Auburn Football: What Should Tigers' Biggest Focus Be in 2012?

Auburn enters the 2012 season with one of the most experienced rosters in the conference. The Tigers are young on paper, but a number of the underclassmen who are listed have seen plenty of game time. The biggest focus for the Tigers this season should be finding ways to get that experience to produce results.

That seems cliché—find a way to produce results—but there's a lot of truth in the statement when it comes to this year’s Tigers, and there's more than one solution that has to be found to produce the results the Tigers staff, players and fans are expecting.

Auburn has recruited the best talent in the country the past few seasons, but last year proved that talent isn’t the only answer to success.

Here's a look at four major focal points that the Tigers will have entering the 2012 season and which one will be the biggest focus for success. 

Adapt To Scheme

The Auburn program has witnessed major shifts in philosophy on defense and offense, so getting the Tigers to adapt to the changes will be a major point of focus this season. Auburn has a similar approach defensively, but offensively the shift has been enormous.

The Tigers have adapted well through spring and into the summer workout period, but leaps in growth must happen in the next three months.

Learning the offensive terminology will be the biggest adjustment for Auburn this summer. Getting the playbook down this summer will ease the final integration of the offensive framework this fall.

Defensively, the Tigers will be more aggressive at the point of attack and will rely on more blitz packages to create pressure in the opposing backfield. The major adaptation defensively is also terminology, but coverage reads that will fill the gaps the blitzing defenders will leave behind will be just as important.

Adapting to scheme won’t win every ballgame, but it's a major focus this summer and fall.

Build Continuity Along the Lines

Another major focal point for the Tigers has to fall along the offensive and defensive lines. The Tigers appear very confident with the defensive front, but there are still questions that are looming along the offensive front.

Finding a starting right tackle is one of the big questions for the Tigers heading into fall practice. Patrick Miller—an early-enrollee freshman—came on strong in the latter half of spring but nothing has been solidified.

Auburn will see additions like Jordan Diamond step into the competition this fall, trying to earn their way onto the field early. The right guard position is also up for grabs as Christian Westerman and Eric Mack are battling for that starting position.

Along the defensive front, the Tigers appear to be settled. There will be a number of playmakers who will create issues for opposing offenses this fall.  In the end, the talent is present, but the Tigers still have a lot of development that remains up front.

For the Tigers to have the type of season they expect, they must focus on line development. 

Find Consistent Safety Valves in the Passing Game

Last season, the Tigers struggled to find consistency in the passing game. Emory Blake was the only true threat that the Tigers had through the air.

Mix in Onterio McCalebb and the Tigers had some options, but no major safety valves existed. Auburn has to find second and third options in the passing game this fall.

The Tigers will be looking to establish a consistent running game. For that to happen, the Tigers quarterback has to show efficiency at creating plays when things break down. Having a dump-off option will be a security blanket for the Tigers signal-caller.

Assuming that Lutzenkirchen will be freed up this fall with Jay Prosch now eligible, the Tigers should be very effective on the ground once the safety valve is developed in the passing game. 

Lead Back Must Emerge

 The Auburn Tigers have a host of running backs who could make major impacts this fall, but spreading the football to five different guys is not the answer the Tigers are looking for this season.

The Tigers have loads of experience with Onterio McCalebb, and he will be a major portion of the offense, but his lack of size will keep him from being the every down option that the Tigers are looking for.

Tre Mason, Corey Grant and Mike Blakely are the three backs who will likely emerge as the leaders for the primary ball-carrying roll.

The Tigers will undoubtedly spread the love to as many of the backs as possible, but when the game is tight and the Tigers need consistency, there will need to be one primary option that will carry the load for the Tigers.

Corey Grant has been the player who has received the most praise through spring, but Mike Blakely and Tre Mason are formidable options from the backfield. This will be an interesting battle to watch unfold for the Tigers this fall. 

What is the Biggest Focus?

The Tigers must develop a lot of positions this offseason. All four of the focal points listed will be on the to-do-list for the Tigers, but which of the four will be the biggest focus?

Of all the positions that need development, the biggest focus has to be along the offensive line. The Tigers return a host of talent at the line, but Auburn will start at least one true freshman and a host of other underclassmen.

While the Tigers have recruited the nation’s top talent at the offensive line position the past few seasons, finding the right mix early is a must. How the offensive line develops will determine a lot of the Tigers offensive success this fall.

Developing the lines will be the biggest focus for the Tigers this summer and fall. 

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