Theres a tingling sensation running down my spine

Jordan Hare Stadium in NCAA 08


Im sure you all feel it. Its the sensation that one gets when football season is lurking. Today, marks the unofficial start of football season with the SEC media days. So in the spirit of the greatest sporting season known to mankind, I shall take a look at Auburn's depth chart and schedule, providing an attempt at a realistic view.

First, lets look at the offense

QB
Starter: Brandon Cox, SR
Backup(s): Tray Blackmon, RS SO

Ok, so Tray Blackmon obviously doesnt play QB. Its a good way of describing how great the backups are. I thought I would put someone back there who will make a play if put in a dire situation. Who wouldnt like to see Tray running the option, pitch to a RB and then lead block for him? Count me in. Going back to the actual backups, I do exclude Kodi Burns from the lack of talent. Im torn with this guy. I, personally, have not watched him practice. I hear many good things though. I would love to see him win the backup job, and play in some situations a la Tebow. But, then again, his talent excites me so much that Id like to see him redshirt so that we have 4 years to play him. (another thing to consider is dual threat QB Deron Furr has committed to sign with AU, I like where this is going). Anyhow, going in to Two-a-days, I assume Blake Field will begin as the number 2, to be taken over by either Burns or Caudle.

RB
Starter: Brad Lester, JR
Backups: 4 Horsemen of he Apocalypse
(aka Ben Tate, SO/Mario Fannin, RS FR/Tristan Davis, JR/Enrique Davis, FR)

We are loaded at RB. Period. Honestly, I feel bad for Coach Gran and Coach Borges. Chosing which running back plays and how often is gonna be a chore. All these guys could start at big name schools. We have lester who scores 1 TD every 10 times he touches the ball. Then there is Ben Tate, who has Bo Jackson Jr written all over him. He is big, fast, and strong. He catches, runs up the middle, over defenders, around them, etc. Next we have Mario Fannin. I had the pleasure of seeing him in the final scrimmage. All I will say is that he is gonna be rediculous. Tristan Davis, making a glorius return to the offense, will add some lightning speed. If he can improve at all the fundamentals, he will be just as good as he rest. As far as Enrique Davis goes, I dont know much about him, but should he live up to hiss billing, we will have a good young back. He should be redshirted though with the depth we have.

FB
Starter: Carl Stewart, SR
Backups: Mike McLaughlin, JR/Danny Perry, SR/Tate or Fannin

Carl Stewart is a stud that gets little recognition from outside his teammates and coaches. This guy, like all the other RBs, could start at RB anywhere else. Plus he looks like he can eat you for lunch. McLaughlin and Perry should be able to provide ample run blocking. Tate and Fannin can get in on the action in the 2 back sets playin the hybrid "F - back" position.

WR
Starters:
Rod Smith, JR
Montez Billings, RS SO
Robert Dunn, JR
Backups:
Tim Hawhorne, RS FR
Terrell Zachary, RS FR
Chris Slaughter, JUCO transfer
Alex Rose, RS FR
Prechae Rodriguez, SR
James Swinton, JR

These guys, saving Smith, are a bunch of untested, unexperienced bad asses. Billings had a great spring. Look for Hawthorne, Zachary, Slaughter (pending NCAA clearance) and company to get plenty of experience this year. They might be half decent. Every publication Ive read about them wont give them any shred of hope. I think they will surprise everyone.

TE
Starters:
Cole Bennett, RS SR
Tommy Trott, RS SO
Gabe McKenzie, RS SO
Backups:
Brent Slusher, FR
Bailey Woods, FR

Probably the best group of tight ends in the nation. Bennett returns with a medical redshirt to add experience and leadership for the exremely athletic Trott and McKenzie.

OL
King Dunlap, SR
Leon Hart, SR
Jason Bosely, JR
Tyrone Green, SR
Andrew McCain, JR
Backups: Too many and too inexperienced to name

These guys are a question mark heading into preseason. From what I hear, they are playing pretty solid. We have some freshmen that might get a look, most impressive of which is Ziemba. The starting lineup may look a little different come Sept. 1st. But, looking at last year, despite talent, the play of the big uglies as a unit has no where to go but up.

