Yep. Lock can sling it.If #2 happens then the Mizzou game could be a shootout.
Yep. Lock can sling it.If #2 happens then the Mizzou game could be a shootout.
He’s doing his best to ingratiate himself with them...... trying hard to flip Taulia, and some UGA commits.Pruitt will not get the grace that Butch and Dickey did. For the simple fact that he is from Bama...played for Bama....coached at Bama, and has been seen in Red tells me what it may be like for him. When Dave Hart was hired as AD in Knoxville? I heard lunchroom scoffing that accused Saban of orchestrating future failure for UT. When Jones was hired? Same. Just saying. Pruitt knows the temp of the water in vol country. Anything that goes right is a plus for Fulmer. Anything that goes wrong will start the clock.
Here's the context of that line.Plus, I distinctly remember Dub saying something about last year`s team being the greatest, talent wise, in barn history. I`m sure Dub will be along to enlighten me soon!
Just curious Dub. Do you agree that this is indeed the most talented team in Auburn history? Or, perhaps the most talented team in your lifetime?
There was a lot of talent on the roster. A lot. I stand by the statement that, on paper (basing it off of recruiting rankings and the like), you could make a solid argument for that being AU's most talented team. D was salty as hell all year. Offense didn't gel particularly well until later in the season, but when it started rolling, there was a period where we could beat any team in the country. Wheels unfortunately fell off though. Depth was an issue at RB (Surprising, considering we thought we had both KJ and KP entering the season.) and along the line (Not surprising. It was a known problem area entering the season.), and it bit us.On paper you could make a case for it. I'll let you know after the LSU game.
There’s talent there but it needs to gel in a hurry. Starters LG Braden Smith and C Casey Dunn both moved on. LT Prince Tega Wanogho, LG Marquell Harrell and RG Mike Horton are set. Ongoing competition at C (Nick Brahms or Kaleb Kim) and RT (Austin Troxell, Calvin Ashley or GT Jack Driscoll).Wasn`t their O line pretty much gutted?
Losing KJ hurt big time, and we’re very interested in the RB race. His pass blocking is part of the reason we couldn’t afford to yank him last year. Not that he was great at it, but he could effectively pick up a blitz. The guys behind him were pretty sub par. Among the guys that could take over for KJ are:I know they`ve lost their primary RB`s from last year.
Truth. We'll be a lot more reliant on the passing game this year while we figure things out on the line and at RB. So we can only hope he stays healthy.Better keep Stidham upright. If he goes down, they`re toast.
It is.Maybe the D`s supposed to be salty (?).
Auburn's qb was much better than ours last year. Saban's opinion about this UA qb "competition" is the only one that matters and he says it isn't over. I sure hope Tua is still around and trotting out there with the first team when when we play Auburn.When I rank college teams, normally I would rank them by who has the best quarterback, most other things being equal.
I think that State, Missouri, Auburn, USCe, and maybe Ole Miss have known quantities and qualities at qb.
rtr
Thanks Dub. You think your D will have to score points to win, particularly early?Here's the context of that line.
There was a lot of talent on the roster. A lot. I stand by the statement that, on paper (basing it off of recruiting rankings and the like), you could make a solid argument for that being AU's most talented team. D was salty as hell all year. Offense didn't gel particularly well until later in the season, but when it started rolling, there was a period where we could beat any team in the country. Wheels unfortunately fell off though. Depth was an issue at RB (Surprising, considering we thought we had both KJ and KP entering the season.) and along the line (Not surprising. It was a known problem area entering the season.), and it bit us.
All in all, last year presented a huge missed opportunity. Stung badly. Still furious about the loss to LSU. That was coaching malpractice, and hopefully Gus learned from that mistake.
Now for the rest of your post.
There’s talent there but it needs to gel in a hurry. Starters LG Braden Smith and C Casey Dunn both moved on. LT Prince Tega Wanogho, LG Marquell Harrell and RG Mike Horton are set. Ongoing competition at C (Nick Brahms or Kaleb Kim) and RT (Austin Troxell, Calvin Ashley or GT Jack Driscoll).
Losing KJ hurt big time, and we’re very interested in the RB race. His pass blocking is part of the reason we couldn’t afford to yank him last year. Not that he was great at it, but he could effectively pick up a blitz. The guys behind him were pretty sub par. Among the guys that could take over for KJ are:
Kam Martin - Right now, the starter by default. A small speedster and not an every down back.
