War Damn Eagle!!! Your defending SEC Champions open the 2014 season at home, jumping right into conference play against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Perhaps the biggest story for Auburn going into this game is that last year's starting QB, Nick Marshall will not start the game due to being cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession a month ago. Instead it'll be sophomore Jeremy Johnson starting the game under center. Marshall will play in the game, but Coach Gus Malzahn has not let it be known to the press when Marshall will enter. Whether it's a play, a series, a quarter or even a half is anyone's beset guess at this point. Also suspended for the start of this game for Auburn is senior cornerback Jonathon Mincy. He got arrested in late June for second degree marijuana possession. Like Marshall, Coach Malzahn has not let it be known when Mincy will enter the game.
The other biggest storyline of this game might be the tension between the two head coaches, Malzahn and Arkansas's Bret Bielema. The tension stems from their thoughts about the hurry up offense. Gus loves to run the hurry up, no huddle offense he has employed since coaching at high school in Arkansas. It all began last year at SEC media days when Bielema mentioned how he doesn't approve of the hurry up offense since he believes it exposes players to further injury. Malzahn countered that by saying he thought it was a joke when someone mentioned Bielema's comments to him. Bielema got a little defensive by saying he wasn't joking and is not a comedian. Needless to say, Bielema put it best. While the two coaches won't beat each other up before the game, they won't exactly be breaking bread with one another anytime soon.
Obviously the Razorbacks will look to pound the ball with their power running attack and keep Auburn's hurry up offense off the field. Arkansas has the running backs needed to do this. Sophomore Alex Collins rushed for 1026 yards as a true freshman while junior Jonathan Williams added 900 yards of his own on the ground. Those two will need to be big time if the Hogs are going to have a chance. At some point I'd expect Auburn defensive coordinator to stack the box and force QB Brandon Allen to beat his defense. That could be a solid strategy given his 2013 struggles with accuracy. He only completed 49.6 percent of his passes while throwing for just 13 TDs and 10 interceptions. Those numbers will need to get better this season.
As far as Auburn is concerned, they did lose a couple of key contributors offensively in running back Tre Mason, fullback Jay Prosch and left tackle Greg Robinson, but just about everyone else returns and the Tigers add highly regarded JUCO wide receiver D'haquille Williams. He and returning #1 receiver Sammie Coates should form a fantastic duo. At running back, I'd expect to see a lot of Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant, but also expect redshirt freshman Peyton Barber as well as very talented and explosive true freshman Roc Thomas be in the mix as well. Cancer survivor Shon Coleman will step in for the departed Robinson as the starting left tackle. The Tigers will also have to overcome the loss of Alex Kozan to a back injury. He did an outstanding job a year ago as a true freshman starting inside at guard. Taking over for him will be sophomore Avery Young with another true sophomore Jordan Diamond backing him up. Watch out for true freshman Braden Smith. He's a monster who has truly impressed the coaching staff in practices. He is listed as the backup to Shon Coleman at left tackle and could definitely shift inside to either guard spot should the need arise. Right tackle is taken up by junior Patrick Miller. The anchor of the line though will be senior center Reese Dismukes.
The defense will have to overcome the loss of defensive end Dee Ford to the NFL and also sophomore defensive end Carl Lawson to an ACL injury. At the moment, listed atop the depth chart along the defensive line are sophomore defensive end Elijah Daniel and then three seniors, DE Gabe Wright and defensive tackles Angelo Blackson and Jeff Whitaker. The backups will contribute plenty though as defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson likes to rotate defensive lineman in and out throughout games in order to keep everyone fresh towards the end of the game. The main backup I'd watch out for is sophomore defensive tackle Montravius Adams. He was a highly decorated recruit coming out of high school. I could see his game really taking off this year. Cassanova McKinzy will start at middle linebacker while junior Kris Frost will take over for departed senior Jake Holland. Although I'd watch out for true freshman Tre' Williams if I were Frost. I think he'll prove to be too talented to keep off the field all season long. The star position will have a new face at least at the start with junior Justin Garrett while true freshman Nick Ruffin is listed as the primary backup. That is at least until Robenson Therezie can get his academic issues in order, if he gets them in order. The listed starting corners are Jonathon Mincy and Jonathan Jones; although Mincy won't start the season opener as I mentioned above. At safety, sophomore Rudy Ford and senior Jermaine Whitehead sit atop the depth chart. Behind Ford is JUCO transfer Derrick Moncrief. I eventually see him making a big impact. True freshman Stephen Roberts is listed as the primary backup to Whitehead.
Special teams will look a little different this year as well. Gone are kicker Cody Parkey and punter Steven Clark. Redshirt freshman Daniel Carlson is listed on double duty at least early on as both the kicker and punter. He'll need to be terrific in order to make up for those losses. We'll see if he's up for it. True freshman running back Roc Thomas is listed as one of the two primary kick returners, so that shows you the coaching staff will get creative in getting the ball in his hands to go along with being in the mix for carries at running back. Speedy senior Corey Grant is the other primary kickoff return man. Senior Quan Bray seems like the likely punt return man.
Anyway, to get onto my thoughts about this game with Arkansas, I think the Tigers just have too much talent on both sides of the ball for the Razorbacks to keep up for the full 60 minutes. That hurry up offense with Artis-Payne, Grant and Nick Marshall (yes, I expect he'll play plenty) will rack up the yards on the ground while an improved passing game will make sure the Hogs defense can't just worry about the run. Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams will rack up a good amount of yards on the ground for Arkansas offensively, but it won't be enough for coach Bret Bielema to get his first SEC win. He and the Hogs went 0-8 in conference play a year ago. Make it 0 for 9.
My Call: Auburn 41, Arkansas 20
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