Hey everyone. I know -- it seems like yesterday when Auburn signed those 27 newcomers to its 2010 Recruiting Class.I took a few days to consider what happened last Wednesday. Since it's pointless to argue about the prospects -- Mike Dyer might bust and LaDarious Phillips might be the next Brandon Jacobs -- I took a slightly different approach.
I examined Gene Chizik's verifiable victories.
Along with that story was a report card. If you sense cognitive dissonance between my column's premise and the mere existence of an Auburn report card, well, you'll have to figure that out on your own ...
Quarterback
A- Auburn signed and enrolled the nation's top junior-college quarterback in Cam Newton. He becomes the heir apparent to Chris Todd and gives fans immediate hope for the 2010 season.
Running back
A- Ben Tate is headed to the NFL and Auburn turned that into a perfect marketing plan. Michael Dyer, whom many believe was the nation's top tailback recruit, will play a meaningful role this fall.
Wide receivers/tight ends
A Auburn needs depth here and it came through, signing four wideouts and at least one tight end. Three of the wideouts are blue-chip guys.
Offensive line
A+ Here's another position where Auburn struggled to fill the two-deep last fall. The Tigers signed six offensive linemen. Three of them were blue-chip guys including Shon Coleman, who was a five-star recruit.
Defensive line
A Tackle was an area of primary concern and coach Gene Chizik snagged two big, impact guys in Kenneth Carter and Jeffrey Whitaker. I really like end Corey Lemonier as well.
Linebackers
B+ This may have been the Tigers' biggest need. The team signed four guys. The linebacker I like best, LaDarius Owens, may play defensive end. We'll have to see how the other three develop.
Defensive backs
B Auburn snatched safety Ryan Smith from Kentucky at the last minute. He's a difference-maker. I also consider safety Demetruce McNeal a good one. Two of the three cornerbacks are in the midst of position changes.
Kickers/punters
B Chizik was aggressive here, signing kicker Cody Parkey and punter Steven Clark. Parkey was awful in the Under Armour game. Clark's numbers were pretty good.
Sweet on pst time
ReplyDeleteGreat article JGT.
ReplyDeleteRD!
ReplyDeleteThank oooooooo!
ReplyDeleteJGT gets an A+
ReplyDeleteI'll spend all day just pondering "cognitive dissonance".
ReplyDeletePresent
ReplyDeleteVery informative JGT. That's one thing i like about you...you call them like you see them with no fluff
ReplyDeleteI don't do fluff.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people either outwardly or secretly covet fluff, which means I kinda kill myself here.
Oh well.
Thanks for a great compliment, though!
fluff's overrated.
ReplyDeletesubstance....that's what counts.
What about Marshmellow Fluff? Do you like Marshmellow fluff? I think its pretty gross. My ex-gf used to make Marshmellow fluff sandwiches, I thought it was gross.
ReplyDeletefluff would betray JGT's secret AU homerism
ReplyDeleteIs there not a cognitive dissonance regarding fluff and substance? People covet fluff but at the same time demand substance?
ReplyDeleteFor example: I used to read trite and pointless articles on al.com and people would post comments re: the article being pointless. Two days later a substantial article is posted by same writer and in the comments they complain about having nothing to read.
it must be good, it's got its own page:
ReplyDeleteMarshmallow Fluff
Also Jay G's pointing out of said cognitive dissonance has put me smack in the middle of an existential dilemma.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of marshmallows, my eating habits have changed dramatically since the birth of my son. I have started eating more rice crispy treats, fish sticks, cherrios...etc.
ReplyDeleteyesterday, at a b-day party for another 1 yr old. I think I ate 14-15 dinosaur shaped chicken pieces.
Seanzie - let's keep the substance simple, for simpletons like me.
ReplyDeleteBTW, this is just nasty.
THT, aren't you a physician and historic map connoisseur?
ReplyDeleteYes THT, she would eat those.
ReplyDeleteI think thats the primary reason we broke up, I was disgusted by her.
no Seanzie, i just play one on HABOTN.
ReplyDeleteThe map thing, yeah, that's me.
Who Dat!!!! Morning Hotties.... it's a nice day in the "Region" don't you think?
ReplyDeleteWDE!!!
a Fluffernutter sandwich a day keeps the boyfriend away.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard the list of reasons why Spencer Region committed to us over the evil empire? If not, you can probably guess.
ReplyDeleteBecause Saban didn't want him? He's not good enough but if they wanted him they could have him?
ReplyDeleteCoffee Cup here is the #1 reason:
ReplyDelete1. They didn't want him right?????
