Dixiefriedsports
Covering the SEC, ACC, Sun Belt, CUSA, and other Southern Schools since 2007
Covering the SEC, ACC, Sun Belt, CUSA, and other Southern Schools since 2007
Your Subtitle text
Auburn Preview
2012 Auburn Preview
Auburn Tigers
Auburn, Alabama
Enrollment 25,469
Stadium Jordan-Hare 87,451
2011 Average Attendance 85,792
2011 Record 8-5(4-4)
2012 Returning Starters 18(7 off 9 def 2 ST)
Head Coach Gene Chizik
Offensive Coordinator Scott Loeffler
Defensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder
All Time Record 718-405-47
FBS Bowl Record 22-13-2
Conference Championships 8
National Championships 2
Top 25 Finishes 36(Highest 1 in 2010 & 1957)
2011 Top Performers
Passing
Barrett Trotter 92-167 1,184 yds 11 TD 6 Int Effic 129.20
Clint Mosley 66-108 800 yds 5 TD 3 Int Effic 133.06
Kiehl Frazier 5-12 34 yds 0 TD 2 Int Effic 32.13
Rushing
Michael Dyer 242 carries 1,242 yds 5.1 Avg 10 TD Long 55
Onterio McCalebb 112 carries 707 yds 5.7 Avg 5 TD Long 60
Kiehl Frazier 76 carries 343 yds 4.3 Avg 3 TD Long 22
Tre Mason 28 carries 161 yds 5.8 Avg 1 TD Long 22
Receiving
Emory Blake 36 Rec 613 yds 17.0 Avg 5 TD Long 56
Onterio McCalebb 32 Rec 344 yds 10.8 Avg 2 TD Long 51
Phillip Lutzenkirchen 24 Rec 238 yds 9.9 Avg 7 TD Long 32
Trovon Reed 21 Rec 164 yds 7.8 Avg 0 TD Long 25
Punt Returns
Quan Bray 13 returns 7.4 Avg TD 0 Long 24
Trovon Reed 8 returns 5.2 Avg TD 0 Long 9
Kick Returns
Tre Mason 24 returns 26.4 Avg TD 1 Long 97
Onterio McCalebb 11 returns 30.7 Avg TD 1 Long 83
Kicking
Cody Parkey 13-18 FG 41-42 XP Long 45
Punting
Steven Clark 72 punts 40.8 Avg Long 58
Defense
Daren Bates 104 Tackles 8.5 TFL 2.5 Sacks
Neiko Thorpe 102 Tackles .5 TFL .5 Sacks
Demetruce McNeal 74 Tackles 1 TFL 3 Int
Chris Davis 60 Tackles
Eltoro Freeman 58 Tackles 8.5 TFL 3 Sacks
2011 Schedule & Results(8-5 4-4)
9/3 Utah State 42-38
9/10 Mississippi State 41-34
9/17 at Clemson 24-38
9/24 Florida Atlantic 30-14
10/1 at South Carolina 16-13
10/8 at Arkansas 14-38
10/15 Florida 17-6
10/22 at LSU 10-45
10/29 Ole Miss 41-23
11/12 at Georgia 7-45
11/19 Samford 35-16
11/26 Alabama 14-42
Chick Fil A Bowl
12/31 Virginia 43-24
2012 Schedule & Predictions(7-5 4-4)
9/1 Clemson(at Atlanta) 21-31
9/8 at Mississippi State 20-14
9/15 Louisiana-Monroe 35-10
9/22 LSU 10-28
10/6 Arkansas 20-27
10/13 at Ole Miss 31-13
10/20 at Vanderbilt 21-17
10/27 Texas A&M 28-24
11/3 New Mexico State 42-3
11/10 Georgia 17-28
11/17 Alabama A&M 52-0
11/24 Alabama 7-24
Most Important Game(Mississippi State)- Auburn can slip up and lose games against top 20 teams this year, but if they slip up and lose to a MSU team that in most years they should beat then things could get ugly on the Plains in 2012. This will be a physical game from both teams and with the new changes at the coordinator spots, Chizik can start the season with an 0-2 start(if they were to also lose to Clemson)
Final Notes- Can Gene Chizik get past the 7-8 win range without Gus Malzahn and Cam Newton? There is no doubt the program is landing some top tier recruits, but with the turnover on staff will the talent show up in 2012?
