AU’s quarterback question
Published 5:59 pm Friday, July 25, 2008
HOOVER – The Southeastern Conference Media Days attendees like Auburn to win the conference’s Western Division.
The media members – at least the 70 or so that cast votes out of the more than 700 that registered – like Auburn a lot, in fact. The Tigers received more than twice as many votes (48) to win the division as projected second-place team LSU (21), was the third most popular pick to win the conference after Florida and Georgia, and had more all-conference selections (nine on the first or second team) than any other squad.
First team
Offense
TE–Cornelius Ingram (56), Florida
OL–Andre Smith (64), Alabama
OL–Michael Oher (64), Mississippi
OL–Anthony Parker (56), Tennesseee
OL–Herman Johnson (45), LSU
C–Jonathan Luigs (58), Arkansas
WR–Percy Harvin (68), Florida
WR–Kenny McKinley (46), South Carolina
QB–Tim Tebow (64), Florida
RB–Knowshon Moreno (68) Georgia
RB–Arian Foster (50), Tennessee
Defense
DL–Greg Hardy (53), Mississippi
DL–Tyson Jackson (52), LSU
DL–Sen’Derrick Marks (45), Auburn
LB–Brandon Spikes (65), Florida
LB–Rico McCoy (46), Tennessee
LB–Jasper Brinkley (41), South Carolina
*LB–Darry Beckwith (40), LSU
*LB–Dannell Ellerbe (40), Georgia
DB–Derek Pegues (60), Mississippi St.
DB–Eric Berry (56), Tennessee
DB–D.J. Moore (46), Vanderbilt
DB–Rashad Johnson (43), Alabama
Special teams
K–Colt David (41), LSU
P–Ryan Shoemaker (40), Auburn
RS–Brandon James (35), Florida
Second team
Offense
TE–Richard Dickson (9), LSU
OL–Ciron Black (12), LSU
OL–Tyronne Green (9), Auburn
OL–Lee Ziemba (8), Auburn
OL–Garry Williams (8), Kentucky
C–Antoine Caldwell (10), Alabama
WR–Mohamed Massaquoi (11), Georgia
WR–Demetrius Byrd (9), LSU
QB–Matthew Stafford (6), Georgia
RB–Anthony Dixon (16), Mississippi St.
RB–Ben Tate (2), Auburn
Defense
DL–Ricky Jean-Francois (18), LSU
DL–Antonio Coleman (10), Auburn
DL–Jeremy Jarmon (9), Kentucky
LB–Tray Blackmon (17), Auburn
LB–Rolando McClain (15), Alabama
LB–Eric Norwood (14), South Carolina
LB–Jamar Chaney (8), Mississippi St.
DB–Captain Munnerlyn (20), South Carolina
DB–Trevard Lindley (15), Kentucky
DB–Asher Allen (13), Georgia
DB–Jerraud Powers (12), Auburn
Special teams
K–Wes Byrum (16), Auburn
P–Ryan Succop (20), South Carolina
RS–Javier Arenas (20), Alabama
total votes in parentheses (*=tie)
Predicted order of finish
SEC champion: Florida (36), Georgia (18), Auburn (13), LSU (1), Tennessee (1), Ole Miss (1)
Eastern Division
1-Florida (45)-98
2-Georgia (23)-121
3-Tennessee (2)-222
4-South Carolina-266
5-Kentucky-356
6-Vanderbilt-407
Western Division
1-Auburn (48)-99
2-LSU (21)-120
3-Alabama-228
4-Mississippi State-299
5-Ole Miss (1)-338
6-Arkansas-386
first place votes in parentheses
The biggest question, or maybe the only question, about Auburn is who will be the starting quarterback on Aug. 30 when the Tigers host Louisiana-Monroe. Coach Tommy Tuberville on Friday provided some insight.
“If it was today, it would be Kodi Burns,” Tuberville said. “We have Chris Todd that went through spring practice about 80 percent. He really wasn’t a hundred percent in terms of injuries. He’s ready to go now; I think we’re going to have a lot of competition going into two-a-days.”
Last year’s quarterback, Brandon Cox, is gone, but the position might be more up in the air because the Tigers will be running a new system: first-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s no-huddle spread instead of departed playcaller Al Borges’ West Coast attack.
Auburn center Jason Bosley said he thinks the offense will succeed no matter who he’s snapping the ball to.
“I can see a big difference [with the new offense],” he said. “It is fast-paced now, which is a complete 180-degree turnaround.”
Burns is the runner. Tuberville said he is someone capable of carrying the football as many as 15 times a game. Todd is more of a passer and has more experience in Franklin’s system.
Tuberville said he plans to use both quarterbacks but that he wants to have one “true starter,” a player that “knows he’s going to get the reps with the No. 1 team and the guy that all of us can look up to as the guy that, hey, if we need a touchdown in the end, he’s the guy we’re going to count on getting it done.”