Write On Sports LLC - "Tigers Face Unknown in Buffalo" by Frank Sita

Tigers Face Unknown in Buffalo

2006-09-21 22:36:56 | By: Frank Sita

Being in the national spotlight is great for any team.

Auburn goes from hosting LSU in a number three versus number six battle to a non-conference clash with the Buffalo Bulls of the MAC.

“Buffalo is a team that we obviously don’t know a lot about. We’ve never played them before,” said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville. “They’re from the MAC (Mid-America Conference); we usually play someone from the MAC every few years. It’s usually a game where you get a lot of looks.

“Buffalo is a little different offensively; they run a lot of formations. They do run the football. They are pretty much balanced on offense. They have good running backs and they have a quarterback that has been there before.”

The visitors from New York feature sophomore quarterback Drew Willy, who had thrown for 576 yards on 59-of-97 completions. Terrance Breaux had 10 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown.

“Young players feel like, ‘This is Buffalo,’” said Auburn senior Quentin Groves. “Our seniors and our leaders have done a great job of saying, ‘We have to get better. We can’t have a letdown.’ They look for us for leadership, and we lead.”

Auburn’s defense, averaging 81.7 rushing yards allowed per game, will have to stop running back redshirt freshman James Starks, who has 160 yards in three games, and senior fullback Steven King, who has 100 yards on 31 carries.

“They have scored some points this year,” Tuberville added. “They have had two overtime games. You can tell they have been playing hard and doing things to try to make themselves better with a new head coach, Turner Gill.

“They look different than they did last year; we already looked at last year's film. Defensively, they are a little bit like us in that they run a four-man front. They fly around because they have a lot of speed on defense and it should be a little bit of a carryover of what we do to be able to work against ourselves to put the game plan in.

"Again, today was a good practice. It was probably a little better than I thought it would be, knowing that we are coming off of that big victory. We have good senior leadership and the guys are doing a good job of telling the younger players you have to go back out and get ready. Another week will be here before you know it. It's good to see the guys respond."

Auburn was physically abused last week against LSU with numerous players being on the walking wounded list this week.

"We are looking for consistency,” Tuberville said. “If you are going to win this conference, you have to set yourself apart on offense as well as defense. You can't lean on the defense every week or on the kicking game every week. As Al (Borges) and I talked immediately after the game, that's one that he owes Will Muschamp and the defensive guys because they gave us an opportunity to win that game.

"When you play a season, different people are going to step up each week. The offense needed the defense this week and there will be times that the defense will need the offense. Is there a concern? No, there is not a concern. We have the ability to be a good offensive team. I'd like to see us step out a little bit more the next few weeks.

Quarterback Brandon Cox sprained his knee, while tailback Kenny Irons has knee and shoulder injuries. But Tuberville said both will play.

“He is going to play. He is going to get out there and go,” Tuberville went on. “You would like to say you can play a lot of players, but we never approach a game like that. We want Brandon to go in and we are not a `rolling ball of butcher knives' right now on offense. So we have to get better at running, throwing and blocking; all of it.

“We are not going to be able to do what we would like to do if we don't get better on offense. You don't get better without practicing or playing. We want to go out and play a more balanced game this week. We want to be able to do some things that we haven't been able to do.

“But Buffalo will have something to say about that. We are approaching it as a game where we have to go out and get everyone ready to play and play hard-nosed football like we have been playing.”

Auburn’s football team resembled a M.A.S.H. unit coming out of Saturday’s 7-3 victory over LSU and has gotten better as the week has gone by. Patrick Lee, who took ill and didn’t play, has gone full speed all week. Jonathan Wilhite tweaked a hamstring and did not practice Sunday or Monday but Tuberville expects him back by the end of the week. Steve Gandy returns at linebacker, while Kevin Sears returns from a three-game suspension. Linebacker Tray Blackmon continues on suspension.

However Cole Bennett will be lost for 4-6 weeks because of a broken leg that required surgery and will be replaced in the starting lineup by freshman tight ends Tommy Trott and Gabe McKenzie.