This year's Iron Bowl marked the last SEC game for a number of seniors on both teams. The Auburn seniors got a chance to celebrate at home after jumping on a defense that started slow and taking advantage of a Bama offensive line that was, frankly, offensive. It was also a chance to see an Auburn team that looks ready to challenge for the SEC title again in 2006 and a Bama team that could take a big step back next year.

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College: Alabama
Conference: Southeastern
Columnist: Jeff West

ALABAMA PROSPECTS:

Mark Anderson #47 605.0 253 4.79 DE 2006 - Anderson was, for the most part, neutralized by Marcus McNeill most of the night. He was able get to the QB on a stunt and made a couple tackles when the ball-carrier fell right into his lap, but he wasn't able to assert himself against one of the best tackles in the league. Anderson's play has been spotty this year, but he still carries a second-day grade based on his size and athleticism. (NEGATIVE)

Brodie Croyle #12 603.0 205 4.72 QB 2006 - As much as I was lauding Croyle earlier in the year, he took a big step back in the second half of the season. Some of that is his lack of ability to create on his own. A lot of it can be directly attributed to the failings of an inexperienced offensive line. Croyle was sacked 11 (yes, you read that right) times by Auburn. He was hurried 19 times and knocked down 14 times. Croyle rarely had time to even get his first read as he was getting pressure up the middle and off the edges. He had nowhere to go, but kept getting up and trying again. He managed to complete more than half his passes, but they were all quick hitters. Croyle will need to hope that he can get Closner back for the Bowl game or at least get a chance to showcase some skills behind an experienced offensive line in an all-star game. (SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE)

Roman Harper #41 601.0 197 4.54 S 2006 - Roman Harper was very active in the game, collecting 8 tackles including a couple stops behind the line. He started slowly, getting a personal foul for roughing the passer on a blitz which was not at all indicative of the intelligent play we've seen from him all season. But he quickly settled down and was effective, both in pass coverage, run-stopping, and blitzing from the edge. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)

Anthony Madison #9 509.0 180 4.47 CB 2006 - Anthony Madison played an outstanding game for Bama. Auburn tried to take advantage of his lack of height on a few occasions as the Auburn receivers are all over 6 feet tall and Madison might be 5' 8" on a good day. But Madison provided tight coverage and gave the QB no room to squeeze a pass in. He showed good reactions and ball skills once the ball was on the way. Madison also excels in run support. He is able to pick through the trash and avoid blockers in order to get to the ball-carrier. He isn't always a form tackler, but he'll grab and hold on for dear life, preventing the ball-carrier from going anywhere before help arrives. (VERY POSITIVE)

Charlie Peprah #26 511.0 195 4.52 S 2006 - Peprah played one of the better games I've seen from him this season. Against the run, he would willingly take on the lead blocker and force the play towards the sideline when the blocker was unable to take advantage of Peprah. Peprah also showed good cover skills on a few occasions. Peprah was also making smart plays--seeing that a ball-carrier was held up by another defender, Peprah went right after the ball, causing a key fumble. (POSITIVE)

Fred Roach #8 602.0 240 4.74 LB 2006 - Roach was a man on a mission against Auburn. He was blowing up plays and shooting gaps and filling holes and running plays down from behind... Roach led the Tide in tackles and added a couple for loss. He really showed well against the run, quickly filling holes and making big hits. He caused what could have been a very important fumble (which he also recovered) at the goal line on Auburn's second touchdown. (The play was reviewed but it was difficult to tell if the runner got the ball to the goal line or not - the play stood as a TD.) Roach seemed a little too geared up at times, as he fell victim to the misdirection Auburn was running on a few occasions. (POSITIVE)

DeMeco Ryans #35 602.0 232 4.65 LB 2006 - Ryans played another solid game. Auburn game-planned against him (allowing Roach to excel) by sending an extra blocker his direction or by running the away from him altogether (which they did most of the night). Ryans was still able to get after the QB from the edge and forced a couple bad passes. As a run-stopper, he was very active, pursuing to the other side of the field and making some plays on the opposite sideline. Ryans, too, fell victim to misdirection a few times in his eagerness to get to the ball. (POSITIVE)

LeRon McClain #33 601.0 260 N/A FB 2007 - McClain never saw a carry or a pass in this game and had his hands full trying to help stop the flood of defenders pouring into the backfield. McClain made some very nice blocks when leading for Darby on outside runs. He was able to engage with a defender and seal him off, or cut him and take him off his feet and out of the play. When called on to help block McClover, he did a solid job of keeping McClover off the QB. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)

J.B. Closner #74 604.0 290 5.20 C 2006 - DNP - Injured. (I'm beginning to get a better appreciation of Closner now that he's out of the lineup. The rest of the offensive line, inexperienced as they are, played well when Closner was at the pivot, but has been horrendous in his absence. I'd say his true value to the team is becoming more and more evident.)

