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yeah why is that game played in the georgia dome? UGA would have a chance if they played it at home but Boise wins easy since it is in ATL.Comment -
Georgia will not lose to Boise Fake in the Georgia Dome unless hell freezes over.Comment -
Its a preseason poll lets see where they end, wouldn't be surprised if 1/2 of them were not there at the end of the season.Comment -
Maybe not as they will beat each other up throughout the season. Not only by pinning losses on each other but the grueling physical play week in and week out takes a toll. Regardless they will be hands down the best football conference in the college ranks once again, doubt it's going to change anytime soon either.Comment -
Still waiting on WHO should be in the top 25 over Florida, Georgia, and Auburn
I hate how people can't understand that a 3 or 4 loss SEC team may not be ranked at the end of the year, but they almost always would be good enough to compete for any other conference title or atleast be near the top
Just watch the bowl games where "mediocre" SEC teams run shit year in and year outComment -
I'll go through it and try to be as objective as possible - admittedly going to be difficult as this close to the start of the season almost every fan has convinced themselves they are going to be great (or awful) depending on individual personalities.
I guess I'll start with the way I perceived the top 60 / top 40 comments. It is very possible that the results / record would indicate a ranking of around that level. The way I took it is that there are 40-60 teams better than Auburn this year. I definitely do not agree with that. If AU was in another conference, they would be no worse than 2nd/3rd in that particular conference. Off the top of my head TCU would be higher in Big East, FSU in ACC, OK in Big 12, Wisky in B10, Oregon in P10 - maybe. Reverse that and put those teams in the SEC and they would all be in the same meat grinder we are. They'd have higher expectations but who knows what the on field results would yield. I don't type all that to be a rah-rah SEC guy... truth be told I don't like any other team in the league and only occasionally pull for league teams in bowl games - generally if/when I have a bet on the SEC team.... otherwise they are all the enemy and I think of them as such. BUT, the fact of the matter is that we do play in the SEC, and in particular the SECW which has 3 top 10 teams and stacks up with any other full conference in the country. Fact is we DO go on the road to South Carolina, Clemson, LSU, Arkansas and UGA. All of those teams want to physically dominate and humiliate us b/c of last years results (except maybe Clemson... good, close game with no real controversy that I can remember).
Having said all that, I'll now move forward with the reasons I think we can be relatively successful this season.
1) Incredible coaching staff. Everyone knows Malzahn. Chizik has been a coach on 3 undefeated teams since 2004 and has put out as much DB talent as anyone - including Saban - over that time frame. People have seemed to focus on his time in Ames, IA rather than any of his other stops. Jeff Grimes is a tremendous OL coach / tactician. He was wanted badly by Mack Brown last year but stayed at AU. Trooper Taylor is known for his towel waves and chest bumps but he has been ultra-successful with putting up big numbers from his position guys wherever he has been. He got great productivity with RB's at Tennessee and great numbers with WR's at Ok State and AU. On the Defensive side of the ball the coaching starts with Chizik. He's always been a D guy and is very involved. Roof is a former HC (twice) and at least comes up with things to utilize what he has. Thigpen is one hell of a DB coach.... both at UNC (under Mack Brown) and at AU.
2) Recruiting. We haven't just been waiting for all of last years SR's to graduate and then try to replenish the team. There are not very many starters returning, but there are plenty of guys who had lots and lots of snaps last year and will be somewhat accustomed to the battles. We have tons of talent at RB and WR. We have the games best OC. We should definitely be able to run the ball, and run it very effectively. Which brings me to.....
3) Strategy. We return Dyer and McCalebb.... have a true frosh in Tre Mason who will get some touches in the speed role that he will share with McCalebb. Quan Bray and Trovon Reed (Reed will be a star barring injury) will get touches out of wildcat and or reverses and or bubble screens. Plenty of options to rack up yardage with minimal risk. Which brings me to QB.... Malzahn has always made his money via the running game, but that has setup his intermediate passing game as well. Look for lots and lots of seam routes (if you remember him from his time at Tulsa you'll know what I'm referring to). He's never HAD to have all world talent at QB to put up numbers and points. He did it with Chris Todd in 2009 for Christ's sake, so there is nothing that would lead me to believe he won't be able to do it this year with Trotter/wildcat and the playmakers at RB/WR/TE. It's taken me a while to get to the strategy part, but the intense focus on running the ball will keep TOP in our favor and give the defense plenty of rest. I don't worry about DT/DE/DB but the LB corps is a big concern. Keeping those guys rested is big.
4) Success breeds success. This program has won 15 straight going back to the 2010 bowl game. It's been my experience that teams/players who are used to winning do just that.... continue to win. It's why the "Big 6" in the SEC are almost always good.... they are used to winning. Another case in point.... 2005 for AU was supposed to be a down year. The 2004 team went undefeated. Players who left/graduated included Jason Campbell, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Ben Obomanu, Devin Aromashadu, Jay Ratliff, Carlos Rogers, Junior Rosegreen, etc. etc. etc. Expectations were low but the 2005 team went 10-2. I don't expect this years team to be 10-2 but I don't rule it out. Success breeds success.
5) Schedule. September is KEY. More importantly, Sept 10th @ home vs. Miss State is key. Win that one and AU gets some serious experience and confidence. I don't think Clemson is good enough to beat us the following week (even in Clemson). Sets up a showdown in Columbia, SC the following week. Lattimore is great. Jeffrey is a beast. Garcia.... well.... he's had 1 career game (vs. Alabama in 2009) and other than that has shown the ability to blow anything.
Things that concern me:
1) Leadership. Undeniable who the leaders were last year. Who steps up this year? How effective will they be in that role.
2) Chemistry. If any fan or handicapper can accurately gauge that prior to the season - congrats.
3) LB and placekicker. Thin (LB) and new (PK). How does that mesh?
4) How will the team respond to the absolute beatdown they will receive in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Oct. 8th. (Seriously, we're going to get killed that day.... if not worse). Back to back games with LSU and Florida follow up that will-be massacre. (See, I can at least be somewhat objective.)
Summing it up, I think we go 8-4 or so. Win a middle-lower bowl to get to 9-4 and I think we are in the top 25. Regardless, I don't think there are 40-60 better than us in 2011, and 2012 will be special.
If you enjoyed reading this, if you laughed at what you feel are my tainted views, if you are looking forward to the FREE MONEY I have given you for the game vs. Arky or the prop bet of over 6 wins, or if you just feel sorry for me writing a mini version of War and Peace - 2k11 Auburn edition - please feel free to drop some points off via that shiny gold button just below this post. :-)Comment
