Pat Dye: Auburn has its most talented offensive line in decades
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Auburn was No. 6 in the SEC in total offense last season, and many are predicting an even more productive year for the Tigers. Leading rusher Kamryn Pettway returns and the passing game should be getting a boost from Baylor transfer QB Jarrett Stidham, who put on a show during A-Day. Having a strong ground game or passing attack, however, starts upfront. In the opinion of former Auburn coach Pat Dye (1981-92), this year’s offensive line might be the best since 1981.
Dye had high praise for the offensive line in his Saturday column for Inside the Auburn Tigers. He noted that outside of preseason All-SEC OL Braden Smith, the linemen may not be well known outside of the Plains:
I really think the 2017 Auburn football team has potentially more talent on the offensive line than any other team the Tigers have had since I came to Auburn in 1981. None of them right now, other than perhaps Braden Smith, are players who are highly known around the country in the college football world.
Dye pointed to a pair of transfer players as key additions:
Despite lacking all-star status I think his group has unlimited potential when you combine the ones coming back with the transfer from Florida State (Wilson Bell) and the transfer from Jacksonville State (Casey Dunn) plus getting some back who were injured along with the maturing of young linemen. I think all the pieces are in place.
Dye points out that commanding offensive lines can take over a game, and that tends to lead to good things for the rest of the team. With so much talent on offense, Tigers fans are certainly optimistic for a good season.
Dye’s full column can be read here.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
