I have read and heard the projections and predictions. I have heard the snickering and the laughter. I have heard why Chris Todd isn't the guy to lead Auburn. I have heard why Auburn football will be a laughing stock this year and next. And they all have merit...based on last years performance. Why anyone would look at what happened last year...because of what was going on in the program....and base this years performance on that I don't know. That would be like, removing a cancerous tumor from a person and giving them the same prognosis as they had before the surgery. Sure, Auburn has a lot of "healing" to do but the cancer that had developed in the program has been removed and we have put together a strong treatment regimen of solid coaching to hopefully bring the program back to health. There is plenty of reason to think that Auburn won't do well this season, but there are also plenty of reasons to believe we CAN rebuild. To understand why we can rebound you have to look at why we failed last year. If you want answers as to why we were so horrible and why Todd looked so bad, here they are.

The Offense:

1) Came into the season highly regarded and expected to put up a lot of points with the new spread offense. They had 4 returners on the offensive line that had done exceptionally well the season before as freshman. They had a prototypical spread QB in Kodi Burns who flashed brilliance in the Peach Bowl, and a backup in Chris Todd who was versed in running Tony Franklins offense. They had a stable of high quality running backs to cycle in and out. They were ranked in the top 10 for cripes sake!!!

2) 1st hint of trouble: Closed practices. Nobody knew anything about how the team was progressing, installing the new offense. Rumors swirled that Auburn was developing the most devastating offense in the SEC......then Chris Todd was named the starter. What happened to Kodi?

3) The season opened against La -Monroe and the offense looked totally out of sync.  and was shut out in the 1st half. They recovered to win going away but it was late in the 4th Qtr before anyone could relax. The running game was not being utilized effectively, Todd and the WR's were't even in the same book much less the same page and the offensive line looked confused and weak trying to block from a ready stance all game. Everybody chalked it up to new offense, 1st game kinks....but they also were VERY worried.

4) Somehow by the LSU game, Auburn was still ranked in the top 10 despite the fact that everyones worst fears were realized. Our offense was horrible and ineffective. Chris Todd could barely throw the ball because of a dead arm and was taking a pounding in the pocket.  Kodi Burns looked totally lost when he played. The offensive line never even looked like they had been coached in the spread offense. The "running lanes" the spread was supposed to create, just became  massive holes in the line that the defense used to stream into the backfield to disrupt the entire offense. An offense built around exploiting weakeness' in the defense, quick reads and a hurry up play style, instead created massive confusion and highlighted our weakeness.  The WR's might as well have stayed home last year they were so ineffective.

5)After the Vanderbilt game it was apparent that the fissures in the foundation of Auburn football were now  sinkholes of dysfunction. Tuberville and his long time assistants were in CYA mode, Franklin was fired and Kodi Burns was installed as the starting QB. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Tuberville insisted on continuing with the spead expriment to disasterous results. And save a too close for comfort win against Tenn-Martin, we lost the rest of games.

6) At the end of the year it was clear that Tuberville had lost control of the program. His coaches had never accepted Franklin and apparently had scorned him and his offense, deciding to pursue personal agendas instead of trying to win football games. Tuberville knew this and apparently approved of his coach's insubordination, was so out of touch that he didn't realize the scope and damage being done or chose to ignore what was going on. Any way you look at it....Tuberville and Auburn needed to either change or part ways. Depending on your view of what happened next, Tuberville was asked to make the changes necessary to right the ship and he was unwilling to do so and he subsequently resigned or was fired.

The Defense:

1) Again, the defense came into the season highly touted and for the most part was suffocated opposing offenses. Not allowing a touchdown to an opposing offense in the 1st half until the LSU game. A trend that continued through most of the season. As bad as we were last season, we led or were tied in EVERY game at halftime until the Alabama game. (UGA led 7-6 at half)

2) The defense wore down as the season progressed, suffering multiple injuries because they were on the field for 2/3 of just about every game.  They also played huge portions of the second half in every game because our inept offense could not put together drives and could not take any time off the clock. Injuries are much more apt to occur late in the game when players are exhausted and dehydrated, and that is exactly what happened to Auburn.

3) Once injuries began to mount for the defense, our depth was exposed and opposing offenses were able to wear down our defense in the second half of most of our games. The LSU and WVU games were glaring examples of this. Our rushing defense, once highly regarded, had been decimated and was a liability at the end the year. Alabama totally exploited our depleted line and ran the ball down our throats all day long for the most lopsided Iron Bowl victory ever.

Here is where things can turnaround for Auburn in a hurry.

1) We return 7 starters on both offense and defense. Some would say thats a negative because its the same crew that went 5-7. Its a potential positive because this same group was expected to do well last year and the defense was actually spectacular until offensive ineptitude decimated their ranks. If  we can turn the time of possession arrow in our favor, our defense WILL respond and give us a chance in every game.

2) Gus Malzhan is a widely respected offensive mind that knows how to run the spread to explosive results. More importantly he has coaches onboard  that support him and his offensive philosophy. Malzahn also runs a version of the spread more tailored to our strengths in the running attack, playing the pass off the run. Malzahn's spread is balanced and ran up huge numbers against good competition. To counter, Franklins offense was predicated on passing first to set up the run, which was not our strength....at all.

3) Chris Todd knows the spread, he knows how its supposed to work. If his arm is healthy and if Trooper Taylor does his job with the WR's, there is no reason to think he can't turn be successful.
Thats a big if, but its amazing how much better a team is when everyone is pushing in the same direction.

4) We still have dangerous weapons in the backfield. Ben Tate is a workhorse and McCalebb looks like a contributor. Mario Fannin has shown he is a game changer and has the potential to have a Knowshon Moreno like season. Fannin is that good...and I think his performance will be the key to the season. My bet is Malzhan won't have him on the sideline watching when the game is on the line like Ensminger did in the Georgia game last year. Eric Smith would add some needed depth, if he can get out of the doghouse.

The Bottom Line is that football, more than most sports, is a true TEAM game where the virtuous cycle comes into play. That is to say, when good things happen in one area, it enhances the chances of good things happening in another area. When you run the ball well, it loosens up the defense for the passing attack. If the passing attack is clicking it opens opportunities for the running attack. When the offense is clicking and moving the ball, it give the defense an opportunity to rest and keeps them fresh and healthy.

If the defense is fresh they have more energy to chase the ball and it cuts down on  make mental mistakes due to fatigue. A fresh and vital defense keeps the opposing offense off the field, minimizing their opportunity to score and maxmizing our opportunities to score.

If our coaches have the players working in the right direction, there is no reason to believe that we can't reverse the downward spiral that Tuberville and his coaches inexplicably embraced last year to start a virtuous cylce back towards success and winning football. I believe we have the talent to make the turnaround, its up to Coach Chizik to make it work.

WDE!!!