Kenneth Darby #34 5110.0 210 N/A HB 2007 - Darby had very little success running inside, as Auburn was sending five and six defenders into the line quite frequently. Darby really excels when he has a little space to work with, as making guys miss is his game. When he was able to run wide, he could set up blockers and create on his own. He really showed himself as an emotional leader for the offense in this game. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)

Others to watch:
Ramzee Robinson (Junior CB) - Robinson will likely be the leader of the secondary next season, but he really needs to improve as he was consistently picked on by Auburn. He's unable to maintain cover in the press and isn't quick enough to react in a zone.

Wallace Gilberry (Sophomore DE) - Gilberry stepped up his play a bit and showed very well against a solid Troy Reddick. He was pushed around some in the running game, as Reddick out-muscled him most of the time, but Gilberry was able to use his speed to get into the backfield and make some plays when Auburn tried to block him with a TE. Some more time in the weight room and Gilberry will be a top-tier DE before long.

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College: Auburn
Conference: Southeastern
Columnist: Jeff West

AUBURN PROSPECTS:

Courtney Taylor #86 602.0 204 4.53 WR 2007 - Taylor has been fighting a high ankle sprain all year and has been limited. He's starting to get healthy now and it is showing in his play. He only had a couple catches, but they were important ones. He showed that he is a physical player and can make a tough catch in traffic. He also was a very effective blocker downfield. If Taylor is able to stay healthy in 2006, he and QB Brandon Cox could be a very powerful duo. (POSITIVE)

Antarrious Williams #31 511.0 208 4.52 LB 2006 - Williams was all over the field as the Will backer for Auburn. He showed excellent speed and good skills that will translate well to a strong safety position at the next level. He covered receivers (not just tight ends and backs) well, showing good speed and understanding of the routes. Williams also was a big-hitting run-stopper. (POSITIVE)

Devin Aromashodu #1 602.0 202 4.47 WR 2006 - Aromashodu was not much of a presence in the game. He had one reception (which, quite frankly, I don't even remember now). He returned a couple kicks, fumbling one and recovering it just before getting tackled inside his own five-yard line. Aromashodu really needed to step up an play to his potential this year, and he didn't. He's still a possible draft pick because of his size and speed, but he hurt his chances with lack of production. (NEGATIVE)

David Irons #4 600.0 195 4.45 CB 2006 - Irons really played a fantastic game against Bama. He started slow in 2005, but has really come on in the latter parts of the season. He has excellent size and is a real asset in run defense. He diagnoses the play quickly and flies to the ball. In pass coverage, he excelled as well. He really is able to jam the receiver in press coverage and then stay right on the receiver's hips, using long arms to knock balls away even when the receiver is between Irons and the QB. I think Irons really is helping his draft status. (VERY POSTIVE)

Tommy Jackson #58 601.0 302 5.16 DT 2006 - TJ went from big, immobile run-stuffer to pass-rusher extraordinaire with two sacks against Bama. He completely overmatched the inexperienced Britt at center, showing a good quick jump to get by Britt or a powerful bull rush to disrupt the play in the backfield before it had a chance to get started. He also took on the guards and made them look bad as well. Bama was completely unable to make anything happen inside with the running game, and most of it was because of Jackson taking up (and getting penetration on) two blockers at a time. (VERY POSITIVE)

Marcus McNeill #73 609.0 337 5.28 OT 2006 - McNeill had a decent game. In pass coverage, he was able to use his arms to get to Anderson and then his strength to keep him out of the play. He also handled stunts well, recognizing his assignments and completing them. The running game tended to go to the right, away from McNeill, and McNeill didn't have the speed to get out onto the LBs. Generally he did nothing except crash the interior defenders who were already locked up by an interior O-lineman. On one running play up the middle, McNeill got a nice block on an interior lineman (I think it was Clark) and opened a good hole for the runner to get past the defender. However, McNeill gave up on the block too early, Clark disengaged and was able to get the runner from behind when he encountered traffic at the second level. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)

