Good Auburn Breakdown for 2010 on CBSSports.com

[screeder1 0]

There is a good video here with Dennis Dodd involved in the video.  He really likes Auburn this year and actually picks us at 9-3 or 10-2.    Thought everyone would enjoy it.  Also says that Alabama better watch out this year!  I like it!  WDE.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AUB/auburn-tigers

[WhiteTiger 2]

I really do see 9-3 as very possible and with a couple of breaks at the right time 10-2 is not an unreasonable pick.

I think it all boils down to defense.  We will score and often.  If we can pick it up on defense to go with them we can be really good. Remember the old saying, "Offense fills the seats but defense wins championships".

[screeder1 0]

Totally agree.  I think the freshman will add the depth we need to stay away from the mid season swoon we got into last year.  If our defense can hold opponents to around 20pts per game this year (27.5 last year), I think 10-2 is definitely doable.  I think our offense will again average over 32 pts a game or better.  WDE!

[Connecticut Tiger 0]

I just can't wait to really see the team play.  Everything is points to a good year and a lot of annalists are starting to jump on the band wagon.  I'm less optimistic about the defense than the offense but that may change after I get to see them play.  

WAR EAGLE.  I would love 10-2.

[guerra aguila 0]

I really do see 9-3 as very possible and with a couple of breaks at the right time 10-2 is not an unreasonable pick.

I think it all boils down to defense.  We will score and often.  If we can pick it up on defense to go with them we can be really good. Remember the old saying, "Offense fills the seats but defense wins championships".

Auburns Defense is going to do just fine in 2010. They might even carry the offense a time or two. They had to last year on occasion last year as well.

[carter4au 0]

I agree with dennis on record 9 to 10 wins. That would be ausome!!

[cmccullough 0]

I believe we win 10 but I believe that 12 is doable.  I agree with GA.  The defense will be just fine this year.  Actually I believe it will be more than just fine.  I further believe that the offense will be improved from last year.

I am not sure why people just simply don't want to believe that we could win them all.

[guerra aguila 0]

I believe we win 10 but I believe that 12 is doable.  I agree with GA.  The defense will be just fine this year.  Actually I believe it will be more than just fine.  I further believe that the offense will be improved from last year.

I am not sure why people just simply don't want to believe that we could win them all.

I certainly understand where some people are coming from... its hard to imagine Auburn going undefeated again but this teams overall speed offensively might just be better than what we had in 04.

Again, some people dont want to hear that either. I believe that its true.

Obomanu and Aramashadu vs Goodwin and Reed? Goodwin has a great vertical and so did Devin. (Keep in consideration that I do understand that im comparing two true freshman to two seniors in 2004) but Goodwin and Reed have a chance to develop into playmakers like 1 and 2 were.

I see a lot of similarities between these guys and I think Reed can do alot of things that Ben Obomanu could do.

I think the X factor comes in when you look at the other guys like PPL (if healthy) and Travante Stallworth. They bring the extra elusive/Speed element that we didnt really have in 2004. The receivers as a overall group have a chance to be just as good.

Now only time will tell if they are as good, but this offense gives them a chance to do that with all of the variations that Malzahn runs.

Kitchens has the Anothony Mix potential... both are big bodied receivers. Mix was obviously much bigger, but Kitchens can move quite well for a 217 lb guy.

Adams and Zachery are really shaping up to be two of the best 1-2 guys we have had in a while.  Carr has a chance to really step up and be a part of a huge season.

Benton and Blake add a lot of potential as well...

I think that Auburn has a good combination of size and speed receivers for this upcoming season... This could create matchup problems throughout the season if you can mix/match size and speed on the field.

Its a good situation to have, and im not saying that Auburn will be unstoppable and gain first downs on every attempt and score touchdowns on every drive... but what I am saying is that I will not be surprised on bit if this offense shatters the record books and the team goes for the Western Division Title.

If they dont, they can still accomplish a great season and strive for a bright future... my bet still lies in the hearts of the 24 seniors that return.

This is a dangerous group of guys that have a chance to go out on top, and I think they will.

