🏈 Kirk Herbstreit: Rising Tide and sinking Tigers

[BAMANEWSBOT]

ESPN analyst likes Alabama to win SEC; "great year" for Auburn would be a bowl game

Plenty of eyebrows -- mine included -- got raised last summer when ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit picked Auburn to win the mighty SEC West. Turns out Herbstreit knew what he was talking about.

So listen up for his thoughts on the SEC in 2011.

"My Auburn fans out there who thought I was the toast of the town aren't going to like me this year," Herbstreit said. "I think this team is really going to struggle. I think if they get to a bowl game, it would be a great year."

Meanwhile, Herbstreit believes Alabama's grown-up defense will return to its 2009 form and help the Crimson Tide win the SEC. But he has questions for Alabama, too.

Read More Here...

By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News

 

[TerryP]

Is my suspicion we'll see a boycott of Kirk, Gameday, ESPN in general... :headscratch:

 

[jdpas29]

good to see i'm not the only one that thinks arky will be a tough one this season

 

['65 Cobra]

good to see i'm not the only one that thinks arky will be a tough one this season

Me too. I'm just glad we get them early before they have a chance to gel too much.

 

[Southern Bama]

good to see i'm not the only one that thinks arky will be a tough one this season

Davis is on helluva RB.....as good as any in the conference IMO.

 

[doemasters]

We will be their first test of the year looking at their schedule but also their first road game of the season

 

[Duder]

Arky will be tough but keep in mind Tyler Wilson's coming out party was against our secondary, which was among the worst we've fielded in my lifetime

 

[TerryP]

Arky will be tough but keep in mind Tyler Wilson's coming out party was against our secondary, which was among the worst we've fielded in my lifetime

I'll say this until I'm blue in the face...

It's also the first test their tackles, both new starters, will face.

And, we don't lack experience or talent when it comes to our ends or how we'll play the outside linebackers—JACK included—or our DB's.

I don't have a score I'll throw out there. But, based on the limited research I've done on Arkansas I think this has a really good chance of just being a beat down.

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Duder, the thanks is for using our app! I hope you liked it!!!

 

[ElephantStomp]

I'm with Terry on this. I think this is going to be a beat down.

Arky has a good back, but if the line doesn't open holes it don't matter how good the RB is.

Their QB is decent, but his best game and coming out party was against Auburn and as Duder said they had one of the worst secondaries ever in AU history. Last time I checked we got a pretty decent secondary.

I don't have a score, but it wouldn't surprise me if we had four tds before the scored a point

 

[planomateo]

they lost 3 starters on the line right (Love (OT), Grayson (OG) and Dominguez (OT)) - all 3 started every game last year, so only 2 guys return from last year - Bailey (OG) & Swanson (C). Oden got a DUI who was supposed to be starting this year I believe, but was kicked off the team.

So they are forced with 3 new lineman.

 

[BamaFan615]

I tend to agree with the Arkansas comments...I do they they will field a good team this year, I just think that we match up against them very well.

I have a feeling Auburn is going to come up and surprise some people this year. Not saying they are going to be in contention for the west, but that they cannot be taken lightly.

 

[kc]

Auburn lost way to much on both sides to surprise anyone.......that will be a cold hard truth. Alabama was loaded last year but lack of experience on the defensive side killed them in big games....expect the same from Auburn. New Oline and much of their defense is gone....and they were not spectacular at all last year. Nick Fairley saved their secondary last year...

how do I only have 543 post now....it was over 2k lol

 

['65 Cobra]

I tend to agree with the Arkansas comments...I do they they will field a good team this year, I just think that we match up against them very well.

I have a feeling Auburn is going to come up and surprise some people this year. Not saying they are going to be in contention for the west, but that they cannot be taken lightly.

Keep in mind a couple of other things - the Malzhan offense that Cam ran perfectly is not going to be able to sneak up and surprise anyone in the SEC anymore. His first year, he didn't have the personnel and it was ineffective. Last year, he lucked into the perfect guy and the they unloaded every last bit of it. This year, SEC teams will be able to better prepare for it. Related to that, he doesn't have Cam Newton to run it this year. Frazier may become effective eventually, but I doubt this year. Also, several teams should have beaten Auburn last year and they will be out for major revenge. They include, along with Bama and MSU who AU play at home, South Carolina, Clemson, Arky, and LSU who AU must play on the road. Lastly, not only do they also have Florida at home and UGA on the road, but every defending national champ wears the bullseye on their back, and every team will be bringing the house against them just because of that if nothing else. I just look at that schedule and the losses on their team and I am seeing a very tough year this year.

PS - I heard a rumor that the NCAA might be looking into a few things, too. :shock:

 

[CrimsonPirate]

how do I only have 543 post now....it was over 2k lol

It's a conspiracy, kc. Btw, I'm right fond of the "town" you're from. Was up that way a couple of weeks ago. How's your family.

Yeah, yeah...I know....thread hijack. Sorry.

 

[kc]

It's a conspiracy, kc. Btw, I'm right fond of the "town" you're from. Was up that way a couple of weeks ago. How's your family.

Yeah, yeah...I know....thread hijack. Sorry.

They are out to get me CP. We are doing well. The town has changed a great deal in the last 10 years. Hope you enjoyed your stay. Valley has a scrimmage game with Opelika soon.....it should be interesting. Hope you are doing well CP!