We're coming to you LIVE from Panera Bread! Why? Because my (unnamed) apartment complex seems to think wireless Internet is a space age technology above its level of comprehension. Geniuses, I tell you. Geniuses.To recap, so far we've done quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers and the secondary.
What's left? The specialists ...
(Of course, here's the obligatory Twitter plug. Follow the blog here. We're up to 398 followers!)
We'll do this in two parts: the kicking game ...
WHO'S GONE?
- Starters: Clinton Durst (P), Clayton Crofoot (H)
- Reserves: None
- Seniors: Wes Byrum (PK), Morgan Hull (PK), Ryan Shoemaker (P), Neil Caudle (H), Josh Harris (LS)
- Juniors: Chandler Brooks (PK), Bailey Woods (LS)
- Sophomores: None
- Redshirt Freshmen: None
- Incoming freshmen: Cody Parkey (PK), Steven Clark (P)
WHO'S GONE?
- Starters: Ben Tate
- Reserves: None
- Seniors: Demond Washington, Terrell Zachery, Mario Fannin
- Juniors: Neiko Thorpe, Quindarius Carr, Eric Smith
- Sophomores: Anthony Gulley, Onterio McCalebb, Philip Pierre-Louis
- Redshirt Freshmen: None
- Incoming freshmen: Too early to speculate
But first, let's look at the kickers. Byrum is back after going 14-for-15 last year, perhaps proving his sophomore slump was a fluke. He'll lock down the place-kicker position and (Auburn hopes) pass it along to the incoming freshman Parkey, the nation's No. 1 place-kicking recruit who had a regrettable performance in the Under Armour game a few weeks ago, when he missed two extra points and a chip-shot field goal. Still, the Tigers seem to think they have their future lined up at that position.
At punter, Durst might be gone, but Shoemaker, a scholarship player, remains on the roster, a welcome sight for a coaching staff that probably don't want to hand the job to the the incoming freshman Clark. Shoemaker has had an up-and-down career, losing the job to the former walk-on Durst and not playing at all last season. But he did earn a scholarship coming out of high school, so he must have some talent. Boulware thought he kicked the ball well, just not consistently last spring. Either way, 2010 appears to be his chance.
(Quick disclaimer on the class denotations above: I'm sure there are redshirt candidates from last year at the kicker/punter/holder/long snapper positions, but I don't want to speculate on how the coaching staff will handle that. For all I know, they want to get some of these guys through the program. So I advanced them all a year, whether they played or not.)
On returns, Washington was a godsend at the end of the year. Auburn had tried four other punt returners and a slew of kick returners, but none had the impact of the junior college transfer, whose 31.1-yard kick return average was sixth in the nation. Sure, he had his troubles fielding punts (perhaps he was just trying to fit in), but when he had the opportunity to make some plays on the fledgling return units, he did. That's what you ask of that position. Another year watching punts and their angles should help him eliminate the drops. If he can do that, Auburn has a legitimate weapon on both of its return units.
Fannin, McCalebb and Zachery figure to be in the mix on kick returns as well. Fannin never showed the burst that you want to see out of a kick returner, but coaches like his versatility, so I'd imagine they would continue to use him in that role. McCalebb, with his game-changing speed, seems like he would be the most effective of the group returning kicks, provided he can stay healthy. Others returners are sure to emerge from the freshman class, although it's too early to guess who that might be.
On kick coverage, the Tigers should benefit from an influx of scholarship players. Auburn was hamstrung by a unit made up mostly of walk-ons. The team's low number of touchbacks (5) didn't help either. The kickoff coverage hit a crisis point midway through the season, when a group consisting mostly of walk-ons looked clueless against Arkansas, giving up a long kick return for a touchdown that halted any notion Auburn had of a comeback. The problem surfaced again against Ole Miss before the coaching staff began to put more scholarship (read: experienced) players on the field on kick coverage. Expect plenty more of that next season.
Overall, Auburn has the chance to be OK next year on special teams. Byrum is a solid kicker and Washington an exciting returner. If Shoemaker can provide at least a fair approximation of what Durst did this year, the Tigers could be set in those three categories. But the fact remains that Auburn ranked 97th nationally in kick return defense and 106th in punt return defense last year. Unless those numbers improve dramatically, they'll overshadow anything positive being done on the other units.
6 comments:
Andy, great in depth article as usual, thanks much for the series.
I would not be surprised to see several of the new Freshmen LB’s on kick coverage teams. LB’s are generally strong enough to get the job done, good tacklers, and fast enough to cover. Our lack of LB depth in ’09 is also reflected in the low rankings covering punts and kick offs.
Also, I am hopeful freshmen like Chris Davis and Ryan White can get involved in the return game. Having our front line offensive and defensive skilled people returning kicks invites injury. I would gladly give up 3 or 4 yards off Washington’s kick return average as opposed to have him go down with an injury returning punts.
Just to point out ( and i just skimmed the article, as i am at work and don't have much time) but Shoemaker was named All-SEC Freshman his first year. He should do quite well.
Lets not forget that Shoemaker had one outstanding season as a punter. That was his freshman year. He was voted pre-season all-SEC the following year but Durst beat him out.
Not sure how or why all that came to pass, but clearly Shoemaker has the ability to give Auburn a solid punter next season.
It seems like the KO coverage has got to improve. However, we are not the only team having problems in that area. Since the kickoff spot was moved back to the 30 yard line everybody is giving up some big returns, we've just been giving up more than most. Having more good players available for the coverage teams should help.
Everyone is absolutely correct about Shoemaker. It slipped my mind that he was so successful in 2007. In fact, he averaged 42.5 yards per punt that year as a freshman, second in the SEC and 26th nationally.
That number was better than Durst in 2008 (42.1) and 2009 (40.8). Yet Shoemaker couldn't beat him out either year. Makes me wonder if Shoemaker has somehow regressed since that freshman year.
Don't forget Crofoot leaving -the holder. Go back and look at Boulware comments at the beginning of the year. He said Crofoot was the most consistent person on special teams. May not seem like much but dude was stone cold blooded and a perfect holder. His older bro snapped for AU in 04 and his youngest brother already has calls from UF and AU for 2011
The Crofeet are certainly building a dynasty of holders.
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