Inside the Auburn Tigers

The annual magazine showed up yesterday. Here are a few comments.

We open with Arkansas State. Those guys return most of their starters. They are in the lowly Sunbelt Conference and went 4 & 8 last year. There will be no excuse if we lose to them. I always worry about the first game because historically Auburn doesn't play well in the opening game.

The Mississippi State contest in Starkville the following Thursday on ESPN will be crucial. A team is supposed to improve the most in the second game. We may need that improvement. We should have more talent, but I have some bad memories of playing in Starkville---like two years ago!

The schedule is favorable in terms of home games. The road trips are Starkville, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Alabama. Four of the first 5 games are at home. The first road game after MSU is October 9 at Kentucky.

The offensive line better be good since we are replacing only one starter. Whoever the right tackle will be it will be a player with some experience. It will be either Mosely or Gayden, both of whom are transfer juniors.

There is still not a lot of depth at linebacker and the defensive backfield unless a freshman or two come thru. Depth on defense will be an issue again this year. It will help if Etheridge and McNeil can come back from injuries.

I hope Neil Caudle gets playing time. I'm nervous about Mario Fanin. I can't remember an Auburn player who has been so talked about who has so far accomplished so little on the field. He seems so prone to fumble.

How long before the hearlded Michael Dyer sees action? Adams and Zachary need help at receiver. Who will step up? Will Daren Bates be ready to switch to linebacker? We know he's a hard hitter. All in all, the defense is still very vulnerable to possible injuries.