Auburn Football 2009: Offense, Defense, Special Teams

I know what you may be thinking.  At this point in the year it seems that I get very close to being overfilled with information regarding season analysis, predictions, and a host of other recruiting bio’s and what not, I run dry. 

I almost get to the point where I am tired of reading college football info.  Then I wake up the next day to read a new article because I need that daily fill.  Anyway, for what it is worth in this overanalyzed college football world, I bring you one more. 

This will go through a team overview, in-depth game by game analysis, and finally depth chart and unit by unit discussions to be completed in three parts because of it sheer size and plethora of knowledge.  Anyway,  I hope you all enjoy.

Special Teams

Rarely does a team rely so heavily on special team’s production and performance than Auburn University.  The Tuberville years were slammed with game winning, or losing for that matter, kicks.  Special Teams has been and will continue to be a large point of emphasis at Auburn. 

The field goal unit seems to be prepped to have some success this year as Wes Byrum returns for his junior year.  Chandler Brooks, a sophomore walk-on, has led the charge to dismount the incumbent place kicker. 

After the inconsistencies seen last year, many may hope that will happen.  I think that this will be Wes’ year.  He should be healthy and with others possibly handling the kick off duties, he will have more chance to be fresh for those game winners.

The punting situation is just as interesting.  Clinton Durst will return after receiving a scholarship for his junior season.  Durst left the team shortly during the spring because he said he could no longer play without the scholarship that he was promised by the previous staff. 

Hey, he earned it. 

Ryan Shoemaker was the starter in the past but when he dislocated his elbow making a tackle against USF a few years ago, he has not been able to pull out from behind the powerful skyscrapers that come from Durst.

Kick-off duty may be the most important on the entire special teams this year.  The past two years have been sad to say the least for the Auburn kick-off cover teams.  It seems that every buzz on the plains is that Morgan Hull may be the leader for kick-off duties this season.

He has to work on his hang time and accuracy first though.  He had a lot of worm burners last year.

The return teams seem to be set with talent.  With newcomer Onterrio McCalebb and his amazing, blazing speed, there seems to be some promise on the return teams.  Phillip Pierre-Louis should return this year healthy and ready to produce. 

Hopefully his knee will heal well and that could be a speedy one-two punch out of the gate on the return.  Look for both to be in the mix for punts as well.  Mario Fannin could be in the loop as well.  He may serve a more situational type return guy.  We shall see.  Jay Boulware should have his hands full.

Offense

Up front is where it begins for Auburn this year.  Last year was plagued with holding and false start penalties.  A lack of discipline didn’t seem to be the problem.  A lack of weight did.  The offensive line has gone back to its roots after a short hiatus with dieting.  The hog mollies up front should be the biggest and meanest guys on the team. 

They should be back to form this year.  With four juniors and one senior on the line, experience shouldn’t be a problem.  Ryan Pugh is a very technically sound center who should manage his teammates well.  With Lee Ziemba and Mike Berry anchoring the left, look for some runs coming off tackle this year.

The receiving corps seemed to be one of the most unskilled set ever to play at Auburn University.  But that really wasn’t the problem.  Aside from horrific throws that they had to break off routes to catch and the inability for the quarterback to get rid of the ball in a timely fashion out of a tempo based offense, they did ok. 

Sure there were times that they maybe could have picked up the play a bit, but they should have every opportunity to do that this year.  With the return of possible playmakers Terrell Zachery, Montez Billings, and Tim Hawthorne to name a few and new development under Trooper Taylor, this group could prove to be quite productive. 

With the addition of DeAngelo Benton in May, and newcomers Emory Blake and Phillip Lutzenkirchen among others, this group has the talent to really raise the bar.  Can they do it?  Only time will tell.  But after watching video of Coach Taylor’s “headache drill”, drops shouldn’t be a problem.

And then there were two.  Or three, four, or is it five?  Anyway, if you don’t get it, Auburn is stacked this year with talent in the backfield.  If it just wasn’t so one sided.  The running backs at Auburn appear to stack up well against the rest in the SEC with some left over it seems. 

