Mr. Smith goes to Tuscaloosa? He should.

    While there are plenty of sterotypes that continually plague the perplexing state of Alabama, one stereotype holds largely true, we do love college football.  Consequently, the recruiting of players garners proably more attention than it should.  I don't really following recruting, but I do read what is easily available.  It appears that the Crimson Tide are having a solid class coming in next year, but there is one prized athlete still out there.  His name is Andre Smith from Huffman High School in Birmingham.  He is considered by most experts to be the top offensive lineman in the nation, and he is still considering his options.

    While auburn and Alabama do have a bitter rivalry, they interestingly enough don't often square off against one another in recruiting, but Smith's profile is too large and so the Tide and Tigers are going at it.  Well, Andre may want to consider the reports coming out of Mobile regarding the Senior Bowl, the high profile practices and games where college players scramble to impress NFL scouts.  It seems while Brodie Croyle, the beleagured quaterback for the Crimson Tide has greatly improved his standing, surprising many, Marcus McNeil, the all star offensive lineman from auburn, has gone the other way, falling off many scouts watch list.

    Now this is most interesting, because Marcus McNeil, according to scouts has the size, strength, and even the coveted speed.  But in the NFL, where the defensive ends and linebacker come off the ends with a vengance, technique is of utmost importance and this is where Mr. McNeil is faltering.  No one doubts his talent or attributes, but he is lacking in technique.  What is interesting to me about this is that techinque is about coaching.  You can't coach size or speed.  You may have some limited control of strength, but it is just that, limited.  But technique, well that my friend, is a different story.  Technique is about coaching.

    Apparently, Hugh Nall, auburn's offensive line coach, has failed to develop the proper technique in McNeil to allow him to excel in the NFL.  No doubt, Nall has done a excellent job with auburn's o-line, but he has done McNeil a disservice by not getting him ready for the next chapter in his life. If college is about preparation for a career, and since Andre Smith apparently has the intangibles already, he may want to think seriously about going to a place that doesn't nurture the tangible things of football.  auburn is obviously not the place.  Hope to see you in T-town, Andre.

               

Comments

[Keith]

Hey dude. Auburn needs to be capitalized. I felt insulted seeing Auburn with a lower case 'a'.

War Eagle!!!

[Mike]

In today's news - Carnell "Cadillac" Williams was named NFL rookie of the year. Wonder where he learned the "tangible things of football?"
"The clinched fist hinders perception," and "hatred - blinds by the fire it carries with it" (Nietzsche 1974, 173f. as quoted in Exclusion and Embrace, p. 216).
I wonder what Brodie Croyle thinks of Auburn's football program?

[sdc]

aubies are so predictable and easily goaded. They just can't help themselves. Poor auburn.