 2013 Our View of Situation Ole Miss B. Wallace 3701 284.7 Good, Just needs to keep cutting down on turnovers Auburn N. Marshall 3044 234.2 Best, But Marshall still needs to improve as a passer Miss. State D. Prescott 2769 251.7 Good, Prescott was a solid leader in ’12 when healthy Arkansas B. Allen 1581 143.7 Worst, Injuries were an issue, but Allen needs work Kentucky J. Whitlow 1492 124.3 Bad, Likely an open race as Whitlow’s health always a ? Missouri M. Mauk 1300 100.0 Good, Mauk showed he’s a solid heir to the job Tennessee J. Worley 1295 161.8 Bad, An open race once between up to 4 guys Georgia H. Mason 960 240.0 Good, Mason wasn’t great, but he should be ready for ’14 Vanderbilt P. Robinette 856 85.6 Bad, If Franklin walks out how will new coach see/use him? S. Carolina D. Thompson 810 101.2 Good, But not great… he’s not been a Shaw clone to date Florida J. Driskel 515 171.6 Bad, New OC and likely an open competition Texas A&M M. Joeckel 293 73.2 Good, Whoever gets the nod should excel in Sumlin’s system Alabama B. Sims 228 28.5 Good, The people around Bama’s QB will help a lot LSU A. Jennings 199 22.1 Good, Beat Arkansas and Iowa and run game will help
Yeah, there’s a drop there from Manziel, Murray, McCarron, Shaw, etc. When arguably the top returner at the position “still needs to improve as a passer”, I’d say you’re looking at a potential situation where secondary play should take a step up.
Maybe Lakatos’ successor can take advantage of that.
Get The Picture 
If Bauta keeps working on his reads and checkdowns, and progresses in the off season and spring. With his running ability and Masons somewhat questionable arm strength. He may at some point next year, take the position. You have to admit, Masons floating completion to the sideline in the bowl game was an “OH SHIT” moment. That I think has left a ? in the minds of everyone in Dawgnation.
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Mauk scares me. He was better than James Franklin (not the Penn St. coach).
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I also think Mauk will keep Mizzou competitive in the East next year and believe he will be better than Franklin before mid-season.
Mason lost my “auto” vote based on what I saw from him in JAX. Not saying he cannot be good but I really want to see an open competition for the QB job in the Spring. The starting QB position was his to lose and I feel he brought everyone back into the race. If I am Bobo, Mason will have to be demonstrably better than the others because he is “one and done” for UGA. If he isn’t a huge difference maker at this point, I would prefer to play the next best QB and let him develop. Starting an average 5th year QB and then starting from scratch again for 2015 has no appeal to me.
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I agree with all you said. I wonder how loyal Richt will be to his patient, long suffering, senior player? Richt is loyal, to a fault. I’m afraid Mason will have to supremely fail for a change to happen.
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Took an injury to get Stafford in over Joe T., but an injury also kept Murray from coming in for Joe Cox. Who knows what will happen.
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Agree completely. I was mystified watching the Cotton Bowl every time Pinkel would put Franklin back into the game. They won that in spite of Franklin and Pinkel.
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I think it was a loyalty thing. Pinklel was giving Franklin a well deserved send-off.
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Pass defense. Would like to see Dawgs give a call to Derek Jones at Duke for DB and ST coach. Grad of Ole Miss and coached one of the top D backs in ACC and D1.2013 was the year of SEC QB who could throws. Not the year to play them if you were oft-injured, freshman, or 1st year starter.
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Nick Marshall might the best returner in terms of overall production. But he is only good in Malzahn’s system. He couldn’t run Georgia’s offense, or the systems at Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and any number of other places.
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