[StatTiger]

I've rated each position on the 2012 Auburn football team based on the following:

1) Average star rating per position
2) Game experience
3) 3-deep percentage
4) Percentage of players with at least 20-gms of experience

Based on the above criteria, here is how the 2012 Auburn Tigers might breakdown in terms of strength by position.

DL: 94.4 rating
WR: 89.5
LB: 83.4
TE: 79.6
RB: 66.1
DB: 58.5
OL: 44.3
QB: 41.5

The DL might be the strongest unit on the team. Based on talent, they have the 5th best star average of 3.47 on the team but have 6 players with 20-games of experience or more. The experience factor is what pushed them to the top of the list, which was a major element the 2011 DL lacked. An experienced Auburn DL in 2010 resulted in a top 10 run-defense.

Before I calculated the above rating system, I thought the TE position would be the strongest "position" in 2012. The 5 combined TE's have an average star rating of 3.80, highest among all the positions. What dropped the TE position in the ratings was lack of experience with only 1 of 5 TE's with 20-games of experience.

Based on star rating alone, the OL is the 2nd best position on the team with an average star rating of 3.60. What hurts is only 1 of 16 OL have 20-games of experience coming into 2012. The concern is that only 6 of the scholly OL has appeared in an actual game and that includes Blake Burgess. I believe this unit has talent and great potential but experience level at OL and DL is vital, especially in the SEC.

It should be noted that of the 8 positions, Auburn's average star rating by position reveals that the 2012 team will be it's most talented in 6 of 8 positions since Chizik has been the coach. Recruiting has been very productive but now it comes down to building experience. In theory, the 2008 and 2009 classes should be providing needed experience and leadership but only 1 scholarship player remains from the 2008 class. There are 13 players remaining from the 2009 class and 22 from the 2010 class to lean on in 2012. It's important to remember the majority of the "top recruits" signed have come during the last 3 recruiting classes, which means the talent level is bottom heavy when it comes to experience.

Looking back at the 2010 team, Auburn had 4 DL with 20-games of experience and 5 OL with 20-games of experience coming into the season. Auburn's experience and talent on both sides of the line, was a major reason why Auburn went undefeated in 2010. In 2012, Auburn will have 6 DL but only 1 OL with 20 games of experience. Based on my rating formula, Auburn's front-7 could be very solid in 2012, which means Brian VanGorder will have a great first-year situation and clearly better than the one Ted Roof faced before the 2009 season.

Scot Leoffler will have talent to work with but his first season could be a challenging one as he puts all the pieces together to get the best 11 on the field. He has to build an offense behind a very young OL and must find and develop a starter at the quarterback position. He also needs to find 2-3 receivers, who will step up to compliment Emory Blake. The most likely scenario is for Loeffler to build his offense around the RB and TE position and branch out from there as the season progresses. Loeffler will work with an offensive roster that contains 23 players rated as 4-stars or better, so the talent is there. The concern is the lack of experience, which cannot be coached and must come over time.

[McWeagle]

It won't turn a very green OL into a battle-tested group of veterans, but we do have a veteran All-American fullback coming in to help with the blocking. Also, Loeffler has shown he's not scared to use 2 TEs, so hopefully that will offset some potential deficiencies in the OL as well.

There's my shot of sunshine for the day. Reality suggests we're still another year away from Atlanta and beyond.

[RunInRed]

I would have never guessed DL would be atop the list...

[BZ770]

Bleacher report also confirming our DL strength.

http://bleacherrepor...oint-for-season

[mcgufcm]

I'm not terribly surprised by the DL strength. I am very, very, very surprised by the high rating for the WRs. I'm confident in the former, skeptical about the latter.

[StatTiger]

mcgufcm, on 09 February 2012 - 03:41 PM, said:

I'm not terribly surprised by the DL strength. I am very, very, very surprised by the high rating for the WRs. I'm confident in the former, skeptical about the latter.