Anthony Mix #9 605.0 248 4.65 WR 2006 - Mix appeared to be the most popular target for Cox against Bama. At 6' 5", he's hard to miss, although Cox got hurried and overthrew him a few times. Mix was able to get open in the middle and, on one play, slipped a couple tackles and showed some nice speed to get positive YAC. Mix is an intriguing second-day prospect as a tweener WR/TE. He's a good blocker downfield, so it might make sense for him to put on another 20 pounds of muscle so he can stand up at the point of attack as a TE in the NFL. (POSITIVE)

Ben Obomanu #2 601.0 198 4.45 WR 2006 - Obomanu started the scoring quickly when he ran a fantastic route, lost his defender and found an opening for a 7-yard TD reception. On the next series, Obomanu took a reverse handoff and set up blockers, shook defenders with good moves, and outran everyone en route to a 45-yard TD run. After that, he was quiet the rest of the night. Obomanu will end up in someone's camp next summer, either as a late draft selection or a FA signing. (POSITIVE)

Troy Reddick #66 605.0 335 5.46 OT 2006 - Reddick played an outstanding game. The team ran behind him most of the night and was able to pick up yards as he sealed off the right side of the line. When he had taken someone out of the play, he wouldn't stand around and watch, he'd immediately look for someone else to block. Reddick also moved relatively well when pulling. He does still need to work on his lower-body strength as a much smaller Wallace Gilberry was able to bull rush him right back into the QB on at least one occasion (although the QB still got the pass off and completed it). He'll be a fantastic guard at the next level with his size and strength. I'm not sure he has the speed to be able to get out on the speed rushers, but he did look quicker against Auburn than he had all season. (VERY POSITIVE)

Cooper Wallace #8 603.0 265 4.78 TE 2006 - Wallace was a good blocker and was available for outlet passes when needed. He did get beat by the defenders who were able to overpower him at the point of attack (namely Wallace Gilberry). (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)

Travis Williams #51 601.0 209 4.49 LB 2006 - Williams plays Mike backer for the Tigers, but really projects to be a good Will backer in the NFL (or possibly even SS). Williams led all tacklers on both teams with 11 (9 solos) including a sack and a half. Williams has excellent speed and range, moving through blockers to get to the ball-carrier effectively. He is also able to drop into coverage and take out the seam route when the safeties are two-deep. He had one pass defended and got beat by a TE on a perfectly thrown ball on another occasion, but he read the play correctly in both instances. Williams also takes on runners and is a sure tackler. (POSITIVE)

Stanley McClover #75 603.0 250 N/A DE 2007 - McClover was probably the player of the game. Finally recovered from an ankle sprain that has nagged him all season, McClover was a disruptive presence off the edge. When he'd line up wide, he was able to get around the OT using his speed. When he'd line up closer to the tackles, he was able to use his strength to hold the point of attack and get off the blocks to make tackles on the RB. He was also able to make plays by running them down from behind. McClover finished with 3.5 sacks for the game. He should be a monster at DE next season for Auburn. (VERY POSITIVE)

Jake Slaughter #44 601.0 240 N/A FB 2006 - Slaughter played very well, opening a number of nice holes for the Tiger running game. On the Obomanu reverse for a TD, Slaughter was the lead blocker and got out off the edge and took out two players at the same time. Slaughter also displayed some (underutilized) receiving skills with a nice catch and run for a first down. He probably won't be drafted, but a team in need of FB help should take a long look at him when signing undrafted free agents. (POSITIVE)

Montavis Pitts #19 602.0 205 4.46 CB 2007 - Pitts was very hot and cold. One play he'd stick a receiver and knock the pass away, and on the next he'd blow an assignment or get beat by the receiver with a stutter step. He's willing to come up and assist in run support, but he's a poor tackler. He's got the tools, next year he'll have to really put them all together. (NEUTRAL)

Others to watch:
Brandon Cox (Sophomore QB) - Back in the summer, experts felt that Auburn's entire season hinged on Cox's ability to step in and play. He's done quite well. He is very poised and appears much more experienced than he is. He throws a nice ball and is relatively accurate. He played very well against a tough defense.

Kenny Irons (Junior RB) - Irons has really developed this season and will be the featured back in the offense next year. He runs with power and speed. After getting only one carry in the first game of the season, Irons is one of the top backs in the SEC.

Quentin Groves (Junior DE) - He comes in to relieve McClover, and the Tigers don't lose much in the way of a pass rush with him. An undersized edge rusher with a lot of speed, Groves had one and a half sacks against Bama.