New at al.com: Blogger Roundtable for La-Mo

Here's my post for this week's al.com Blogger Roundtable. A sample:

Q: Pick your favorite player from this year's team. Since we've already talked about him a few times this year, I'm barring Cam Newton. Tell me why the player resonates with you and why you enjoy watching him play. If you can't bear to pick a favorite, make a case for someone as your team's most overlooked/underrated player.

A: Nick Fairley. Defensive ends, particularly rush ends, usually get the glory (such as it is) in any front three/four, but Fairley has been breathtaking this season. You might have to go all the way back to the late 80's heyday of Ron Stallworth and current AU assistant Tracey Rocker to find an Auburn tackle (or back then, nose guard) getting that much consistent push into an opponent's backfield.

I'd nominate running back Eric Smith for the most overlooked--and maybe the most underutilized--player on the squad. Smith, who can play all over the field from halfback to fullback to receiver, has been dynamite both as a blocker and in his rare moments carrying the football. He had a memorable play against Clemson, gutting out tough extra yards late in the game.

Auburn's offense is getting a little crowded these days, what with Darvin Adams, Terrell Zachery, Mike Dyer, Emory Blake, Onterrio McCalebb and Mario Fannin all getting touches--not to mention Phillip Lutzenkirchen--but I'd still like to see Smith get his hands on the ball more often.