Good article on how we look going into the season

[Ed_ 3]

http://collegesportsmatchups.com/commentary/entry/SEC-Summer-Preview-Eight-aint-enough-for-Auburn-in-2010/595

[Bunn1 0]

I would say that's one on the best unbiased (for or against) look at Auburn headed into 2010

[AUenginerd 13]

Agreed, but how is LSU our most important game?

[Bunn1 0]

Don't see it either

[Guest jojo1515]

I believe lsu is the key game because a loss to lsu for one makes the hopes of an sec title a little more dim, #2-- a loss to lsu may give the other teams left on the schedule a blueprint for playing us (see last year), and #3 and most important......a WIN against lsu has us in the top 10 and on the way to a great season.  It will give us the confidence needed to take every opponent as someone we should beat instead of a lack of confidence against opponents which can get ugly quick.  While the lsu game may not be the BIG game of the year, it certainly may be the most important game to determine what kind of team we will be.  JMO

[StatTiger 3,146]

I agree with just about everything he said except for the shelf life comment and LSU being the most important game.

You can't compare what Auburn did on offense against MSU to what they did against Alabama because Alabama is a better defensive team. You have to look at yardage and scoring margins for a more accurate evaluation.

If you look at AU's first 5 conference games of the season, the AU offense averaged 8.1% more yards and 7.4% more points than what the opponent normally allowed for the season. If you do the same for the last 3 SEC games of the season, Auburn averaged 17.5% more yards and 29.5% more points than what the opponent normally allowed. In reality and in terms of quality, the offense actually improved as the season progressed. The writer was correct when he commented on Todd's limitations but I don't think he was aware of the extent of Todd's limitations, especially during the 3-game losing streak to Arkansas, LSU and Kentucky. Todd's arm was weak during the 3-game losing streak, which hindered our passing game. That's why we saw great production early on, then a 3-game skid and the offense bouncing back late in the year. If it were true that opposing defenses had caught up with Malzahn, we would not have witnessed an improvement in yardage and point margins.

IMO, the Arkansas game is the most important game of the season, up to that point. It is so because if we cannot get past Arkansas, how can we expect to beat teams like LSU, Georgia and Alabama. Add to the fact that Arkansas will challenge for the SEC-West in 2010, it could end up being a bigger game than the LSU game.

[3rdgen 2]

He said that the offense was figured out I disagree. Production did fall but I think that can be contributed to injuries to omac, tzach, todd's arm strength for about a 3 game stretch, penalties, and lack of execution on our part. Especially defensive injuries I would certainly love to see how our offensive production compared when we had more than 3 healthy scholarship lbs. All in all we were in every game except arky and lsu.

[au_weagle 0]

I think LSU and Georgia are the biggest games for us b/c Arky and Bama right now I think are ahead of us. That could change quickly, but a close loss to either of those teams wont draw any boos from me. If we can beat UGA anbd LSU it makes us ligitimate, and even if we slip early at home we can still have a 9 win season.

[Guest gkc81]

I think we all have 0 wins and 0 losses, and AU has as good a shot as anybody else to make it to the SEC championship game.  I don't think either team gets there undefeated though.

[AUinMS 0]

I think the Clemson game is a big one. Although their offense probably won't be great, they will provide the first ligitimate threat to the defense.

I like the fact that the author says that Ryan Pugh is the key player. Center is the most under rated position on offense.

[UltraSwagnus 1]

i think people are underrating Clemson alittle too much...

that game is starting to scare me, that QB of theirs IS good. dont be fooled

[Guest simonsez]

I liked last years schedule because the games got harder every week until we got about midway through the season.  That allowed us to get better each week without losing.  We dont have that luxury this year.  Our first opponent is no pushover.  Miss st should be a good bit better this year...this means we may not be able to put 49 on them this year.  Clemson and SouCar are gonna be really tough games and I feel like we're gonna have to fight hard to win those.  Thats potentially 3 tough games at the beginning of the season.  I believe our first real test wont be Arky or LSU.  I believe itll possibly be Miss St but if not them, definately Clemson.  Im all for playing tough teams in Sept. but its just a little scary. 

[Ed_ 3]

He said that the offense was figured out I disagree.  Production did fall but I think that can be contributed to injuries to omac, tzach, todd's arm strength for about a 3 game stretch, penalties, and lack of execution on our part.  Especially defensive injuries I would certainly love to see how our offensive production compared when we had more than 3 healthy scholarship lbs.  All in all we were in every game except arky and lsu. 

I think by the second half of last season teams had figured out a way to plan against Malzahn's offense but saying they had it figured out would indicate that our offensive production would have ground to a halt.  Like any offense opposing D's are going to figure out how to defend against it but so long as the OC keeps mixing things up and keeping the D's on their toes you're all good and I think anyone who saw how we performed against Bama last year, who like it or not had one of the best D's in the country, would agree that Malzahn knows how to keep DC's off balance.

[AUCorpsman 0]

If heard a lot of talk about the defense in the bowl and spring games.  I have to tell you, I think the key to how we will look this year is last years Iron Bowl.  Our defense held "the most outstanding player in the country" (Ingram) to 30 yards and total team rushing to 73 yards.  We gave up a total of 291 yards and gained 332 to the #1 team in the country.  All of this with a very understaffed defense, and a noodle armed, immobile QB(no disrespect to Todd, he'll go down as one of my favorites all time for his perseverance and an outstanding Sr season.) 

I truly think that by the bowl game the defense was really beaten up and tired.  They gave all they had in the Iron Bowl and their tanks were empty. 

If we can perform near the level of that game, with our current personnel, we have a REAL shot at Atlanta.