Auburn struggled in the passing game in 2012 ranking 105th in passing yards. There could be more troubles this season for Auburn in the passing game. Kiehl Frazier came to Auburn with plenty of hype, but last season we rarely saw much of a passing game out of him. Frazier was brought to Auburn to run the Malzahn offense, but will instead run Scot Loeffler's offense. Loeffler's offense at Temple focused heavily on the running game, something that could benefit Frazier(or Clint Moseley) by taking the pressure off the passing game. Zeke Pike was a highly touted QB recruit for Auburn, but probably needs to redshirt to help with his maturity.
The loss of Michael Dyer means Auburn is down to one RB with a large amount of experience. Ontario McCalebb is as explosive as any player in the SEC, but I don't think he can carry the ball 25-30 times a game. This means guys like Tre Mason and maybe even true freshman Jovon Robinson will need step up and provide some more options in the running game. Robinson is a big back out of Memphis who has the ability to be a potential All SEC back one day.
Phillip Lutzenkirchen only had 24 receptions last season, but 7 of those were touchdowns. He's not only one of the SEC's top Tight Ends, but he's also the leader that a struggling offense needs. Emory Blake and Travante Stallworth return as starters at WR for Auburn. Blake did have 36 receptions last year, but Stallworth wasn't much of a factor in the passing game. Trovon Reed is another WR with plenty of playing experience for the Tigers
3 of 5 starters return on the Auburn offensive line in 2011. The Tigers are expected to get a boost at right guard with Eric Mack. Mack, was a victim in a shooting in Auburn in early June, but was not seriously injured. While this unit does have experience in starts, 4 of the 5 projected starters are going to be sophomores or younger. John Sullen will be the only senior in this group.
Brian VanGorder is a proven defensive coordinator in the SEC having spent 4 seasons at Georgia from 2001-2004. Since 2009 he has served as the DC for the Atlanta Falcons. He was even hired by Steve Spurrier following the 2008 season to head the Gamecocks' defense, but took the Falcons job soon after. VanGorder will bring a 4-3 approach to Auburn and has stated he wants an aggressive defensive line in 2012.
Auburn has plenty of experience on the defensive line with all 4 starters returning. While guys like Sam Montgomery and Jadeveon Clowney seem to get all the attention in the SEC, Auburn's DE Corey Lemonier can hold his own against anyone nationally. Lemonier had 9.5 sacks last season.
Depth at linebacker will be a concern for Auburn in 2012. Daren Bates was the AU's leading tackler in 2011, but Jake Holland doesn't have much experience at MLB. Also, the Tigers might have to rely on freshman Kris Frost at the other LB position.
Former Georgia DC Willie Martinez takes over coaching the secondary for Auburn. This is a good unit that is led by Auburn's only 5th year senior T'Sharvan Bell, who missed spring practice with a knee surgery but he expects to be back for fall camp. Bell is joined by 2012 starters Demetruce McNeal and Chris Davis. Enrique Florence is expected to step in and start at safety for Auburn.
With the coaching turnover inside the program it would be tough to predict Auburn to become a SEC Championship Contender in 2012. With Malzahn leaving, I'd expect Chizik to go to a much more traditional type of an offense that will provide more rest for the defense. Auburn will struggle at times, but still end up with a winning record and probably end up in a bowl game like the Gator or Outback.
Matt Barber
Dixiefriedsports@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/#!/dixiefriedsport
Discuss on MessageBoard
