Sunday, May 27, 2007

What? O What? Ohhhhh

The 2007 Auburn Offense should be able to produce more points than it did in 2006. Brandon Cox is healthy, the receivers have more experience, the tight end group is tops in the SEC if not the nation, a stellar slash and burn running game, and an offensive line that is talented but inexperienced. Look for Borges to be a lot more interesting in his play calling this year. Last year, due to the injuries of Brandon Cox, Borges was more conservative in his approach to play calling. With a healthy QB and great skill players, Borges can once again let his "Gulf Coast" offense out of the box.
If you look back to 2004 (which I will stop doing once the season begins) Auburn was effective on offense because no defense could match up with the arsenal of skill players we had on offense. Look for this year to be similar. I think we will use our tight ends a lot more than in years past. I also think that if our receivers prove to be physical types we will run a lot more pick plays and crossing routs over the middle. Play action will be another key to the passing game this year. Cox's health will enable Auburn to use play action to keep defenses guessing. Our fantastic group of RB's will allow play action to be effective. With Carl Stewart at the X back position he will be a threat to catch the ball every passing play, and the speed of Brad Lester and elusiveness of Ben Tate will work in Auburn's favor. Did I mention that Mario Fannin and Tristan Davis will also be getting carries?
Our WR corps should be much more effective as well. Rod Smith comes to mind. He will be our go-to-guy. I am interested to see how Tim Hawthorne plays this year. He has the potential to be a star. We have Montez Billings who has stepped up his play, and hopefully Prechae Rodriguez will be able to make some big grabs as well. Robert Dunn should be more productive this year, although I am still not sold on him as a rout runner and his hands seem to be iffy. The Offense should be able to put up more points, sustain longer drives, and use more trickery (or trickeration as ESPN now seems to think is a word) than we used in 2006.

1 comment:

Firestone said...

It's going to be exciting to say the least. It will be extremely refreshing to NOT know what is coming next. Playcalling last year was a little suspect, but as Ole Ball Coach stated, it was to be expected with the plethora of injuries. 3rd play against Arkansas 2004 anyone?