Realistic Expectations

[WarEagle1982 491]

I have seen so many people making posts about a possible 10 or 11 win season this fall. I like to be realistic, and i believe that is definitely a stretch considering lack of talent/depth on the d-line (which I believe is one of if not the most important position on the field) and lack of a proven QB. Here is how I think it will shake out:

Wash. State- Defense will be tested by Leach. Close game. Win late. W

Ark. State- Tougher game than many will expect. Late win as well. W

Miss. State- Hard to tell about this one. Being at home is a plus. W

LSU- Too early for this team to go down there and win. L

Ole Miss- I think the rebels will be pretty good. Close game. L

Western Carolina- Lose this and they should be fired. W

Texas A&M- Don't see them winning this on the road. L

Florida Atl.- Again, can't lose this type of game W

Arkansas- Can the defense handle Bielema's ground game? I'll say no. L

Tennessee- Toss up. I think they pull this one out. W

Georgia- Time to beat these guys. This is their upset win for the year. W

Alabama- Even though it is at home they are just not there yet. L

That is 7-5 for the regular season. There are a few that could go either way (Miss. State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia) so that record could be better or worse. I say 7-5 with a bowl invitation would be a good start to the Malzahn era. Anything better than that is a plus.

[tigerbrotha12 2,362]

I really don't believe this Ole Moss recruiting class will be anything special for a few years. I'd say we'd win that one, but like you said, definitely not a given win. Also, don't count us out of the LSU game yet. They've lost a lot. Arkansas is another game I think is winnable.

[PigskinPat 2,642]

I believe Arkansas returns only 4 starters on offense, so hopefully that will help our chances.

[PVilleTiger 0]

The abortion of a team from last year should've beat ole miss. I don't see losing that one at home.

[Auburn4Winners 0]

In no way am I trying to start an argument by saying this but claiming your expectations are "realistic" just because they're centered right between the pessimists and the optimists doesn't necessarily make it correct. The worst Auburn football team on history almost beat LSU last year. One play away. Ole Miss is still not even close to our talent level. One recruiting class doesn't fix everything. Arkansas? Really? Bielema is a decent coach that has done a decent job in a decent conference. I'm not sure exactly what makes you believe he can turn around a god awful Arkansas team faster than our amazing new staff can turn around a terrible Auburn team.

Again not trying to be argumentative at all. Also not saying we win 10 games. Just would like further explanation on those points.

[FHeal 4]

In no way am I trying to start an argument by saying this but claiming your expectations are "realistic" just because they're centered right between the pessimists and the optimists doesn't necessarily make it correct. The worst Auburn football team on history almost beat LSU last year. One play away. Ole Miss is still not even close to our talent level. One recruiting class doesn't fix everything. Arkansas? Really? Bielema is a decent coach that has done a decent job in a decent conference. I'm not sure exactly what makes you believe he can turn around a god awful Arkansas team faster than our amazing new staff can turn around a terrible Auburn team.

Again not trying to be argumentative at all. Also not saying we win 10 games. Just would like further explanation on those points.

(ditto)

Certainly under most circumstances having a new system on both sides +++ a new staff +++ a new head coach ====> could spell doom. We definitely saw most of that 1st hand last season. However in this case the HC is the former OC that hand picked most of the offensive talent, the new offense is really a return to the old for most of these guys (who are more suited to this type scheme) and the new staff quite likely on par with what's across the state (w/2x consec MNC). Yes - defense is in question, but simply running a hurry up defense all practice should also pay dividends when the pace is slowed down against a much more traditional paced team. Can they/we block, tackle, and cover? You are correct that remains to be seen. Yet the person who believes the time is right and with some luck a complete turn around is just as likely to be realistic or reasonable, as is the naysayer who would decries gloom, doom, or chants moderation in overall expectations. I tend to believe this new conditioning program, pace, return to basics (re-learning to tackle), along with delegation of authority across the board is reason enough to cautiously expect more than the usual turn around. So paint me into the corner as being unrealistic if you wish, it's better than being painted into one of the others at this point in the season. For optimism may be all we have this season.... .... so why not enjoy it while we can?

