It is amazing what not reading the Bunker can do for ones perspective. While I am not surprised that this place latched onto the negative (fueled by the well written but relatively gloomy ADOB by @Jay G. Tate), I came away from watching the A-Day game with a completely different perspective. Unlike some, apparently, I didn't expect to see a well oiled machine on offense lighting up the scoreboard. We saw that in last year's spring game, didn't we? Jeremy and Duke appeared to be in mid-season form, Roc Thomas flashed some impressive moves and the breakaway speed at running back that we were missing with CAP... we know that didn't translate to the fall.
The coaches won't close the door on the quarterback race until giving JFIII more time, but barring significant development, Sean White will be taking the first snap verse Clemson. Let's all remember this will be White's sophomore year - if you expected the player who took the reigns as a redshirt freshman to play like an All-SEC QB than those unrealistic expectations are on you, not White. He is improved and will continue to improve and be a solid QB for us this fall.
What is most exciting to me from the offense is our weapons at running back and H-back. Jovon Robinson will pick up where he ended the year and be one of the better backs in the SEC. Roc Thomas will find a role as a 3rd down back, change of pace back and receiving option out of the backfield and in the slot. A healthy Kerryon Johnson adds more depth to both the traditional tailback role as well as in the utility back role. Chandler Cox and Kamryn Pettway proved they are not only developing as devastating blockers, but also legitimate weapons as ball carriers and receivers. I expect to see 2-3 of these guys on the field at the same time for a lot of our offensive snaps.
Wide receiver is still a work in progress but there is no easier position for younger players to make big impacts. Guys like Ryan Davis, Darius Slayton, Kyle Davis and Nate Craig-Meyers very well could lead our team in receptions and yards this year and that wouldn't be a bad thing. Marcus Davis and Jason Smith are definitely better suited as slot / complimentary options and we need 1-2 of the young guys to step up this fall - the good news is that group has the talent to do just that.
We spent last spring and fall thinking we would be a 3-4 wide offense with a dynamic running game. Our QB got the yips, our best receiver went off the deep end and our top two running backs sustained injuries. This year we will get back to a powerful running game with 2-3 options off a read and a complimentary passing game. The OLine will be strong, the run game will be strong, and we will have a passing game that is dangerous enough to keep defenses honest.
On the other side of the ball, the defense is SKRONG. Mon Adams appears ready for a breakout year, Lawson is playing like the player everyone expected him to be, and we have the best depth at both tackle and end that we have seen in years. We should have a very solid 10 man rotation along the DLine. Linebacker is less critical with typically only 2 guys on the field at a time and 1 of those spots is locked up by Tre Williams who should have a very solid year. I am interested to see what TJ Neal brings to the table and the continued growth by D Davis, D Williams, and M Atkinson to fill out the depth chart. The defensive backfield is talented and deep and will be aided by the improvements along the DLine. The addition of Marshall Taylor will compliment the youth we have at cornerback, we have a few versatile guys like Ford, Holsey, and Irvin who can play corner, nickel or safety, as well as a trio of experienced safeties with Roberts, Ruffin and Matthews.
Special teams appears to be the best in the conference with a Lou Groza favorite at kicker and a solid if unspectacular punter.
Overall we should see an offense and defense that are both significantly improved, a special teams that continues to be one of the strongest in the country, and a coaching staff that is more cohesive. Get ready for another out-of-nowhere championship season for Auburn - that's how we roll.
The coaches won't close the door on the quarterback race until giving JFIII more time, but barring significant development, Sean White will be taking the first snap verse Clemson. Let's all remember this will be White's sophomore year - if you expected the player who took the reigns as a redshirt freshman to play like an All-SEC QB than those unrealistic expectations are on you, not White. He is improved and will continue to improve and be a solid QB for us this fall.
What is most exciting to me from the offense is our weapons at running back and H-back. Jovon Robinson will pick up where he ended the year and be one of the better backs in the SEC. Roc Thomas will find a role as a 3rd down back, change of pace back and receiving option out of the backfield and in the slot. A healthy Kerryon Johnson adds more depth to both the traditional tailback role as well as in the utility back role. Chandler Cox and Kamryn Pettway proved they are not only developing as devastating blockers, but also legitimate weapons as ball carriers and receivers. I expect to see 2-3 of these guys on the field at the same time for a lot of our offensive snaps.
Wide receiver is still a work in progress but there is no easier position for younger players to make big impacts. Guys like Ryan Davis, Darius Slayton, Kyle Davis and Nate Craig-Meyers very well could lead our team in receptions and yards this year and that wouldn't be a bad thing. Marcus Davis and Jason Smith are definitely better suited as slot / complimentary options and we need 1-2 of the young guys to step up this fall - the good news is that group has the talent to do just that.
We spent last spring and fall thinking we would be a 3-4 wide offense with a dynamic running game. Our QB got the yips, our best receiver went off the deep end and our top two running backs sustained injuries. This year we will get back to a powerful running game with 2-3 options off a read and a complimentary passing game. The OLine will be strong, the run game will be strong, and we will have a passing game that is dangerous enough to keep defenses honest.
On the other side of the ball, the defense is SKRONG. Mon Adams appears ready for a breakout year, Lawson is playing like the player everyone expected him to be, and we have the best depth at both tackle and end that we have seen in years. We should have a very solid 10 man rotation along the DLine. Linebacker is less critical with typically only 2 guys on the field at a time and 1 of those spots is locked up by Tre Williams who should have a very solid year. I am interested to see what TJ Neal brings to the table and the continued growth by D Davis, D Williams, and M Atkinson to fill out the depth chart. The defensive backfield is talented and deep and will be aided by the improvements along the DLine. The addition of Marshall Taylor will compliment the youth we have at cornerback, we have a few versatile guys like Ford, Holsey, and Irvin who can play corner, nickel or safety, as well as a trio of experienced safeties with Roberts, Ruffin and Matthews.
Special teams appears to be the best in the conference with a Lou Groza favorite at kicker and a solid if unspectacular punter.
Overall we should see an offense and defense that are both significantly improved, a special teams that continues to be one of the strongest in the country, and a coaching staff that is more cohesive. Get ready for another out-of-nowhere championship season for Auburn - that's how we roll.
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