Christian Goeckel

Auburn Preview

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers enter 2017 in an interesting position.

With the transfer signing of quarterback Jarrett Stidham and the return of the SEC’s leading rusher, Kamryn Pettway, the Tiger’s are optimistic they can revive their offense.

On defense, the Tigers face the unenviable task of replacing 3rd round pick, Montravious Adams and 4th round pick, Carl Lawson. Tray Matthews should step in as the emotional and vocal leader of the unit, but the jury is still out on if this defense can withstand a pretty brutal gauntlet of opposing offenses.

Just like with any team, Auburn has plenty of question marks. Do they have enough answers to stand up to LSU and Alabama?

Who’s coming back?

Offense: Auburn returns nine starters on offense this year, including the dynamic running back tandem of Kam Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. The duo combined for an outstanding 2,119 yards on the ground in 2016. Those numbers should only improve if new QB Jarrett Stidham can open up the field with the deep passing game.

Gone is leading receiver, Tony Stevens. I say “leading receiver” in the most apathetic way possible, as Stevens only accumulated 487 yards through the air and the next best was over a hundred yards behind him.

To say the passing game was weak last year would be like saying Nick Saban takes his football serious. Rising sophomores Darius Slayton and Kyle Davis will be leaned upon heavily, but showed promise last year.

The line is the best unit on the team. Redshirt Senior Darius James is the corner stone of a group made up completely of upper classmen. At least two of these guys will be picked in the first three rounds next year, and will be paving the way on the Flats all season.

Defense: On defense, Auburn returns seven starters. Adams and Lawson are gone, and that can’t be understated. Pass rush is a major question, but Auburn can take solace in the fact that it’s secondary and linebacking corps are rock solid.

Senior Tre’ Williams returns at inside linebacker to lead a group that could be the most underrated in the conference.

In the secondary, Seniors Tray Matthews and Stephon Roberts will be shutting down quarterbacks and stuffing running backs with reckless abandon.

If the secondary can hold up long enough for the pass rush to find its’ stride, this could be a very good bunch.

Biggest thing that has to happen to have a great season? Gus Malzahn and Chip Lindsey find a groove: Make no mistake, this is still Gus Malzahn’s offense, but Chip Lindsey was brought in from Arizona State to open up the passing game and bring it back from the laughing stock it has been since Nick Marshall left.

If the brilliance of Gus’ running attack can blend with Lindsey’s aerial attack, Auburn’s offense could be elite.

Biggest thing that could spell disaster for Auburn? Stidham isn’t the savior: Jarrett Stidham is in an unenviable position.

Not since the days of Cam Newton has a quarterback had as much preseason pressure thrusted upon him on the Flats as Stidham has.

The worst thing that could happen to Auburn is if he’s just… ok. If Stidham doesn’t come out and light it up, Malzahn might regress to his old habit and hop back on the quarterback carousel. If this happens, prepare for another seven or eight win season on the Flats.

Expect Stidham to be somewhere in the middle, between Messiah and bust. The Tigers have two great backs to lean on, and will be solid on defense.

A bunch of things have to fall their way to make it to Atlanta, and don’t count on them happening. This will be a good season for Auburn fans, but probably not the great one they’re getting their hopes up for.

 

Prediction: 8 – 4        Outback Bowl

Red Terror’s Pitchfork Games

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

If you asked any coach they’d tell you every game is a must win. If I was being completely literal I’d tell you only region and playoff games are must wins.

But every team has games on their schedule that hold more meaning than just the win and loss columns; games that can swing the entire momentum of your season. This is a look at the three games that can be the difference between another exceptional season for Glynn or a mediocre one.

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Smart Recruiting

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

As our access to recruiting information continues to grow, so does our tendency to overreact. A lot of dawg fans are worried about the lack of action in Georgia’s 2018 class.

With only seven commits thus far, only one of which is in the top 300, the worry is building. Well Georgia fans, take a deep breath and relax. You know who else has started off slow? Alabama and the perennial number one ranked recruiting class.

Top recruits typically like to wait until their season at least kicks off, so the lack of movement isn’t anything to be concerned by.

