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Team Capsule: Auburn University
by bamafan4ever
Team Nickname: Tigers
2006 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
Team Fact: Only USC and Texas have better records in the NCAA over the last three years (33-5).
Head Coach Tommy Tuberville/Photo courtesy of AU
Team Overview
Lost in all of the Saban mania that has seemingly swept the state of Alabama in the last 6 months is the Auburn Tiger football program. Contrary to what a lot of people might believe, the Tigers will indeed be playing football on the Plains this fall and stand to give the rest of the SEC West a run for their money. Many regard the Tigers as the primary challenger to the LSU Tigers in the Western Division this season. The climb to the top of the division would be difficult with any typical SEC schedule but with road games in Gainesville, Fayetteville, Baton Rouge and Athens, a divisional championship would be a monumental achievement. The Tigers open the season with Big 12 opponent Kansas State for their only non-conference game of note. The Tigers finish the season against arch-rival Alabama on November 24th, at home, and will try to extend its winning streak to a record 6 games against their cross-state foe.
Offense
Brandon Cox/Photo courtesy of SI.com
The Tigers return only four starters on offense with Brandon Cox returning for his senior campaign at quarterback. Nagging injuries to both his knee and ankle hampered Cox last season but he has still managed to amass almost 5,000 career passing yards in his career with the Tigers. Rod Smith looks to be one of Coxās primary targets. As a walk-on in 2006, Smith grabbed 26 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns which led all returning starting receivers from last season. Injuries are plaguing the Tigers at the position of TB but Brad Lester (104 car., 510 yds., 9TDs) is anticipated to carry the football behind an offensive line that has very little experience playing together as a unit. Senior King Dunlap looks to be the only constant returning along the OL from last season and will anchor the LT position. Two juniors, Tyronne Green (LG) and Jason Bosley (C), will represent the only two other players with any playing experience in the college ranks. Redshirt freshman Mike Berry will get the nod at RG and true freshman Lee Ziemba has turned some heads in Fall Camp and will start at RT.
Defense
Tray Blackmon/Courtesy of The Auburner
Defense will be the strength of the 2007 edition of the Auburn Tigers. Seven starters return from a squad that ranked 7th nationally in scoring defense (13.9 ppg) and only allowed opponents to 292.3 ypg to rank 19th nationally. Quentin Groves returns to his spot at DE and led the Tigers with 9.5 sacks in 2006. Merrill Johnson will anchor a LB unit that will feature sophomore phenom Tray Blackmon and redshirt freshman Craig Stevens. In the secondary, Eric Brock returns to the Plains for his senior season after leading the Tigers with 50 tackles in 2006, 32 of which were solo stops. This will be the Tigers second year in Will Muschampās defensive system and look for that to pay great dividends for the Tigers in ā07.
Special Teams
Brad Lester/Photo courtesy of secsports.com
Despite all of the attrition on offense due to graduation, no other unit will be impacted as much as special teams at Auburn in 2007. Gone are the Tigerās all-time leading scorer, John Vaughn, who will be replaced by freshman Wes Bynum who beat out fellow freshman Graham Sutter to win the starting PK job. Gone also from last yearās team is Kody Bliss who was instrumental in keeping the Tigers in good field position last year. This year, Bliss will be replaced by redshirt freshman Ryan Shoemaker who looks to continue the legacy of great Auburn punters. Barring injuries, Brad Lester and speedy redshirt freshman Mario Fannin will field kickoff returns. Robert Dunn and true freshman Chris Slaughter will be responsible for returning punts for the Tigers in 2007.
Toomers Corner
by bamafan4ever
Team Nickname: Tigers
2006 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
Team Fact: Only USC and Texas have better records in the NCAA over the last three years (33-5).
Head Coach Tommy Tuberville/Photo courtesy of AU
Team Overview
Lost in all of the Saban mania that has seemingly swept the state of Alabama in the last 6 months is the Auburn Tiger football program. Contrary to what a lot of people might believe, the Tigers will indeed be playing football on the Plains this fall and stand to give the rest of the SEC West a run for their money. Many regard the Tigers as the primary challenger to the LSU Tigers in the Western Division this season. The climb to the top of the division would be difficult with any typical SEC schedule but with road games in Gainesville, Fayetteville, Baton Rouge and Athens, a divisional championship would be a monumental achievement. The Tigers open the season with Big 12 opponent Kansas State for their only non-conference game of note. The Tigers finish the season against arch-rival Alabama on November 24th, at home, and will try to extend its winning streak to a record 6 games against their cross-state foe.
Offense
Brandon Cox/Photo courtesy of SI.com
The Tigers return only four starters on offense with Brandon Cox returning for his senior campaign at quarterback. Nagging injuries to both his knee and ankle hampered Cox last season but he has still managed to amass almost 5,000 career passing yards in his career with the Tigers. Rod Smith looks to be one of Coxās primary targets. As a walk-on in 2006, Smith grabbed 26 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns which led all returning starting receivers from last season. Injuries are plaguing the Tigers at the position of TB but Brad Lester (104 car., 510 yds., 9TDs) is anticipated to carry the football behind an offensive line that has very little experience playing together as a unit. Senior King Dunlap looks to be the only constant returning along the OL from last season and will anchor the LT position. Two juniors, Tyronne Green (LG) and Jason Bosley (C), will represent the only two other players with any playing experience in the college ranks. Redshirt freshman Mike Berry will get the nod at RG and true freshman Lee Ziemba has turned some heads in Fall Camp and will start at RT.
Defense
Tray Blackmon/Courtesy of The Auburner
Defense will be the strength of the 2007 edition of the Auburn Tigers. Seven starters return from a squad that ranked 7th nationally in scoring defense (13.9 ppg) and only allowed opponents to 292.3 ypg to rank 19th nationally. Quentin Groves returns to his spot at DE and led the Tigers with 9.5 sacks in 2006. Merrill Johnson will anchor a LB unit that will feature sophomore phenom Tray Blackmon and redshirt freshman Craig Stevens. In the secondary, Eric Brock returns to the Plains for his senior season after leading the Tigers with 50 tackles in 2006, 32 of which were solo stops. This will be the Tigers second year in Will Muschampās defensive system and look for that to pay great dividends for the Tigers in ā07.
Special Teams
Brad Lester/Photo courtesy of secsports.com
Despite all of the attrition on offense due to graduation, no other unit will be impacted as much as special teams at Auburn in 2007. Gone are the Tigerās all-time leading scorer, John Vaughn, who will be replaced by freshman Wes Bynum who beat out fellow freshman Graham Sutter to win the starting PK job. Gone also from last yearās team is Kody Bliss who was instrumental in keeping the Tigers in good field position last year. This year, Bliss will be replaced by redshirt freshman Ryan Shoemaker who looks to continue the legacy of great Auburn punters. Barring injuries, Brad Lester and speedy redshirt freshman Mario Fannin will field kickoff returns. Robert Dunn and true freshman Chris Slaughter will be responsible for returning punts for the Tigers in 2007.
Toomers Corner