With the lack of experience at OL and QB positions, I'm skeptical about the entire offense in 2012. The talent is there but the lack of experience is a concern. As for the WR position, it ranked high because of the experience factor and influx of highly recruited talent. Of the 9 WR's on scholly, 6 has playing experience with 3 having over 20-games of experience. Four of the WR's are rated as 4-stars or better so the combination of experience and talent translated to a solid rating. Does it mean they will be a productive unit? No. It does indicate there is a higher level of potential.

[tgr4lfe]

How exactly is there inexperience at QB? Frazier and Moseley both played significant amounts and roles last year albeit they don't have 2 seasons worth, but still a full years worth. Now if Pike were to come out leading the charge then that is another story. I think both will benefit greatly from Leoffler's coaching abilities.
The OL is by far the critical position, although it will be the least experienced, it will arguably be the most talented top to bottom. With what probably 4 of the 5 having ZERO collegiate experience it could be a tough year to watch again on the offensive side of the ball.

[mcgufcm]

Any time your top two QBs have a total of six starts, you have inexperience at QB. Frazier has game experience, but he has almost no experience in the passing game. He was a glorified running back last year.

I think the OL outlook is slightly less bleak than you paint it. Three of the likely starting five are returning starters from last season: Sullen (RG), Dismukes ©, and Slade (although he'll likely shift to a new spot), but I take your point. It's an exceedingly green group of Offensive Linemen when you consider than 4 of the projected starters will be freshmen or sophomore.

[tgr4lfe]

mcgufcm, on 14 February 2012 - 05:34 AM, said:

Any time your top two QBs have a total of six starts, you have inexperience at QB. Frazier has game experience, but he has almost no experience in the passing game. He was a glorified running back last year.

I think the OL outlook is slightly less bleak than you paint it. Three of the likely starting five are returning starters from last season: Sullen (RG), Dismukes ©, and Slade (although he'll likely shift to a new spot), but I take your point. It's an exceedingly green group of Offensive Linemen when you consider than 4 of the projected starters will be freshmen or sophomore.

Obviously, they don't have 2 years of experience, but they do have some experience and like I said Frazier will benefit greatly from having a treu QB coach to work with. Whereas they don't have 2 years of experience they are also not rookies with zero experience either.
True about Sullen and Slade, but I do think top to bottom (at least in terms of recruiting rankings) the group of incoming freshman and RS Fr, and sophomores that will be on the OL, are the best stock at one time at AU. Hopefully, they will progress and live up to those rankings and give AU some dominant OLs for this year and the next 4 years!!
How did you copyright Dismukes name?!?

[mcgufcm]

I think Auburn did it. I just wanted to recognize.

[Sandstone]

tgr4lfe, on 14 February 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:

Obviously, they don't have 2 years of experience, but they do have some experience and like I said Frazier will benefit greatly from having a treu QB coach to work with.

So you don't think Malzahn was a 'true QB coach'? Just wanted to clarify what you mean there.

This post has been edited by Sandstone: 14 February 2012 - 11:30 AM

[tgr4lfe]

Sandstone, on 14 February 2012 - 11:30 AM, said:

tgr4lfe, on 14 February 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:

Obviously, they don't have 2 years of experience, but they do have some experience and like I said Frazier will benefit greatly from having a treu QB coach to work with.

So you don't think Malzahn was a 'true QB coach'? Just wanted to clarify what you mean there.

I don't think I could have worded it any other way? It seems pretty clear what I meant.

[Sandstone]

tgr4lfe, on 15 February 2012 - 01:30 PM, said:

Sandstone, on 14 February 2012 - 11:30 AM, said:

tgr4lfe, on 14 February 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:

Obviously, they don't have 2 years of experience, but they do have some experience and like I said Frazier will benefit greatly from having a treu QB coach to work with.

So you don't think Malzahn was a 'true QB coach'? Just wanted to clarify what you mean there.

I don't think I could have worded it any other way? It seems pretty clear what I meant.

No need for a jerk reply. I just think Malzahn was a pretty decent QB coach. I hope Loeffler is better.