[WDEAUB 0]

GA, while I completely agree with your comparison of the WRs, I honestly cannot see our running game coming close to the effectiveness of Ronnie and Caddy in '04. My concern is without the running game (which I do think will be at least average for AU), the balance to spread the ball around may not be there as much as you are hoping, at least to shatter all records. We should have a big time passing game but I do not see "better than '04".

$.02 from J

[RockyMtnTiger 0]

GA, while I completely agree with your comparison of the WRs, I honestly cannot see our running game coming close to the effectiveness of Ronnie and Caddy in '04. My concern is without the running game (which I do think will be at least average for AU), the balance to spread the ball around may not be there as much as you are hoping, at least to shatter all records. We should have a big time passing game but I do not see "better than '04".

$.02 from J

J I completely understand your concern, but I feel it will be in better shape than most think. Fannin is a very experienced RB and has speed and power, ability to catch. OMac if he was healthy whole year we would have had two 1000 yd backs. Dyer although a freshman is college fb ready and will provide some needed offense. Ladarius P will not only get some short yds he will break some decent runs. Its a different offense from Brown N Caddy and think we will be pleased with the production of our RB's. WDE just my $.02

[cmccullough 0]

J - I understand and agree with your argument that the backs are not as talented individually as Cadillac and Ronnie.  But I agree with Rocky that the backs we have are no slouch either.  I believe that Fannin will be a very good and capable back this year.  Luper seems to believe he will be another in a long line of 1,000 yard rushers.  OMac has speed that neither Ronnie nor Caddie had and I believe with his added muscle and strength he will add another dimension to what we saw briefly last year.  And I believe that Dyer will be an outstanding addition to the group, especially based on what I am hearing from practice.

But I think the thing that will make this offense even better than the great one of '04 is the pace of the offense - the HUNH variety.  The only game that even came close to the speed that M wants the speed to go is the Tenn game and we know what happened in that game.  I site that game because it was the fastest paced game that the offense played as I recall.  But even that was not anywhere near the pace that M wants to run this thing.  And from comments from Newton and some of the defensive players, the offense is getting a lot closer to the optimal speed.  And from everything I have read, heard and observed, teams cannot practice this speed just the week they prepare for us.  It just can't be done.

More to follow because I can't seem to type more than this for some reason.

[cmccullough 0]

Part 2 of response.

I agree with GA that the receivers in '04 set the bar very high for all other receiving corps at Auburn.  But just think of how much better they might have been if Troop had been the receivers coach then.  But one thing about that receiving corp was that there were really on 4 receivers.  This group goes at least 3 deep with speed, speed, speed.  Taylor is teaching them how to run great routes and to hang  on to the ball.  With the speed this offense will be going, M can keep fresh legs in the game at all times and flat out wear out dbs.

Now here is a question - Can you name one defense that we will play that will be significantly better than last year - or even to have improved enough to offset the improvement and pace of M's offense?

Now with all that I have said, I do not say that we will definitely win all of our games this year.  What I am willing to say is that we are more than capable of winning them all.  I recognize that a lot depends on injuries, penalties, bad breaks, etc.

[SumterAubie 3,110]

Well it'd better be 10 or 11 wins this year because it won't happen next year. Losing 4 seniors off the Oline along with as many as 7 starters on defense plus the the brutal schedule, we may be fortunate to have a winning record.

[wde1968 262]

Considering we were only 4 plays away from 10-2 last year 10 should be about right given our def will at least get some rest this year.

[Stripe 5]

If we have less than 10 wins the season it will be a major disappointment for me. I think we have the capability to really produce this year. 10-2 should be the worst Auburn does this year. It would not surprise me if they went 11-1 or even 12-0 through the regular season.

as it's all been said before the schedule is favorable for us, even if it is 11 games in a row before we see a break. We don't go more than 3 games without having a soft team to play. As long as players stay healthy We can achieve great things this year.

We will see a much improved Defense, If you look back at last years Defense, it was really vanilla. Basic protections and coverages. we gave up a lot of yards, but not as many scores as we should have with the amount of yards we gave up. Our problem was depth, Our guys were exhausted by the fourth quarter. With the added depth our guys will be considerably fresher going in to the fourth quarter and still have the ability to stop teams this year. I see our points given up dropping down substantially. Consider that most of the points we gave up during games we lost last year were in the second half.  I can't wait to see our guys tear through opposing O lines and destroy a few QB's this year, or even swarm the ball at the line of scrimmage instead of 15 yards down the field.

