K-State Review

[AUloggerhead 2,868]

Pretty good review. The AU offense will need to be clicking from the very first snap to move the ball on this defense. If they come out like they did last year against WSU, they should be fine. There's no substitute for experience, and I'm certainly glad we have a veteran in Brandon Cox at the QB position.

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Previewing Auburn's first opponent, Kansas StateBy Robert Rousseau on August 14, 2007 12:23 AM

Well, it's almost here. That's right, we're talking about Opening Day of the college football season. For the Auburn Tigers , that day is Sept. 1 and will take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Their opponent will be the Kansas State Wildcats, a team that went 7-6 last season under first-year head coach Ron Prince.

In anticipation of the Tigers' first opponent, let's take a look at K-State...

The offense:

Kansas State has two excellent running backs in senior James Johnson (403 yards rushing and two touchdowns last season) and sophomore Leon Patton (609 yards rushing and six TDs). Johnson is a former JUCO star who was somewhat disappointing last season in that he came into camp overweight. Still, his talent, at times, did come through in 2006. Patton, on the other hand, is a small back -- only 5-foot-7, 184 pounds -- with loads of speed and the ability to make cuts on a dime.

Behind these guys there isn't a wealth of depth. Still, how many teams out there wouldn't mortgage a lot to have two athletic and talented backs?

In terms of passing, the Wildcats don't really have much in the line of proven receivers, though Jordy Nelson has enough talent that he could break through like one (39 catches for 547 yards last year). Further, tight end Rashaad Norwood showed some promise last season, too, with 36 catches for 358 yards.

Though the Wildcats' offensive line returns three starters, it performed so poorly last season that one has to wonder if returners are a good thing. That said, newcomer Alesana Alesana has come in and taken over the left tackle position with a fury. Some believe he's got great upside.

Finally, in keeping with the unproven nature of K-State's offense is sophomore quarterback Josh Freeman. On one hand, Freeman represents 6-6, 230 pounds of mobility with a powerful arm. On the other hand, for the most part his passing was terrible last season. However, Freeman did show glimpses of what he could become, such as in the win over Texas.

In the end, there are tons of questions surrounding this offense. Too many, in fact, for the team to truly compete for a conference title.

That is, unless Freeman matures quickly and plays up to his potential. That's the whole key.

The defense:

This is a fast, athletic group that returns six starters. Outside linebacker Ian Campbell is a star and junior defensive tackle Alphonso Moran could become one. In fact, the whole front seven has skills.

And that's not even mentioning the fact that Marcus Watts, a physical free safety, is back from injury to lead a very experienced and talented defensive backfield (Justin McKinney also returns).

Ultimately, this will be a defense to be reckoned with, though it is breaking in a new coordinator in Tim Tibesar.

Other factors:

Last season, the Wildcats were a highly penalized team that was sometimes too aggressive for its own good. However, their special teams were outstanding, cashing in on three blocked kicks and six touchdowns on returns.

In the end:

The Wildcats' special teams and defense will be excellent this season (expect them to be in position more on defense in 2007). That said, their ability to play with the big boys seems to rest on an unproven offensive line and a young, mistake-prone quarterback.

And when it comes to Auburn, that young offensive line is going to be tested in a big way right off the bat. Expect Freeman to be running for his life a lot -- which he's capable of -- but unless he's improved in a big way over last season, the opener could be tough for him.

[shaft3500 0]

that report is pretty spot on except for jordy nelson, who was hobbled by various injuries last season. as a sophmore, he had 45 catches for 669 yards and 8 TD's (9 overall). earned all Big 12 honors. if he can stay free of injuries, which would hopefully be the case in the first game of the season, he should be a real leader on the field and return to that all big 12 form.

[CircleDrill 180]

Man, this is gonna be some game!!!! I can't wait.

I would not be surprised to see us throwing the ball early to try to get a lead, with the hopes that we can stop them on defense if it doesn't pan out. This might be a low-scoring affair.

But however it goes, I am looking forward to it.

[shaft3500 0]

if i was you guys, i would pound the ball on the ground and run some short pass plays and screens. watts and mckinney will get some picks in the secondary, and we have a decent pass rush. i think your offense would be better off battling for field position, not making turnovers and letting your defense put it in position to score.

[jdub5793 0]

if i was you guys, i would pound the ball on the ground and run some short pass plays and screens. watts and mckinney will get some picks in the secondary, and we have a decent pass rush. i think your offense would be better off battling for field position, not making turnovers and letting your defense put it in position to score.

