The Auburn defense will be salty, again.
(Photo by Acid Reign.)
War Eagle, everybody! It’s time now, to look ahead to next year, in Auburn football. Yes, all the news this week swirls around the potential hiring of a new offensive coordinator. Folks, there has been nothing of substance from head coach Gus Malzahn’s came, and little but speculation from the media outlets. Personally, I’ll have an idea what to expect, only when this secretive man announces who he’s chosen. This week, I’ll focus on the defense, where there are far more known quantities at this time.
Auburn suffers some losses to graduation and departure on the defensive side of the ball, but that is true every year in college football. Perhaps the biggest loss was secondary coach Wesley McGriff, who moved to Ole Miss to be the defensive coordinator. I cannot begrudge him that move, as he’ll get a chance to be a coordinator for the first time. Ole Miss has some salty defensive players returning, and I’ll be interested to see what McGriff can do. He was quite solid in his one year as a secondary coach, at Auburn. Also headed out in the Auburn secondary are stalwarts Jonathan “Rudy” Ford and Joshua Holsey. Both were 5th year seniors last season, and have a great shot at playing at the next level.
To replace McGriff, Auburn hired veteran assistant Greg Brown away from Missouri. Brown has a long history as an assistant, dating back to 1981, including major stints in the NFL, as well as in the NCAA. Brown produced Thorpe Award-winning defensive backs in 1992, 1994 and 2014. He should be an able replacement for McGriff, at least from a knowledge perspective. One never knows about chemistry with players, till one sees it play out on the field. I’m confident that Brown, with his volumes of experience will do just fine. The real issue will be whether Auburn can keep him. Brown has not stayed anywhere for more than 3 seasons.
On the defensive line, Auburn will miss departing 4th year guys Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, both consensus All-SEC selections this past season. However, all is not lost. Auburn should again have a loaded defensive line in 2017. At the tackle position, junior Dontavius Russell can probably be penciled in at one starting spot. Contenders for the remaining starting spot will duke it out in the offseason. Candidates include Derrick Brown, Antwuan Jackson, Jaunta’vius Johnson, and Andrew Williams. All of these guys are big, talented 300+ pound studs.
At defensive end, it will be really exciting to see what sophomore Marlon Davidson can do, after stepping in last season and starting every game as a true freshman. It’s one thing for a guy that young to make some noise on the field on the defensive line as a freshman. It’s quite another, to start every game. Davidson might be headed for a breakout season. At the other end spot, it will be a great battle between candidates Jeffery Holland, Byron Cowart, Nick Coe, Tyler Carter, Paul James III, Sidney Mims and Gary Walker. It is worth noting that Auburn also has some pretty exciting commits, heading towards national signing day on the defensive line.
At linebacker, the Tigers return a wealth of riches. Almost every linebacker that saw the field in 2016, returns for another season. Widely expected to be a work in progress, this unit excelled last season, and led the way for a great year. At times a linebacker or two would miss time, and invariably someone else off the bench would step up and hold it together. The only major loss here is T. J. Neal, who was a graduate transfer last season.
Expected starters going towards A-Day are senior Tre’ Williams, Deshaun Davis and Darrell Williams. All three of those guys finished among the top six tacklers last season. Top backup Montavious Atkinson returns, as well. Contending for playing time will be Tre’ Threat, Cameron Tony, Richard McBryde, and Sam Sherrod.
A talented secondary returns, as well. Starting corners going into spring will likely be Carlton Davis, and Javaris Davis. Stephen Roberts, Tray Matthews and Nick Ruffin will likely round out the safety starters. Depth will be provided by the likes of Marlon Character, Jr., Markell Boston, Jamel Dean, Jayvaughn Myers, Jeremiah Dinson, John Broussard Jr, Daniel Thomas, Michael Sherwood and Jacob Rogers.
The Tigers will have size, speed and talent across the board, and it can only help that defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and his staff won’t have to implement a major reinstall of the defense. Spring should be a time to work on fundamentals, and hone up on the little things.
Next season, Auburn does face some daunting offenses. Out of conference, Auburn faces Georgia Southern, Clemson at Clemson, Mercer and ULM. Those first couple of games open the season. Georgia Southern is a triple option nightmare for the big boys to defend. Although Clemson loses quarterback Deshawn Watson and some major talent off their offense, I’d expect that talented replacements are on hand to fill in. Like him or not, Dabo Swinney has built a program over there, and Auburn does have to play them in Death Valley.
In the SEC, Auburn faces Missouri in Columbia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, LSU in Baton Rouge, Arkansas in Fayetteville, Texas A&M at College Station, Georgia and Alabama. That’s a difficult slate. Missouri was improving at season’s end, MSU found their way in the late going, and Ole Miss is nearly always dangerous slinging the ball around. I’d expect LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M all to be improved on offense. Georgia survived a year with freshman quarterback Jacob Eason, and should be better. Alabama is loaded on offense, next season, although it remains to be seen if new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian can call plays like Lane Kiffin could.
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