Auburn Football: Will Auburn Have Enough Offensive Speed In 2010?

This is a look at the overall speed of the 2010 Auburn football Offense. It is the one element that seems to have been overlooked by the majority of national analyst. One thing is certain, there is speed on the plains of Auburn.

While articles like this usually begin with the usual suspects, let us start in a different direction this time. Let us take a look at the Big Uglies!

Offensive Line

Center: Ryan Pugh is 6'4" and 295 lbs. of pure NFL potential that will go high in the 2011 NFL Draft. He is one of the best at his position in the nation. He certainly has the quick feet to do his job exceptionally well. Graded as high as 93 against SEC opponents in 2009.

Tackle: Lee Ziemba, 6'8", 315 lbs., will also play on Sunday. He has extremely quick feet and off the charts power. Graded as high as 92 against SEC opponents. 

Tackle: Rozell Gayden, 6'7, 318 lbs., is the perfect match opposite of Ziemba. He has excellent foot speed and is insanely powerful. 

Guard: Byron Isom, 6'3", 300 lbs., has great quick feet and blocks well. Graded as high as 90 against SEC opponents in 2009. 

Guard: Bike Berry, 6'3", 320 lbs., has great quick feet and blocks well. Graded as high as 90 against SEC opponents in 2009. 

Receivers

Tight End: Philip Lutzenkirchen 6'4", 262 lbs., runs a 4.7 40 yds. With that size and hands that absolutely stick to the ball, he presents quite a problem for defenses.

Receiver: Darvin Adams 6'3", 185 lbs., runs a sub 4.5 40 yds. He scorched the SEC for over 900 yds. receiving in 2009.

Receiver: Terell Zachery 6'1", 203 lbs., runs a 4.4 40 yds. He had an outstanding season in 2009.

Receiver: DeAngelo Benton, 6'2", 200 lbs., runs a 4.4 40 yds. He will be hard to contain with that speed and a 37" vertical for opposing defenses.

Receiver: Travante Stallworth, 5'9, 190 lbs., runs a 4.4 40 yds. He's a threat deep as well as running the ball.

Receiver: Quindarius Carr, 6'1", 181 lbs., runs a 4.5 40 yds. He's another fast threat for defenses to contain.

Receiver: Kodi Burns, 6'2", 210 lbs., runs a 4.5 40 yds. He's a threat across the middle and to run the ball. 

Running Back

Fullback: Eric Smith, 5'10", 240 lbs., runs a 4.6 40 yds. He's a punishing power runner with great receiving hands.

Fullback: John Douglas, 6'2", 245 lbs., runs a 4.7 40 yds. He's a powerful lead blocker.

Running Back: Mario Fannin, 5'11", 225 lbs., runs a 4.5 40 yds. Super Mario can do it all. He is great at running inside, outside and receiving. He is a truly all purpose offensive weapon.

Running Back: Ontario McCalebb, 5'10", 180 lbs,. runs a 4.4 40yds. He is quick as a cat and can outrun most defenders to the corners. 

Running Back: Dontae Aycock, 5'10", 225lbs. runs a 4.4 40 yds. He is ready to become another versatile offensive weapon. He is a good runner inside and out and has become a good receiver. He will make an impact in 2010.

Quarterback

Quarterback: Cameron Newton, 6'6", 250 lbs., runs a 4.5 40 yds.

Quarterback: Neil Caudle, 6'2", 205 lbs., runs a 4.6 40 yds.

Quarterback: Barret Trotter, 6'2", 203 lbs., runs a 4.65 40 yds.

Quarterback: Clint Moseley, 6'3", 205 lbs., runs a 4.67 40 yds.

Kick Returners

Demond Washington, 5'9", 185 lbs., runs a 4.4 40 yds.

Comparison

Quarterback: South Carolina's Steven Garcia runs a 4.67 40 yds. Arkansas' Ryan Mallet runs a 4.9 40 yds.

Reciever: Georgia's AJ Green runs a 4.5 40 yds. Alabama's Julio Jones runs a 4.67 40yds. Arkansas' Greg Childs runs a 4.5 40 yds. Florida's Chris Rainey runs a 4.43 40 yds.

Running Back: Alabama's Mark Ingram runs a 4.45 40 yds. Georgia's Waushaun Ealey runs a 4.45 40 yds. South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore runs a 4.46 40 yds. Florida's Jeffrey Demps runs a 4.46 40 yds.

True Freshmen 

Running Back: Michael Dyer, 5'8", 220 lbs., runs a 4.39 40 yds.

Fullback: Ladarius Phillips, 6'1", 270 lbs., runs a 4.7 40 yds.

Receiver: Trovon Reed, 6'0", 180 lbs., runs a 4.5 40 yds.

Receiver: Antonio Goodwin, 6'2", 180 lbs., runs a 4.4 40yds.

Tight End: Dakota Mosley, 6'4", 260 lbs., runs a 4.8 40 yds.

Punt Returner: Chris Davis, 5'11", 175 lbs., runs a 4.4 40 yds.

Speed is a necessity for the offense Auburn is running. After taking a look at the speed of the Auburn team as compared to the competetion they will be facing, it looks like they can compete quite well. 

If an offensive player has an edge in speed, it means an immediate exploitable advantage. If the offensive players speed is close, then causing the defender to cover repeated routes and motion will cause fatigue, substitutions or mistakes that can be exploited.

If Auburn fans would like to compare the speed of the Auburn team to the best in the nation, The 40 yard times for the 2010 NFL Combines are listed at the following link for every position.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers