What's Your Real Take

[AUesquire 1]

In the Rivals Forum, we had some realistic discussion of where Bama is going into this season. This morning, I was listening to our local sports talk guy make a point that on the surface, ticked me off. Then when I thought about it, he wasn't too far off. Mel Kiper (Of all freakin' people) said the same thing last year when asked about some of Auburn's struggles in 06'. The point was a perceived lack of true NFL caliber players. That may be true to some extent and the question that comes to my mind is:

Do we have anyone on offense that makes you say, "Just put the ball in his hands."

I understand the team concept, numbers, depth etc. but I think going into this season, the most valuable "player" is going to have to be, Al Borges. Unless someone like Tate, Fannin, Billings, Hawthorne steps up and we come out of the KSU game going, "Wow, did you see those 2 long TD runs by...?" we're going to have to distribute the ball like we did in 04'. Not only did CAB make it virtually impossible for defenses to know what was coming, we had several true impact players touching the ball. Think about 04' for a second.

We all felt perfectly comfortable whether the ball was in Jason's hands, or Caddy's or Ronnie's hands. They could all do something spectacular on their own. But don't forget Devin A. blowing past DBs time and time again on fly patterns. Anyone recall the eye-popping athletic feats of Obewon when he got in the open field? And what about Anthony Mix steamrolling 3-4 hapless defenders anytime he was called on. No need to even break down the 04' defense and the number of NFL caliber players on that side of the ball. Bottom line, that squad was LOADED with guys that could change a game all by themselves.

Do we have anyone like that in 07'? Certainly on defense, Q is a true impact player and is widely recognized for his talents. Tray has given every indication that he SHOULD be, but he's only been in 5-6 games. Is there anyone on the offensive side of the ball that you think could change the momentum with one carry, one catch, one throw? My take is that we have a lot of "Potential" for that to happen. There are several guys that I could see blowing us away by midseason. My picks are:

Ben Tate: I think the guy could go for 150 every game if he's the man.

Gabe McKenzie: If Borges gets back to using the TE as a weapon, this guy is good for 7-8 catches a game. I think he rises to the top of the rotation.

Montez Billings: I believe this kid is going to get real good, real fast and may become a true go to receiver that defenses fear.

I think we will have a very good team but realistically, if we take it to the next level, there are going to have to be 2-3 guys on offense that step up big time and become true impact players. Guys that are on everyone's preseason All-SEC for 08'. Do you see anyone rising to that level or will our success depend mainly on how CAB conducts this offense?

[Wishbone 0]

The OL could limit what our RB's do this year in terms of numbers, although I think Fannin is a beast. Out of necessity I think CTT and Borges are going to let Cox throw more this year, so I look for some WR or two to step up this year. Montez Billings looked really good in the spring game. I know we have recruited some big time names at WR so all we need is just a couple to pan out and we should be good at that position. I also think Rod Smith will really shine if he has some people step up and take the attention off of him.

In the event that Cox is injured, I think Kodi Burns starts and it will be very interesting to see how the offense does.

[merkuree 0]

I believe this will be Brandon's year. I won't have the pucker factor like I did last year while he was hurt.

Carl Stewart. I'm comfortable watching him making touchdowns and first downs, while it's 3rd and 7 and I have a mouth full of nachos and nearly choking in surprise. I think Stewart is one of those guys that can best be described as finding a $20 bill in your pocket after doing laundry that you forgot about. Always makes you smile.

Any of the 3 Amigos (tight ends). Big, slow, and they know where they need to be when they catch the ball.

Finally, any of the "R" recievers... Rod Smith, Prechae Rodriguez, or Robert Dunn.

[McWeagle 4]

1) Brandon Cox

2) Cole Bennett

3) Brad Lester

4) Carl Stewart

5) Rod Smith

6) King Dunlap

These guys probably don't have the physical wow factor that their successors have, but if we were to replay the final drive of the 2004 LSU game - which I consider to be the exact moment that the Auburn program went from good to great - then these are the guys I'd want on the field, either with the ball in their hands or blocking for the guy who's got it.

