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EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
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AUBURN
TIGERS |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Brandon Cox-QB, Carl Stewart-FB, Prechae Rodriguez-WR,
Cole Bennett-TE, King Dunlap-OT |
DEFENSE:
Quentin
Groves-DE, Josh Thompson-DT, Patrick Lee-CB,
Jonathan Wilhite-CB, Eric Brock-FS |
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Defensive
Line / Linebacker |
Despite having
lost guys like Quentin Groves
up front, the backups performed
admirably in ‘07. Antonio
Coleman stepped in and proved
worthy of being the next great
full-timer. The LBs are an unheralded
group, but played a big role
in making this team the best
defense in the SEC. |
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Quarterback |
Marginal
effectiveness at QB has been
an issue for quite some time,
and no more Brandon Cox means
uncertainty at the helm. Will
turnover be a good thing? |
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WR
Rodgeriqus Smith |
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DE
Antonio Coleman |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and
players that received the most playing experience
(consistent starters). NationalChamps.net
recognizes the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts, transfers,
injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and
alternates. Their coverage will begin with
our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
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AUBURN
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Blake
Field-Sr |
Kodi
Burns-So |
FB |
Mario
Fannin-So |
.. |
TB |
Ben
Tate-Jr |
Brad
Lester-Sr |
WR |
Rodgeriqus
Smith-Sr |
.. |
WR |
Montez
Billings-Jr |
.. |
WR |
Tim
Hawthorne-So |
Robert
Dunn-Sr |
TE |
Tommy
Trott-Jr |
Gabe
McKenzie-Jr |
OT |
Ryan
Pugh-So |
.. |
OG |
Tyronne
Green-Sr |
.. |
C |
Jason
Bosley-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Chaz
Ramsey-So |
Mike
Berry-So |
OT |
Lee
Ziemba-So |
.. |
K |
Wes
Byrum-So |
.. |
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AUBURN
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Antonio
Coleman-Jr |
Antoine
Carter-So |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DT |
Pat
Sims-Sr |
.. |
DE |
Sen'Derrick
Marks-Jr |
Michael
Goggans-So |
LB |
Craig
Stevens-So |
Merrill
Johnson-Sr / Bo Harris-So |
LB |
Tray
Blackmon-Jr |
.. |
LB |
Chris
Evans-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Jerraud
Powers-Jr |
Walter
McFadden-Jr |
CB |
.. |
.. |
SS |
Zac
Etheridge-So |
.. |
FS |
Aairon
Savage-Jr |
Mike
McNeil-So |
K |
Ryan
Shoemaker-So |
Patrick
Tatum-So |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
What
will Auburn put on display next season?
We can already hear those Alabama radio
shows throwing such questions our way. The
hard part will be giving them a straight
answer in terms of where this team will
rank. Let's see, they lose longtime starter
Brandon Cox at QB, maybe to the delight
of a few Tiger fans since Cox never really
lived up to expectations and struggled at
times. But measuring the replacements -
Blake Field and Kodi Burns - is difficult
since their playing time over the years
have been relegated to mop up duty on most
occasions. Since Kenny Irons left, the heralded
TB position has been more or less running
back-by-committee. None went over 1000 yards
rushing in 2007, but they are deep in this
area, nonetheless. The receivers, though,
seem to be lacking a big time playmaker.
The young Tiger OL has been a work-in-progress
after all the losses to graduation from
a year ago. The only returning player that
was an All-SEC selection is a freshman punter.
Now, to boot, offensive coordinator Al Borges
has resigned. But if there is one reliable
aspect, it’s head coach Tommy Tuberville.
Since he arrived on campus, his teams have
been more than competitive while putting
up big win totals each season. While the
offense continued to struggle all season
(101st in total offense), the one positive
aspect - the defense - was superb, especially
considering the rash of injuries. Upwards
of seven players sat out games for various
reasons, and yet Auburn still ranked first
in the SEC in scoring defense. This group
was not necessarily rattling opposing QBs
with pressure or even intercepting a ton
of passes, but they play team defense. Many
felt this was the best defense in the SEC
(No.1 in scoring allowed) at the conclusion
of the season, and it's hard to disagree.
The good news...a great deal of experience
is back on D once again, and with so many
players getting playing time in ’07,
their depth will make this a dangerous unit
in ‘08. They took a few hits in the
personnel department but don't expect any
drop-off. This defense has the capability
to be even better, as should be the case
with the OL, too. Extra help from the OL
(until the new QB can settle in) will be
the primary factor in how far Auburn can
go next year. Hopefully, they find the right
hurler to keep this team in the hunt for
the SEC (West) crown.
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AUBURN
2008 SCHEDULE
8-30
LOUISIANA-MONROE
9-6 at West Virginia
9-13 at Mississippi State
9-20 LOUISIANA STATE
9-27 TENNESSEE
10-4 at Vanderbilt
10-11 ARKANSAS
10-18 SOUTHERN MISS
10-25 at Mississippi
11-8 TENNESSEE-MARTIN
11-15 GEORGIA
11-29 at Alabama
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