2009 College Football SEC Preview: Auburn Tigers

Can Auburn overcome last season's woes?

The 2009 SEC football season is only a little over 2 months away and with that, it’s time to preview the teams heading into the 2009 season.  I will try, as best I can, to give an objective analysis on each team in the SEC over the next two months.   We begin with the Auburn Tigers.

Head Coach: Gene Chizik (0-0, 5-19)

Key Players: Mario Fannin, Whoever wins the QB battle

Schedule:

9/5 Louisiana Tech
9/12 Miss State
9/19 West Virginia
9/26 Ball State
10/3 at Tennessee
10/10 at Arkansas
10/17 Kentucky
10/24 at LSU
10/31 Ole Miss
11/7 Furman
11/14 at Georgia
11/21 OPEN DATE
11/28 Alabama

Mario Fannin will have to carry the load for the Tigers

The Auburn Tigers are coming off one of the worst seasons in recent years.  After dropping 6 of their last 7 games in 2008 and losing 36-0 in the Iron Bowl, the powers at Auburn pushed out Coach Tommy Tuberville.  After a seemingly exhaustive coaching search, the Tigers turned to former assistant and then Iowa State head coach, Gene Chizik.  In his tenure as a head coach at Iowa State, Chizik went 5-19 including a 2008 result of 2-10.  What’s worse is the fact that Coach Chizik’s Cyclones, playing in the Big 12 North, didn’t even face Texas, Oklahoma, or Texas Tech, arguably the three best schools in the Big 12 last year.  The hiring of Chizik left many in the state of Alabama scratching their heads wondering how this was an improvement over Tommy Tuberville, who was only 4 years removed from taking the Tigers to an undefeated 2004 campaign and an SEC title.  That is only one of the many question marks heading into the 2009 season for the Auburn tigers.

Another issue is the quarterback battle which is currently, as of this writing, still ongoing.  While Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle seem to be the frontrunners for the starting job, there are as many as 7 QB’s competing including true freshmen Tyrik Rollison, whom many in Auburn feel will be their team’s future.  Last season Auburn under Tuberville’s direction, switched to a spread format.  This resulted in the firing of new Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin (an expert on the offensive scheme) because the format wasn’t working.  Things, of course, only got worse after that.  Many argued that Auburn lacked the talent at the skill positions to run the spread.  Kodi Burns did not adapt well to the system and neither did their other players.  Perhaps after a couple of years of recruiting speedsters at the skill positions and a QB who could work with the complex offensive system, they could have run a formidable spread system.  Instead, it was an experiment in disaster.  Now, with new coaches, the competing QB’s must learn a new system under a new coach.  Who will rise to the top?  My money is on Neil Caudle, but only time will tell.

Auburn faces one of the toughest SEC schedules of the season.  Many of their toughest games will be on the road including visits to Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, and LSU.  On top of that they must contend with SEC west pre-season darling Ole Miss and, of course, their biggest rival, the Alabama Crimson Tide, coming off yet another top recruiting class.  When you also look at their non-conference schedule there’s even more reason to be concerned.  Louisiana Tech is coming off of an 8-5 season and a bowl win.  They’re a team that has proven they can beat a less-than average SEC opponent after stunning Mississippi State last season.  This is a very winnable matchup against an unproven Auburn coach with question marks at the QB position.  They also have to contend with West Virginia who, while no longer having the services of Pat White, should still be a formidable opponent for the Tigers.

For Auburn to have any success against this monster of a schedule, they’re going to need great play from their everyman Mario Fannin.  He should be lining up as a wide receiver, h-back, and kick/punt returner.  Fannin is entering his junior year and has displayed moments of brilliance on the field while still yet not having the breakout campaign everyone seems to think he’s capable of.  Fannin needs to have a great season for Auburn to have a chance at winning most of their games.

Defensively, Auburn should be fine.  This is a team that, like most SEC top-calbre schools, has a good defense.  They’ll need to rely heavily on the defense to keep them in most of their games until the offense can get in sync.

So, is this the year Auburn can turn things around?  Coach Chizik has a long way to go.  With Saban returning cross-state rival to the top of college football in the state, he’ll have his work cut out for him.  Look for this to be a rebuilding year with Auburn finishing at or near the bottom of the SEC West standings.

Fearless prediction:  Auburn finishes 3-9 with surprising losses to Louisiana Tech and MSU.