Regarding Rod Smith, I just have to believe that he's that kinda guy. I don't honestly know. I just need to believe that we've got a guy like that somewhere in our receiving corps.

As far as who's gonna play on Sundays goes, who knows. If you would've asked me in August of 2004 where Jason Campbell would go in the draft, I would've told you "in the free agent round, hopefully".

[80Tiger 909]

I really like our TE, and like Squire, Gabe Mckenzie I believe can really shine. I know we have depth, but this guy can be an every down players. Size, speed and hands.

As far as receivers, even though I appreciate what a guy like Rod Smith does, I am just not sure you can ride that horse all the time. I believe you have to have that fast big guy on the outside like Billings or even Hawthorne.

[AUesquire 1]

Of course, success or lack thereof in the NFL has little bearing on it. Some pan out and some don't. I'm just wondering if any of these guys with the pedigrees coming out of high school will step up to play on that same level at D-1. I want a Sydney Rice at receiver. It's 3rd and 9 from the opponents 15 yard line. You KNOW we're tossing it up to Rice. Now try and stop it.

I want a Kellen Winslow Jr. at TE. If you've got a LB on your squad that can keep up all game...more power to you. I recall going to an FSU/Miami game a few years back. FSU was still loaded and played in your face defense. Everytime little 5 foot nothing Santana Moss split out wide, you saw the corners do something they never did with anyone else. Back off.

Tim Hawthorne?

Mario Fannin?

Chris Slaughter?

When the lights go on in Jordan Hare, will any of these guys step up big time?

[tgr4lfe 220]

The OL could limit what our RB's do this year in terms of numbers, although I think Fannin is a beast. Out of necessity I think CTT and Borges are going to let Cox throw more this year, so I look for some WR or two to step up this year. Montez Billings looked really good in the spring game. I know we have recruited some big time names at WR so all we need is just a couple to pan out and we should be good at that position. I also think Rod Smith will really shine if he has some people step up and take the attention off of him.

In the event that Cox is injured, I think Kodi Burns starts and it will be very interesting to see how the offense does.

AU will still be a primary run offense. I do however believe that we are going to see a lot more stuff this year. Remember, we have a lot of guys no offense at the skill positions that have been with CAB for more that 2 years. There is a lot of talent on this team, a lot of it unseen b/c of the depth. They are inexperienced, but I think will be very good. THe OL is going to be good. I don't think it is going to be as big of a concern as most think. THe kicking game is my biggest concern. There are playmakers at every skill position on O, Lester, Tate, Fannin, Stewart at RBs, not to mention Tristan when he returns from injury, Hawthorne, Billings, Smith, and a couple of others whose names escape me at WR, and loaded at TE with McKenzie, Bennett, and Trott!! There are not any BIG names like in 2004 that are standing out now as for sure NFL draftees, but that was said of Campbell before the 2004 season and look how much $$ he took home!!

WAR EAGLE!!

[subterranean_jack 113]

Cox is pretty much everything you could wish for in a senior QB, but he doesn't have much help. When it is 3rd and 7 to go for a first down, I don't think there is anyone the defense is thinking will be the go-to guy. Who seems poised to step up and be that guy? Ben Tate seems the most likely candidate. I think all 3 tight ends are solid and should be utilized more. Carl Stewart is going to be an NFL fullback. If Montez Billings can shake his current injury, he has a chance of establishing himself early. But, it is going to take more than a handful of question marks to turn Auburn's offense into a force to be feared.

By the end of the season, the go-to guys on offense should have established themselves (hopefully Kodi Burns will be in this group as well), and the offense will be ready to lead in 2008 and 2009. The defense and kicking game should be good then also, and I expect Auburn to contend for a MNC in these years.