The signing of the nation’s number one back, Zamir White, was a huge get for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs and should do a ton to quell the tide of negativity.

White is just the start of what should be another great class for Georgia. Today we take a look at the top 5 dream prospects for this year’s class.

Justin Fields (Dual #1) / Matt Corral (Pro #1): Georgia hasn’t had consistent quarterback play since the final days of Aaron Murray. Kirby Smart is doing his best to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

With the signings of Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm in back-to-back years, Georgia is set at the position for the next four years, but becoming complacent in recruiting during those years can be devastating.

With the signing or either Fields or Corral, Georgia’s QB depth chart would become elite. Fields represents the higher rated prospect with his versatility and maturity. While Corral is more of what UGA traditionally sees as their style of quarterback. Either one would put Georgia in a great spot heading into the future.

Projection: Fields – Fla St 50%, UF 30%, UGA 20%

Corral- UGA 90%, UF 10%

Jamaree Salyer (OG #1) : The offensive line was a huge problem for Georgia in 2016. Lack of depth and experience cost Georgia greatly.

The dawgs did a great job of addressing the problems in the 2017 class with signings like Isaiah Wilson and Andrew Thomas. Salyer would be another top notch offensive lineman to add to a unit that could become UGA’s strength with Coach Sam Pittman at the helm.

Projection: UGA 80%, Clemson 20%

Tyreke Johnson (S #2) : The “No Fly Zone” between the hedges is well in effect. Senior Dominick Sanders is a ball hawk with 12 career interceptions. Incoming freshmen Richard LeCounte and DeAngelo Gibbs should be able to fill the void Sander will leave after this year, but the SEC is all about depth.

Tyreke Johnson is just the guy to add to what could be a truly dominant secondary. He is big at 6’1 190 and would be a great fit at the strong safety spot, stepping up to the line or dropping back into coverage. His range is what makes him a must have safety.

Projection: UGA 70%, Fla St 20%, UF 10%

Kearis Jackson (WR #21) : It’s no secret that Georgia’s passing game has struggled these past few years and a good amount of the blame falls on the quarterback position. However, not all the blame can be placed on the guys under center. They need someone to throw to after all.

There hasn’t been a real go to wide out in Athens since Chris Conley. Kearis Jackson wants to be that dude. A hard UGA lean, Jackson has a build like Anquan Boldin and the ability to match. He can play the X,Y, or Z spot from day one.

Projection: UGA 100%, others need not apply.

James Cook (RB #3) : Can you say thunder and lightning? If Cook and Zamir White were both to commit to Georgia, the dawgs would have a future backfield comparable to the current Michel/Chubb combo.

A firm Florida State commit, Cook shocked everyone last week when he backed out of his commitment to the Noles. Georgia has emerged as the favorite. Need a player comparison for his style of play?

Look no further than his older brother, Dalvin Cook. Yeah, the guy who torched college football for three years and was the first round pick of the Vikings. If Georgia was able to complete the flip it would signal the arrival of Kirby Smart as the nation’s best recruiter not named Nick Saban.

Projection: UGA 60%, Fla State 20%, Bama 20%    

Who Is Zamir White?

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The eyes of the college football world were glued to their collective phone screens this past Tuesday. Multiple Facebook Live streams showed a podium centered in the cafeteria of Scotland High in Laurinburg, North Carolina.

A crowd, made up of coaches, teachers, family, and ever present media members gathered near the podium. Zamir White, the nation’s number one back was set to announce where he would be spending his college years. Dressed in a black suit, with a small red boutonniere attached to his left lapel, White waited patiently for his moment.

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Who is Brooks Koepka

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

A familiar presence was absent from the events of this year’s U.S. Open. A towering figure had left us late last year. For the first time in 64 years, Arnold Palmer would not be around for the American championship.

No doubt Palmer, in his prime, would’ve been ecstatic to take on the long, open course of Erin Hills. Palmer’s hulking physique and fierce ball striking perfect for the wide open holes.

Instead, the honor fell on the similarly large shoulders of Brooks Koepka. The Florida native, with ties to western Pennsylvania like Palmer, stoically took on the challenge of a course that was featured by the U.S. Open for the first time.