Offense will show improvements as well. I think our points per game go up. I don't think it's possible to score on every drive of every game. but I think we see a lot less 3 and outs this year. With Cam and the rest of the QB's having the ability to run adding that 3rd dimension we didn't have last year. Furthermore with the ability to throw the ball down field more than 10 yards things will open up both in the running game and in the passing game. Just having to keep a player tied up on the QB helps with that, but the passing serious yards down field backs up the safeties helping to open up the running game. Look for us to continue to improve our ball movement up the field. remember how Tenn defense looked in the second quarter last year? Hands on their sides, players slow to get up, players stopping on their knees when getting up to catch their breath. I expect we will see this during almost every game this year, not just the Tenn game.  Look for a great offensive attack to take the field this year.

don't settle for mediocrity, 9-3 is middle of the road. I'm sick of going 9-3 tubs handed us enough middle of the road seasons, I'm ready for something better. Our coaches will push the guys to play at their best and to play as a single cohesive unit. On september 4th look for a brand new Auburn football team to take the field for what should be one of the greatest seasons in recent memory.

[Holland's Fro 0]

If we have less than 10 wins the season it will be a major disappointment for me. I think we have the capability to really produce this year. 10-2 should be the worst Auburn does this year. It would not surprise me if they went 11-1 or even 12-0 through the regular season.

as it's all been said before the schedule is favorable for us, even if it is 11 games in a row before we see a break. We don't go more than 3 games without having a soft team to play. As long as players stay healthy We can achieve great things this year.

We will see a much improved Defense, If you look back at last years Defense, it was really vanilla. Basic protections and coverages. we gave up a lot of yards, but not as many scores as we should have with the amount of yards we gave up. Our problem was depth, Our guys were exhausted by the fourth quarter. With the added depth our guys will be considerably fresher going in to the fourth quarter and still have the ability to stop teams this year. I see our points given up dropping down substantially. Consider that most of the points we gave up during games we lost last year were in the second half.  I can't wait to see our guys tear through opposing O lines and destroy a few QB's this year, or even swarm the ball at the line of scrimmage instead of 15 yards down the field.

Offense will show improvements as well. I think our points per game go up. I don't think it's possible to score on every drive of every game. but I think we see a lot less 3 and outs this year. With Cam and the rest of the QB's having the ability to run adding that 3rd dimension we didn't have last year. Furthermore with the ability to throw the ball down field more than 10 yards things will open up both in the running game and in the passing game. Just having to keep a player tied up on the QB helps with that, but the passing serious yards down field backs up the safeties helping to open up the running game. Look for us to continue to improve our ball movement up the field. remember how Tenn defense looked in the second quarter last year? Hands on their sides, players slow to get up, players stopping on their knees when getting up to catch their breath. I expect we will see this during almost every game this year, not just the Tenn game.  Look for a great offensive attack to take the field this year.

don't settle for mediocrity, 9-3 is middle of the road. I'm sick of going 9-3 tubs handed us enough middle of the road seasons, I'm ready for something better. Our coaches will push the guys to play at their best and to play as a single cohesive unit. On september 4th look for a brand new Auburn football team to take the field for what should be one of the greatest seasons in recent memory.

I wouldnt say 9-3 is middle of the road. 7-5 (3-5 in SEC) last year was middle of the road. 9-3 is an above average, top 20 record in the SEC. I agree with your post, but i'd say less than 9-3 would be a disappointment

[guerra aguila 0]

I gotta say that you guys all make excellent points... I think for the most part that we all agree that the receiving corps is deeper than we have seen in a long time.

RB is deep and has a lot of potential... there is nothing wrong with having some concerns here... but I honestly Im not worried to much.

Certainly an upgrade with speed and arm strength at QB... the offensive line is experienced and they could be one of the best units in the country.

Speed overall offensively has been upgraded, and could do some serious damage in this system.

Its going to be a fun year.

yall mark it down.