[war eagle6 0]

Once again, I must say this; I dont care what the media says about bama being unstoppable, I will Never concede a loss for AU in a rivalry game!! We have great coaches and good talent on this team, I will not sell this team and coaches short. Auburn is gonna surprise a lot of people, including our own fanbase!! WDE

[AU_Tiger_88 417]

Once again, I must say this; I dont care what the media says about bama being unstoppable, I will Never concede a loss for AU in a rivalry game!! We have great coaches and good talent on this team, I will not sell this team and coaches short. Auburn is gonna surprise a lot of people, including our own fanbase!! WDE

Right On! I think we will be much better than predicted. Need solid line play and a QB that can do a little better than the basics and not try to win it all on his own. We have talent but didn't have confidence nor did last years staff instill that...I think this staff is 180 and will right the ship. I expect better tackling and our defense to come back to a recognizable one that we are used to seeing at Auburn...will we be there? No not yet but I also think that all of our games are winnable....I think this staff thinks it....or else go and tell those teams that beat highly ranked teams in the past that they couldn't do it....We can and we will. I go into every game believing that my Tigers can win...(seen them pull out games out of nowhere before)....do I expect that we will win every game this year? No but I do expect that we will play and not lay down like last year

[oracle79 3,569]

Since we're just speculating, I'll add mine. From a schedule standpoint and based off the previous year you'd say we should win 4 (OOC), should lose four (LSU, A&M, Georgia, and UAT), and four toss up (Ole Miss, MSU, Arkansas, Tennessee). If it's an average season, with average production, average injuries, and average coaching you'd figure 6-6. Now if we find a QB, players buy in to the coaching, several players realize their potential, few injury problems, get some breaks (officiating, turnovers, good bounces, special teams) we could take all the toss-ups and surprise a couple of the big boys and finish 10-2. You could also experience the opposite (no QB steps up, get bad breaks, injury bug, players sulk and pout) and we're looking at 4-8. I'd lean toward the positive right now from what we've heard all through spring and hope we will find a capable QB out of the five and look for a much improved year. It's just going to come down to seeing them play on the field and hopefully we get early success and continue to build on that confidence and momentum throughout the year. Glad we got 3 home games to start us off.

[IronMan70 3,322]

8-4 to 9-3

[PoetTiger 1,901]

"Glad we got 3 home games to start us off."

Important...will give some much needed confidence. Not sure what the outcome may be but if AU just improves on basic fundamental football (tackling,running, blocking etc) then I see a pretty good season on the horizon. As much of a trainwreck last year was AU was in a lot of games only to fold in the 2nd half.......

[SumterAubie 3,110]

I have seen so many people making posts about a possible 10 or 11 win season this fall. I like to be realistic, and i believe that is definitely a stretch considering lack of talent/depth on the d-line (which I believe is one of if not the most important position on the field) and lack of a proven QB. Here is how I think it will shake out:

Wash. State- Defense will be tested by Leach. Close game. Win late. W

Ark. State- Tougher game than many will expect. Late win as well. W

Miss. State- Hard to tell about this one. Being at home is a plus. W

LSU- Too early for this team to go down there and win. L

Ole Miss- I think the rebels will be pretty good. Close game. L

Western Carolina- Lose this and they should be fired. W

Texas A&M- Don't see them winning this on the road. L

Florida Atl.- Again, can't lose this type of game W

Arkansas- Can the defense handle Bielema's ground game? I'll say no. L

Tennessee- Toss up. I think they pull this one out. W

Georgia- Time to beat these guys. This is their upset win for the year. W

Alabama- Even though it is at home they are just not there yet. L

That is 7-5 for the regular season. There are a few that could go either way (Miss. State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia) so that record could be better or worse. I say 7-5 with a bowl invitation would be a good start to the Malzahn era. Anything better than that is a plus.

"We've got good depth in there and that's going to help us in a physical league like we play in," Johnson said. "It's also going to help us practice more physically each day. Sometimes you have to pull off on them when you get low on bodies and that's one thing we didn't have to worry about."

[SumterAubie 3,110]

When Auburn walks out on the field this Autumn there will only be three teams wiith as much or more physical talent than Auburn on the opposite sideline. bamr, lsu and the buttsniffers. And of those three only bamr doesn't have apparent personnel problems. Both lsu and uga lost heavily on the defensive side of the ball. Given the fact the grownups are in charge of the program again I choose to believe this team will play to its potential in most if not all of it's games. IF this is indeed the case, Auburn should beat at least 8 if not all of the other 9 and perhaps steal one from lsu or uga. 9/10 wins this year plus a nice bowl victory.

[WarTiger 4,025]

We already have a thread on this very topic.

http://www.aufamily....ly-predictions/