QB- Edge to Auburn. JC has a wealth of talent, and the experience and confidence now to use it. Will he have a break-out game? Against USC I doubt it, but all he has to be is solid. Leinart will perform better than many expect, but he will have a crucial turnover or two.
RB- AU. Not even worth discussion. I wouldn't rate any team ahead of AU at RB.
FB- AU easily now that USC's starter Hancock is hurt. Bigger loss for them than many realize too. He was having a great spring and was a real weapon catching the ball out of the backfield. Basically eliminates a third down crutch for Leinart.
WR- USC. Williams and Colbert we know, but Smith and Wyatt are also dangerous. Best receiving corps AU will see all year, although UGA has some weapons too. Courtney Taylor is going to be big time, but it is his first collegiate game. Devin and Ben have ability, but are anything but consistent. A little worried here. Jeris has had a good spring and hopefully can carry that over. WRs have to make plays, and I don't mean spectaculay plays. Just catch the freakin' ball.
OL- Push. I like AU's starters more, but USC has more depth. Justice and McNeil are maybe the two best sophomore O-linemen in the country. USC is dinged up though. A starting center, tackle, and guard are all nursing injuries. Any wonder Petey Carroll wouldn't suspend Justice?
TE- AU. Wallace and Mix will stretch the field, and with Mix's improved blocking AU has four guys that can be an extra blocker (including Ross and Bennett). USC's best TE is out (Holmes), but his back-up is very solid in Byrd.
DL- AU by a little. That's right. AU over "The Thing". I actually think USC's starters have an edge, but not by as much as they have you believe. Udeze is the best defensive lineman I think AU will see all year, and he will be a force. However, the rest of them are very good, but nothing better than AU saw last year against PSU or UGA (and maybe worse). Cody is overrated. The man has all the tools, but is coming off a major injury, and simply does not make as many plays as he should. AU's depth is also more experienced with guys like Eddins, Jackson, Dickens, and Murphy. These are two great D-lines, and there is very little separating them. Oh, except about 20 pounds per man across the line. USC is small, and this time they are not using their speed against Ryan Hockett and 340 pound Reko at tackle.
LB- AU. AU has a great starting trio that are playmakers, can fly, and lay the lumber. Up there with Miami and OU as best starting LBs in the country. USC's starters are quick, if undersized. They make a lot of plays, and it will be interesting to see if they can neutralize Mix. AU's depth has detriorated with attrition, but now they are just above average with LB depth, instead of superb.
DBs- Big edge USC. They have four very good corners that concern me a great deal. They also have a safety in Leach that performed very well for USC when Troy P. was hurt last year, and he is a real ball hawk. Bing is a physical presence at safety, but is inexperienced and very aggressive. AU has two solid corners, and then a whole lot of concern. There are guys that can get the job done back there, but can they? Especially against these WRs? I don't know, and this scares me.
Kicking game- Slight edge USC. Both teams are nervous about their inexperience at kicker, but USC does have a quality, experienced punter in Malone, although he is inconsistent. I am most intrigued about how good AU's return game will be. AU now has the personnel back there to have a good return game, so now we find out if it was the returners or the schemes that led to such a poor return game last year.
Overall- Edge to AU. The fact is USC is going to be putting the ball into the hands of four unproven players A LOT in Leinart, Smith, Bush, and Dennis. Against AU's D that should mean turnovers. However, AU could be susceptible to the big play against the USC WRs and in the running game if the safeties don't cover the running lanes.
I am very glad this series ends with USC this year. They are recruiting like I dream Auburn could, and contrary to what some may think, this is not your "LSU" recruiting where they only look good on paper. These kids had offers from all the big boys and do not appear to be paper tigers by any stretch. They are doing on the west coast what UGA is doing here, except they are nabbing players from a larger area and have better coaches.
