He is shifty and very quick and should have been a huge factor in the spread offense. But he wasn't. One reason for this has been his injuries. Lately, they have sidelined him but Saturday against UGA, he was healthy and didn't play a single snap.
Tuberville offered no real explanation other than saying he simply "didn't play." He said he wasn't injured or in the dog house. So what gives, coach?
Something isn't making sense. A guy like him doesn't just not play, there has to be a reason. The Tigers have been fairly thin on the depth chart at running back this season due to injuries, so why not spread the reps. But I'm sure the coaches had a reason.
Check this out: maybe Tubbs purposely held him out against UGA to try and fool Alabama into thinking he is now a non-factor.
He is certainly the quickest of the Auburn backs, although not nearly the fastest. He is unlike any other Auburn player with the possible exception of Robert Dunn (hardly) and Philip Pierre-Louis. So if the Tide doesn't really prepare for him... he could be the punch in the mouth Auburn needs to win the game (see Trey Smith in 2002).
Anyone expecting to see Big Ben or Super Mario, both heavier than 210, would be hard-pressed to stop a guy like Lester, who is maybe 5-7, 185. Smaller backs can be a definite advantage -- just ask Oregon State with their 5-5 phenomenon, Jacquizz Rogers.
So maybe the coaches do have a plan; it would be a shame to waste a good back's final TWO games.
I'm a big Lester fan. It's nice to see a succeed on the football field who is literally inches shorter than me (I'm only 5'10" at most). I thought at one time that if he could put on some weight and retain his quickness, that he might be threat in the NFL, but it's starting to look like that won't happen, unfortunately. But we'll just have to wait and see what happens this week.
My prediction: If Auburn can utilize Lester and he gains more than 100 yards rushing, Auburn will win the game.
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