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Yesterday, we discussed the offensive selections of Phil Steele's 2015 Preseason All-SEC Football Team and some of them WERE offensive (Cam Rob on FOURTH TEAM? REALLY?).
Today, we tackle the defensive squads and it looks like Steele just got lazy picking out the names he recognized from ESPN SportsCenter.
Again be forewarned, the Gump hat is off.
| First-team Defense | Second-team Defense | Third-team Defense | Fourth-team Defense |
| DE Jordan Jenkins, Georgia | DE Jonathan Bullard, Florida | DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee | DE Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss |
| DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss | DT Montravious Adams, Auburn | DT Josh Augusta, Missouri | DT Christian LaCouture, LSU |
| DT A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama | DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State | DT Harold Brantley, Missouri | DT Melvin Lewis, Kentucky |
| DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M | DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama | DE Carl Lawson, Auburn | DE Jarran Reed, Alabama |
| LB Leonard Floyd, Georgia | LB Kentrell Brothers, Missouri | LB Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss | LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee |
| LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama | LB Curt Maggitt, Tennessee | LB Lorenzo Carter, Georgia | LB Skai Moore, South Carolina |
| LB Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn | LB Kris Frost, Auburn | LB Rueben Foster, Alabama | LB Michael Scherer, Missouri |
| LB Antonio Morrison, Florida | LB Kendell Beckwith, LSU | LB C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss | LB Josh Forrest, Kentucky |
| DB Will Redmond, Mississippi State | DB Cyrus Jones, Alabama | DB LaDarrell McNeil, Tennessee | DB Kenya Dennis, Missouri |
| DB DB Eddie Jackson, Alabama | DB Jonathan Jones, Auburn | DB Cam Sutton, Tennessee | DB Dominick Sanders, Georgia |
| DB Jalen Mills, LSU | DB Jonathan "Rudy" Ford, Auburn | DB Tre’Davious White, LSU | DB Tony Brown, Alabama |
| DB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida | DB Tony Conner, Ole Miss | DB Quincy Mauger, Georgia | DB Brian Poole, Florida |
The sportswriters just keep handing trophies over to Auburn. SIX Tigers from the defense that was 64th in YPG and 62nd in PPG in 2014? Will Muschamp is good but he's not that good.
DE: Myles Garrett is everyone's darling and had 11.5 sacks in 2014. However, only one came against SEC West opponents (Ole Miss). Derek Barnett (10.0 sacks in SEC play) should be higher. Haynes is a reach. Jenkins is technically an outside linebacker.
DT: Jarran Reed should've been a little higher. He doesn't light up the stat sheet, but is utterly disruptive in the middle. Robert Nkemdiche has elite talent but he is still a bit raw. LaCouture and Augusta are curious choices.
LB: Denzel Nkemdiche was injured/suspended most of 2014 playing in 7 games and not doing much. McKinzy is not first team material. Reuben Foster is immensely talented but has little experience as a starter. The whole third and fourth teams are questionable but Steele decided to go with a 4-4-4 defense (?).
DB: First year starter Will Redmond on first team? Conner or Cyrus Jones would be a better choice. Eddie on team #1 is questionable. Ford on the second team is too high. Sutton should be higher. Mauger and McNeil make me go "meh". And where is LSU's Jamal Adams? OM's Trae Elston? Keep an eye on UK safety A.J. Stamps.
ETC: Steele's first team kicker is Austin MacGinnis of Kentucky, punter is Bama's JK Scott. Kick returner is Darrius Sims of Vanderbilt and punt returner is Isaiah McKenzie of Georgia. I really have no problem with any of those.
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