Apparently we are going to suck next year as well...

[Godfather]

Dye: Auburn won't be much better next year
By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News

Leave it to Pat Dye to cut to the chase.

We were talking Monday for an Iron Bowl story you'll read later this week when the discussion turned to the present and future. The former Auburn coach made two interesting points.

One, Auburn could be 9-2 right now because it could've and maybe should've beaten Kentucky and Georgia, but it may be better for first-year head coach Gene Chizik to be 7-4.

``There ain't no question that we're a middle-of-the-road football team this year,'' Dye said. ``Gene has done a great job to win seven games. We could've won two more, but that may be a blessing in disguise.

``If he'd won nine football games this year, they'd expect him to win 12 next year, and that ain't gonna happen.''

Dye's second point should sober up any Auburn fan who believes the Tigers can make the kind of leap in Chizik's second year that Alabama did in 2008 under Nick Saban.

``We ain't gonna be a heckuva lot better next year than we are this year,'' Dye said.

Why not?

``Tommy (Tuberville) went three years without recruiting.''

Dye said the only answer is multiple recruiting classes.

``To be competitive like we need to be, Gene's gonna have to have three recruiting classes in here before we ought to expect to have the kind of caliber football team that Auburn people expect.''

Let's see.

Throw the old coach under the bus? Check.

Tell everyone the new coach needs lots of time to straighten out the mess? Check.

Dye always did know how to play the game, on and off the field.

[AUChizad]

I agree for the most part.

I do think next year's team will be a step up though. From reports on Tyrik, to this new signing class that will get in early, we're going to have some talent.

They may be a little to ripe though. The next year will be when shit comes together, especially with a class similar to the one this one's looking like it will turn out to be.

[jadennis]

Kaos...is this your nightmare come true?  Is it me or did Pat Dye just guarantee Chizik four years of employment?

[jadennis]

I agree for the most part.

I do think next year's team will be a step up though. From reports on Tyrik, to this new signing class that will get in early, we're going to have some talent.

They may be a little to ripe though. The next year will be when poop comes together, especially with a class similar to the one this one's looking like it will turn out to be.

Only problem is that 2011 is when we're really going to feel the pain of the depth problems on the offensive line.  Think about who we lose after next year, heading into 2011.  In the next two years (after 09 and 10) we lose Mike Berry, Bart Eddins, Byrom Isom, Ryan Pugh, Lee Zeimba, and Andrew McCain.  That's basically everyone that's worth anything on the team, which means come 2011, anyone that's going to be a starter on our offensive line is likely not currently on campus.

That's scary.  As of right now we only have 3 OL commits for this years class.  Hopefully we can steal a James Stone or Damien Robinson.  So that's 3, possibly 4 for this year.  If we get 4 again next year, we'll have 7 or 8 freshman and sophomores that make up the bulk of our o-line for 2011.  That can't be good.

[RWS]

Wait, now who was it here that was telling me Dye has no more to do with AU athletics than he did when CTT was the coach?

[No Huddle]

Alabama will not be as good next year. We are losing a ton on defense.

[jadennis]

Alabama will not be as good next year. We are losing a ton on defense.

Not true....the current back-ups could start for any team in America.  You may even be as good as the 1992 defense.

 

[RWS]

Hopefully this season we will be able to put Gene Chizik up on our jail board. Last year, we put CTT up on the board with the charge "Attempt To Coach With Intent To Fail". Absolutely epic when our chief and deputy chief (AU fans) came in the next morning.

[wesfau2]

``Tommy (Tuberville) went three years without recruiting.''

Interesting.

[Saniflush]

Interesting.

Yeah.  I am forwarding onto the Warden.

[No Huddle]

Not true....the current back-ups could start for any team in America.  You may even be as good as the 1992 defense.

 

We will be better. I mean what was I thinking duh?!?! 

[Snaggletiger]

I find the 3 year thing a bit far fetched.  No matter how they've turned out, 07 was ranked #6 or #7 by Rivals.  The 06' class was pretty highly ranked as well.  It was the total lack of effort in the 08' class and the one started for 09' that he should be accountable for.  Again, not because of how any of those may or may not turn out, but because it was obvious CTT was tanking it and could have done so much better.

