GatorTailgating.com's Ben Petitto will be doing a series covering each SEC Team's Spring practice. This is the third installment of the series on the Auburn Tigers.

New Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik has big shoes to fill after Auburn’s former coach, Tommy Tuberville, was released last year after a ten year career (going 110-60, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2004). Chizik was only 5-19 as a head coach of Iowa State and has a great deal to prove before Auburn can justify hiring him. Tommy Tuberville’s last season was certainly disappointing (5-7), but he did not have the talent that he had in past years to compete in the SEC. Tuberville was a great coach and had beaten the Florida Gators twice in a row- something not too many other coaches can say.

On Offense- Last year Auburn had one of the most pitiful passing games in recent memory- averaging 165 yards passing per game. They will try to improve here, but it looks like the only guys they can count on are going to come out of the backfield. Kodi Burns looks to be the starting quarterback as of right now. He brings a running threat to the position, but has not proved to be much of a passer. Neil Caudle (QB) has thrown the ball well this spring, putting up 161 passing yards and 2 TD’s in the spring game. Many Auburn fans would like to see him out starting, but without any great receivers and a sub-par offensive line, the Tigers will probably look to run it a lot again this season.

The running back position is loaded with leading rusher, senior Ben Tate, back after producing 718 yards and 3 touchdowns. Speedster Onterrio McCaleb (RB) will compliment him as well as Mario Fannin (RB), who is also a threat out of the backfield and in the slot as a wideout. Fannin had a huge spring game with 4 catches for 71 yards and a touchdown as well as 22 yards on the ground. At wide receiver, junior Tim Hawthorne had an insane 25.4 yards per catch last season and although he only caught 8 balls he has been drawing praise from the coaching staff all Spring. Other than Hawthorne, Montez Billings (WR) and Fannin in the slot there hasn’t really been any production from the Auburn receiver corp. Tommy Trott is a decent receiving tight end, but could never get the ball last season. The offensive line played well in the spring game, but they were going against the scout team. They have experience on the line with four juniors and one senior, but there are no real standouts. For Auburn to get better in the passing game the line with three returning starters will be key.

On Defense- Senior defensive end Antonio Coleman is a beast and will make a ton of big plays for the Tigers. Despite facing double teams last year, he had 6 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss for 43 yards.  With junior Michael Goggans (DE) and junior Mike Blanc (DL) back on the line with Coleman, they should be solid. At linebacker, Josh Bynes makes plays and led the team in interceptions with 3, as well as racking up 53 tackles. Junior college transfer, sophomore Eltoro Freeman (LB), is also going to be relied on to contribute. In the backfield, senior Walter McFadden (CB), senior Aairon Savage (CB), junior Mike McNeil (S), and junior Zac Etheridge (S) are all solid SEC defenders who have had extended playing time. Etheridge and McNeil can hit - they were first and second on the team in tackles with 75 and 65 respectively. It is never good when your team is led in tackles by safeties, but the secondary should be the strength of the defense along with Coleman on the line.

Spring Surprise: Walter McFadden (CB). He was their nickel back last year and has developed into their shutdown cornerback. Look for him to have a big year after becoming a leader in the spring.

Lingering Question: How are the Tigers going to be able to pass the ball? Kodi Ross has proved he is not much of a passer, but he still gives the Tigers the most overall at the quarterback position. While Caudle had a good spring, the Tigers simply don’t have enough weapons to even warrant trying to have a potent passing attack. So look for Burns to run the ball a lot and pass the ball on screens and shovels to Tate and Fannin

What to expect in the Fall: The Tigers look to be about the same as last year they haven’t really lost anyone, but at the same time haven’t really gained too much either especially in the passing game. Look for a similar team to last year in Chizik’s first campaign. 

Predictions: Auburn plays a pretty strange schedule with Ball Sate and West Virginia at home. I will say they will drop one of those and go 4 and 8. No way they will beat Georgia, LSU, Alabama, or even Tennessee. When you cannot move the ball on offense you will always have trouble winning. So the Tigers go 4-8 (1-7).

Quotable: "We are to the point right now where some of our ones are twos and some of our twos are ones. It is a little bit of a misnomer but that was happening a good bit today."- Gene Chizik

Ben Petitto is a columnist for GatorTailgating.com.