2017 Tigers Preview and Prediction

[aubiefifty 16,695]

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Auburn Football: 2017 Tigers Preview and Prediction

By Athlon Sports, 5/26/17, 9:30 AM EDT

5-6 minutes

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Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is hoping that a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback are just what the Tigers need to help them take that next step and emerge as a threat to Alabama in the SEC West. The good news is they will have plenty of help, as the Tigers boast one of the top running back tandems in the country. The offense will need to lead the way, at least early on, with the defense having to replace three key pieces. Just like last year, Auburn has enough talent to remain in the hunt in college football's toughest conference. Is this the season the Tigers dethrone their archrivals and win the SEC title?

Previewing Auburn Football’s Offense for 2017 

Consistency. That’s what head coach Gus Malzahn was in search of when he lured Chip Lindsey back from the desert. The former Arizona State offensive coordinator made a name for himself as a high school coach in Alabama and is charged with transforming Auburn’s offense from a flash in the pan to a consistent force. The running game should be in good hands with the return of SEC leading rusher Kamryn Pettway (in yards per game) and the ultra-versatile Kerryon Johnson.

The addition of junior college transfer and former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham (12 touchdowns, two interceptions at Baylor in 2015) should add more depth at quarterback. Returning starter Sean White was solid when he was healthy last year, but four injuries in two seasons — including a broken arm suffered in the Sugar Bowl —  make it impossible to assume that he will be able to withstand a full season as the Tigers’ signal-caller. If Stidham can open up the offense on a consistent basis with his arm, the Tigers should achieve that much-needed balance and become an offensive power. 

Stidham made a smooth transition to the new offense during spring practice.

“Some of the similarities that (Coach Lindsey) has with what I’ve done at Baylor, some of the deeper passing game, it’s been a lot of fun,” Stidham says. “A lot of it, I’ve done before. Kind of second nature with some of it. He brings a lot of excitement to the offensive room.”

Previewing Auburn Football’s Defense for 2017 

There’s no question that the defense will take a step back without defensive end Carl Lawson, tackle Montravius Adams and safety Rudy Ford. Making sure it’s only a small step back is coordinator Kevin Steele’s biggest challenge.

The defensive front is loaded with talented players such as end Marlon Davidson — who started as a true freshman — tackle Derrick Brown and end/tackle Byron Cowart. Who will step up and be the focal point like Lawson was, though? Deshaun Davis and Tre’ Williams are entrenched at linebacker, and Tray Matthews has seen it all throughout his career at Georgia and Auburn. 

“We’ve got a defense coming back that has a lot of guys back with a lot of experience who were very successful and you know, just building a format,” Malzahn says. “In our league, there’s nothing like experience, especially quality experience. There’s been success, and when you look at our team, the thing I’m excited about is we’ve got a lot of experience back.”

The potential is there for this crew to be one of the SEC’s best, but some younger players up front have to grow up.

Previewing Auburn Football’s Specialists for 2017

There aren’t many kickers in the country more reliable than Daniel Carlson, and he returns after flirting with the NFL. Having a weapon like Carlson is huge for Malzahn, who can afford to take a few more chances with his play calling once the Tigers are in field goal range. Ian Shannon is an unknown at punter and is the biggest question mark. The Tigers have a host of candidates to fill the roles in the return game.

Final Analysis

Auburn was in the College Football Playoff mix well into November last season before injuries took their toll. The core of that offense is back, along with seven of 11 starters on defense. The addition of Stidham and presence of a new voice in Lindsey should propel the Tigers into that same conversation in 2017. If they’re not, athletics director Jay Jacobs will have some tough decisions to make after the season. This Tigers team is too loaded to be an afterthought on the national level.

NATIONAL RANKING: 9

SEC WEST PREDICTION: 2

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

Other season previews. SDS has graciously extracted anonymous SEC coaches’ thoughts from two, for free public consumption (citation trail included to justify "fair use"):

‘Opposing coaches views on Auburn via Athlon Sports’ 2017 SEC preview magazine:

“It’ll be fascinating to see what happens with Chip Lindsey coming in. I think Gus (Malzahn) is going to let him do what he wants. That’s the rumor, anyway. I think if that’s the case, their passing game will be more dynamic than you’ve seen in the past from them… They’ve done a great job recruiting. You look at Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams, guys they’ve moved on to the NFL and think they have a dip, but they started a freshman last year with Marlon Davidson, and they’ve got another wave of younger guys they were grooming. I think defensively they’ve done as good a job as anyone recruiting other than Alabama… I think if Gus lets Chip do his thing, it’ll look a little more like Southern Miss a couple years ago, where they were throwing it around a lot.”