[Buzz Killington]

I find the 3 year thing a bit far fetched.  No matter how they've turned out, 07 was ranked #6 or #7 by Rivals.  The 06' class was pretty highly ranked as well.  It was the total lack of effort in the 08' class and the one started for 09' that he should be accountable for.  Again, not because of how any of those may or may not turn out, but because it was obvious CTT was tanking it and could have done so much better.

My thoughts exactly.  The only thing I could think Dye was referring to was the number of "chances" Tubs took on guys in that '07 class.  The recruits that made the class so highly ranked were mostly borderline guys, that never seemed to pan out, with the exception of the OL class minus Ramsey.

[Tiger Wench]

Hopefully this season we will be able to put Gene Chizik up on our jail board. Last year, we put CTT up on the board with the charge "Attempt To Coach With Intent To Fail". Absolutely epic when our chief and deputy chief (AU fans) came in the next morning.

Just supports the old saying:

What do bammers call Auburn people?

"BOSS"

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

I find the 3 year thing a bit far fetched.  No matter how they've turned out, 07 was ranked #6 or #7 by Rivals.  The 06' class was pretty highly ranked as well.  It was the total lack of effort in the 08' class and the one started for 09' that he should be accountable for.  Again, not because of how any of those may or may not turn out, but because it was obvious CTT was tanking it and could have done so much better.

Agreed here.

There are two reasons our talent level is down.

1. The lack of consistent effort the last year or two.  I think that Tony Franklin, while he should have helped us, ended up hurting us after the Clemson game.  By that I mean, with the coaches not buying in behind the scenes, the consistent effort to recruit the type of players needed for Franklin's offense didn't happen.  Nobody believed in him, or his scheme well enough to sell it to top rated recruits.  

2. Inconsistent coaching for players already on scene.  Our Offensive line was the poster child for this problem last year.  Big three point stance ogres turned into two point stance pass blockers.  They were a monster and exciting group when they came to Auburn, then for some reason, we changed their whole game by going with Franklin.  Players like Kodi Burns were left to suffer because of infighting and other behind the scenes issues.  We've got juniors and seniors that have no more consistent coaching behind them than true and redshirt freshman on the field.


One thing I don't agree with is the 2011 issue (seen it pop up in a few places).  I believe with the JUCO level recruiting and the positive playmakers signing on, our OL will be good over the next few years and fill in rather quickly. (that's my hope anyway)

Tyrik Rollison will be a veteran (or I'm assuming he will be) by 2011 with a great defense behind Jr. Safeties Demond Washington and Bates.  Great linebackers in Sophmores Jake Holland and White, Owens, etc...  WR talent will be good.  IF Malzahn is still there, it will be one of the first times in a long time that Auburn would have had at least three years, or consistent offensive coaching and philosophies.

Only time will tell, but it's pretty clear that removing the emotional element, and love of Auburn and the national perspective is that Auburn seems, anyway, to be moving in the right direction.

[jmar]

I always stood up for Tubs but I think Dye is spot on regarding that bunch and recruiting. It might take several years to recover.

[The Prowler]

When you see any team hitting up the JUCOs at any position then you know that the HC is looking for immediate help.  jadennis, in my opinion, the OL for the 2011 team will be just as good if not better than the OL that we've had this year....the OL backups that are on the team, right now...none of them will be starters in 2011.  You'll see Coach Chizik hit up the JUCO and Prep ranks the next three years, he's going to bring in one to two JUCOs and/or Prep players each year, with the stipulations that they're early qualifiers.  This year Auburn is going after JUCO OL, Roszell Gayden (He'll be coming in for his official really soon, I'm hoping for Dec. 11th-12th) and John Cullen (He'll be coming in for an Official with his teammate and Auburn commit DE Joel Bonomolo, again, I'm hoping they can make it down for Dec. 11th-12th)....they're also talking to Prep OL Morgan Moses (One of the Top OL from last year).

[jmar]

Can we get some more JC D-linemen?

[Greaseyweasel]

Apparently we had good enough players to win 7 this year. What would we have been able to have done last year if we did not have the soap opera of coaching and healthy Q'back worth a flip?
Pat Dye was just drunkenly muttering again.