Tommy Trott scouting report

Hey everyone. I'm going ahead with surgery on Monday. I'll be stuck in bed for a week, and I'll be house-bound for a little while after that. I'm planning to do some scouting reports to help pass the time. So keep an eye out for that.

Of course, the World Cup starts Friday. At least I'll have soccer to watch during recuperation. Hup Holland! I know I'm supposed to cheer for USA. I don't have a problem doing that. I think we should have a very good team. The reality is that we have almost nothing beyond Landon Donovan. It's a downer. Twellman should be playing in Germany ahead of Ching. Just sayin'.

Brasil will win this tournament and it won't be close. Still, it's fun to dream.

On to Auburn things:

*Tray Blackmon was arrested a few weeks back for public intoxication and another minor violation. So what? Small things. He strikes me as the kind of kid who learns from his mistakes quickly, so my guess is you won't hear about him in trouble again.

*I ran a Q-and-A from Will Muschamp the other day, as promised.
Interview with Muschamp
He said a few things I found interesting, namely holding off on Blackmon/Tez love until they actually perform on the field.

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TOMMY TROTT, TE (No. 5)
6-5, 247, R. Fr.
The basics: He signed with Auburn in 2005, and spent that fall on the scout team. It was a difficult transition for Trott. He caught balls well in two-a-days and seemed capable of making an impact last season, but coaches thought his blocking needed major improvement. After a period of confusion, Trott dedicated himself to improvement. His blocking went from poor to average, and his technique seemed even better during spring ball. He's tenacious if nothing else.

2006 outlook: Stud. Trott is going to be a frequent contributor to the team's passing game, and a benefit to the rushing attack. I think he has the best hands on the team. Even last year, Trott was making catches that blew everyone away. He can dive for balls and catch them. He can catch at full speed. He can spin quickly and catch them. He won't drop much of anything. If Brandon Cox can get the ball close to Trott, it'll be caught. Trott is Anthony Mix right now – capable of playing slot and providing opponents some matchup troubles. Remember that Trott is 19. He'll improve quickly this season.

Summary: It's my opinion that Trott will emerge as a franchise player during the 2007 season. He's tall, he has a good attitude, he's a smart player. He's the ultimate pass-catching tight end. He never blows defenders off the ball, but he positions himself well and holds his blocks. Offensive coordinator Al Borges has no reservations about playing Trott now. Sharing time with senior Cole Bennett will be good for Trott this season. Bennett's blocking technique is excellent. When Bennett meets a defender, that defender doesn't bounce away. That's a good thing for Trott to see. Guys with receiving skills like Trott's don't come along often. He has a chance to be great.

Tool box, compared to other DI tight ends:
Speed: 70
Technique: 60
Stamina/durability: 60 (no problems yet)
Football aptitude: 60
Attitude/aggressiveness: 60
Leadership: 50 (too young to have a role)