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7.13.2010

The Five I'm Watching: Part III

Hey everyone. Let's continue.

NICK FAIRLEY
Defensive tackle
  • Age: 22
  • Class: Senior (two seasons of eligibility remaining)
  • Size: 6-foot-5, approximately 300 pounds
  • Previous role: Third guy in a two-tackle system, 2009
  • Theme song: ``Stand," R.E.M.
  • Relevant lyric: "Think about direction. Wonder why you haven't before."


THE GOOD: Nick Fairley is, to me, a totally untapped resource. I watch him play and am reminded of Pat Sims. What does that mean? Big dude, quick feet, light feet, awesome short-range acceleration, tackles that express rage. It's odd considering that both players are generally quiet people. Sims has a more biting wit. Though Fairley managed only a somewhat involved role last season -- he started two games -- the Mobile native was playing with more purpose during the season's final half. He has the capability to be more than a run-stopper; Fairley has the speed and instincts to be a pass-rush asset as well. Nothing in his past suggests that he's an injury liability. Fairley appears to be a rugged guy who can handle the rigors of 40 snaps per game.

THE BAD: If he's so talented, why didn't he shine last season? In his defense, junior college defense can be a pretty chaotic enterprise. Still, it's not like Mike Blanc and Jake Ricks are sure-fire NFL guys. Fairley had a few games -- LSU in particular -- where he was a non-factor. A guy with that kind of talent playing in his 18th college game shouldn't disappear. Though I never heard anyone say conditioning was a problem per se, it was clear that Fairley could be in better condition. More time with Kevin Yoxall, the Tigers' strength and conditioning czar, generally cures those kind of ills. His laid-back nature off the field could be a concern. Will he bring the fire on the field? Perhaps that played a role in Fairley's so-so season in 2009.

THE REALITY: He's my No. 1 breakout candidate ... on either side of the ball. Sure, Cameron Newton has a chance to be a big star. You already know that. So does everyone else in the SEC. Fairley still is under the radar for the most part. I kept seeing shades of Pat Sims last season. I consider that a great development for Auburn's defense, which needs all the good news it can get. I project 40 tackles, 5 sacks, hype building through the fall. Of course, I predicted Tommy Trott would flourish under Tony Franklin's leadership. You might want to take that into account.

What do you think? Speak your mind!

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

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

251 Comments:

«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 251 of 251
Blogger ehyou said...

You started a food fight, right?

7:15 AM  
Blogger Honey said...

Norm,
So sorry you are having problems sleeping. That is miserable. Doing all this exercise stuff, I have been falling into bed at 10 and dying until 4:45. Insomnia is one thing I've never really dealt with. Hopefully you will get good sleep tonight.

7:25 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

People of the HABOTN, I have returned!!



crickets.....

7:28 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

I think it's interesting all the expectations that are being put on Cam, however, if Gus can do for Cam what he's done the past four years in taking a QB he's never worked with and turned him into an offenseive stat machine, I think we'll be just fine. And if not we have Trotter, Caudle and Mosely in the wings chomping at the bit.

But I will still subscribe to the Bill Parcell's ideology that it's defense that wins championships.

7:31 AM  
Blogger Jet said...

I subscribe to the Jet Theory ... that making other teams lose wins championships

7:35 AM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Neither worked in 2004.

7:40 AM  
Blogger Norm said...

I subscribe to a modified Patton theory: "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."

7:41 AM  
Blogger Eddie McCoy said...

FSJ and I are going to play some golf on August 14th at the RTJ course in Gasden. Anyone else want to join us?

7:45 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

I used to subscribe to Sports Illustrated. For the articles.

7:56 AM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

I'm guessing Patton wasn't a big fan of the Texans who fought at the Alamo.

8:10 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Eddie - that sounds like a lot of fun. I'd really love to, but already have vacation plans with another Hottie, MrsTHT.

8:14 AM  
Blogger Honey said...

Eddie,
I would love to join you. There are just a couple of things keeping me from it. My daughter is moving that weekend and I promised to help, and if there aren't little windmills on the course, I don't know how to play :)

8:19 AM  
Blogger API said...

People of the HABOTN, I have returned. Back from Panama City Beach where the water was the best I've ever seen.

Let's see:

Bud Lite w/line = bad
rafting = good
Cam > 60% completion percentage
running with bulls = fun/dangerous
media days in a week

Did I miss anything?

8:29 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Hey, peeps!

I'll be doing an Auburn Arena (final) walk-through this afternoon with my sweet HD camera. I'll post pictures and video as soon as I can.

I expect pics up around 2 and video around 3:30.

Be there or be rectangular.

8:53 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

API, that's a trip that sounds swell. Yes it does.