Opposing coaches views on Auburn via Lindy’s Sports’ 2017 SEC preview magazine:

“I think Auburn has the best defensive line in the country. They have nine NFL players on their D-line. The linebackers are talented; the secondary is good. They have four to five very talented corners and the two safeties are back. The defense is one of the better ones in the country… As long as Gus Malzahn stays out of the way and lets Chip Lindsey develop a plan and call the game, Auburn will be better.”’[sic]

[https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/auburn-football/opposing-coaches-question-chip-lindseys-freedom-marvel-auburns-defense-college-football-preview-magazines/]

[WFE12 9,191]

Best D-line in the country? 9 NFL players on the line? I wasn't thinking that, but hopefully they play that way.

[McLoofus 35,182]

10 minutes ago, WFE12 said:

Best D-line in the country? 9 NFL players on the line? I wasn't thinking that, but hopefully they play that way.

Let's see here... Davidson and Brown for sure... Russell and Holland, I think so...

Cowart, James, Williams, Coe, Johnson, Threat, Manning... Bryant, Truesdell, Jackson coming in... are there 5 in that group? Would be fun to bookmark the prediction and revisit it in 5 years. 9 is probably optimistic but maybe not too far off. 

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

1 hour ago, McLoofus said:

Let's see here... Davidson and Brown for sure... Russell and Holland, I think so...

Cowart, James, Williams, Coe, Johnson, Threat, Manning... Bryant, Truesdell, Jackson coming in... are there 5 in that group? Would be fun to bookmark the prediction and revisit it in 5 years. 9 is probably optimistic but maybe not too far off. 

probably can't type and keep my fingers crossed for all that time, but

WDE

[WDE_OxPx_2010 5,287]

Quote

"The defense is one of the better ones in the country… As long as Gus Malzahn stays out of the way and lets Chip Lindsey develop a plan and call the game, Auburn will be better.”’

This was definitely Bert, hahaha

[WFE12 9,191]

6 hours ago, McLoofus said:

Let's see here... Davidson and Brown for sure... Russell and Holland, I think so...

Cowart, James, Williams, Coe, Johnson, Threat, Manning... Bryant, Truesdell, Jackson coming in... are there 5 in that group? Would be fun to bookmark the prediction and revisit it in 5 years. 9 is probably optimistic but maybe not too far off. 

Holland and Cowart definitely need to step their games up for sure... I see your point with the others.

[Auburn2Eugene 2,317]

8 minutes ago, WFE12 said:

Holland and Cowart definitely need to step their games up for sure... I see your point with the others.

I totally agree but I've seen Cowart listed as a 1st round pick in a couple WAY to early mock drafts.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but i did... 

http://auburn.247sports.com/Bolt/Early-2018-NFL-mock-drafts-love-Jarrett-Stidham-Byron-Cowart-52578333

[WFE12 9,191]

7 minutes ago, Auburn2Eugene said:

I totally agree but I've seen Cowart listed as a 1st round pick in a couple WAY to early mock drafts.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but i did... 

http://auburn.247sports.com/Bolt/Early-2018-NFL-mock-drafts-love-Jarrett-Stidham-Byron-Cowart-52578333

27th overall at that...What the heck? That makes no sense at all. Stid going in the 1st to the Cardinals would be great, but I also want him to stay another year.

[Auburn2Eugene 2,317]

9 minutes ago, WFE12 said:

27th overall at that...What the heck? That makes no sense at all. Stid going in the 1st to the Cardinals would be great, but I also want him to stay another year.

I agree I hope he stays at least 2 seasons. But no one could blame him if he is projected as a 1st round pick.

But Cowart? Well... I for one hope the light comes on for him and he becomes a big nasty. But in all honesty, I don't see it. Not unless he has become a monster at DT.

[WFE12 9,191]

8 minutes ago, Auburn2Eugene said:

I agree I hope he stays at least 2 seasons. But no one could blame him if he is projected as a 1st round pick.

But Cowart? Well... I for one hope the light comes on for him and he becomes a big nasty. But in all honesty, I don't see it. Not unless he has become a monster at DT.

Yeah I still didn't see it with him in the spring game, but who knows... something might click and he puts everyone on notice when we are not expecting it.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

Just hope we don't go 8-5 for the 3rd time in 5 years.

[bigbird 60,368]

On 6/2/2017 at 10:15 AM, auburn4ever said:

Just hope we don't go 8-5 for the 3rd time in 5 years.

I think you might be the only one.

[Win4AU 4,052]

I think defense will be just as good as last year. A lot of young talent Auburn brought in on defense is finally reaching upperclassman status like Cowart.  Last year's defense caught 99% of Auburn fans off guard.  If the offense gets going then defense shouldn't be a concern.  We've won championships with less

[Tiger 8,817]

I thought it was interesting that actual coaches are saying "if Gus gets out of the way" and not just salty AU fans...

[lionheartkc 6,150]

32 minutes ago, Tiger said:

I thought it was interesting that actual coaches are saying "if Gus gets out of the way" and not just salty AU fans...

It's funny how talking points take on a life of their own in the time of the Internet. 

