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Josh Thompson: Auburn's run stopper
In football, linebackers tend to be the glory hogs on a defense. However, defensive backs and ends certainly get their fair share of notoriety as well (thanks to interceptions and sacks). For the Auburn Tigers , that leaves the nose tackle position, which is just as important as any on the football field, particularly when it comes to run stuffing. But it's a dirty work spot; thus, it takes the kind of player who's willing to sacrifice for the team. The kind of player who can handle only being talked about when he's not doing a good job.
Enter Auburn's senior nose tackle, Josh Thompson.
The 6-foot, 295-pound Thompson accumulated 44 total tackles (4.5 for loss) and one sack during the 2006 season. Not terribly impressive when you look at it from a statistical standpoint. Then again, you should never look at a nose tackle's work from an individual standpoint as doing the job oftentimes means clogging holes so others can stop the run. Thus, let's look at it from a team standpoint.
In 2006, Auburn's defense ranked 45th nationally against the run, giving up a total of 1,614 yards on the ground through 13 games. During those 13 games Thompson and the 'D' averaged an allowance of 3.7 yards per game rushing. One of the many glowing spots? Thompson played great in contributing to a 7-3 win over LSU early in the season that saw the Tigers give up only 42 yards rushing on 23 carries.
But, within those 13 games, there were also two big contests in which the rushing defense got slammed.
Against Arkansas, the Tigers gave up a whopping 279 yards rushing: a total thrashing. In addition, versus the Georgia Bulldogs , Auburn surrendered 240 yards on the ground. However, those Georgia stats were helped along by four Brandon Cox interceptions and a great day by Bulldogs QB Mathew Stafford (making it hard for Auburn to stop anything).
Still, the Tigers' interior defense, led by Thompson, did not play well.
If you take those two games from the equation, Auburn's rushing defense gave up only 99.5 yards per game. That kind of production would have achieved a rank of 17th in the nation. Beyond that, you have to factor in the offense's 2006 difficulties (Auburn's defense had to deal with the running game longer than usual because the offense had problems putting games away).
And all of this -- both the good and the bad against the run -- had a lot to do with Josh Thompson.
Thompson is a very strong player (benched 440 and squatted 650 coming out of high school). Further, he's quick for someone competing on the interior defense. In 2007, he'll have one more year of experience under his belt. What can Auburn fans expect this to translate to?
An even stronger season against the run for the Tigers. Don't expect Auburn, even with the return of Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, to give up 279 yards rushing to the Razorbacks again. The Hogs just lost three starting offensive linemen, and as long as Auburn's linebackers play well, Thompson will do his part in stuffing holes next year.
Hunter Cantwell Appeared in seven games and has made two starts... has thrown for 700 yards and five touchdowns... completed 64.3 percent of his throws... threw for a career-high 340 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Middle Tennessee... threw for 173 yards against Kansas State... relieved Brian Brohm in the third quarter against Miami, going 3-of-4 for 113 yards... hit Harry Douglas on a 45-yard pass on his first play from scrimmage and tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass to George Stripling... was 5-of-6 for 52 yards against Temple... completed one pass for 14 yards in the win over Kentucky.
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