Coffee - it was explained in the TiderEveryday video (link provided by CH=B this morning on prior thread)
ReplyDeleteYou know what happen with the Imperial Leader tried to finish the Death Star on time.....it didn't happen..... "Return of the Jedi"!!!!!
ReplyDelete1. We paid him
ReplyDelete2. Shorty never really offered
3. He'll never play a down anywhere
4. Over-rated
I say "welcome to the family MR. Region!
I don't care if Region comes to Auburn or not. I just hope and pray that Chizik and Co. are doing it the right way - not the low down dirty scoundrel kinda way.
ReplyDeletefor those who missed CH=B's link earlier, here it is.
ReplyDeleteNick Saban's response to Spencer Region's AU commitment
I love those videos. This is one of the better ones.
ReplyDeleteTar Heel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny link!
I hate recruiting, it's a black hole I cannot escape.
ReplyDeleteThere are few pleasures greater in life than a nice peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwich. I don't disagree with you often THT, but you're wrong on this one.
ReplyDeleteThe movie that that video is taken from is a really good movie if you can stand to read subtitles.
ReplyDeleteIt's called Downfall. It's a German film about Hitler's last days at the helm of his Thousand Year Reich.
j-z!!!! I almost spewed my popcorn!!!
ReplyDeleteWasn't that what killed Elvis?
ReplyDeleteTar Heel, is that lunch?
ReplyDeleteI can't watch the video at work. Someone give me a synopsis.
That was fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. The toasted peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwich is manna from heaven.
ReplyDeleteA fried peanut butter and banana sandwich sounds better than a p.b. and marshmallow creme one! How does one make that?
ReplyDeleteLuv - you'll have to watch it when you get home. It's from a movie about Hitler. The subtitles have been changed in the video to a diatribe by Shorty. Very Very clever.
ReplyDeletej-z - Welcome to the HABOTN, we hope you enjoy yourself and contribute well and often.
ReplyDeletej-z!
ReplyDelete'sup
Rick James was the original superfreak.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me, but peanut butter AND marshmallow fluff, just sounds like a sugar coma waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteSeriously... try it and if you don't like it send Norm your receipt and he'll give you your money back.
ReplyDeleteTHT
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! that was Classic!!!!
I will have to go get cleaner to remove coffee from my office wall i just spewed out!
Serious question here.
ReplyDeleteXPresident W. was blamed for Katrina (I won't go into details because you have all heard about it enough) so now that New Orleans has won the Super Bowl does he get a championship ring?
His and Michael Brown's are in the mail I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteCH=B,
ReplyDeleteThey're setting up the presser now to present it to him live in front of a national audience
This is recommended only to those that need a hate re-charge.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a full tank of hate already, this may create a feeling of uncomfortable over-hate.
ehyou, you're right. It does create an uncomfortable feeling... Harder to be an Auburn fan??? WTH does that mean? I don't find it difficult at all!
ReplyDeleteMy hate cup always runneth over.
ReplyDeleteWho cares what Bama fans think? I mean FSJ is a cool enough dude and I like him but as for the rest of them I think it's hilarious they're taking time out of theri day to discuss AU football.
ReplyDeleteThis just in: page 2 now works on my computer. Oh happy day!
ReplyDeleteI hate haters.
ReplyDeleteI can explain if for the walmartians.
ReplyDeleteWe don't take kindly to those who don't take kindly to us.
For the ladies on here. I wanted to get my wife something different than roses. I got her some tulips, chocolates and gift card to restaurants.com. Would you like that?
ReplyDeleteBy the way...Texas Tech fans are hilarious. If anyone needs a good laugh you should check out their scout board.
ReplyDeleteOk, I need to stop reading all the comments. They are so freakin' full of themselves.
ReplyDeleteCH=B, I don't do Valentine's Day, flowers or candy. But, with that being said, I think you made a good choice. Roses are way overdone.
ReplyDeletewell, CH=B, it's certainly more than what I got for MrsTHT. I guess I better get busy.
ReplyDeleteLuv - MrsTHT would be proud of you.
ReplyDeleteTar Heel, how so?
ReplyDeleteMy thought on VD is this: it's just a marketing ploy by the card, candy and flower shops.
I guess I should have typed out Valentine's Day...
ReplyDeleteI typically get Wifey some flowers of a different kind.
ReplyDeleteTulips sound good to me.
MrsTHT thinks likewise, Luv
ReplyDeleteMy thought on VD is that it burns... really, really bad.
ReplyDeleteBack briefly
ReplyDeleteHappy to say we; uncle sam, uncle Bob Riley and I all broke even.
If they are happy I am happy.
Well almost happy any way.
I typically go with some sort of mixed floral arrangement.
