Auburn will end up 4th in recruiting on Rivals.com

[Birmingham]

TIFWIW

[ggraf71]

I think this is a vast improvement over any other recent recruiting class we have had. I really don't care if we have a higher ranked class than anyone else, I am just glad that we are at least on the minds of some of the most talented young men to play the game of football. Hopefully they will all qualify and we can start making some improvements on the field.

[Jumbo]

Top 5 recruiting is not good enough, Boooooo

[Mr. Sensible]

I think this is a vast improvement over any other recent recruiting class we have had. I really don't care if we have a higher ranked class than anyone else, I am just glad that we are at least on the minds of some of the most talented young men to play the game of football. Hopefully they will all qualify and we can start making some improvements on the field.

I concur with most of this. I will say that I don't expect a group of young ones to come in here and win championships. BUT SABAN DID IT? Yeah, he's had experience doing that. Chizik is in new territory here. We'll see what he does with it. 2010 - I think a trip to Nashville or Shreveport is reasonable.

[Mr. Sensible]

Top 5 recruiting is not good enough, Boooooo

It was cold at the airport tonight. Where were you standing?

[Jumbo]

It was cold at the airport tonight. Where were you standing?

Between Sar and Castic

[The Prowler]

I concur with most of this. I will say that I don't expect a group of young ones to come in here and win championships. BUT SABAN DID IT? Yeah, he's had experience doing that. Chizik is in new territory here. We'll see what he does with it. 2010 - I think a trip to Nashville or Shreveport is reasonable.

How 'bout a trip to Orlando?  Maybe Atlanta?  That's reasonable.

[Mr. Sensible]

How 'bout a trip to Orlando?  Maybe Atlanta?  That's reasonable.

Replacing the leading passer, rusher, and sack leader. Don't think so.

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

Replacing the leading passer, rusher, and sack leader. Don't think so.

Leading Passer?  I'm not sure replacing Chris Todd will be all that difficult.  He was a serviceable QB, not a great one.  His stats are a product of the system he was placed in.  I'm not going to say that an equal, if not better talent can't do better, and do it quickly.

Leading Rusher?  As great a back that Tate was, I'm not sure that there won't be someone ready to take that lead role this year.  Fannin?  McCallebb?  Dyer?  Aycock?  Smith?  Lattimore?  Howard?  ...and on and on.   I'm making a total guess, but I have to believe our run game will be better, and we'll have an improved OL to do it with.

Sack Leader?  Defense could still have a few issues, but it's not like we don't have ANYONE on the D-line.  I like Carter to step up.  He was not 100% this year, but could be this next year.

If you don't think we can improve on this year, that's your right, but I have to think that we ARE moving in a better direction.  

[AUChizad]

Cynical, I'm sorry, but every time you speak, you prove more and more that you are clueless. Doen't stop you from assuming the sky is falling.

[Saniflush]

I think assuming either will happen to any degree of certainty is a crap shoot at best.

I would have bet you any amount of money in August that there was no way UA runs the table with a new QB at the helm.  

[Kaos]

Right. Because Kodi was so much more talented he was going to be a vast improvement over that shitty Cox guy.

This is a big mass of wishful thinking.

I'm no fan of Todd, but if more talented guys were unable to take his spot it's sort of ridiculous to think some raw kid fresh off the boat can waltz into SEC play and elevate the game. We are, sadly, not in a positon like Alabama is where you can put a chimpanzee under center and win by hammering the ball on the ground.

These "we will be better because we are replacing two, three and four year starters with kids who have never played" arguments are laughable.  

Optimism is one thing. Delusion is another.

[AUChizad]

I think assuming either will happen to any degree of certainty is a crap shoot at best.

I would have bet you any amount of money in August that there was no way UA runs the table with a new QB at the helm.  

Fair enough, but despite the fact things are moving in the right direction, I haven't seen anyone predict an undefeated season next year.

Bitching & moaning and suggesting we will be worse off with Cam Newton, the guy who beat out UF's up and coming God who Gaytors claimed was the second best QB in the NCAA, than Chris Todd...I can't take you seriously. Essentially the same thing applies to th RBs, let alone the ones we've had in the stable waiting for their turn.

[Kaos]

Fair enough, but despite the fact things are moving in the right direction, I haven't seen anyone predict an undefeated season next year.

Bitching & moaning and suggesting we will be worse off with Cam Newton, the guy who beat out UF's up and coming God who Gaytors claimed was the second best QB in the NCAA, than Chris Todd...I can't take you seriously. Essentially the same thing applies to th RBs, let alone the ones we've had in the stable waiting for their turn.

And I cannot take seriously people who espouse such unfounded arguments.

From a base of historical precedent, the likelihood that improvement will be the result of the impending personnel changes is significantly smaller than the reality that there will be a painful learning curve.  Not saying it can't happen, only that to insist it will happen is without merit.

Expecting to replace a two-year starter at QB and a three year starter at RB and emerge significantly better off had virtually no precedent. 

Reality eludes you.  Hope is one thing, Obama. Ramming that socialist agenda through is another.