[AuCivilEng1 10,995]

The only team that should beat AU this year is AU itself, imo. We should be an upgraded version of last year at most if not all positions. Last year, when we were healthy, we were solid. You add White and Pettway to Clemson, Georgia, and Bama, and we win. You add in a QB like Stidham and it makes us scary. If Stidham goes down, we have, what has to be the best backup in the SEC. I'm feeling good about the team this year. 

[Tiger 8,817]

57 minutes ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

The only team that should beat AU this year is AU itself, imo. We should be an upgraded version of last year at most if not all positions. Last year, when we were healthy, we were solid. You add White and Pettway to Clemson, Georgia, and Bama, and we win. You add in a QB like Stidham and it makes us scary. If Stidham goes down, we have, what has to be the best backup in the SEC. I'm feeling good about the team this year. 

I like your line of thinking but I don't think we upgraded our entire team. I think our DL takes a hit (we lost 2 NFL draftees) I think our secondary, especially the safety spots, could cause us problems. LB should be upgraded just because everyone is returning and have another year under their belts. On offense, QB definite upgrade, RBs should be upgraded just by being more experienced (same goes for Chandler Cox), WRs we upgraded in talent but nobody that we have at WR has accomplished anything at all at this point, and our OL could be really shaky for us considering we are hoping Calvin Ashley who just finished his finals is going to step in and be a day 1 starter at possibly the most important position on the line.

Overall a large portion of our team should be upgraded, as you said, but there are some big time question marks that can really hurt us this season IMO. I'm worried we could waste all this talent because of holes in critical areas of our roster. Our awesome skill position talent won't be able to do anything if our OL is letting the defensive front get in JS's face all day.

 

EDIT: That is not to say we don't have reason for optimism. But man, a shoddy OL can derail and entire team. Bad blocking --> short drives --> defense is always on the field --> points for the other team

[Win4AU 4,052]

Clemson, LSU, and Alabama are just as good if not better talent wise as Auburn.  Clemson will depend 100% on qb play.  If they find someone to keep the opponents defense honest then their defense will do the rest.  If Matt Canada can do to LSU's offense what he did at Pitt then they could be really dangerous.  Bama has 5*s on top of 5*s and will continue to thrive no matter who they lose.  Add that Clemson and LSU are on the road in hostile environments and cross your fingers Stidham doesn't get frazzled.

[Tiger 8,817]

13 minutes ago, Win4AU said:

Clemson, LSU, and Alabama are just as good if not better talent wise as Auburn.  Clemson will depend 100% on qb play.  If they find someone to keep the opponents defense honest then their defense will do the rest.  If Matt Canada can do to LSU's offense what he did at Pitt then they could be really dangerous.  Bama has 5*s on top of 5*s and will continue to thrive no matter who they lose.  Add that Clemson and LSU are on the road in hostile environments and cross your fingers Stidham doesn't get frazzled.

This is another thing. Stidz is going to be a RS-sophomore by classification but has only played in 3 games in the last 3 years. For all intents and purposes, he is really just a hyper-mature freshman. He is going to inevitably have some growing pains.

 

I swear I'm not trying to be Negative-Nolan all over this thread because I am optimistic but there is definitely reason for concern IMO and if we don't fix those issues people are going to be really pissed around here.

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

1 hour ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

The only team that should beat AU this year is AU itself, imo. We should be an upgraded version of last year at most if not all positions. Last year, when we were healthy, we were solid. You add White and Pettway to Clemson, Georgia, and Bama, and we win. You add in a QB like Stidham and it makes us scary. If Stidham goes down, we have, what has to be the best backup in the SEC. I'm feeling good about the team this year. 

certainly not knowing, but feeling? with you.

[McLoofus 35,182]

1 hour ago, Tiger said:

This is another thing. Stidz is going to be a RS-sophomore by classification but has only played in 3 games in the last 3 years. For all intents and purposes, he is really just a hyper-mature freshman. He is going to inevitably have some growing pains.

Great way of saying it. 

[WFE12 9,191]

3 hours ago, Tiger said:

This is another thing. Stidz is going to be a RS-sophomore by classification but has only played in 3 games in the last 3 years. For all intents and purposes, he is really just a hyper-mature freshman. He is going to inevitably have some growing pains.

 

I swear I'm not trying to be Negative-Nolan all over this thread because I am optimistic but there is definitely reason for concern IMO and if we don't fix those issues people are going to be really pissed around here.

He surely is always prepared and has all the confidence in the world. His former coaches talked about how unfazed he was in those games at Baylor as talked about in the thread I posted. I believe he won't get rattled.

[WFE12 9,191]

I also like us playing GA Southern first because they pose just enough of a test for our team to come out prepared for Clemson. They are not just some rinky dink team...I recently watched their game against Ole Miss and they have fortitude and speedy playmakers. 

[augolf1716 21,096]

1 hour ago, WFE12 said:

I also like us playing GA Southern first because they pose just enough of a test for our team to come out prepared for Clemson. They are not just some rinky dink team...I recently watched their game against Ole Miss and they have fortitude and speedy playmakers. 

How often did they pass? Serious question aren't they still running the wishbone type offense?