ReplyDeleteGood for MrsTHT!
ReplyDeleteKnow what's better than roses on a piano?
ReplyDeleteTulips on an organ.
ReplyDeleteThe bammers just don't get that the concept of the Auburn family isn't a foot ball gimmick. It extends to everyone associated with the University. They don't have any concept like that.
ReplyDeleteAccording to one of the comments on that blog ehyou linked, UAT does have a family atmosphere. The same person also said that going to Auburn is taking the easy road.
ReplyDelete"the best laid plans..."
ReplyDeleteI found out 15 minutes ago that a training class originally scheduled for this past weekend but canceled, was available any evening this week. I promptly scheduled for tonight since MrsTHT will be at a meeting and won't be home for dinner. 5 minutes later I get an email from MrsTHT that she will be home for dinner since her meeting canceled.
I guess it's not as bad as lice in one's wig.
Are you going to reschedule?
ReplyDeletenah, I'm vacating the rest of the week. I refuse to go to any work related activity while vacating. It's an ex-communicable offense in the religious doctrine to which I adhere.
ReplyDeleteVacating?
ReplyDeleteI've bee reading some stuff about Spencer Region's commitment. It was weird to read because everything in the article was about growing up a Bama fan, and running through the tunnel at Bryant-Denny. I almost thought everybody was confused about where he was really committing.
ReplyDeleteEvidently he said he was going to Alabama at 10am Saturday morning. Between that time and his conference at noon, he got a call from the folks at Auburn and he changed his mind?!? Doesn't that sound weird? I mean I'm glad to have the kid commit, but it sounds like he wasn't as deep in Alabama's pocket as they would have liked to think, if you can make an 11th hour call to a self described Alabama fan and get them to come play for the good guys. But that being said it wouldn't surprise me if he eventually ended up changing his mind again.
this is a minor inconvenience. I accidentally kicked my U3 out of the PC under the desk. It broke the usb thingie and no longer works
ReplyDelete:-(
I must get a new one immediately. I can't stand to be using IE. Fortunately, Best Buy is very close to where my training meeting is tonight.
mytommyd - I thought Region made the call, not AU. But I don't know for sure.
ReplyDeleteEvidently SB 44 passed MASH's last to become most watched show ever.
ReplyDeleteWow that would make it even more interesting wouldn't it, THT.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny to read that some folks are calling Auburns methodology a gimmick, we're getting many recruits with the promise of early playing time.
Ya know, it could just be that this staff knows how to run a football program in this age.
Anyone read the opinion piece on The Bleacher Report? I never even heard of the website. I just googled "Spencer Region" because I wanted to read a little more on what happened.
ReplyDeleteI SO hope that Auburn blows everyone out of the water next season - not just because I LOVE Auburn football, but to prove all these bammers wrong!!
and for many seasons to come!
ReplyDeleteDarvin Adams!
ReplyDelete(since Scottie B isn't around!)
Yeah I saw that too, Luv. Interesting article talking about the meaning of commitment, from a fan of the team who's coach three years ago decided the commitment to the pro franchise wasn't really worth much. Of course that was waaaaayyy back then
ReplyDeleteIts still amazing MASH held out this long.
ReplyDeleteA testament to how great it was.
Commitment cosmittment it don't count till it's signed on the bottom line in Feb.
ReplyDeleteThis kid along with all the others could and some will change their mind 10 times before it is real.
Absolutely correct, digger. And it's very interesting reading an Alabama fans idea of commitment, and the recruiting process
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of that, this seems like more of the exception than the norm with getting a commitment from a Junior. Then again I might just not have been paying attention
I guess Region figured he had a "decommitable" offer.
ReplyDeleteSounds ok except for the LB grade. I'd have to say that's an A. Holland no doubt is a 4 star player, Jessel is fast, La D Da, and Rah Rah . . . A man A.
ReplyDeletemytommyd: I'm fairly close with the Region family. Here's the scoop. SR wanted to commit to Bama and still shop other schools. Nick Saban is approaching things different this year and told him if he wanted to shop to not commit, but keep in mind Bama only has about 2-3 scholarships for OL this season and he might have to take someone else if he is still shopping schools. He said only commit if you decide you are done looking at other schools. SR said "Ok, I will announce my commitment." SR feeling like he is the top OG got his feelings hurt a little when hearing they won't hold a scholarship for him if he shops. He then called Gene Chizik on his own and committed as a way to get back at Saban since Chizik said he would let him shop. Only thing is he told no one until he announced. That is why his parents were still in Bama gear when he announced. They really aren't too happy about it for being left in the dark and he may change his mind later, but hey it makes for good conversation right now.
ReplyDelete