Well the Tiger's have determined their starting QB already in summer practice. The guy they chose is the guy who played like crap the first half of the season(Chris Todd) which resulted in his benching for another guy (Kodi Burns) who was just as bad if not worse running the offense.
Todd didn't even practice in the spring because he was recovering from off season shoulder surgery. It was his second shoulder surgery in the past two years. So in my estimation one of two things happened here. Either Todd won the job by default because none of the other QB's showed much of anything, or Todd came in with a clean bill of health and played his butt off the first week and a half of summer practice. I'm not sure which one I think happened.
Now the story is Burns is moving to WR and will come in for some reps as the Wildcat QB. I have to say I am tired of the Wildcat formation. One thing is certain for me though and that is that Burns really wasn't a QB. Unless this was Oklahoma or Nebraska from 85 or 95 Burns had no business as QB. Todd may not have put up the best of numbers last year, but during his time as the starter Auburn only lost a nail biter to LSU. The offense may not have been putting up huge stats but the bottom line is winning and they were doing that. Would the results the second half of the season been any different with Todd as QB last year as opposed to Burns? I doubt it Todd's shoulder wasn't the same after the hard hitting games with LSU and MSU. He didn't start the season with a shoulder that was 100% last year and I don't think it was going to get any better over the course of the year.
I'm not convinced Todd is the answer at QB for Auburn this year, but I think he will be the more effective QB in Coach Malzahn's version of the spread than what Burns would have been. Add in the fact that Burns is a pretty good athelete he should be able to make the transition to a WR pretty easily. He knows the play book so it will just be a matter of running good routes.
I think overall Auburn will be a better team this year even though their record may not show it. Anything less than a .500 season will be a disappointment to me personally.
Esti Ginzberg
Tori Praver
Best Players 6-5 and Under
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I just hope you guys destroy Bama !!!
TigerBait10
Hold On Tight, MS
Total Comments (1076)
I also like the Burns move to receiver. He should be good for them there. Not feeling the Todd choice but they chose him over Caudle and their two true freshman options.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (18081)
I hope we start a new streak against Bama, too. I would love nothing more. J.Hova Todd was making good decisions last year with the ball he just had a bubble gum arm that apparently is healed now. He only had one loss as the starter last year but with each game his arm was getting worse and worse and with his arm went their offense.
Burns is more of an athelete than a QB anyway so if I were the coach I would use him like the Steelers used Kordell Stewart his first couple of years where he would line up at QB, RB, WR.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4919)
Give the spread some time. Pre-Meyer I was a huge fan of Auburn style football. A team in the SEC is not going to win in Atlanta without a stud defense. 07 gators offensive squad was pretty awesome, possible better than 2006 and 2008.
OfficeNinja
One Particular Harbor, FL
Total Comments (864)
AU needs to establish some kind of identity for their offense, and soon. If it's gonna be the spread, fine -- I just think they are discombobulated on O, and need to get settled. The D will be there as usual, I think. Todd will have to show some athleticism to run the real spread, but maybe the coaches will cut it down some and focus on misdirection plays rather than QB "read" plays, sorta like Meyer did when running his O with Leach at QB.
GatorRobster
Houston, TX
Total Comments (3634)
Got to hate those Kentucky boys when they leave the state and play for another SEC team.. whether it be football or basketball and Todd is a prime example.. UK plays AU this year.. down there of course.. time for some payback for leaving the Bluegrass state Chris
Wildfan
Total Comments (4756)
I agree with that except Malzahn's version of the spread isn't the same as Meyer's. From what I have seen of Malzahn's version is he likes to line up with a single back 2 TE's and 2 WR's about 80% of the time. Then put those TE's in motion to act more like fullbacks in the running game. Establish the run by pounding the ball in there. Wait for the safety's to creep up in the box and then open the passing game up. The QB doesn't do a lot of running in his version, at least not when he was at Tulsa.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4919)
Todd is going to make UK wish they had recruited him harder. LOL
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4919)
It'll be interesting to watch this year to see what they do. Any idea which games will get TV time?
GatorRobster
Houston, TX
Total Comments (3634)
From what I understand if you have dish network every game will be on TV on one channel or another.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4919)
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