Jump to content

Underdogs again, according to Athlon... our favorite place to be

lionheartkc

By lionheartkc
in AU Football Forum

Recommended Posts

lionheartkc Founding Father

lionheartkc 6,150

Posted
Posted

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/auburn-football-will-tigers-show-improvement-2012

Every single "expert" thinks we'll be lucky to win 8.  Can't wait to shock the world!





  • Replies 50
  • Created
  • Last Reply
DyeCampAlum Founding Father

DyeCampAlum 335

Posted
Posted

I understand what every one of those guys said.  No objections.  Nobody but Auburn people is going to favor us over four SEC opponents.  Probably not Clemson either, though I'm really looking forward to that one.  I'll expect us to win a game or two as underdogs, but it's hard to see 10-2 or 11-1.

kingofhill1 Mentor

kingofhill1 2

Posted
Posted

It seems to be the consensus that the defense was not very well coached under the previous defensive coordinator. I never called for the man's job but I do happen to agree with the consensus. I believe we will see great improvements on that side of the ball. I don't give a rip how they rank us now. I think 10 wins is a distinct possibility.

bikeriderga Founding Father

bikeriderga 137

Posted
Posted

I understand what every one of those guys said.  No objections.  Nobody but Auburn people is going to favor us over four SEC opponents.  Probably not Clemson either, though I'm really looking forward to that one.  I'll expect us to win a game or two as underdogs, but it's hard to see 10-2 or 11-1.

I understand why the media says what they are, but remember folks, they do not believe Chizik is an elite coach either. I definitely see Auburn at least at 9-3 this year and a win in the bowl game, which gives us 10 wins.

Our defense was pitiful last year, but not only were we young, Roof was just not a good defensive coach. The difference between the bowl game defense and the rest of the year was obvious. Chizik only had a few weeks to work with them and they were much improved.

Our offense suffered last year due to a young offensive line and key injuries in our passing game. Once Blake was back and Reed was healed up, we fared much better. Malzahn is a very good coach, but young O-Line and no receivers did not leave him much to work with. This year should be different. Blake should be 100%, Reed looked much better in A-Day game, and up and coming Sammie Coates is going to be a good one.  QB is still a question, agreed. Frazier has the talent, let's just see if he can learn to read defenses in the SEC. We know he is a threat to run every time he touches the ball. With a beast of a man at Fullback, coupled with the RB talent, that will be huge for us. Who gets the ball? Frazier, Mason, OMac, Blakely, Grant, or Robinson? Add end around and our ground game should be lights out!

I know that some are concerned at RB, but that will be our strongest position. No lack of talent here. OMAC has had at least 800 yrds per year when healthy and we all saw what Tre Mason could do last year. Coupled with the talent coming in and Blakely and Grant who are hungry, we should be more than OK here.

Defensive line will be good. Three ballers at DE and I believe our DT's will be much improved. I agree, linebacker is the area we are most weak and vulnerable. We have to have the guys battling for a starting job to step up big and we have to really hope the starting group is not injured. We could really be hurt in mid-field yardage gains without a solid linebacking core. Bates is small for an LB, but he is a monster. We are going to have to play freshmen in this position. Here's hoping Cassanova can grow up quickly.

I think we will be fine in the secondary. T-Bell and Enrique Florence should be back to full strength. We are fine at safety.

The first game with Clemson will tell the tale and should set the pace for the rest of the year. If we win this game and the next with Miss. State, I only see three potential losses this year. We will beat one we are not suppose to win, perhaps two.

I said last year we would win 8 and we did. This year (and I am not pumping sunshine), I see 10 wins, honestly and a top 20 finish. 2013, LOOK OUT!!

Rednilla Founding Father

Rednilla 5,469

Posted
Posted

I understand what every one of those guys said.  No objections.  Nobody but Auburn people is going to favor us over four SEC opponents.  Probably not Clemson either, though I'm really looking forward to that one.  I'll expect us to win a game or two as underdogs, but it's hard to see 10-2 or 11-1.

I understand it too, but I find it difficult not to object to one of them. The first guy, David something or other, sounded like a rival fan trying to see the team through the most negative light possible. We return 9 starters on defense and gain a top notch DC from the NFL to go along with one of the most respected DB coaches in the country, we have a veteran leader of a talented young group at running back, tight end, and receiver...and yet we're likely to have a dropoff from 7-5 last year?

I thought the second guy was pretty spot on except the win total, and I didn't have too much problem with the third analysis, but that first guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

Budapesttiger Mentor

Budapesttiger 2

Posted
Posted

The fact is that most 'experts' go with the trends and that's about it. Bama was good? Ok, they'll be good. Texas, USC, etc. Auburn stunk, Ok they'll stink until they don't then I'll say they're great.

There are 100+ teams for these guys to follow. No one except a few beat writers follow them like we would here on this board. So, no one is going to digest the information necessary to come out and say well - the Tigers match up well here and here but not here so realistically... They just have to follow trends.

These magazines - most of them - are as useful as pre season polls. Well, the pictures are nice.

Ronald McDonald Founding Father

Ronald McDonald 0

Posted
Posted

I bet those same experts change their tune after Auburn clubs Clemson and shuts the yapper of the man-child Dabo Sweeney. I'm really going to enjoy that one.

You're a lot more optimistic than I am about that game. :laugh:
TheDob06 Experienced

TheDob06 471

Posted
Posted

I can't really argue with the experts predictions based on past performances.  The few times I can recall them showing us some preseason love (2008 and 2003 as an example) we underachieved.  I'll gladly take no preseason love because, in most cases, it doesn't matter (2004 excluded).  If Auburn does what we all expect them to do and be a highly competitive team this year, the rankings will adjust, as they should, during the season.  I have a feeling that the 2012 Auburn team is going to surpirse a lot of the "experts" this year.  I believe the defense will be vastly improved, as well as the offense.  I'm not necessarily saying the offense will be greatly improved statistically, but I think we will be able to get some long drives in there to keep the other team's O off the field.  If we can control the clock, that will be worth a win or two on its own.

bikeriderga Founding Father

bikeriderga 137

Posted
Posted

I bet those same experts change their tune after Auburn clubs Clemson and shuts the yapper of the man-child Dabo Sweeney. I'm really going to enjoy that one.

