Athlon

[Snaggletiger]

Well, it gets earlier and earlier every year.  Going through the check out at the Pube Licks and there's the 2019 Athlon preseason mag.  Had to get it.  Took the one with Derrick Brown on the cover and then used an issue of Ebony to cover up the one with some Bama player on the front.  It's my civic duty.

I always get a couple of the preseason magazines to do my in-depth research for my annual BFTC victory.  They stay in my well stocked library, right next to the package of Double Roll Charmin and toilet plunger.  I know that most of the predictions in these publications turn out to be comical road kill and it's fun to go back so I can point and laugh.  Of course they have the usual suspects at the top with Bama, Clemson and FUGA.  Probably pretty spot on because Lord Saybinz will just reload, nobody in the ACC will have much for the Fighting Dabos and FUGA....?  Fuck them.

Athlon has AU at #20.  I have no idea what to think about that.  I think if one of these 2 QB's steps up and plays well, we have a shit-load of talent on both sides of the ball.  But, if you put any stock in Athlon's preseason rankings, we only have to face:

#15 Oregon (They're just so fast)

#10 TA&M

#8 Go Gaytah

#7 Bayou Yaw Yaw's

#3 Fuck Georgia

#1 Bummah

Gauntlet!  That's tough enough, but then you throw in the Malzahn factor.  He may have Coach Dilly Dilly calling plays by October.  Who knows? 

Am I the only one that thinks A&M is the most overrated team of the last decade?  They've always got a decent amount of talent, but they never seem to challenge for anything.  And every time the "experts" say they're on a roll, the play Bama and it's 73 to Negative Eleventeen by half time. 

Individually, Athlon gives Derrick Brown 1st Team All-America love. I'm an Auburn guy and happy as hell he came back, but I don't see that at all. They also put Tega-Winnebego on the 3rd Team All-America O-line.  They do name AU's defensive line as #1 in foosballz overall.

I haven't delved too deep into it yet.  That's just what I gleaned from a long mowanga dump I took this morning in the library.

[wesfau2]

Individually, Athlon gives Derrick Brown 1st Team All-America love. I'm an Auburn guy and happy as hell he came back, but I don't see that at all.

You serious?  He's widely regarded as a sure-fire top 10 draft pick.

[Snaggletiger]

You serious?  He's widely regarded as a sure-fire top 10 draft pick.

Yep.  I've said many times that I think NFL scouts evaluate prospects by the measurables and what they see as a player's potential when he gets in the league with real coaching. Thus, the reason for Combines, Pro Days and individual workouts.  The NFL is dominated by no-names from schools we've barely heard of. Go down any roster and you'll find yourself constantly asking who the hell is that and where is Ferris State? 

Having said that, I have no doubt that Brown has all those measurables.  Hell, at 6'5" 325 and years in the SEC West, he should.  But that's the NFL.  I'm talking 1st team All American in college.  That means he should be one of, if not the most dominant interior lineman in the country.  God, please don't strike me down for this reference, but Quennin Williams was 1st team dominant.  He had twice the solo tackles and twice the sacks as Brown last year and just flat out beat people up.  Near and dear to our hearts would be Nick Fairley.  Most disruptive, dominant interior lineman in football that year.  Without him, we don't even sniff of an SEC West title.  He changed that many games.

I've seen none of that from Derrick Brown.  Sure, he's had his moments.  But with 26 solo tackles and stretches of games where you have to check and see if he even played....sorry, but 1st team AA just seems a stretch to me. Hopefully he proves me 100% wrong.  I'd love nothing more than to see him knock a few Ducks (They're just so fast) up in the stands in Dallas.    

[RottenBottom]

You serious?  He's widely regarded as a sure-fire top 10 draft pick.

In snags defense, Brown  has not played up to potential yet (it’s hard to do when you get held every play). But he has the chance to make a top 20 defense a top 10 defense.