Auburn Tigers Football: 10 Dream Scenarios for 2011

As the 2011 season continues to grow closer, the outlook for the Tigers from a national perspective continues to be bleak. When the preseason magazines rolled off the shelves this month, most, if not all, of them had Auburn finishing fifth in the West, and Athlon didn’t even have Auburn in its pre-season top 25.

Auburn not being in the preseason top 25 has to be a first for a reigning national champion. Auburn lost a lot of senior leadership this past spring and also saw the most impactful defensive and offensive players depart for the NFL. It’s not difficult to see where the predictions are coming from.

As unsightly as the predictions have been, there are some dream scenarios that could work out for the Tigers this fall. These 10 scenarios aren’t impossible, but they aren’t all probable. However, if just a handful of things go right this season for the Tigers, the outcome looks to be a lot more promising. 

Starting Quarterback Found First Week of August

In a perfect world, the starting quarterback would have already been named for Auburn. This season, there is no clear cut leader heading into fall camp. The Tigers staff is also rumored to be in contact with Russell Wilson, as he is set to make his decision known this coming Friday between Wisconsin and Auburn.

If Wilson decides to take his football future to Auburn, this question will be null and void. He would most certainly be the starter if he comes in for his final year of eligibility. If Wilson decides to go elsewhere, the Auburn coaching staff needs to make a decision as quickly as possible. Letting the competition linger will not help this team succeed in the coming season.

Barrett Trotter has been at Auburn the longest of the embattled quarterbacks but has shown a propensity to be injured. Clint Moseley has an explosive arm and has the athletic ability to make plays in the Malzahn offense, but has lacked the maturity in the past to show that he could handle the leadership role that the quarterback has to take on.

With summer workouts closed to anyone and everyone, no news has been released involving the progression of the two quarterbacks. Rumors are, however, that Moseley may have a slight edge heading into the fall. Assuming Wilson doesn’t transfer to Auburn, I would be surprised if Moseley was not the starter on day one if he can continue to grow into his maturity and leadership.

Mike Blakely Granted Playing Waiver

Mike Blakely was one of the highest rated running backs in the 2011 signing class for Florida. After attending spring and sitting out spring football with an injury, Blakely decided that Florida was not the best fit for him.

Late this spring, Blakely was released to transfer to Auburn. Auburn subsequently put in a request to the NCAA for an immediate playing waiver for Blakely, and the Tigers are anxiously awaiting the answer to the request. Typically, transfers must sit one full season before competing, but Blakely never donned a jersey for Florida this spring, so that may help in his search for approval.

Auburn is desperately thin at running back this coming season, with only Michael Dyer, Onterio McCalebb and Anthony Morgan on scholarship. Morgan was a defensive back until this past spring. Having Blakely enter the mix would shore up depth and add an explosive playmaker to the fold.

**On a side note, auburnsports.com has reported that Corey Grant will officially enroll as a student at Auburn University on Monday and will pursue football as a walk-on running back this fall. Grant was a four star running back from Opelika that signed with Alabama in 2010. He will have to sit this coming season due to NCAA transfer rules but will be able to compete in 2012.**

All 24 Signees Make It to Campus

Of the 24 players that Auburn signed this past spring, all but four have been cleared to enroll. The four still in question are Jaylon Denson, Angelo Blackson, Tre Mason and Anthony Swain. Mason and Blackson are two players that are very vital to this coming season, as their positions are in dire need on the plains.

Blackson is a defensive lineman from Delaware who has a motor and a mean streak on the football field. He would be an instant impact guy that would help shore up the middle of the defensive line. Mason is an explosive running back out of Florida that would also be looked upon to play from day one. With the lack of depth at running back, he is expected to make an early impact.

Denson is a big bodied wide receiver that has the talent to show up on campus and play. He had a great senior season at Hoover High in Birmingham and has the chance to make an impact early if he is cleared. The final player awaiting clearance is Anthony Swain. Swain is a linebacker/safety hybrid that is a big hitter and would most likely see time on special teams. 

**Angelo Blackson has been cleared to enroll at Auburn for classes and join the football team since article posting. Only Mason, Denson and Swain remain in limbo.**

Solid O-Line Play Early

One of the most glaring questions for the Tigers this season is the offensive line. Losing three starters and guys that had played together for nearly four years is going to take its toll in the early stages of the season. For the Tigers to be relevant this season, the offensive line has to gel early.

Coach Grimes has a very able stable of linemen to pull from this year, but nearly all of the starters and reserves lack experience. Auburn has Brandon Mosley and A.J. Greene as returning senior starters and Jared Cooper as a senior guard that has been a formidable reserve the past three years.

John Sullen, a junior, is another possible starter at a guard position and will look to provide leadership this fall. The biggest question for Auburn is going to be the center position. With the battle heating up between walk-on Blake Burgess and Reese Dismukes, only time will tell who earns the starting nod. Most believe the start will go to Dismukes, but having a freshman start at center is far from a perfect scenario.

