Scouting Auburn-Southern Miss, 9/5

Hey everyone. Had a good time during my radio segment. Didn't really delve into controversy, though I reiterated my (firm) belief that Kodi Burns isn't seriously injured. He'll play tomorrow.

Also, as a plug, Forest Avenue Academic Magnet is holding its annual "Back To School Bash" tonight on the grounds. Yours truly will be helping distribute food. Good prices abound.

OK. Let's get to business.

THE KEY POSITIONS
QUARTERBACK
Advantage: Southern Miss
How can USM get the check here with a freshman playing? Austin Davis went 14-of-21 for 206 yards last week. That's more than double what Auburn's two guys accomplished. Can either one of them throw?

RUNNING BACKS
Advantage: Auburn
Ben Tate looks like a franchise-type back. Brad Lester's quick moves provide an ideal complement to Tate's pugnacious style. And hear this: Eric Smith could start on several teams. He's only 18.

RECEIVERS
Advantage: Southern Miss
Auburn's fastest receiver is out for the season. It's most consistent one hyperextended a knee last week. Coach Tommy Tuberville said the veterans weren't even running the correct routes last week. USM's DeAndre Brown is a legitimate player.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Advantage: Auburn
The Tigers' first-team guys played more effectively than expected last week -- and the expectations were high. The run-game work was obvious. Three hundred yards affirms that. The pass protection was above average as well. Offensive problems last week had nothing to do with protection.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Advantage: Auburn
With Tez Doolittle now apparently ready for a big role, the Tigers are oozing skill and depth. Few offensive lines can handle this group. Few teams in America have this kind of speed off the edge.

LINEBACKERS
Advantage: Auburn
Auburn's group was remarkably productive last week, thanks in large part to backup middle linebacker Josh Bynes. The sophomore flourished. The Tigers have a lot of good players here. Still, I believe the best linebacker in this game is USM's Gerald McRath.

SECONDARY
Advantage: Auburn
The first-team guys are very good on the whole. They're experienced, skilled and unflappable. I have some concerns about safety Mike McNeill, who is out of position more often than expected, but the other three starters make up for it.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Advantage: Auburn
Good kicker. Good punter. Coverage teams did their job last week. Robert Dunn scored on a punt return. All systems go.

COACHING
Advantage: Auburn
USM's decision to hire Larry Fedora during the offseason was shrewd. He's a great offensive mind. Still, Tommy Tuberville has a track record. Tuberville also has a pile of credentials. He's the better pick.

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THE KEY PLAYERS
SOUTHERN MISS
Damion Fletcher (No. 25)
5-10, 177, Jr.
Last week: 222 rushing yards on 21 attempts, 2 Tds (vs. Louisiana-Lafayette)
Scouting report: He's a compact back in the Brad Lester mold. Fletcher isn't a punisher by any means. He's also not particularly fast for a small back. What makes him good? Fletcher is patient. He knows how to let his blockers work for him. He doesn't freelance unless it's necessary. Fletcher also runs with remarkable aggression once a tackler arrives. He'll kick his legs and spin and work harder than most backs to break away from tackles.


AUBURN
RB Ben Tate (No. 44)
5-11, 215, Jr.
Last week: 115 yards on 13 attempts (vs. Louisiana-Monroe)
Scouting report: Tate insisted before the season that he had enough speed to thrive in Auburn's new spread offense. He wasn't kidding. The junior broke free for a pair of long runs in the Monroe game, adding allure to his already intriguing mix of skills. Tate has enough acceleration to get though many holes and enough power to break tackles. He also has excellent hands. Tate could be a slot receiver if needed.

DT Sen'Derrick Marks (No. 94)
6-1, 295, Jr.
Last week: 2 tackles; both were for a loss (vs. Louisiana-Monroe)
Scouting report: Marks blows people away with his quick feet, which allows him to exploit blockers more easily. He can sense when an offensive lineman is off-balance. Marks then is able to accelerate into an advantageous position more quickly than other tackles. He's also a top-rate tackler. There's a reason so many NFL teams are tracking Marks this season.

KEYS TO THE GAME
AUBURN OFFENSE
Last week was a mess. Quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd seemed confused at times and made only a few memorable throws. Though it's easy to lie problems at the quarterbacks' feet, Auburn's receivers were a big issue. They missed routes. They didn't get open. Remember that Auburn's receivers were considered the team's weakest link last season. It's unreasonable to suddenly believe those same guys are excellent now just because Tony Franklin is in charge. The Tigers need to pay closer attention to which routes create open space. Those routes need to be used more often. It's clear that the running game is alive and well. Finding ways to supplement that ground work through the air is Auburn's top overall priority right now.

AUBURN DEFENSE
Auburn was nearly flawless last week. Sure, defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads counted eight missed tackles. That's eight too many for his tastes. Still, Monroe's offense accomplished almost nothing -- even after the second- and third-team defenses hit the field. The Tigers must remain sharp at the point of attack. USM tailback Damion Fletcher is a smart runner who will find holes if they exist. The Golden Eagles desperately need Fletcher to break free, which gives freshman quarterback Austin Davis some extra confidence. Masking coverages should yield some dividends today, particularly if Davis feels like he has to make something happen in the passing game.


Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.