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Ya’ll From Around Here?

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Father’s Day is right around the corner and as we come into the weekend another yearly tradition approaches. Dad and/or grandpa telling us to leave him alone, the U.S. Open is on.

Golf? Who watches golf? Believe it or not, a lot of us do. There’s nothing quite like the state of nirvana you slip into after eating a huge lunch and sinking into the couch, watching pro’s hit shots you dream of hitting. It’s hours of relaxation, sprinkled with moments of heart stopping majesty. And Dad deserves that on his day right?

Now I get it, why would you want to watch that? It’s not like bowl season or march madness, where you have betting pools going on. It can be a little tedious watching guys you’ve never even heard of. “Where’s Tiger?” “Wait, Phil isn’t playing because of his daughter’s graduation?” All valid points, but if you can find a couple guys that you have vested interest in watching, it changes everything. So, to help you find those guys, here’s a list of a bunch of dudes with ties to the area. Who doesn’t love pulling for the hometown guy?

Harris English: Harris is about as hometown as it gets. The Valdosta resident is a UGA grad and apparently loved Frat beach so much that he now calls St. Simons home. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2016 T-37

Zach Johnson: This former Masters and Open champion currently resides on St. Simons, and trains at the Sea Island Golf Performance Center. Johnson is one of the most respected men on tour, and is a wonderful ambassador for the Golden Isles. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2016 T-8

Kevin Kisner: Another St. Simons resident and another Dawg. Kisner has been one of the most consistent players on Tour, with his name seemingly stuck on the leaderboards. The winner of two events on Tour, Kevin also trains at the Sea Island Golf Performance Center. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2015 T-12

Matt Kuchar: KUUUUUUUCHHHH! Matt Kuchar is a fan favorite on tour, ever since he played as an amateur at the Masters twice while at Georgia Tech. A Sea Island resident, Kuchar has eight career top 10 finishes in Majors, and has been a member of the last 4 Ryder Cup teams. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2010 T-10

Patrick Reed: Reed, an Augusta State grad, is one of the fastest rising stars in the game. In just his sixth year on tour, Reed has put together 5 wins to go along with 2 Ryder Cup appearances. His aggressive play and fiery attitude has made him a great player to watch. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2015 T-14

Brandt Snedeker: The golden locks of Brandt Snedeker have become a familiar site on Tour. To date, Brandt has 8 wins on tour, and has 8 top 10 finishes in Majors. He is a St Simons resident and trains at the Sea Island Golf Performance Center. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2015 8th

Bubba Watson: Bubba Watson is just plain fun to watch play. The two-time Masters champion consistently crushes the ball over 315 yards, and has no problem playing a hook out of the woods. The former Dawg is married to another UGA alum, Angie Watson, who played Basketball for Georgia. Highest U.S. Open Finish: 2007 T-5

Davis Love IV: No, that’s not a typo. Davis Love III’s oldest son, Dru (short for quadruple) will be making his U.S. Open debut. The 6’5 Love won’t be doing it alone though. His father, with his 21 tour victories, will be caddying for him this weekend. That’s right, the two time Ryder cup captain and the man many credit for St. Simons golf being where it is will be toting his son’s bag all over Erin Hills. This has to be the best father-son moment in golf since Jack Nicklaus’ Masters win in ‘86.

So, don’t give dad a hard time on Sunday. Sit down and join him. Let him tell you all the stories I just did and all the ones you’ve heard a million times. It’ll be the best part of his day.

 

Rookie Fantasy Draft

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

If you’re like me, you take your fantasy team very seriously. And if you’re very much like me, you need all the help you can get. It’s almost the time of year where the fantasy magazines will start rolling off the press, and I will have my nose in all of them.

One of the things I always look to is the new crop of players entering the league. Guys like Zeke Elliot can step right off the college gridiron and make your team an immediate contender.

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Georgia Tech Preview

By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Before anyone loses their mind, yes, we know Tech won’t be representing the East this year in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

They will however have a chance to improve their record against the east to 4-0 when they face Tennessee to kick off the season in that very same stadium on September 4th.

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