The 2014 Iron Bowl was the epitome of a shootout, with the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide trading touchdowns in Arena Football-like fashion. The Tigers may have come up on the short end, 55-44, but there's plenty of reason to believe that the rivalry game's return to Jordan-Hare will bring about a different result in 2015.
Here's our list of 5 Reasons Auburn Football Will Beat Alabama In 2015.
1. Quarterback Questions At Bama
In what could very well be a true five-way battle for one starting spot, Alabama is attempting to sift through the likes Jacob Coker, David Cornwell and Blake Barnett to find their end-all, be-all option for 2015. However, the collective ability of the team's QB corps alone doesn’t breed continuity nor does it ensure wins. Plus, each Bama quarterback has shown a glaring flaw or two this spring, meaning that whoever does win the job still won't be a surefire star option.
Auburn's new defense under Will Muschamp will feast on the Crimson Tide's lack of stability at the game's most important position, regardless of the Tide having a full season of work behind them come Iron-Bowl time.
That leads us to...
2. The Will Muschamp Era Begins
Muschamp is already making waves in recruiting for the Tigers, but it's his track record as a defensive mastermind which has everyone buzzing.
"I think he’s one of the best or the best defensive minds in all of football," coach Gus Malzahn said recently. "We’re very fortunate to have him, and he’s going to build this defense like he needs.
"I think if you look at his track record, he gets it done everywhere he’s been. I think we’re set up staff-wise to be a contender every year."
Gus Malzahn's offensive wizardly and Will Muschamp's winning defensive philosophy TOGETHER? This spells D-O-O-M for the Tide and the rest of the SEC.
3. No Amari Cooper
Cooper tied his own school record with 224 yards receiving and caught three touchdown passes in Alabama's 2014 Iron Bowl win, but now he's off to the NFL, leaving a gaping playmaking hole on Alabama's wide receiving depth chart. Like a player who can shoot from anywhere on the court in basketball, Cooper opened up targets and big plays for his teammates just by being on the field. Without him, Auburn's secondary should have a much easier time shutting down the Bama passing game.
4. Jeremy Johnson
Noted QB guru Richard Moncrief said it best recently.
"The proof is in the pudding with him," said Moncrief.. "You're talking about Mr. Alabama football,(runner-up) Mr. Alabama basketball. When he played at Auburn, he put on a show. I looked at the Arkansas game again last night on my DVR. Special talent."
Johnson is so athletically gifted and such a brilliant on-field leader that an already potent offense will be even that much more deadly and focused with him at the helm. If Alabama really wants to get into a shootout with Johnson under center for Auburn...well, that's not going to go well for them exactly.
5. Cracks In The Tide's Facade
Alabama will always be talented, but this offseason has been less about their physical ability and more about the back pages of the sports news tabloids. Nick Saban's winter and spring has been chock full of dismissals, disciplinary actions and off-the-field controversy. For the first time during his stint in Tuscaloosa, the inmates have shown the ability to run the asylum.
While Auburn's recent dismissal of Elijah Daniel hurts, there isn't the same general feeling of uneasiness around the Tigers that there is around right now. If ever the Crimson Tide are going to experience a humbling crash to reality, it's this year.
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