Auburn 2018 Preview: Can War Eagle fly to the promised land?

Georgia and Alabama both had something in common when they played the National Championship Game last season: They were both comprehensively beaten by Auburn. There is an argument that the Tigers could have won the SEC Championship Game if running back star Kerryon Johnson – who had ripped the Dawgs apart in the win at Jordan-Hare – hadn’t been hurt. With the team obviously deflated, the season finale bowl loss to UCF wasn’t pleasant for Gus Malzahn, either.

Anyway, it’s 2018 now, and Johnson gone, but QB Jarrett Stidham is staying.

As seeems usual on the plains, it should be an interesting season…

OFFENSE

As mentioned ad infinitum, Stidham got engaged this summer and took part in a camp or two. His first year went down a storm on the plains, where he threw for 3,158 yards, 18 TDs and 6 INTs. It’s widely expected he’ll have the same sort of year, with the potential of a Heisman thrown in.

He’s going to have top WR Eli Stove (815 yards, 5 TDs) and Darius Slayton (643 yards, 5 TDs, 22.2 yds/catch) back, and Will Hastings (525 yards, 4 TDs) should return by midseason after knee surgery. Four-star frosh WR Seth Williams, who had offers from Alabama, Georgia as well as a host of other SEC schools could also be fun to watch.

Running backs-wise, there’s no question they’ll miss Johnson, who ran for 1,391 yards and 18 TDs. Kam Martin (453 yards, 2 TDs) is predicted to get the starting job, although it’ll be a bit of a mess behind  him, with freshman JaTarvious Whitlow, Asa Martin, Chandler Cox, Malik Miller and Shaun Shivers all battling it out for time. We’re not sure it’s a ‘wealth of options’ for Malzahn, but it’s not the worst.

DEFENSE

Auburn’s going to bring back one hell of a defensive front this year, with Derrick Brown, Dontavius Russell and Marlon Davidson all back. LB DeShaun Davis, who led the team in tackles (82) last year is also back alongside Darrell Williams, but top sack machine Jeff Holland (9) is gone for a pro career with Denver.

We’re not convinced how the Tigers will do with balls thrown over the top – they are going to be reliant on Javaris Davis and Jamel Dean, with Noah Igbinoghene expected to take up some of the workload.

But we would beg offenses not to run on the Tigers, because they probably won’t go anywhere.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 1 vs. Washington (in Atlanta)
Sept. 8 Alabama State
Sept. 15 LSU
Sept. 22 Arkansas
Sept. 29 Southern Miss
Oct. 6 at Mississippi State
Oct. 13 Tennessee
Oct. 20 at Ole Miss
Oct. 27 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 Texas A&M
Nov. 10 at Georgia
Nov. 17 Liberty
Nov. 24 at Alabama

This is one of the toughest schedules in the country. This team could quite easily go 10-2, or just as easily 7-5. Please people, name me an easy game out of Washington, LSU, a trip to  CowbelLand against Mississippi State and battles against Alabama and Georgia…both of their turf. We envision the Tigers taking wins against Washington, LSU and Mississippi State – albeit in tightly-fought games, before losing to the Dawgs and Crimson Tide. But as we’ve seen so many times with Auburn – one of the most entertaining teams in the country on its game – and those ancient clashes, anything could happen. And probably will. But if the Tigers end up 7-5, will Gus Malzahn’s name will be on the chopping block? We don’t suspect so. But then again, weird things happen on the plains.