Defense

DL
Starters:
Quentin Groves, SR
Josh Thompson, SR
Pat Sims, RS SO
Sen' Derrick Marks, RS SO
Backups:
Antonio Coleman, SO
Tez Doolittle, SR
Mike Blanc, SO
Michale Goggans, SO

Quentin Groves is easily the best player on the defense, maybe the team. He brings the kind of leadership and selflessness to this team that will make a big impact on everyone around him. Marks was moved to end from the inside allowing Sims to get on the field. Overall, this group is very solid. Look for Quentin Groves to have an All American year, ending up as Auburn's career sack leader.

LB
Starters:
Craig Stevens, RS FR
Tray Blackmon, SO
Merrill Johnson, JR
Backups:
Steve Gandy, JR
Chris Evans, SO
Courtney Harden, SO

Although some might consider these guys a big question mark. The Auburn faithful know better. Anchored by "The Little Ball of Hate" this unit could be nothing short of spectacular. I fear for opposing offenses, becasue I know its only a matter of time before Tray Blackmon kills someone.

CB
Starters:
Pat Lee, SR/Jonathan Wilhite, SR/Jerraud Powers, SO
Backups:
Walter McFadden, SO/Zach Gilbert, SR

I dotn have much to say about these guys. Wilhite used to impress me, but had a lackluster season in 06. Jerraud Powers show promise. Im empcting a lot of rotating of players. I jut dont know much about them.

S
Starters:
Eric Brock, SR
Aarion Savage, SO
Backups:
Michael McNeil, FR
Zac Ethridege, RS FR

Savage and Brock are solid. Both are good hitters. Word on the street is that Freshman Michael McNeil is ready to play. He is big, fast, and like to hit.

Special Teams
K Wes Byrum or Ross Gornall
P Ryan Shoemaker
KR Tristan Davis and Mario Fannin
PR Mario Fannin

As far as kickers go, who knows how they will turn out. Gornall won the battle in the spring, but the position will be wide open next week. Byrum supposedly has a good leg. Shoemaker will be soild. Look for the return game to be one of the best in the nation once again. Tristan Davis will return a few all the way this year. He is due big time. He led the neation in return yardage last season.

Now a look at the schedule.

K-State I think Auburn wins easily, showing normal first game rust
South Florida Mark Slabach of ESPN, surprsingly picke SF for this one. I think not. It might be semi close, but Auburn wins. I saved the link from Slabach's story to rub it in his face.
Miss St. Win, no explanation neccessary
Mew Mexico St Win
Florida This one is tough. Playing at the swamp will be no cakewalk. But all the talent Florida lost last years makes me think Auburn can hang. Ill call it a Loss, but I think its a winnable game.
Vandy Even though they have some talent and will play hard, AU wins
Arkansas Very winnable. McFadden will get a taste of Blackmon. That will make for an intersting matchup: Manchild vs Manchild. I say AU triumphs
LSU Another tough road game. Winnable. Call me crazy, I think we win
Ole Miss Win
Tennessee Tech Not even gonna address this one, that doesnt mean the team shouldnt.
Georgia Its in Athens, so AU will win
Bammer All this tlk about Bama being back, but no one has seen them play or win a game yet. Only time will tell if they have the ability to break the streak. We can always expect them to play hard, but Im confident in that the game is in Auburn, and that we have more talent and less thugs who have been kicked off the team, AU gets the 6th straight.

That gives a 11-1 record. Be advised that this could be a 9-3 or 10-2. Less than 10 wins is a disappointment to me. This team has the talent to go to Atlanta, it just needs some luck in staying healthy and being the right situation at the right time, which ios true of every team, each year. No one is talking about Auburn this year, which makes me think they will over acheive, as they like being the underdog. Sooner or later this "dont rank me high" outlook has got to go and the team has to want high expectations from someone other than coaches and actually deliver. Thats when we become elite.


Also, I saw this picture earlier this summer of the new jumbo-tron being installed. Thats more like it!