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ESPN.com - SEC Blog
Chasing Alabama: Auburn Tigers
For the previous two seasons -- and honestly, for the majority of several seasons before that -- the rest of the SEC was chasing Alabama.
Everyone will open the 2016 season as the Crimson Tide's pursuers, again, although only a few teams are legitimate threats to catch up to Nick Saban's juggernaut. Over the next several days, we'll take a look at the Tide's fellow SEC contenders and their cases for overtaking Alabama in the upcoming season.
Next up are the Auburn Tigers, the last team other than Alabama to win the SEC.
How they can beat Alabama: Only two SEC teams have defeated the Tide over the past three seasons -- Ole Miss and Auburn. The Rebels have done it by hitting big plays and forcing turnovers. Auburn did it with a 109-yard field goal return for a touchdown on the final play of the game that would become known simply as āthe kick-six.ā But the win wasnāt a fluke. The Tigers racked up nearly 400 yards of offense and converted better than 50 percent of their third downs. Alabama had no answer for Gus Malzahnās offense, and it was the same the following year as Auburn took a 33-21 lead early in the third quarter before the defense collapsed in a 55-44 loss. The key in both of those games was quarterback Nick Marshall. Malzahn has shown over the years that if he has the right quarterback, he can give Alabamaās defense fits. If he can find that guy this season, the Tigers will be right back in the SEC race and a threat once again to their in-state rival.
Whatās standing in their way: Thereās a reason this Auburn team went 6-6 last season. The offense was inconsistent. The defense struggled for most of the year. And as we head into 2016, thereās no proof that it will get better. The staff might have more options at quarterback, but nobody has proven they can handle the job. They might have signed a stellar wide receiver class, but the position will still be full of youth and inexperience in the fall. And though the defense will benefit from the return of Carl Lawson, the unit will be led by its third defensive coordinator in as many years. In fact, three of the four coaches on defense had to be replaced this offseason. Auburnās best seasons typically come when nobody is expecting much from the Tigers, but there are plenty of questions that need answers before this team is ready to make a run.
X factor: Look no further than quarterback John Franklin III, a junior-college transfer whoās the closest thing Auburn has to Marshall. Franklin, who originally began his career at Florida State, brings the ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs, and that can be a dangerous thing in Malzahnās offense. At East Mississippi Community College, he passed for 733 yards, rushed for 451 yards and scored 16 touchdowns combined. Franklin will be at Auburn this spring, giving him a chance to compete with the incumbents,Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. In addition to Franklin, the Tigers also welcome a star-studded group of wide receivers that includes Nate Craig-Myersand Kyle Davis. Both are listed at 6-foot-3 and both can make plays.
From ESPN's SEC Blogā.
For the previous two seasons -- and honestly, for the majority of several seasons before that -- the rest of the SEC was chasing Alabama.
Everyone will open the 2016 season as the Crimson Tide's pursuers, again, although only a few teams are legitimate threats to catch up to Nick Saban's juggernaut. Over the next several days, we'll take a look at the Tide's fellow SEC contenders and their cases for overtaking Alabama in the upcoming season.
Next up are the Auburn Tigers, the last team other than Alabama to win the SEC.
How they can beat Alabama: Only two SEC teams have defeated the Tide over the past three seasons -- Ole Miss and Auburn. The Rebels have done it by hitting big plays and forcing turnovers. Auburn did it with a 109-yard field goal return for a touchdown on the final play of the game that would become known simply as āthe kick-six.ā But the win wasnāt a fluke. The Tigers racked up nearly 400 yards of offense and converted better than 50 percent of their third downs. Alabama had no answer for Gus Malzahnās offense, and it was the same the following year as Auburn took a 33-21 lead early in the third quarter before the defense collapsed in a 55-44 loss. The key in both of those games was quarterback Nick Marshall. Malzahn has shown over the years that if he has the right quarterback, he can give Alabamaās defense fits. If he can find that guy this season, the Tigers will be right back in the SEC race and a threat once again to their in-state rival.
Whatās standing in their way: Thereās a reason this Auburn team went 6-6 last season. The offense was inconsistent. The defense struggled for most of the year. And as we head into 2016, thereās no proof that it will get better. The staff might have more options at quarterback, but nobody has proven they can handle the job. They might have signed a stellar wide receiver class, but the position will still be full of youth and inexperience in the fall. And though the defense will benefit from the return of Carl Lawson, the unit will be led by its third defensive coordinator in as many years. In fact, three of the four coaches on defense had to be replaced this offseason. Auburnās best seasons typically come when nobody is expecting much from the Tigers, but there are plenty of questions that need answers before this team is ready to make a run.
X factor: Look no further than quarterback John Franklin III, a junior-college transfer whoās the closest thing Auburn has to Marshall. Franklin, who originally began his career at Florida State, brings the ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs, and that can be a dangerous thing in Malzahnās offense. At East Mississippi Community College, he passed for 733 yards, rushed for 451 yards and scored 16 touchdowns combined. Franklin will be at Auburn this spring, giving him a chance to compete with the incumbents,Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. In addition to Franklin, the Tigers also welcome a star-studded group of wide receivers that includes Nate Craig-Myersand Kyle Davis. Both are listed at 6-foot-3 and both can make plays.
From ESPN's SEC Blogā.