Boobee Whitlow - Hurt in the preseason last year. Probably the most well rounded of the bunch. Needs to polish his pass blocking, and needs to learn to avoid cutting back to try and outrun the defense, but has the measurables and talent to continue our 1000 yard streak on the Plains if he becomes an effective North/South runner.
Malik Miller - A Pettway type bruiser.
Asa Martin - Talented incoming freshman. Similar running style to Kerryon. Don't know if he'll be ready to be the full time starter, but I expect him to get touches.
Truth. We'll be a lot more reliant on the passing game this year while we figure things out on the line and at RB. So we can only hope he stays healthy.
Behind him are Sophomore Malik Willis, a speedy scrambler with a cannon, and Joey Gatewood, a talented project. Wouldn’t want either shouldering the load yet. Neither of those two should be able to beat the Bamas and Georgias of the world without some more seasoning.
It is.
Front seven - Loaded, and should be every bit as scary as it was last year. Linebacking corps is talented and experienced. Line is talented, deep and I would be absolutely terrified to have to scheme against them.
Defensive backfield - Less so, but the stacked front seven will help tremendously. Safeties will likely be Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas. Noah Igbinoghene, who moved to the other side of the ball in the spring, looked great in practice and might very well start at boundary corner. Jamel Dean should be the field corner and Javaris Davis should be the nickel/third corner.
I honestly think the wildcard for you guys is your head coach.Here's the context of that line.
There was a lot of talent on the roster. A lot. I stand by the statement that, on paper (basing it off of recruiting rankings and the like), you could make a solid argument for that being AU's most talented team. D was salty as hell all year. Offense didn't gel particularly well until later in the season, but when it started rolling, there was a period where we could beat any team in the country. Wheels unfortunately fell off though. Depth was an issue at RB (Surprising, considering we thought we had both KJ and KP entering the season.) and along the line (Not surprising. It was a known problem area entering the season.), and it bit us.
All in all, last year presented a huge missed opportunity. Stung badly. Still furious about the loss to LSU. That was coaching malpractice, and hopefully Gus learned from that mistake.
Now for the rest of your post.
There’s talent there but it needs to gel in a hurry. Starters LG Braden Smith and C Casey Dunn both moved on. LT Prince Tega Wanogho, LG Marquell Harrell and RG Mike Horton are set. Ongoing competition at C (Nick Brahms or Kaleb Kim) and RT (Austin Troxell, Calvin Ashley or GT Jack Driscoll).
Losing KJ hurt big time, and we’re very interested in the RB race. His pass blocking is part of the reason we couldn’t afford to yank him last year. Not that he was great at it, but he could effectively pick up a blitz. The guys behind him were pretty sub par. Among the guys that could take over for KJ are:
Kam Martin - Right now, the starter by default. A small speedster and not an every down back.
Boobee Whitlow - Hurt in the preseason last year. Probably the most well rounded of the bunch. Needs to polish his pass blocking, and needs to learn to avoid cutting back to try and outrun the defense, but has the measurables and talent to continue our 1000 yard streak on the Plains if he becomes an effective North/South runner.
Malik Miller - A Pettway type bruiser.
Asa Martin - Talented incoming freshman. Similar running style to Kerryon. Don't know if he'll be ready to be the full time starter, but I expect him to get touches.
Truth. We'll be a lot more reliant on the passing game this year while we figure things out on the line and at RB. So we can only hope he stays healthy.
Behind him are Sophomore Malik Willis, a speedy scrambler with a cannon, and Joey Gatewood, a talented project. Wouldn’t want either shouldering the load yet. Neither of those two should be able to beat the Bamas and Georgias of the world without some more seasoning.
It is.
Front seven - Loaded, and should be every bit as scary as it was last year. Linebacking corps is talented and experienced. Line is talented, deep and I would be absolutely terrified to have to scheme against them.
Defensive backfield - Less so, but the stacked front seven will help tremendously. Safeties will likely be Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas. Noah Igbinoghene, who moved to the other side of the ball in the spring, looked great in practice and might very well start at boundary corner. Jamel Dean should be the field corner and Javaris Davis should be the nickel/third corner.
I just looked that up out of curiosity. Looks like they return 5 of their top 6 WR's from last year. They are deep and experienced.What are Auburn's WRs like this year?
