Defensive Line

[ChrisH 135]

Even though we are loosing 3-4 big playmakers Im still real excited about the defensive front for the coming season. How they find and get the depth to Auburn still amazes me.

[Rhetortiger821 3]

I agree, Q was a playmaker, but not durable enough. Jake Ricks, Sen,derick marks and Antonio are going to rack up some sacks this year.

[JB33 1]

The nose is the key. I think Goggans will have a breakthrough year on the strongside - let's just pray he doesn't get hurt. We know what Marks and the ACs can do. Between Ricks, Blanc, Clayton and Tez, someone's got to provide some stability there and clog up the middle. (If Tez can get back 100%, maybe his experience / urgency will give us a lift.) Auburn has been so good (and so stable) at that position for so long - Josh Thompson, TJ Jackson, DeMarco McNeil; those guys were hugely underrated (especially the first two) and invaluable to the D's success.

[mcgufcm 4,109]

Q had one major injury his whole career. He played through painful dislocated toes last year. He was durable.

That said, I love the line this year as long as our tackle rotations are stout against the run. Marks is the best DT in the SEC, possibly the best in the country, and the best we've had at Auburn in a long time. For some reason, I'm not worried about Goggans holding up against the run on the other side.

[lca408 380]

For some reason, I'm not worried about Goggans holding up against the run on the other side.

I agree. I think we all assumed our D-Line was gonna be weak this year, but seeing some of the production out of spring, so far I'd say we look almost as good as we did last year. We have a strong 2 deep, just like we did last year. If Tez does come back, and I think he will, he may not start, but he'll provide excellent depth. I think Freddie Smooth may be the only guy out of this incoming class who could push for PT just because of his size and speed, but if the current depth chart holds out the way it is now, I don't think we need him.

Ryan

[mcgufcm 4,109]

I think we need a few things to happen, but I'd actually argue that the ceiling is higher for this dline than the production from last year's line.

Coleman's ceiling is higher than Q's. Marks' ceiling is higher than Sims'. Goggans can match Sen'Derricks' production from that strongside end spot. As much as I love Stump, Jake Ricks' (or Mike Blanc for that matter) ceiling is much higher (based mostly on pure physical skill set/body).

The key for comparing this year and last year (which was a fabulous line) is the backups. I think last year's line was much more set in backups (I mean Coleman and Groves rotated for goodness sake!). We've gotta find a fifth tackle (that's a big time must not only because you need five in the rotation to stay fresh but also because you will see an injury in the interior at some point and a three man rotation is terrible), gotta find out who can provide depth on the strongside (note: I know nothing about Greene and I'm inherently skeptical of JUCO guys), but if we do that... this is a scary line.

[TigerEyes1914 1]

The coaching staff seem to think that Raven Gray will be as good as advertised. This DL is going to be very tough!

[autiger4life 3]

I agree, Q was a playmaker, but not durable enough.

Man that sounds like a Bama statement. Throw one of the best players we have down right before he becomes a first round pick. I love the new line but God I wish we still had Q. Try playing with dislocated toes in the best conference in the Nation. Unbelievable.

Sorry, I just think as Auburn fans that was a terribly ignorant, and disrespectful thing to say.

[mowegl 4]

If there's one thing you can count on under Tuberville and Dunn, it's always being stout on the DL. We are losing some good players, but I'm not too worried about the guys stepping in.