Recruits could back out if Auburn’s ‘O’ doesn’t step up

By Robert Rousseau  |   Friday, October 03, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Auburn Tigers
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The Auburn Tigers usually fare solidly on the recruiting trail. Over the years, they’ve certainly picked up their share of stellar running backs, offensive linemen and defenders. So, the fact that they are doing well in regard to their 2009 recruiting class (a whopping 26 commitments) shouldn’t be surprising.

When it comes to receivers and quarterbacks, however, the deal hasn’t always been as pretty. And that’s what’s interesting about this year’s class -- the fact that many of the already committed are quality receivers and dual-threat running backs who have the quickness to hurt defenses from a variety of positions on the football field.

The reason for the change is obvious -- Tony Franklin’s spread offense.

Unfortunately for Auburn, Franklin's offense has been sputtering this year. Luckily for the Tigers, there's still time to right the ship. In the meantime, though, the 97th-rated passing offense in the nation needs to get better, or some of the big names the Tigers have compelled to commit to their 2009 class might start considering other schools.

After all, the word ‘'commitment’' doesn’t exactly mean what it used to be.

Raymond Cotton (four-star dual-threat QB); Cameron Kenney (four-star WR); Onterrio McCalebb (four-star dual-threat RB); Philip Lutzenkirchen (four-star TE); Rodney Scott (four-star RB); and LaVoyd James (three-star WR) are just some of the names that could conceivably begin to think elsewhere if the offense doesn’t pick up. And that doesn’t even mention several athletic offensive players who are still considering Auburn. As fast as people got excited about the spread coming to Jordan-Hare, they’ll dismiss it if the dream continues to be a semi-nightmare for Auburn.

Granted, to count out Franklin and the gang just yet would be foolhardy. But the possible side effects of a sputtering offense could go beyond this season if things don’t pick up.
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About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or...
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