Auburn update, 7/29

Hey everyone.

Media Days seemed pretty average to me this season. I didn't talk with the ebullient Tom Ensey about this at all, though he arrived at the same conclusion ... which his discussed in today's Montgomery Advertiser.

What I find awkward is how the national media finds such fascination with the pagenatry of Media Days. I went to school at Kentucky, attended Media Days as a UK student and I wasn't floored then. This was my ninth Media Days as a member of the Advertiser staff (I can't believe that) and it all seems so normal to me.

It's not that way to ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski.

I was shocked to see Auburn become such an overwhelming favorite to win the SEC this season. I think AU has a very good team, but it's not ominpotent. Not at all. I'm not sold on the linebackers right now. Karibi Dede is a solid option in the middle. Will Herring himself has doubts about playing OLB. I like Merrill Johnson a lot, but it's not reasonable to think a freshman linebacker is going to dominate in the SEC right now.

Add in lingering concerns about Josh Thompson (is he meant to be a career backup?), Tex Doolittle (who?), Sen'Derrick Marks (still doesn't look big enough to be an impact guy inside) and Chris Browder (never dominated).

I believe Will Muschamp has a magical quality about him that will have a positive impact on this team. He values toughness highly. This defense has enough toughness. And speed. I just don't know if there's enough experience.