You're a lot more optimistic than I am about that game. :laugh:

For some reason, I am optimistic about this game as well. Yes Dabo and company will play their best game all year against us (Dabo is a Bammer and literally hates Auburn), but I think Chizik and company will have revenge on their minds. I think we beat them by at least 10.  First half will be a nail biter, but we have more overall depth and talent than Clemson and better coaching this year. If Frazier is on his 5 star HS days for this game, Clemson will fall hard!

YaBoyMaxWeezy Experienced

YaBoyMaxWeezy 0

Posted
Posted

I HOPE we have a good record next season, but I hope for a lot of things.....

For those that think we are going to go 10-2 in the regular season, i find that funny actually. Who are those only 2 losses going to come from. I'm going to assume Bama and LSU? I think we will go at best 1 -3 vs Clemson, UGA, Arkansas, and I think we could possibly lose some random game like MSST or TAM.

8-4 regular season record...Best Case.

Plaric Veteran

Plaric 4

Posted
Posted

I don't know why I have a good feeling about the Clemson game, but I do.

2 te sets are going to give Clemson problems......They are going to be in for a big surprise....oh...this quarterback doesnt crap on himself after a half of the game is through.....damn!

Weegle777 Founding Father

Weegle777 78

Posted
Posted

I HOPE we have a good record next season, but I hope for a lot of things.....

For those that think we are going to go 10-2 in the regular season, i find that funny actually. Who are those only 2 losses going to come from. I'm going to assume Bama and LSU? I think we will go at best 1 -3 vs Clemson, UGA, Arkansas, and I think we could possibly lose some random game like MSST or TAM.

8-4 regular season record...Best Case.

Awesome post. The best in this thread. You are soooooo right.
AUoutsider Rising Star

AUoutsider 0

Posted
Posted

During Tubbs tenure we definitely suffered from analysts assuming whichever way you trended last year, you'll continue that trend this year.  We were way over hyped in 2003, but way undervalued in 2004, and there were other years with similar issues.  In both of those years the issue was coaching (Nall/Ensminger vs. Borges) and not talent, and the analysts completely missed it.

To that point, Van Gorder is being way undervalued, perhaps even by us.  Auburn will beat some teams next year because those teams can't score.  I know it's been a while since we could expect such things.

The question mark for me is Loeffler.  Can he get production even while running the clock and protecting the football?  He's really an unknown quanity, but that can be a significant advantage over our opponents next season.  They don't know what to expect from him either, and Auburn can perhaps feast on the lack of predictability.  Add that to some key talent maturing, and Auburn may be a shooting star next year.  For most teams that would be too much to hope for, but we're Auburn.... lightning-in-a-bottle happens here.

Rednilla Founding Father

Rednilla 5,469

Posted
Posted

We will get at MOST 8 regular season wins.

Write it down and get back to me the last weekend of November.

I'll be the one waiting to say I told you so.

YaBoyMaxWeezy Experienced

YaBoyMaxWeezy 0

Posted
Posted

We will get at MOST 8 regular season wins.

Write it down and get back to me the last weekend of November.

I'll be the one waiting to say I told you so.

hahahahahhaha, I hope you do. I reallllly hope we finish better. If we finish with over 8 wins you have my blessing to create a thread that says, "YaBoyMaxWeezy is a F'n Moron" lol

WDE.

AUQBDad Mentor

AUQBDad 0

Posted
Posted

I HOPE we have a good record next season, but I hope for a lot of things.....

For those that think we are going to go 10-2 in the regular season, i find that funny actually. Who are those only 2 losses going to come from. I'm going to assume Bama and LSU? I think we will go at best 1 -3 vs Clemson, UGA, Arkansas, and I think we could possibly lose some random game like MSST or TAM.

8-4 regular season record...Best Case.

Yours is at best conjecture...same as anyone else...for you to guarantee ANYTHING is just as asinine as any other lame-nutted reporter hack.

Now THAT is something you can write down and bet on.  :cool:

bikeriderga Founding Father

bikeriderga 137

Posted
Posted

I HOPE we have a good record next season, but I hope for a lot of things.....

For those that think we are going to go 10-2 in the regular season, i find that funny actually. Who are those only 2 losses going to come from. I'm going to assume Bama and LSU? I think we will go at best 1 -3 vs Clemson, UGA, Arkansas, and I think we could possibly lose some random game like MSST or TAM.

8-4 regular season record...Best Case.

Yours is at best conjecture...same as anyone else...for you to guarantee ANYTHING is just as asinine as any other lame-nutted reporter hack.

Now THAT is something you can write down and bet on.  :cool:

ROFLMAO!!

Only one word response appropriate as a response to your post AUQBDad,

DITTO!!

TigerProwl24 Veteran

TigerProwl24 0

Posted
Posted

I HOPE we have a good record next season, but I hope for a lot of things.....

For those that think we are going to go 10-2 in the regular season, i find that funny actually. Who are those only 2 losses going to come from. I'm going to assume Bama and LSU? I think we will go at best 1 -3 vs Clemson, UGA, Arkansas, and I think we could possibly lose some random game like MSST or TAM.

8-4 regular season record...Best Case.

  It you feel so strong about it, would you like to put your money where your mouth is? If you're over the age of 18 of course, which i seriously wonder about... 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...