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re: Auburn is the preseason favorite . . . why?
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:23 am to Bham4Tide
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:23 am to Bham4Tide
I really don't have much confidence in Alabama's offense coming into this year, LSU is going to suck and I think AU has the potential to have the best QB and WR in the SEC West or even SEC. They will be solid at RB. Most of their offensive line is coming back and the defense is mostly returning starters. I just think this au team is experienced and experience counts.
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Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:28 am to Bham4Tide
i like the years when auburn has high expectations. they always crash and burn. Its the underdog years you have to worry about.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:42 am to RollTide1987
You right. I guess Auburn hasn't been recruiting well over the past years (#3, #3, #17, #11, #8, #7). We don't have much talent
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:42 am to narddogg81
They have talent, but most of the teams in the SEC does too so that is a bit of a wash. So I am going to go with a different reason they are the favorite.
Barring a collapse during the season it should come down to the Iron Bowl to decide who goes to the SECCG and probably the playoffs. The last two years Bama has had tons of trouble defending a power spread running game. Oklahoma blew them up. Ohio State blew them up. I'm not knocking the Tide here mind you, but the fact is both of those teams throttled the vaunted Alabama defense.
Gus, for all his tricks and misdirections, is at heart a coach that likes to run the ball right at you. I think that gives the edge to Auburn in a game where it should all be on the line.
Barring a collapse during the season it should come down to the Iron Bowl to decide who goes to the SECCG and probably the playoffs. The last two years Bama has had tons of trouble defending a power spread running game. Oklahoma blew them up. Ohio State blew them up. I'm not knocking the Tide here mind you, but the fact is both of those teams throttled the vaunted Alabama defense.
Gus, for all his tricks and misdirections, is at heart a coach that likes to run the ball right at you. I think that gives the edge to Auburn in a game where it should all be on the line.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:42 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
In 2003 they were on magazine covers as a top national title contender, and they were supposed to be a major player in '14 as well. Didn't happen.
Yep...guess that means we're fricked this year?
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:43 am to narddogg81
quote:
i like the years when auburn has high expectations. they always crash and burn. Its the underdog years you have to worry about.
So it's not just auburn fans stuck in the tuberville era in relation to rankings.
Now tell me how much you hate tuberville and then we can stop talking about tuberville...fair?
This post was edited on 5/15/15 at 9:45 am
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:44 am to piggidyphish
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Yep...guess that means we're fricked this year?
Can you show me where I said that?
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:46 am to WG_Dawg
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Can you show me where I said that?
That's why it had a question mark at the end. Were those two examples not used to show a trend, or was it just a throw away comment?
Or just the general, "you know, they're not always right?"
This post was edited on 5/15/15 at 9:46 am
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:50 am to piggidyphish
quote:
Or just the general, "you know, they're not always right?"
That. I was just pointing out that there's been a few times fairly recently where Auburn seemed to have all the pieces to make a serious run and then fell flat. I wasn't saying that will happen in 15. Because as we all know, by the same token there's been several years where AU had low expectations and were legit.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:53 am to finestfirst79
Jeremy Johnson looking good when he played last year. The Malzahn offense is always gonna be productive but I believe everyone is assuming with Muschamp there they will be the 85 Bears. THey're gonna be good but their D is not gonna completely shut folks down like the scribes seem to think due to the style of offense. THey will still be middle of pack defensive wise but will score a ton.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:53 am to WG_Dawg
and probably even years we did exactly what was expected.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 9:55 am to Roses of Crimson
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but I believe everyone is assuming with Muschamp there they will be the 85 Bears.
Hah...no.
quote:
THey're gonna be good but their D is not gonna completely shut folks down like the scribes seem to think due to the style of offense. T
They don't have to...they just have to be marginally better. What'd you guys do...score on 7 of 7 possession in the 2nd half against us. Doesn't have to be 0 for 7 to win that game.
quote:
THey will still be middle of pack defensive wise but will score a ton.
If that's the case we probably win every game.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 10:18 am to Bham4Tide
I think it comes down to QBs. Right now in the West Jeremy Johnson (whether right or wrong) is viewed as a top 2 QB in the division with Dak being the other. Miss St however lost a lot of leadership & talent off that team & so that leaves AU as the pick.
All 7 teams have lots of question marks so when it comes to preseason predictions people look at QBs and schedules. AU plays most of their toughest opponents at home this year and are starting a talented QB.
I honestly have no idea what 2015 AU is gonna look like. AU lost 5 games last season but that was a talented team that lost some tough ball games so let's not act like they were some chump team. In the SEC West every season the difference is going to be in inches between 5 loss & 1 loss teams. I think the Iron Bowl once again decides the West & with it in Jordan Hare Stadium I like our chances
All 7 teams have lots of question marks so when it comes to preseason predictions people look at QBs and schedules. AU plays most of their toughest opponents at home this year and are starting a talented QB.
I honestly have no idea what 2015 AU is gonna look like. AU lost 5 games last season but that was a talented team that lost some tough ball games so let's not act like they were some chump team. In the SEC West every season the difference is going to be in inches between 5 loss & 1 loss teams. I think the Iron Bowl once again decides the West & with it in Jordan Hare Stadium I like our chances
Posted on 5/15/15 at 10:29 am to Bham4Tide
Their defense will be greatly improved with lawson coming back and the recruits they picked up. Their offense is always very good and difficult to stop.
I can see where they could have an excellent team.
I can see where they could have an excellent team.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 10:30 am to RockyMtnTigerWDE
quote:
I want Auburn praised too. It is trolling the shite out of you people and it is very entertaining.
