SEC Football 2008: Auburn

Auburn quarterback Kodi Burns (18) holds up his arms after scoring a touchdown in overtime to give Auburn a 23-20 win over Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl football game Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, in Atlanta. Montez Billings is at right.

If you're looking for the big difference with Auburn this fall, let center Jason Bosley fill you in.

"We used to run them down," he said. "Now it is wear them out."

A major offensive overhaul from a power run game to the spread brings a new tempo and plenty of excitement to Auburn this year.

Former Troy offensive coordinator Tony Franklin installed a basic version of Auburn's offense before the Chick-fil-A Bowl in December with solid results.

And while the Tigers will play multiple quarterbacks, Tuberville said he'll settle on a starter about two weeks into fall camp.

"In this offense, you have to have more than one quarterback," Tuberville said. "But I want one quarterback as our starter, the guy that knows he's going to get the reps with the No 1 team and the guy that, hey, if we need a touchdown in the end, he's that guy we're going to count on getting it done."

If the season began today Kodi Burns, a talented runner, would be the starter, although Chris Todd - who worked with Franklin in high school - will make a push.

Franklin's version of the spread, and the version Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville wanted, isn't the same as the one Florida rode to a national championship.

The Tigers have been a running team, foremost, and Tuberville said Thursday during SEC Media Days that won't change. It'll just be a no-huddle, hurry-up offense with one tailback and a whole lot of skill players.

"We will still run the football," Tuberville said. "You got to be able to run it to win. It will be fun to watch."

It's been fun for the Tigers.

Tuberville said players are smiling during practice.

It's also paid dividends on the recruiting trail, where the Tigers have picked up 20 commitments.

"I've never had 20 commitments in my life, even when I was at the University of Miami (as an assistant)," Tuberville said. "A lot of it's due to the offense we've gone to and the ability to recruit a lot more skilled players."

While the buzz surrounding Auburn has been about the offense, its defense is more than capable again this season.

Seven starters return, including defensive end Sen'Derrick Marks and all three linebackers under new coordinator Paul Rhoads.

And that defense should get a little more help from the offense.

Aside from a 35-7 victory over Vanderbilt, Auburn didn't score more than 24 points in an SEC game last season.

The Tigers also struggled to control the ball at times, something that could change with its new scheme.

"I was looking for a way to help this football team score a few more points on the average, help the defense," Tuberville said.

And, of course, help the Tigers.

Under Tuberville's watch, the Tigers have stocked the NFL with running backs. But the decision to veer away from a two-back power-running game to the spread comes with the hope that Auburn can get back to the top of the SEC after two years without a championship.

"You know, if we wanted to consistently say, 'OK okay, we're going to stay with winning eight, nine games, sometimes maybe win 10,' I think we could have stayed with the two-back offense.

"I think this offense gives you an opportunity for a lot of variables to improve on."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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