Auburn preview

The 2011 college football season starts in one week people! I, for one, love this time of year: the cooler weather, the leaves changing colors, football being played. My last post was the SEC West preview and I left Auburn out so I could devote an entire post for them. I know I'm a homer, but so what? so are you. Anyway, Auburn returns the fewest starters of any national champion ever, thus the reasoning behind AU being ranked lower than other national champ ever. The tigers start off #19-23 depending on which poll you look at, but it really doesn't matter because it usually evens itself out.

The offense: Auburn will start Barrett Trotter at QB. Trotter has been in Malzahn's system for the last 3 years and knows it better than anyone. He is a redshirt junior and played a little mopup duty for Cam last year. He came out of highschool playing the spread and should be able to lead the team. He won't be counted on to be as big a part of the offense as Cam was last year, but that's the great thing about Malzahn's offense: he designs it with the type players he has at his disposal. Trotter has a good throwing arm and his forte is his accuracy. While he won't run over you, he might fit a completion into a tight spot. He can run, however that is not what he will do too much of, probably. Trotter has better than average speed and will run if need be, but I would be willing to bet that passes more often than he tucks and runs. Dyer and McCalleb are back as the one of the most productive back duos in the league. The receivers will be new except for the reliable Emory Blake who emerged as a go-to guy last year. DeAngelo Benton, Q. Carr, and a host of freshmen will be asked to step up and produce this year. The offensive line must replace 3 out of 5 starters (A.J. Green was a starter until he got hurt in the Clemson game). As many as 3 freshmen may see significant playing time and may even start. There is a ton of talent there, just really short on experience.

The defense: The secondary will be better and deeper than in the past 3 years. Chris Davis and T Bell will lead the corners with extremely talented freshmen Jonathon Rose and E. Florence backing up. The safety position is held down by Neiko Thorpe and D. McNeal. Lots of talent and more experience here than most other positions. The linebacking core will have Jake Holland leading the group along with Eltoro Freeman and Daren Bates. Harris Gaston and Jonathon Evans will probably be (capable) backups. Holland is a smart kid and will take some time to learn on the fly but he is very good and I expect by the end of the year, to be very productive. The D line is the biggest question mark of the defense this year. Nosa Eguae and Corey Lemonier anchor the ends with Dee Ford playing alot. Sophomores Kenneth Carter and Jeffery Whitaker will be the interior linemen and will have to be studly to counter the SEC's big boys up front. I think they will be able to eventually but just need that big game experience.

The kicking game: Cody Parkey and Steven Clark will handle the place kicking and punting duties respectively. Parkey had a hand in a handful of extra points and kickoffs and Clark was pretty inconsistent at times last year, but had a good spring game and fall camp. I think we will be just fine here.

Overall, I think AU will go 9-3 and be in every game this year. The losses will come at Arky (dont play well there usually), LSU (haven't won in BR since Clinton was president) and either South Carolina or Bama. I think we handle MSU and Clemson and beat UF at home. USC will be too close to call and we have a great shot at beating UGA this year (esp if UGA loses early and packs it in for the rest of the year). Bama will be tough but we usually play them close.

Predicion: Auburn will go 9-3 with a close loss to USC and a win over bama to end the regular season. Auburn will play in the Cotton or Outback Bowl and have 10 wins to follow up the national championship season. Not too bad, esp considering no one thinks they will win 6 games. Now, this is homerism at its best and my prognostication skills are terrible. I don't think AU will be as bad as people think but won't win every game either. With a little experience and keeping the injury bug away, this team has a chance to finish really strong. It will be a fun year, no matter what, and like I said before: I love this time of year! Play ball!