With the likes of Ben Tate, who coaches think is a shoe-in to the 1,000 yard rushing club this year, Mario Fannin, Eric Smith, Onterrio McCalebb, and newcomers Dontae Aycock and possibly Brandon Jacobs, this may be an award winning group of backs.  They look to be good.  If only one could be a quarterback. 

Kodi Burns seems to be the incumbent and fan favorite but his lack of passing accuracy scares the likes of many.  He has a cannon for an arm, he just seems to be very misguided artillery at times. 

Enter Neil Caudle.  What a spring this guy had.  When the spring game started it looked bleak.  Then in the second half he looked amazing.  Could we see dual quarterbacks again this year?  Probably not. 

Malzahn wants a guy.  That’s right, one.  That being said, Chris Todd still waits in the wings while his shoulder finally heals properly, we hope.  Would he be a candidate?  Who can tell?  Last year he was horrible, but injured.  We shouldn’t see any Tyrik Rollison or Clint Moseley.  No matter how bad it may seem to get, they should redshirt.  Period.

In the end this new version of the spread seems to be much more fitting for the style of play and mentality carried in the SEC.  When you take a look around at the other successful spread teams, Florida really, they carry a special swagger to the ball.  They want to see snot bubbles in your nose when they hit you. 

And this is offense!  That is what Auburn used to be and needs to be.  Hardnosed no matter what the formation they are playing in.  Even if it’s four square, be aggressive.  That seems to be the mission of Malzahn and Co.  If the quarterback situation can improve this year, Auburn has the talent everywhere else. 

What will make this season better?  The offensive line play.  It all starts up front.  You have to win the point of attack and control the line.  Auburn failed at this miserably last season.  With a healthy line, and a heavy line as well, the Tigers should break out early with the running attack and let the dust settle the rest. 

Malzahn was second in the nation in rushing with his offense at Tulsa!  Imagine with these guys what he can do.  Look for the quarterback controversy to be settled in two-a-days.  Neil Caudle may be your man.

Defense

The defensive backfield may actually be a strong suite this year for Auburn.  Despite some injuries in the past, last year gave the Tigers some much needed experience.  Look at the fact that all four defensive back starters have starting experience. 

Oh yeah, and the backups have starting experience too.  This backfield may turn out to be head turners not only in the SEC but in the nation.  That’s a very strong statement, but there is some mad skill in that backfield.  Look for Mike McNeil to come back strong from his broken leg this fall and for Aairon Savage to do the same. 

Neiko Thorpe is a guy with experience and Walter McFadden is set up to have an amazing and productive senior season.

The linebacking corps seems to have a similar trait.  There is a lot of experience.  Craig Stevens started every game last season.  Coach Roof called his name after every single practice this spring.  This guy should be a playmaker.  Josh Bynes is another guy that should have a breakout year.  He stepped up after an injury to Tray Blackmon.

Tray never made it back.  Newcomer Eltoro Freeman seems to be the new starter at outside linebacker and will be backed up by surprise recruit Spencer Pybus.  Pybus has huge heart and loves to play the game.  With the addition of Harris Gaston and friends this year, linebacker is looking to be a strength for Auburn for years to come.

The front four should stand to be some All-SEC, All-American type players.  Starting with the ends you look at Antonio Coleman.  This guy can play.  He stayed behind for a senior season and it kept the excitement alive. 

Coleman has 14.5 sacks in the past two seasons and is primed to just add to that number this year.  With Michael Goggans and Antoine Carter coming off the other corner, this should be a good year for the pass rush. 

Despite losses in the middle of the line this year with the early departure of Sen’Derrick Marks and graduation of Tez Doolittle, Mike Blanc and Zach Clayton seem to be up to the challenge.  Look for this to be a solid year for this line.

Overall this defense is coming off of a top 15 year.  Could they be better?  Top 10 maybe?  This Auburn defense is poised to be the gamebreakers this year.  They need to be.  The offense is going to be starting from scratch again so the first four games being at home could never be more critical. 

But the play of the defense is the foundation of success.  Auburn is going to score points eventually.  But until they figure out how to do it, look for the defense to answer the call.  With Coach Chizik being a talented defensive mind this side of the ball will be productive.  It has to be.

(Part II to follow)