Preseason expectations can be a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, pre-season hype can get a football team national attention, with possible conference and national championships on the horizon. But on the other side of the coin, those same expectations can put so much pressure on a team and build it up so much, a team can not come anywhere close to meeting them.
Just ask Auburn. The Tigers, who were a consensus Top 10 choice in almost every poll and were ranked No. 1 overall by the Sporting News, lost their first two games by a combined score of 40-3 to the University of Southern California and Georgia Tech.
“We’ve seen the polls and what everyone is saying,” said quarterback Jason Campbell before the season. “Most importantly we just have to keep a level head and take things one game at a time. We have to practice just like everyone else. How good you really are is proven on the field.”
Auburn was dominated in its first two games, and the running game has been downright ugly.
The Tigers averaged 41.5 total rushing yards in its first two games, including a diminutive 1.1 yards-per-carry. Preseason Southeastern Conference selection Carnell Williams compiled 90 yards on 25 attempts in the first two contests.
The common theme for opposing defenses seems to be to stack the line and make quarterback Jason Campbell beat them through the air. Campbell has gone 32-for59 for 311 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Campbell has been hounded constantly by the opposing defenses pass rush.
“It’s hard to assess him when he’s got people hanging all over him,” said Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville. “He’s going to have to get rid of the ball. “We’ve had way too many sacks and we’ve had more sacks in two games than we had in half the season last year.”
Defensively, Auburn is led by linebackers Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas. Dansby is 6-foot-5, 235 pounds while Thomas is 6-foot-4, 241 pounds. The duo wreaked havoc on opposing defenses last year, totaling 166 tackles.
“We haven’t scored a touchdown in eight quarters, and that might be a record,” Tuberville said after the Georgia Tech game. “We’re going to find the answers, but if we’re going to do that, we’d better start this week.”
Tuberville was speaking of the Tigers’ SEC opener against Vanderbilt, where Auburn will be looking for its first touchdown and win. If not, Tuberville and company could be on the proverbial hot seat.