Should be good. Deep and experienced. Slayton and Marquis McClain, big receivers at split end. Ryan Davis, speedster slot guy that set a record for receptions last year is back, as is Hastings in the position. Eli Stove at Flanker. Darius Slayton and Sal Cannella at the other end. NCM can play anywhere.What are Auburn's WRs like this year?
That's fair.I honestly think the wildcard for you guys is your head coach.
I think he's a good OC. I'm even one of the few Tide fans who kind of chuckles at his youthful enthusiasm in some instances.
But he seems - to me at least - to be the kind of guy who really can't hold it all together. I think you guys have a very talented team returning (the IB result last year did not exactly surprise me). I think in a NORMAL world that it's us and y'all in the West. But for whatever reason, Gus only seems to be able to just barely achieve above what's minimally acceptable when there's some sort of personal incentive (uh, like that big contract he got right after winning the West last year -he's 0-2 since then).
Gus has puzzled me from day one. I've watched a lot of Auburn games since he's been there (post-2013 anyway), and it seems like Auburn doesn't show up for games they should and then stuns the world in games they shouldn't. A couple that quickly come to mind are 2014 MSU, 2015 Ole Miss, 2016 UGA and Vandy....and whatever happened with LSU last year, a middle of the game reversion. I was at the Alabama-Arky game that night and as we were heading to the stadium we were listening on the radio and Auburn had that game well in hand. And then we get to BDS and watch the scoreboard and we're like, "What?"
(Note: I would add the UCF and Wisky bowl games as well to the list of "wth are you doing Gus" moments).
And probably (you would know better than I)....he only has the job because of a late snap in the LSU game a few years back at a time both coaches were on the hot seat and Miles got canned.
I went back and watched that LSU game from last year when I got home (You Tube) and Auburn was crisp and a good team - and then they weren't. It's like a schizophrenia that makes no sense.
So I think Auburn is immensely talented, but I also think that if you lose to Washington that you're already up against it with a lot of "He's 0-3 since the new extension" headlines. And I fully expect Gus to lose a game he should win (Maybe LSU or ATM - though on the road at MSU would be less surprising even though you're better than they are) that makes no sense whatsoever, a game where his talent exceeds the opposition and yet he loses. I say this not to be malicious but just because it's what he's done time and time and time again. It seems as I watch that for every really GOOD thing he does, he offsets it with what I call "reverse accomplishment."
The TALENT is there - but I'm not sold on the coaching be there. He's better than Orgeron on that score, but it didn't help last year.
Dub, if that were to occur, would those 9 wins have to include either or both us and UGA ?That's fair.
The UW game is going to be a good measure of what kind of season to expect. If we come out firing, I think we'll challenge in the west. If we start slow like we did last year, and there's no excuse for that, I think 9 wins is our ceiling.
Nope. Besides UW, Bama and UGA, 8 of the remaining 9 on the schedule and/or a bowl.Dub, if that were to occur, would those 9 wins have to include either or both us and UGA ?
While I agree with this Dub, I just don't see Washington beating auburn.That's fair.
The UW game is going to be a good measure of what kind of season to expect. If we come out firing, I think we'll challenge in the west. If we start slow like we did last year, and there's no excuse for that, I think 9 wins is our ceiling.
It’s a game we should win on talent alone, and by double digits, but slow starts are Gus’s forte and Peterson schemes as well as anyone. I don’t expect our defense to give them an inch, but we have questions on offense.While I agree with this Dub, I just don't see Washington beating auburn.
No concern about WRs here, but the line.I wouldn't be so sure. Auburn usually doesn't start seasons looking that great, the WR and RB groups are a big question mark, and Washington is a veteran, well-coached team. I think UDub wins right now at least.
Unless your O line is an absolute disaster....walk in the park. Gus drops that one, I would suppose it would be LSU last year X 2 for the barn faithful.It’s a game we should win on talent alone, and by double digits, but slow starts are Gus’s forte and Peterson schemes as well as anyone. I don’t expect our defense to give them an inch, but we have questions on offense.
I don’t think it will be, but it is a green unit overall. I expect us to win the game, but I don’t take UW lightly. They have a talented, experienced offense with a quality QB.Unless your O line is an absolute disaster....walk in the park. Gus drops that one, I would suppose it would be LSU last year X 2 for the barn faithful.