Look for incoming freshmen Greg Robinson and Christian Westerman as well this fall. Both are big bodied linemen with a lot of tools in their belts. Both will likely end their careers at Auburn with their fair share awards and accolades, but they are likely to be thrown to the fire this season. Both will be ready, but the hope is they play to earn experience, and because they have earned it, not because of necessity. 

Defensive Line Matures Quickly

The two most experienced defensive interior linemen returning this fall are both true sophomores. Jeffrey Whitaker and Kenneth Carter received some quality snaps a season ago, but this is only their second year in college football. On the outside, sophomores Nosa Eguae and Corey Lemonier will get the starting nod.

When all four starters are sophomores on your starting d-line, there will obviously be some concern. Reserves like Jamar Travis, Derrick Lykes, Joel Bonomolo and Craig Sanders will help relieve some of the stress on the starting four, but there is a severe lack of experience across the board for the Tigers.

The defensive line will most likely be targeted early, especially in week two and three against hard running teams Mississippi State and Clemson. How the d-line performs in those first games will go a long way in determining the confidence for the remaining season.

Dyer and McCalebb Combine for 2,500

Michael Dyer finished his freshman season with 1,093 rushing yards. McCalleb completed his sophomore season by adding 810 rushing yards of his own. These two Tigers need to find 600 or so more yards this season.

Dyer and McCalebb are likely to be the most dangerous running back tandem in the league this fall, if not the country. A big determining factor of course will be the offensive line and how it progresses, but the talent in the backfield is undeniable.

With the departure of Cam Newton and his monstrous rushing stats, Auburn is going to need to replace that yardage in two ways. More rushing yards will be needed from the traditional backs, and more passing yards will be needed from the quarterback position. Dyer and McCalebb have the talent, assuming that the offensive line gels together as it needs to, these backs will reach their goals, and the Auburn offense will be just as potent as the past two seasons.

Trovon Reed Is as Impactful as Advertised

Auburn will be looking for more playmakers to get into space and confuse opposing defenses this season. In 2009 Auburn didn’t always have the talent or depth to find the space that Malzahn wanted. In 2010, Cam Newton didn’t need the options to be available very often. This season, Auburn will rely on more traditional role players to make the big plays.

Trovon Reed was hampered by a lingering knee injury a year ago. This coming season, he is completely healthy and ready to make an impact. Auburn has a lot of speed that is on the offensive side of the ball this season, and Reed is one of the fastest of the group. Getting Reed into the slot and allowing him to find space will be a must for Auburn to find success this year.

Reed will need to be productive, and if he is as good as advertised a year ago, he will find himself in the national spotlight early and often.

Punt Returner Found

It seems like it has been the better side of a decade since Auburn has had a reliable punt returner. There have been numerous Tigers attempt the role, and last season ended with Darvin Adams fielding punts just for his sure hands.

This year Quindarius Carr, Trovon Reed and others are likely to be in the mix for the job. Auburn needs to find ways to shorten the playing field as early and often as possible in games this season for their young offense, and punt returns are a great way for the Tigers to gain extra yards. Hopefully for the Tigers, the return game is beneficial, not detrimental, in 2011.

Defensive Secondary Matures

Auburn saw some moving and shaking of positions a year ago as bodies were wearing thin in the defensive secondary. One year later, the Tigers are quite experienced across the board but still very young.

Neiko Thorpe is likely to be the most notable shakeup as the 2011 season looms, as he moved from his three year corner back position to safety. Having his senior leadership at safety will be a huge corner stone for the defense, and safety appears to be his most natural position.

T’Sharvan Bell is another leader for the defense and is a rising junior cornerback. Mix in Demtruce McNeal, and you have three very experienced and talented defensive backs. Rising sophomores Chris Davis and Ryan White will also be looked upon as veteran reserves, and incoming freshmen Erique Florence, Jonathan Rose and others are likely to see playing time.

If the secondary can follow Thorpe and Bell’s leadership this season, the Tigers have the experience and talent to be one of the better defensive secondaries in the SEC. Not many remember that just a year ago, Ryan White was the scout team's quarterback who was pulled to defense to shore up the position. The Tigers are young but full of experience.

October Doesn’t Haunt the Tigers Finish

The October schedule for the Tigers may be the toughest month of football they have faced in recent memory. With away games at Arkansas, South Carolina and LSU, anyone can see that it is quite formidable. Home games against Florida and Ole Miss round out the month.

Auburn’s season fate will likely be determined by the end of the month of October. All five games are conference games, and three are in the Western division. Auburn can’t afford to lose more than two of the games if they intend to have a fighter’s chance at the division title.

The likelihood that Auburn is haunted from October is highly likely, but there is a chance that they make it out without too many losses. How Auburn approaches this extremely difficult month and how they finish will determine their fate around the college football national landscape and the SEC as well. The dream scenario is that the Tigers make it out undefeated; the hope would be 3-2.