Something to get you started

Hey everyone. I'm so glad for today -- finally something legitimate to journal.

I know you're excited.

I've got a few fresh stories for you. I've also generated a position-by-position look at today's matchup for your viewing pleasure.

**Keep in mind here that I have to find somewhere to give Monroe an edge. It's not a terrible team and some of their players are good -- even if the sunshine-pumpin' peeps realize that or not.

Enjoy.


QUARTERBACK
Advantage: La-Monroe
Breakdown: Does Auburn have talent? Sure. The Warhawks have senior Kinsmon Lancaster, who can pass with accuracy and has plenty of running ability. He has the experience.

RUNNING BACKS
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: The Tigers may not have a superstar in the backfield, but they have enough talent and experience. This is the team's best group since 2004.

RECEIVERS
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: Again, the Tigers have a ton of depth and experience. Mario Fannin and James Swinton bring elite play- making ability to the field.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: The Tigers' first five guys work well as a group. Lee Ziemba is one of the nation's best tackles and guard Tyronne Green looks strong er than ever.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: Antonio Coleman and Antoine Carter bring speed off the edges and Sen'Derrick Marks brings the power inside. The first-team group is outstanding. The reserves? Not so much.

LINEBACKERS
Advantage: La-Monroe
Breakdown: Yes, I know about Tray Blackmon. He's very good. Monroe returns three experienced juniors who led a good defense in 2007. They are good tacklers and have enough talent to handle business.

SECONDARY
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: Jerraud Powers may be 5-foot-8, but he's one of the best cover guys around. Auburn first- team group has some star power. Behind them are freshmen. Good freshmen. Good enough to get the check here.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: Almost every team in America would like to have Wes Byrum on the roster. He's an outstanding kicker. The return teams look stocked, too, with Philip Pierre-Louis and Chris Slaughter ready to apply their speed.

COACHING
Advantage: Auburn
Breakdown: Monroe's Charlie Weatherbie has done some nice things at Monroe -- he may win a Sun Belt title this season -- but Tommy Tuberville has been better for a longer period at a higher level. That's an easy one.

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INSIDE SLANT

AU offensive keys: Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin says he isn't worried about what Monroe will run today. I believe him. Auburn has spent months installing and honing Franklin's system. Today is the day it goes live. There is no doubt that Auburn has the speed and talent to score plenty of points against the Warhawks today. The most important development will be at quarterback, where Kodi Burns and Chris Todd are expected to share time under center. Can this system work? Today could provide several clues. Monroe is in a quandary. It can blitz and overwhelm the Tigers' (meager) blocking resources. If the ball is thrown before the blitz arrives, though, the receiver likely will be in single coverage. Can Monroe handle that matchup?

AU defensive keys: Monroe returns seven starters on offense, but many of them are not in the key positions. The quarterback, Kinsmon Lancaster, has some play-making ability. Still, the Warhawks have added three new starters on the offensive line. That's no way to handle Sen'Derrick Marks and the Tigers' conniving ends. Auburn will stay basic and run only its most basic blitzes today. The emphasis will be on avoiding missed tackles and taking correct routes to the ball-carrier. The Tigers know they have enough speed and power up front to repel Monroe's ground game. Auburn's tackling was a major concern for de fensive coordinator Paul Rhoads during the preseason. If ULM can get receivers into one-on-one situa tions downfield, things could get interesting.

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ULM PLAYER TO WATCH
QB Kinsmon Lancaster (No. 7)5-11, 202, Sr. Last season: 174-for-294 (59%) for 1,866 yards and 13 TDs; rushed for 398 yards on 107 attempts.
Scouting report: Lancaster has been playing since his freshman year, so he's not intimidated by playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He played very well during the second half of last season, making up for a remarkably slow start. He's built to run. Lancaster has no problem scrambling for yardage. His most glaring weakness is that he makes poor decisions when forced to throw from the pocket. Lancaster was intercepted 10 times last season. Tricky coverages can yield big returns.

AU Players to Watch
WR James Swinton (No. 16) 6-0, 187, Sr. Last season: 1 catch for 16 yards.
Scouting report: Swinton is pure speed and elusiveness. He has played only a peripheral role during his first three varsity seasons be cause blocking was a real problem. Now that Auburn has removed those blocking responsibilities, Swinton looks like a star in the making. Many teammates believe he's the team's fastest straight-line runner. The Tigers think he's a home-run threat. Swinton's catching mechanics weren't memorable during the spring, but he has been much more consistent during preseason practice.

DE Antoine Carter (No. 45) 6-4, 255, Soph. Last season: 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks
Scouting report: Carter surely is one of the fastest defensive ends in the country. When placed on the outside and asked to race toward the quarterback, few blockers are capable of postponing Carter's trip. Can he play the run? That's the only negative. Though he's 20 pounds heavier than last season, Carter still isn't an imposing presence. His ability to bring down ball-carriers will determine his fate: Third-down guy or full-time player.