re: With Decent OLine Play, Auburn Will Win the SEC This Year

quote:

---

I think what you said is correct. It is tough, especially for a QB, to be away for any length of time. I think a lot of it will be regaining his confidence. I suspect you will see an improvement with Stidham getting rid of the ball this year.

---

JS improved in that area late last season. He finally realized he needed to throw it away rather than take a sack, his oline didn't help him in the bowl game, but he did throw it away more. He'll be better and more mature this year with more experience.

I think Grimes was a huge upgrade in oline training and development - AU will be alright as the season progresses, as long a the injury bug stays away. They have a brutal schedule to navigate, but another 10 win season should be expected.

quote:

---

If uga doesn't have the unique scenario of Chubb and Sony come back uga wouldn't of had 4.

---

We had 5, and what was so unique about 2 juniors coming back for another year because they weren’t high draft picks?

quote:

---

With Decent OLine Play, Auburn Will Win the SEC This Year

Bama and UGA are talented but lose a ton of production, particularly on defense, from last year.

---

It's not the first year that Bama has lost a ton of talent. They have it stockpiled like an Amazon warehouse.
Auburn will be good certainly but the ball has to bounce the right way to win the SEC. Bama has two national championships in years they didn't even win the SEC.
They also have a tougher schedule than Bama.

quote:

---

I think Grimes was a huge upgrade in oline training and development

---

quote:

---

He wasn't a super strong recruiter before, but you are spot-on with this assessment.

---

Ehh, Gus can give the heavy recruiting to other coaches. Grimes will have his guys prepared to play and they will know their job. The confusion on the line and poor communication will be a thing of the past.

quote:

---

I do not disagree with what you said, but inexperienced talent on the Oline is very risky. If it does not gel, the team is in real trouble.

Just my view, but I think that is the key to having a good year. I don't see Stidham having much success if the Oline plays consistently like it did in some of the poorer performances last year.

---

The Oline has experience at key positions on the OL. The key is depth due to the SEC schedule. Under Hand, when an OL was injured, it disrupted the entire OL. I really think he was the worse OL Coach AU has had in recent history, how he keeps getting good jobs (AU, PSU and TX) is amazing.

Stidham was pretty successful last year with a shaky OL. That was with only being in the system a few months.

quote:

---

The Oline has depth and inexperienced talent. AUs D will be better this year and Stidham will have more control of calling the Offense at the LOS. The running game will be OK and the WR Corp could be Gus's best. Auburn's success depends on the playcalling and allowing Stidham more control.

---

I'm not trying to needle you IP - But when have we ever seen Gus give his QB the freedom to call his own offense? Especially with a relatively green oline who haven't played together as a unit.

I agree about the RB's, Gus will always have s solid running game. He places too much emphasis on the run to not have his weapons ready and the WR talent is top notch. I've just never seen Gus have enough trust to even let his own OC call an offense 100%, let alone allow his QB to do it at the LOS.

quote:

---

Marshall in year 2.

---

Hard to believe how many of us thought JJ would be an upgrade.

Great cautionary tale (I think some other SEC teams may soon get the same lesson.)

quote:

---

I'm not trying to needle you IP - But when have we ever seen Gus give his QB the freedom to call his own offense? Especially with a relatively green oline who haven't played together as a unit.

---

Gus hasn't had a proven returning throwing QB since he has been at AU. Marshall is the only returning QB he has had. You noticed how much more he allowed him to throw (see Bama game in 14) his Sr year, even though he wasn't a good passer. Part of the problem with Stidham last year was he was able to recognize AU was in the wrong play, but he wasn't allowed to change it. Too many times he tried to make plays in that situation and either took a sack or threw it away. I know Gus came to the same conclusion toward the end of the year.

I don't see Auburn getting past the 2 perennial powers in the West, MSU and Alabama. Could possibly upset LSU and Georgia though

quote:

---

We have answers for Jeff Holland and Tre.

---

You might. We thought we had an all world pass rusher in Lorenzo Carter. Carter did very well, but he was spotty at times. You never know until a kid hits the field how they will do.

quote:

---

The developing depth thing at RB is over played. Most teams don't have 3 or 4 capable RB.

---

While this is true, most teams don't get two backs banged up at the same time...one being put out for the rest of the year. Once Pettway went down Gus should have been giving good carries to another back besides Johnson. First to develop depth, and secondly to protect Johnson. You just can't run a back 30 times a game in the SEC anymore. Or 25 times for that matter.
Maybe in a game here or there, but not on a consistent basis.

quote:

---

If uga doesn't have the unique scenario of Chubb and Sony come back uga wouldn't of had 4.

---

Actually, we would have. We already had Holyfield, Herrien and Swift, and when Chubb and Michel decided to come back we pulled a scholarship offer from Toneil Cater who then signed with Texas and played a decent amount. Had they not come back we would have had Swift, Holyfield, Herrien, Carter. carter was already committed to us, and he and his family were not happy when we told him we could not take him. I hated it, too, because at the time I thought he would be as good and possibly better than Swift. (I was probably wrong, looking back on it)