Which is what we happen to be the best at

[mcgufcm 4,109]

i'd be legitmately surprised to see brandon cox throwing more than one int. he's a sharp accurate qb who has literally thrown almost half of his career ints (8 of 16) in just two bad games (gatech in 2005 and uga last year). the first was his first game as a starter; the second he was badly injured and just plain off. this doesn't smell like that. regardless of how good your secondary is, auburn throwing the ball doesn't equate to turnovers.

[tiger88 934]

I'm thinking our defense may just show up with some fire with it being their 2nd year under Muschamp.

Good for us to face a good d right out of the gate.

[aucanucktiger 1,989]

You know, no matter how it's spun, a team from the Big 12 that went 7-6 last year and has as many wins vs. top 10 teams in it's history as we have since 2000, er, sucks.

It doesn't help my mood about this that Nebraska's players, coaches, fans, mascots, etc. whined incesently about how the best team lost to us in last year's Cotton Bowl. Absent a complete TANKING by AU, this is like fearing Rutgers.

[Steve Dave 0]

You know, no matter how it's spun, a team from the Big 12 that went 7-6 last year and has as many wins vs. top 10 teams in it's history as we have since 2000, er, sucks.

It doesn't help my mood about this that Nebraska's players, coaches, fans, mascots, etc. whined incesently about how the best team lost to us in last year's Cotton Bowl. Absent a complete TANKING by AU, this is like fearing Rutgers.

A) Don't compare K-State to those whiny bitches (NU< whiny bitches). They are a cancer to the Big 12. They think that because they used to be good they still have the right to act like they're good....they don't. They are the (insert whiny bitchy SEC team that thinks they have good academics but don't and were good 20 years ago but aren't now) of the Big 12.

Kansas State's O-Line is horrible....your D-Line is awesome....it will be ugly.

C) Whoever did that preview is a moron. That was the worst preview of KSU I have ever seen. We are in the middle of nowhere so I accept you shot from the hip with it but, christ. There are many more returning starters then that. They are also not as good as he says.

Advantages by position according to me (< the guy that knows about KSU but not Auburn)

QB KSU (Cox isn't good, is he?)

RB KSU (Auburn doesn't have any good RBs do they?)

WR KSU (Does Aubrun throw the ball?)

OL Auburn (clearly, KSU has a long history (one year) of having the worst OL in the universe)

DL Auburn (KSU plays 7 LBs)

LB Auburn (KSU plays 7 s***ty LBs)

DB KSU (LOL at KSU having way better DBs and it not mattering)

Score: KSU 11 Auburn 64

[autkidd 0]

Advantages by position according to me (< the guy that knows about KSU but not Auburn)

QB KSU (Cox isn't good, is he?)

RB KSU (Auburn doesn't have any good RBs do they?)

WR KSU (Does Aubrun throw the ball?)

OL Auburn (clearly, KSU has a long history (one year) of having the worst OL in the universe)

DL Auburn (KSU plays 7 LBs)

LB Auburn (KSU plays 7 s***ty LBs)

DB KSU (LOL at KSU having way better DBs and it not mattering)

Score: KSU 11 Auburn 64

Umm Cox is very good... very accurate and doesn't lose the game for us... If we lose it is not his fault. it is those around him.

RB's Umm we have at least 3 that would be starting at just about any other school in the nation... Lester, Tate, Fannin. Not to mention Carl Stewart coming out of the backfield catching ANYTHING thrown his way.

[Steve Dave 0]

Umm ...very good...

.....we have at least 3 that would be starting at just about any other school in the nation... ANYTHING thrown his way.

That is a very University of Nebraska reply..I now change my score prediction to KSU 31 Auburn 17.

[tigernt'town 4]

You know, no matter how it's spun, a team from the Big 12 that went 7-6 last year and has as many wins vs. top 10 teams in it's history as we have since 2000, er, sucks.

It doesn't help my mood about this that Nebraska's players, coaches, fans, mascots, etc. whined incesently about how the best team lost to us in last year's Cotton Bowl. Absent a complete TANKING by AU, this is like fearing Rutgers.

A) Don't compare K-State to those whiny bitches (NU< whiny bitches). They are a cancer to the Big 12. They think that because they used to be good they still have the right to act like they're good....they don't. They are the (insert whiny bitchy SEC team that thinks they have good academics but don't and were good 20 years ago but aren't now) of the Big 12.

Kansas State's O-Line is horrible....your D-Line is awesome....it will be ugly.