Borges may be forced into a lot of experimentation this season to find the go-to guys, including trying multiple options and combination, moving players to different positions, and utilizing Kodi Burns and his mobility because the OL is too green to keep UF and LSU defenders out of the backfield.

KSU and USF will be good measuring sticks though, so the coaches should know who they can count on before Auburn gets into the meat of the SEC schedule.

[AUloggerhead 2,861]

... I think we will have a very good team but realistically, if we take it to the next level, there are going to have to be 2-3 guys on offense that step up big time and become true impact players. Guys that are on everyone's preseason All-SEC for 08'. Do you see anyone rising to that level or will our success depend mainly on how CAB conducts this offense?

For AU to "take it to 11," I see these players turning heads this season to be All SEC for next year:

Rod Smith (could be another WR in the mix too, I don't know who at the moment.)

Ben Tate (I've heard all the talk about Super Mario but I just haven't seen him play yet)

Lee Ziemba (has a chance to be a great one for his entire collegiate career)

Gabe MacKenzie (the other 2 TEs will do well also, Cole is a Sr so he won't be back and Tommy could be just as valuable as Gabe.)

Kodi Burns play this season is contingent upon the injury situation with the other QBs (including Cox.) I'm sure he'll be good enough to do something spectacular, just not sure if it'll be as a starter or in a mop-up role.

[bammanmr 0]

i have a feeling that our defense is going to carry this squad. not putting down the offense, its just that we're breaking in way too many new guys and its going to take a few weeks for everyone to gel, imo.

defensively though, if our corners can step up and be 'decent', teams will struggle to score on us, period. savage and brock are the best safety tandem in the country imo, and if they have the freedom to roam back there (by the cb's playing well) they are going to wreak havoc. when you add the fact that we have impact players at LB and DE along with some great experience on the DL, if they play with their head on straight, look out.

[mcgufcm 4,109]

i'll focus solely on the offense since that's all the question is really about, but i'd like to point out that i truly believe this defense is going to line up a TON of future nfl players: Q, marks, sims, blackmon, johnson, savage, wilhite, brock... those are all guys i really think are going to end up on an all-conference list. i have no idea why some of them weren't there to begin with. sen'derrick marks, in particular, was the best lineman on the team for a good stretch of last season, groves included. he's a BEAST, and i really think his move outside is going to be one of the biggest changes/benefits to our defense this year. we'll be much tougher to run against.

on the other side of the ball though, i kinda agree with kiper. this isn't the 2004 auburn tigers. brandon doesn't have jason's big arm or his wheels. lester isn't the caddy, and tate isn't ronnie brown. rod, pre, and dunn aren't devin, ben, and courtney. we don't have the pure nfl talents that we had then. BUT i do think we're loaded down with really, really talented guys that can be wildly successful in college (and even successful in the nfl, just not "top 20 picks in the draft" successful).

brad lester is so much like warrick dunn in college it's scary. he does everything dunn did, and he's a guy that i could see making "the leap" this year. lester just knows how to find the dang endzone. he's a playmaker all the way. every down back? maybe, maybe not. threat to break it as a returner, runner, or receiver? absolutely.

rod smith is going to be key, but i don't see him evolving into devin or ben. he's more like ct was when those guys were here: possession receiver. rod gets open. he's not a burner, but he makes space and has great hands. he's the kind of guy that i feel like gets you 13 when you gotta have 12... like ct did.

as for other guys, there are a few that excite me. mario fannin is one. i've never seen him. wasn't in the states last fall so i've literally never seen him, but as much talk as our usually hypeless coaches give him, it gets me excited.

tim hawthorne is another. he's got the body to be great. plus, he's a guy that really seems to have that swagger in every interview i've ever seen. i'm excited to see him play. i have a sneaking feeling tim is a "gamer" ala jabar gaffney. spurrier used to say gaffney was just average in practice, but he played him as a number one because he knew the guy was a gamer. tim gives me that impression for some reason.

gabe and tommy could be weapons. those guys can catch, and they run well in space. they also have the size to be really tough matchups on smaller players. they could easily be big play guys in the middle of the field.

all that said, i think the offense is going to be really well rounded. i think we've got guys that are future nfl guys... they're just not first rounders or at the glamor positions. carl is an nfl guy, king is too, cole might be, a lot of the linemen could develop into that (bosley in particular). we may not be sexy or flashy, but i think this group's productivity could rival the 04/05 teams.