8:55 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

Please excuse this, but I've been thinking. Maybe it's just not really know ing the players or coaches, but Nick doesn't seem like an REM guy, and I can't see Roof putting NIN on his playlist. And do you really think Cam likes Audioslave?

8:58 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I don't really care if they listen to that music. I didn't say it was their favorite song.

8:59 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Hi JayGT - sneak into the JJ's office and pilfer a copy of the not yet released basketball schedule while you're there.

9:00 AM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Everyone loves NIN. Trent Reznor is the perfect drug, the perfect drug.

9:00 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

I think they should all listen to Buckethead.

9:01 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

THT, I'm not expecting many surprises from the basketball schedule. Not for 2010-11, anyway.

9:06 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

where is that #$%^&^@ sarcasm buttom when you need it.

9:08 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

me either, JGT. I'd just like to see the schedule. I don't even know when the opening game is in The Arena.

9:14 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

You are right, THT: Schedule should be out. It's silly.

9:22 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Do we know who the opener wil be yet?

9:22 AM  
Blogger stupup74 said...

Basketball confuses me, with the two signing periods, and the waiting forever to put the schedules out.

Basketball seemed to confuse alot of people in Auburn over the last few years (rimshot).

9:25 AM  
Blogger CHB said...

Any Hotties a member of the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club?

9:29 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

SEC must be holding things up. I just checked UGA and LSU web sites and they don't have basketball schedules, either. Still, one would think the early nonconference schedule would be set by now. INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!

9:30 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Next up on JGT's watch list?



My money is on Josh Harris. Will he be able to hold off the competition from that highly regarded redshirt freshman, Jason Lembke?

10:03 AM  
Blogger Miller said...

So... Bobby Johnson has resigned as HC at Vandy. 1 week before SEC Media Days. Odd timing.
The skeptic in me says there us more to it than Bob just deciding it's time to walk. Weird.

10:46 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

wow, Miller. My first thought... I hope Ted Roof doesn't have visions of Duke, Part Deux.

10:48 AM  
Blogger FSJ said...

Wonder if it is health related?

10:49 AM  
Blogger Miller said...

My thought too, FSJ.

10:50 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

the fresh peaches MrsTHT sliced and put in my lunch were sooooooooooo good.

10:51 AM  
Blogger ehyou said...

This pretty much takes away Vandy's chance at a conf title, at least this season.

10:56 AM  
Blogger digger4au said...

Johnson leaving Vandy at this time is very strange. Health would be my first thought.
I guess we will hear more.

10:56 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

at this late date, they'll probably name one of the other intramural coaches as interim head intramural football coach

10:57 AM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

He realized he wanted to leave Vandy on top...at 3-9.

11:03 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

Has Vandy ever implemented the player/coach spot?

I do hope everything is good with Bobby Johnson.

11:03 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I can't imagine why Bobby Johnson would resign now. Something seems very fishy.

11:08 AM  
Blogger michael said...

Maybe Bobby Johnson was just really nervous about the interviews at media days this year.

11:10 AM  
Blogger Scott Chocolate said...

THT, that 10:51 post was quite Twittery...although I do like peaches.

11:15 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Is it possible Vandy just noticed they went 2-10 last season?

11:18 AM  
Blogger Scott Chocolate said...

Rafting thoughts:

Ocoee = fun, but I don't really like how it's right by the road a lot of the time.

Chattooga = even more fun, but that is the "Deliverance" river, so possibly a place where one can experience a slightly different version of Cincy's "irrational fear".

Arkansas River (Colorado) - similar to wtc's experience, I decided it would be a good idea to jump in. Turns out that full immersion is a LOT colder than waves coming over the front of the raft.

For anyone who wants a cultural experience, minus most of the whitewater, I would recommend tubing Bulldog Bend right outside of B'ham. Tubing the Salt River near Phoenix is also pretty neat.

I would really like to raft the WV rivers that Nova mentioned.

11:22 AM  
Blogger Norm said...

A side note, as I suspected and predicted, Braves trade Escobar and Reyes in return for Alex Gonzalez.

11:26 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Bobby Johnson finally got the call from Steve Martin to be his stunt double.

11:26 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Vandy is suppose to have a press conference at 2:00.

11:27 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Good trade for the Braves.

11:30 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Only problem with Gonzalez at short is he isn't going to hit much more than .250, but then again Escobar wasn't doing that at all this year either and isn't a team player.

11:34 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

Yeah for some reason Escobar has become a head case. Glad to get Gonzales who understands what it takes to make a pennant run. I wonder where they're goign to put him in the batting order. 17 HR and 50 RBI so far.

11:38 AM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

the Braves will win it all this year. Michael says it's in the bag.

7:58 PM  
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