Be hopeful. But have some sense. Otherwise I can't take you seriously at all. 

[RWS]

As great a back that Tate was, I'm not sure that there won't be someone ready to take that lead role this year.  Fannin?  McCallebb?  Dyer?  Aycock?  Smith?  Lattimore?  Howard?  ...and on and on.   I'm making a total guess, but I have to believe our run game will be better, and we'll have an improved OL to do it with.  

Sack Leader?  Defense could still have a few issues, but it's not like we don't have ANYONE on the D-line.  I like Carter to step up.  He was not 100% this year, but could be this next year.

How long are you people going to tote the "this will be a breakout year for Fannin" party line? The guy will be a senior this season, and has been relatively low impact in his career at AU. Something I didn't realize about AU's OL is after this season, AU will be replacing 4 OL starters. I'm assuming the starters from last season will start this year, anyway.

As far as DL goes, there are some bodies there, but really nobody who has proven anything.

[AUChizad]

And I cannot take seriously people who espouse such unfounded arguments.

From a base of historical precedent, the likelihood that improvement will be the result of the impending personnel changes is significantly smaller than the reality that there will be a painful learning curve.  Not saying it can't happen, only that to insist it will happen is without merit.

Expecting to replace a two-year starter at QB and a three year starter at RB and emerge significantly better off had virtually no precedent. 

Reality eludes you.  Hope is one thing, Obama. Ramming that socialist agenda through is another.

Be hopeful. But have some sense. Otherwise I can't take you seriously at all. 

I think you'll find I'm exactly that. Hopeful. Nothing more. I see this recruiting class and it is encouraging and exciting. How anyone can look at it and brood the way a couple of you are doing is beyond me.

I forgot what a world-beater you thought Todd to be before this season began. 

[Kaos]

Top 5 recruiting is not good enough, Boooooo

Good point. 

As I proved in another thread, the only ranking that has any legitimate trend is #1.   Since 2002, teams with #1 ranked recruiting classes have gone on to play in a NC game within three years 100% of the time.

Behind that?  It's hit or miss.  Just ask FSU and its three consecutive Top Five finishes.

[Kaos]

I think you'll find I'm exactly that. Hopeful. Nothing more. I see this recruiting class and it is encouraging and exciting. How anyone can look at it and brood the way a couple of you are doing is beyond me.

I forgot what a world-beater you thought Todd to be before this season began. 

Not brooding.  At all.

Just providing balance to the screaming -- and here's that word again -- loons who can't connect the reality dots. 

It's sort of like politics.  Prowler is a lunatic democrat. One of the crazies.  I'm more of a moderate republican. But in comparison to his yammering, bleeding leftism I come off looking like a combination of Hitler and Pat Robertson.

As for Todd, he sucks.  He's Daniel Cobb's slower, less athletic, weaker evil twin. I'd like to hope that we have something better, but there's nothing tangible or quantifiable to indicate that will be the case.  Maybe after the spring you can make that argument, but it's silly now.

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

I understand what Kaos is trying to say.  However, I'm NOT saying to "expect" one thing or the other either.  Rather pointing out that it IS possible that it could be the same if not better next season.  Now, do I personally believe that we are moving in the right direction?  Yes.

QB - All the things said about Todd was correct.  He beat out the spring competition.  Who WAS that, really?  Caudle?  Okay....  Trotter - hurt.  Tyrik Rollison (literally weeks out of HS)?  Kodi Burns?  

Do I believe that Todd would beat out Cameron Newton?  Mabye, but I'd still vote probably not.  Does he beat out Tyrik Rollison with a year of learning the offense?  Would he beat out a healthy Barrett Trotter?  Who knows?  

RB - Does Mario Fannin's experience not count?  He's been around now since Caesar was a road guard.  I think he'd be a great back if his shoulder holds up.  By most accounts, Aycock is a bruiser and has put on some solid weight.  I'm not saying that replaces Tate, but it's not like we've got a bunch of shit-tacular talent behind Tate.  I also believe with a better, and healthy OL, our running game has the potential to get better.  I don't think that's a stretch, and it isn't me guaranteeing it either.

DL?  Do we NOT think that Carter could be as good if not better than Coleman?  Who's to say?  He was injured 80% of last season.  Dee Ford looked good the few times he was in.  Fairly looks like Marks2.0.  I have a hard time believing that we don't find someone to step up.  Someone usually does.

Bottom line.. Were we crazy about Ben Leard before the lightbulb went off in his head the final year?  Campbell the same way?  Was Carnell a guarantee before he hit the field the first time, despite the hype?  Ronnie Brown even in his first year?  There's no way to predict who is going to be bad ass, but there is no way to say that it is a going to be a step backwards either.

There are real reasons for some optimism this upcoming season.  However, NOBODY is claiming guaranteed success.  Being called "delusional" doesn't fit the bill here at all.

[Mr. Sensible]

How anyone can look at it and brood the way a couple of you are doing is beyond me.

Only someone with inflated self importance would interpret the cautious approach as "brooding."

There is a dangerous mindset among Auburn fans these days. One that is bent on beating down any opposition to the party line.