[TheDrewYouKnew 3]

1) Brandon Cox

2) Cole Bennett

3) Brad Lester

4) Carl Stewart

5) Rod Smith

6) King Dunlap

These guys probably don't have the physical wow factor that their successors have, but if we were to replay the final drive of the 2004 LSU game - which I consider to be the exact moment that the Auburn program went from good to great - then these are the guys I'd want on the field, either with the ball in their hands or blocking for the guy who's got it.

Regarding Rod Smith, I just have to believe that he's that kinda guy. I don't honestly know. I just need to believe that we've got a guy like that somewhere in our receiving corps.

As far as who's gonna play on Sundays goes, who knows. If you would've asked me in August of 2004 where Jason Campbell would go in the draft, I would've told you "in the free agent round, hopefully".

I hope you mean you are choosing them out of what we have today.

And you didn't know Campbell was going to be drafted?! I had been saying it since 2002. I didn't think 1st round until the second half of 2004 though.

[Bottomfeeder 244]

On offense, I think Zachery could be the go to guy along with Smith. I still like the tight end position as a force to be reckoned with. As for our backfield, well it doesn't really need to be addressed other than the injuries to some key play makers. I look for Kodi Burns to play this year, and I think he has something to offer. Heck, work him into the backfield rotation as a running(reverse) or pass threat.

On defense, I still believe Kyle Coulahan will be an impact player along with Q. Groves.

http://www.aunation.net/forums/index.php?s...st&p=392258

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[rebdawg 5]

My pick is the O line. Nall is a remarkable OL coach and this is possibly the most talented group he has ever had to work with. Our D line has been honing them into a machine, I think. Is LSU's D line that much better than ours? Doubtful - they may be better but not by much, kinda like the old Ronnie vs. Caddy debate. And other than LSU what D line compares to the one we face in practice each day?

The lack of experience has been overstated. Hart has started games at two different positions, Bosley was a key to the Florida victory last year and most of the other guys have played enough downs to get the feel of D1 ball.

I feel better about the O line this year than I did last year. Remember that it was our senior ladened interior line that repeatedly got Cox killed while still in his drop. Duckworth and Cope whiffed on the DT on the first play of the Gerogia game and Brandon was sacked before he could complete a 3 step. That one play determined the outcome of the game as Cox was injured (again).

[AUesquire 1]

I just watched the video in the Trev Alberts thread and they show some AU/LSU footage. Talk about missing your man. I can hear Dan Patrick doing baseball highlites now....

"The Whiff"

[rebdawg 5]

I remember when we played Wisconsin in the Capitol One Bowl and their coaches kept saying that they thought they could dominate Cope and I thought, "No way, Cope is a gamer."

They destroyed him. Cope had great heart, a very good understanding of how to play the game, but physically was not up to the task. Grubbs and Duck helped hide this from teams who did not have great D lineman across the board but when they were being challeneged they couldn't help out Cope.

I loved Cope by the way. I am not bashing him. I played center and understand the position and like Cope I did not have the athletic ability to play big time ball. I credit Joe for doing as much as he did. Kudos.

[WarTim 3,539]

Cole Bennett- H O S S-GREAT blocker, Not too bad a reciver either.

T. Zachery- Speed and GOOD hands

Hawthorne- Could be one of AU's best before he is done...time will tell

B. Tate- A full grown MAN from the time he set foot on Campus.

Mario (or should I say WARIO?)- Motor on wide open each and every play.

We have the talent. IF they mold together quickly, well, again...time will tell.