C) Whoever did that preview is a moron. That was the worst preview of KSU I have ever seen. We are in the middle of nowhere so I accept you shot from the hip with it but, christ. There are many more returning starters then that. They are also not as good as he says.

Advantages by position according to me (< the guy that knows about KSU but not Auburn)

QB KSU (Cox isn't good, is he?)

RB KSU (Auburn doesn't have any good RBs do they?)

WR KSU (Does Aubrun throw the ball?)

OL Auburn (clearly, KSU has a long history (one year) of having the worst OL in the universe)

DL Auburn (KSU plays 7 LBs)

LB Auburn (KSU plays 7 s***ty LBs)

DB KSU (LOL at KSU having way better DBs and it not mattering)

Score: KSU 11 Auburn 64

nebraska/big 12=alabama/sec

QB-AUBURN-Cox has played and won many big games.

RB-AUBURN-we roll 5 deep, our fullbacks may be better than your RB's

WR-AUBURN-even though we are reloading.

OL-AUBURN-the last time we played a bad OL, we put up 11 sacks. QG is going to put on a clinic.

Dude, KSU and the big 2+10 are about to be educated regarding the SEC. in 2004, 18th ranked Missouri couldn't even beat TROY for pete's sake!!!!!!!!!

[AUloggerhead 2,868]

Umm ...very good...

.....we have at least 3 that would be starting at just about any other school in the nation... ANYTHING thrown his way.

That is a very University of Nebraska reply..I now change my score prediction to KSU 31 Auburn 17.

Cox is a 23-yr old redshirt senior QB who's been the starting AU QB since 2005. This seaon will be his 3rd year at the helm. He may not be any good in your estimation but just so you understand -- the Ole Ball Coach Steve Spurrier was recruiting Cox to be a Gator before he suddenly left for the Redskins job. After he left, Cox then signed with AU. When the premier passing coach in the country goes hard after a QB recruit, I figure the kid probably has some decent skills flinging the ball. He's plenty accurate: avg 70% completion in HS, and has had almost a 60% (0.592) completion rate at AU. He doesn't throw many interceptions but when he does, he tends to throw them in bunches (e.g. 4 against UGA last season.) Probably shouldn't have played after being injured early in the season, but he gutted it out & started every game. He's a tough kid, has been through the mill and has taken his knocks. KSU (or USF for that matter) is not going to rattle him.

Running Backs: for about the 4th year in a row, AU has an embarrassment of riches at the RB position. AU has recruited well at RB. Guys that like to run with the ball gravitate towards schools that run, and AU certainly likes to run the ball. We won't be missing Kenny Irons, Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown or Rudi Johnson. Trust me on this one: AU is reloading with a new crop of more than capable RBs. Rather than list them all, it will probably be better for you to just watch on 1 Sept and witness it first hand. War Eagle.

[Steve Dave 0]

nebraska/big 12=alabama/sec

QB-AUBURN-Cox has played and won many big games.

RB-AUBURN-we roll 5 deep, our fullbacks may be better than your RB's

WR-AUBURN-even though we are reloading.

OL-AUBURN-the last time we played a bad OL, we put up 11 sacks. QG is going to put on a clinic.

Dude, KSU and the big 2+10 are about to be educated regarding the SEC. in 2004, 18th ranked Missouri couldn't even beat TROY for pete's sake!!!!!!!!!

This is the most Nebraska/Alabama post yet! My new score prediction is: Let's make sure interracial marriage stays illegal-9 Brown v. the Board of Education-72. LOFL you guys are full of yourselves!

[OKieAuburnDoug 1]

I got to see a lot more of K State than any other Auburn fan on this site...

if you take away the Texas game KSU was NOT impressive at all. Stewart would easily start @ TB for the Wildcats. THeir O-line was very very bad @ pass protection last year. Freeman is very similar to G-Tech's Ball...he can be Superman or Gomer Pyle. Usually the latter. Their D-line is the one area where they shine. Very solid. THe secondary is very suspect. Once Texas actually woke up last year their safeties couldn't cover a piece of gravel. Texas would've beaten K-State nine times out of ten if they played 10 times.

Still this game is going to be the one where Auburn has the usual first game `rust' and I'm still VERY nervous about K-State due to that.

[Steve Dave 0]

Their D-line is the one area where they shine.

I don't know where you guys are getting this unless you are just regurgitating that article posted above. Our DTs are barely D1 caliber. I would not worry much about a big push up the middle if I was you.