LSU, Bama, ARK and UGA could very well be better at every position save for the OL (I don’t know shit about their OL other than it’s young at AUB). That’s tough to overcome, especially with Dyer no longer there to tote the rock 20+ times a week. AUB didn’t just lose badly last year, they were smoked by an average of 30 ppg against the big 4 they played. I’m not sure that number comes down but maybe 10 points this year.

To me that suggests that something else was up – while there was certainly a talent gap, it was not 30 points different (okay, maybe at QB and a couple of spots on the O line and secondary).

I think Malzahn got exposed a little in that he had trouble developing a young QB. I saw Frazier once this spring and I left actually impressed – I realize spring is spring, but last year left me the impression that Frazier was simply incapable of throwing the ball. Loeffler has my confidence as an OC.

The problem with the offense really threw everything else off. The offense constantly goes three-and-out, Ted Roof’s bend-don’t-break-defense starts to break more and more, and you get blowout losses. With Cam Newton, that could fly, but not without him. And its’s crazy, but the corners seem to actually be capable of covering people – something that didn’t seem possible under Roof (Roof is at Penn State BTW, which is why no one should crown O’Brien yet).

I actually don’t expect a big dropoff from Dyer. Not because Dyer isn’t crazy talented, because he is, but because the offense will use the RBs a little better, collectively they can have 25 carries no problem, and Dyer was such a headcase that honestly I can’t imagine how he would have survived this season even if it was somehow tenable for him to hang around after what went down last year. The run game would have been pretty worthless this year unless something was done about the gameplan.

So, I am realistic, but I don’t see why we can’t beat Clemson and have a true upset.

even if he never touched alcohol his face looks soused

/bergin
//angel city GP, two minute warning

I am expecting an 8 or, if lucky, 9 win season this year.

Clemson, LSU, Arkansas, UGA, Bama, Texas A&M and Vandy are all tough games (yes, even Vandy, especially on the road). I think they lose the first 5 I listed, though Clemson could easily shit the bed. I think 8-4 is the ceiling.

the erickson tree also includes mike price and keith gilbertson falling from it

Also a bunch of empty bottles of McCormick gin

VezBeast, doing work on the Wiki.

the erickson tree also includes mike price and keith gilbertson falling from it

If I’m right (and I could be way off) I think AUB will be an 8-4 team with Boob in charge provided they don’t land another Cam. Isn’t that what got Tubs fired? I think Chizik is just another coach, but he’s paid closer to Saban money, which is of course laughable.

I am expecting an 8 or, if lucky, 9 win season this year. I think there’s a lot of raw talent there, but it is young. I think Auburn fans are not going to fly off the handle because it is understand that there is a big hole in talent in the senior class. QB will be a lot better than last year, if only because how could it not be.

But bringing in Van Gorder, who you know is very good at his job, isn’t a stupid move, and it’s not a move that a program falling apart could make. Bringing in a top ten recruiting class is not a move a program falling apart makes. I think you guys are just going to have to get used to the leather jacket, as well as how to spell Chizik’s name.*

*Note: with that said, my spell check keeps wanting to change Saban to “Midget,” Richt to “Breck Girl,” and Muschamp to “Boom Muthafucka.” Not sure how that happened.

You know, that’s a completely fair judgment. I’m just amused by the petit-bourgeois snobbery of the Arkansas and Georgia fans here. On one hand, Alabama, Florida and LSU are more or less expected to contend every year, so it’s accepted that they’re great and will always be. But if an SEC team that’s not Georgia or Arkansas breaks through – obviously something is wrong. Someone did not know their place!

There was something about that national title that especially irritates other SEC schools, and that’s why I especially treasure it.

for the record, I have no problem with Auburn or their NC. at least they don’t have to make them up to make their dicks look bigger a la Alabama. but I’ve never been called a snobby Arkansas fan, so, thanks?

Thanks, did not know that…he quit another job to take a temp one? Sucks for weber

It’s the Arkansas way, apparently.

They essentially did, though. JLS had been there from 2009-2011 and just left to take his Alma Mater’s gig 4 months ago (Weber State).

Thanks, did not know that…he quit another job to take a temp one? Sucks for weber

I think ignored was a bad choice of words but anytime Miss State is a finalist for a recruit, that kid isn’t far from being ignored.

Yeah…generally when a super talented, 5-star recruit isn’t being heavily recruited by the big boys, it’s because the big boys know there’s shit around that player that renders the juice less valuable than the squeeze. AUB gambled and it paid off, because they did the shady shit correctly, unlike many other schools. Again, the bagman is the real genius here.

Cam Newton was being ignored? No, he wasn’t expected to turn into God in his first chance at becoming a starter but just because he exceeded expectations doesn’t mean he was being ignored. In fact, let’s take it back to wikipedia, shall we? He was named a juco All-America honorable mention and was the most recruited juco quarterback in the country. You don’t pay $180,000 for a nobody juco transfer

And, apparently, he could have been taken more seriously if his recruiting came down to Auburn, Miss State, and (maybe) Oklahoma.

Fucking hilarious. I missed this moment of genius the first time I read his comment.

I think ignored was a bad choice of words but anytime Miss State is a finalist for a recruit, that kid isn’t far from being ignored.

the point I was trying to make, especially in comparing him to Coker, is let’s wait and pass judgement on him in the 5 or so years after they win the National Championship.

You know, that’s a completely fair judgment. I’m just amused by the petit-bourgeois snobbery of the Arkansas and Georgia fans here. On one hand, Alabama, Florida and LSU are more or less expected to contend every year, so it’s accepted that they’re great and will always be. But if an SEC team that’s not Georgia or Arkansas breaks through – obviously something is wrong. Someone did not know their place!

There was something about that national title that especially irritates other SEC schools, and that’s why I especially treasure it.

You don’t pay $180,000 for a nobody juco transfer

/ Mississippi State

Cam Newton was being ignored?

Fucking hilarious. I missed this moment of genius the first time I read his comment.

Cam Newton was being ignored? No, he wasn’t expected to turn into God in his first chance at becoming a starter but just because he exceeded expectations doesn’t mean he was being ignored. In fact, let’s take it back to wikipedia, shall we? He was named a juco All-America honorable mention and was the most recruited juco quarterback in the country. You don’t pay $180,000 for a nobody juco transfer