Big Man

I was sorta kidding about this the other day, but I guess I was right after all:

Nose guard John Jenkins is practicing in jersey No. 66. Georgia says it does not have a No. 6 jersey that fits the 6-3, 351-pounder. It did when the team practiced without shoulder pads, but with them on he’s got to wear 66. A bigger No. 6 jersey is on the way.

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How green was my football team.

The Malik Jackson story I linked to in this morning’s buffet got me to thinking about it, but this statement from Barrett Sallee’s 2011 SEC predictions – “Auburn’s schedule is tough; but don’t be surprised to see the Tigers spring and upset or two as the young players develop” – absolutely had me reaching for my Phil Steele’s Preview.

Steele compiles an experience chart which grades teams on returning seniors in the two deep, returning lettermen, returning yards and tackles and returning offensive line starts.  And while you don’t want to read too much into it (Vanderbilt is the SEC’s most experienced team, according to Steele, but I don’t think anyone’s predicting an SEC East title is in the cards for Vandy this season), I don’t think you can brush it aside completely, either.

Per Steele, Auburn is the least experienced team in all of D-1 this season.

In the conference, it’s not even a close call.  Auburn has fewer returning senior starters than any other SEC school, the lowest percentage of returning lettermen, the second lowest percentage of returning yards (good luck, Kentucky) and the lowest percentage of returning tackles.  Oh, and the Tigers’ offensive line boasts a total of 15 career starts (the second lowest is Florida’s 29; Alabama’s line returns 90 career starts).

I know Malzahn’s a terrific coach – as Barrett notes, if he can make a functional quarterback out of Chris Todd, he’ll make something out of Auburn’s group this season – and I know Auburn has recruited well these past two seasons, but still, it’s not like the SEC isn’t chock full of terrific coaches and great recruiting classes.  That’s a helluva hole Chizik finds himself trying to dig out of this season, especially when you consider it’s not just wide but deep with the departures of Newton and Fairley.

Sunday morning buffet

Dig in, people.

• The Dawgs want to fix last season’s fourth quarter woes.
• Who’da thunk the Gators would ever play the overlooked-as-motivation card?
• Here’s another reason not to like the Logan Gray, designated fair catch artist, move.
• We know the Vol defense is thin.  How thin?  With Malik Jackson’s injury, Tennessee doesn’t have a single returning starter from last year’s front seven suiting up right now.
• Don’t expect to see Kwame Geathers moving to a 3-4 end slot early on (sensible, if you ask me).  But note that nobody’s saying anything about who plays tackle when Grantham shifts to a 4-2-5 nickel package.
• Here are some Boise State practice notes.
• Sometimes, it’s worth remembering this:  “Georgia’s Mark Richt is one of only seven coaches in major college football history to rack up 90 victories in his first nine seasons, sharing company with those as recent as Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops and as distant as Amos Alonzo Stagg.”

Dawg porn, day the third

Yesterday’s practice slide show is here.  It’s heavy on backs and receivers.

I still can’t get over how big Richard Samuel looks.