Auburn Football: Undergoing a New Moon Phase

With Auburn's off week so late in the season, one can start to see how the next season will develop as players will leave to either pursue NFL aspirations or continue their careers in other areas of life. 

As is so often mentioned by this writer and my fellow colleagues here on BR, the lack of depth has been the major issue all season.  Auburn has started under a new phase in practically all aspects of the program.

Only 13 seniors are listed on Auburn's roster with some sitting out due to injury and others not regular starters.

Add in injuries at other key positions, and one can see how next season will bring another big turnover as far as talent and players.

On offense, a new quarterback will have to be discovered, a hole on the offensive line will have to be filled, and it is easy to say that shake-ups can occur in the wide receiver corps.

On defense, it will be hard to replace Antonio Coleman and Jake Ricks up front.  Auburn has four new linebackers committed, which could cause things in the linebacker corps to look completely different.  The secondary will look different safety wise with new players entering the fray.

Players returning from injury will also help. Several positions could be up for grabs as others vie for playing time.

Within the coaching staff, it will be interesting to see how it develops with assistants during the offseason.  Rumors have already started floating about assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor been connected to head coaching jobs elsewhere.

And to continue what Chizik has started this season, it is essential that the recruits he has essentially locked up now be academically eligible to allow them a chance to play. 

With new scholarship rules in place, getting the recruits in from the 2009 class as well as the 2010 class will provide a major personnel boost that the program so desperately needs.

Being the optimist that I am, I foresee nothing but better days ahead for Auburn football.  If the coaches stick around and the players get into Auburn, it will all look better as time passes.

But as with the end of the new moon, the true side of the moon will show itself to the Auburn faithful. 

It's no secret that Auburn fans want to win now, but college football doesn't always work as such.  A program ebbs and flows like the moon, with all to be revealed in due time.

Just as the moon goes through its course, so shall this young Auburn football program.