Auburn's 2006 edition is hard to get a handle on. How good is this team? That's a question that has puzzled pundits and fans alike all season. If you were hoping to get some clarity Saturday, well you're out of luck. The Tigers win over Tulane was both solid and filled with holes.
Auburn's defense continued its roller-coaster ride against the Green Wave, giving up 389 yards of offense. That's total tops what they gave up against LSU, Arkansas and Florida. Call it a letdown, but championship teams don't give up that many yards to two-win teams. How can a defense look so good against LSU and Florida and then lay an egg on homecoming?
Unfortunately, sooner or later this unbalanced play will catch up with them. If Auburn really is a national championship contender, then how do they compare to the great Tiger teams of the past? Tommy Tuberville says it and most coaches preach it; to be a champion you have to get better every week. Compared to the 2004 squad, well, there is no comparison. The Tigers defense doesn't get better every week. It plays when it needs to - and sometimes it doesn't.
Don't get me wrong. There were some positives against Tulane. Forcing three turnovers and only allowing 13 points against a decent offense is to be commended. But Auburn allowed them to move the ball much too freely between the red zones.
There are a lot more positives on the offensive side of the ball. Brandon Cox is getting back into 2005 form and it couldn't come at a better time. His 212 yards of passing yesterday was a breath of fresh air. Auburn's 432 total yards was as solid a performance as we've seen all season.
And what can you say about Ben Tate? He is going to be something special. I'll be one of the first to say it, he's going to be better than Kenny Irons. He's cut out of the mold of Carnell Williams and Brent Fullwood - except he's a more durable and harder runner. But technique wise, he's as gifted as any we've had with the exception of that guy from Bessemer.
Injuries could be a big factor for the Auburn offense heading to Oxford next Saturday. The offensive line suffered a blow it couldn't afford. Center Jason Bosley left the game with a knee injury. You will remember that starting center Joe Cope went down a few weeks back and is not close to returning. Auburn coaches aren't optimistic about him returning anytime soon.
This has caused a ripple affect across the offensive line, with Jonathan Palmer moving over to center. Expect offensive coordinator Al Borges to do some major shifting on the line this week. Running back Brad Lester also left the game, suffering a pulled groin in the first half. With Irons and Carl Stewart already out with injuries, the running back rotation is thin. That caused Tate to give up any hope of a red-shirt season.
With Ole Miss being pounded by Arkansas yesterday and Arkansas State on the calendar in two weeks, the schedule should give Auburn an opportunity to get healthy for its stretch run with Georgia and Alabama. Hopefully the offense will continue to expand the play book and get more consistent.
Let's hope that defensive coordinator Will Muschamp finds a way to get his guys to play at the level of a national championship contender every week - not just during big conference games. It's imperative that he do so.
If you saw any of the Alabama game yesterday, you know that Mike Shula's group is not bad. It's going to be a tall task to go into Bryant-Denny and win. It's still a month away but you can't help but look ahead. Every game from here on out is big - even Arkansas State.
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