Its for sure a hot topic.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 10:48 am to Roses of Crimson
quote:
The Malzahn offense is always gonna be productive but I believe everyone is assuming with Muschamp there they will be the 85 Bears. THey're gonna be good but their D is not gonna completely shut folks down like the scribes seem to think due to the style of offense. THey will still be middle of pack defensive wise but will score a ton.
We don't need our defense to be the 85 Bears. We just need them to be better than they have been, and it's not crazy to assume they'll be improved with the amount of quality players we have coming back as well as Muschamp now in control of that side. With a good, not even great defense, we beat FSU in the NC game and probably win 2-3 more games last year. We definitely would have beaten A&M and Wisconsin in the bowl game, and maybe one of Miss St or bama. Georgia was the only game last year that we just shite the bed on both sides of the ball.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 10:55 am to finestfirst79
So let me get this straight, Auburn finishes 8-5, gets a new DC and are now pre-season top 5 and picked to win the West. LSU finishes 8-5, gets a new DC and are now preseason top 10-15. A&M finishes 8-5, gets a new DC and are now preseason unranked.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 10:59 am to WildTchoupitoulas
quote:
So let me get this straight, Auburn finishes 8-5, gets a new DC and are now pre-season top 5 and picked to win the West. LSU finishes 8-5, gets a new DC and are now preseason top 10-15. A&M finishes 8-5, gets a new DC and are now preseason unranked.
I think that's the OP's point. There is no reason they should be ranked that high based off of last years results and what they lost/bring back.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 11:05 am to Bham4Tide
For Auburn it all starts up front. The Offensive line is the key. We return a line that is filled with future draft picks. Shon Coleman, Braden Smith, Austin Golson, Alex Kozan, and Avery Young. Kozan was our best Offensive lineman returning last season, and losing him really hurt. Hopefully he will return 100%. Smith is an animal and future 1st rounder before his time is done.
JJ is as good as advertised and will be a 2nd rounder at worst after the end of the season.
We also have Kamryn Pettway and Chandler Cox at H-Back. This position is key in Malzahn's offense and Brandon Fulse was a hazard last season. Pettway and Cox have performed nicely.
RB will not be a concern. The 1 2 punch of Jovon Robinson and Roc Thomas will be better than CAP and Grant last year. Add in hard nose running from Peyton Barber and RB will be one of the better positions we have.
WR we return Duke who is 1st or 2nd best in the SEC. I can't decide if I give the edge to him or Treadwell, but both will be 1st rounders. Add in solid slot receiver Marcus Davis and good possession receiver Myron Burton, and there is no need for concern.
The "Starters" on defense will be really good. Devonta Lambert, Dontavious Russell, Montravious Adams, Carl Lawson, and throw in Byron Cowart to the mix and that's a solid group. The LB are full of future draft picks as well with Kris Frost, Cassanova Mckinzy, and Tre Williams. Frost and Cass almost turned pro after last season, and will be drafted after next year. Tre Williams will likely be a 1st rounder before he is done at Auburn. The Secondary will be one of the better in the SEC starting wise. Joshua Holsey, Jonathan Jones, Tray Mathews, and Rudy Ford. Tray Mathews will be the best in the group with Jones and Ford not far behind. Holsey is also on the border of being drafted after next season depending on how he plays. He's been slowed by injuries the last two seasons.
The only downside to Auburn is a depth concern. If hit by the injury bug we could lose 5 to 6 games. Preseason ranking are all about potential though, and Auburn has probably the best potential in the SEC. Add in the addition of Boom and a favorable schedule, and that is why Auburn is ranked so highly preseason.
JJ is as good as advertised and will be a 2nd rounder at worst after the end of the season.
We also have Kamryn Pettway and Chandler Cox at H-Back. This position is key in Malzahn's offense and Brandon Fulse was a hazard last season. Pettway and Cox have performed nicely.
RB will not be a concern. The 1 2 punch of Jovon Robinson and Roc Thomas will be better than CAP and Grant last year. Add in hard nose running from Peyton Barber and RB will be one of the better positions we have.
WR we return Duke who is 1st or 2nd best in the SEC. I can't decide if I give the edge to him or Treadwell, but both will be 1st rounders. Add in solid slot receiver Marcus Davis and good possession receiver Myron Burton, and there is no need for concern.
The "Starters" on defense will be really good. Devonta Lambert, Dontavious Russell, Montravious Adams, Carl Lawson, and throw in Byron Cowart to the mix and that's a solid group. The LB are full of future draft picks as well with Kris Frost, Cassanova Mckinzy, and Tre Williams. Frost and Cass almost turned pro after last season, and will be drafted after next year. Tre Williams will likely be a 1st rounder before he is done at Auburn. The Secondary will be one of the better in the SEC starting wise. Joshua Holsey, Jonathan Jones, Tray Mathews, and Rudy Ford. Tray Mathews will be the best in the group with Jones and Ford not far behind. Holsey is also on the border of being drafted after next season depending on how he plays. He's been slowed by injuries the last two seasons.
The only downside to Auburn is a depth concern. If hit by the injury bug we could lose 5 to 6 games. Preseason ranking are all about potential though, and Auburn has probably the best potential in the SEC. Add in the addition of Boom and a favorable schedule, and that is why Auburn is ranked so highly preseason.
Posted on 5/15/15 at 11:08 am to TheCheshireHog
quote:
I think that's the OP's point. There is no reason they should be ranked that high based off of last years results and what they lost/bring back.
Well, for the teams I listed, clearly:
Boom > Steele/Ogre > Chief.
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