Academic Suspension: Ask Auburn how easy it is to rebuild a running attack when you send two RBs to the first round of the NFL Draft. The only place on the depth chart more bare than RB is LB.
AUBURN TIGERS
Coach: Tommy Tuberville
2007: 9-4 overall, 5-3 in the SEC
Head of the Class: Auburn may not have the same quality of back they did when Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, and Brandon Jacobs were all on the plains, but they have some serious depth with Brad Lester, Ben Tate, Mario Fannin, and Tristan Davis.
Underachievers: You have to look at two new coordinators as the biggest questions for the Tigers. New defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads takes over for popular, future head coach Will Muschamp. Al Borges was dispatched despite helping make Jason Campbell a first round pick for the Redskins. The West Coast offense of Borges is being eschewed in favor of Tony Franklin's spread option.
Academic Suspension: To make the spread option work, you need a QB who can run and throw. Auburn does...have one of each. Kodi Burns is a great runner and JuCo transfer Chris Todd has shown polish as a passer. The problem for Auburn is that you can only play one QB at a time, so one of these guys is going to have to improve his area of deficiency.
FLORIDA GATORS
Coach: Urban Meyer
2007: 9-4 overall, 5-3 in the SEC
Head of the Class: Who else? Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow became the first sophomore in college football history to win a Heisman. He had his way with opposing defenses last season, and it wasn't the type of lucky success that mere off-season changes will eliminate.
Underachievers: Somewhere there exists a defensive coordinator who has the vision to realize Tim Tebow is this team's leading rusher and maybe – just maybe – will find a way to make that point clear to his players. Tebow is clearly the most special player in the Gator backfield, meaning he is running a spread more than an option.
Academic Suspension: The defense is young and mistake prone. All three starting LBs return, but a four man line has nine bodies, none of whom have proven themselves more capable than the other, and only one of whom has any starting experience. That's already enough, until you add in a secondary that helped Florida finish last in the SEC in pass defense.
Article comments
1 - Pico
"Make no mistake, LSU was the best team in football last year but had to struggle to get to the title game in no small part because Les Miles is an appallingly bad game coach with a poor disposition."
For a minute there I thought that Josh wrote this piece ;-)