News of the day, 9/27

Hey everyone. I did a radio show yesterday from Auburn. The hosts asked me about Blake Field, which was an interesting topic. An unusual situation, for sure. Blake went into the season as the No. 2 guy. Then he was leapfrogged by Kodi Burns because, as Tuberville said, "Blake is a lot like Brandon." Poor Blake. I think he's a pretty good player who could contribute somewhere but now he's a junior. He doesn't have a redshirt season left.

His choices are: Ride this Auburn career out on the bench or transfer to a I-AA school that's seeking a one-year guy. Tough situation. That's like living at home with your ex and her new husband. Even Ricky Bobby couldn't do that.

You know it's tough. Blake was a fairly big recruit back in the day, so his career could have gone in many different directions.

We savor every minute you spend with us here at the HOTTEST Auburn blog on the 'net.

Here's something you won't see very often in this space. I was watching footage from the AU-MSU game the other day. RT Lee Ziemba was flagged for a 15-yard facemask penalty on Auburn's first play. Footage clearly showed Ziemba immediately diving to his left for a cut block. His hands were on the ground. RG Mike Berry's neck snapped around a moment later. It was Berry's facemask that had been grabbed. Penalty somehow goes against Auburn. First-and-22. Brandon Cox throws to Cole Bennett, ball deflects to Derek Pegues, MSU scores on a short interception return. There are times when Auburn coaches surely look at this stuff and can't help but feel cursed.

What has happened to Tommy Trott? He played a very limited role against New Mexico State. He built a reputation early in his career for being sure-handed. Some coaches even thought he'd make a good slot receiver. Now Trott's penchant for dropped pass has him almost out of the playing rotation at tight end. First came Brandon's weird struggles. Then King Dunlap stopped blocking. Now Tommy Trott can't catch. That's a trifecta that would have paid well in the preseason. Surely Trott will get it back. I'm more sold on him than I am King and Brandon.


Here are your top defensive producers from the New Mexico State game. Players are given points for doing significant things correctly. They are docked points for missing assignments, missing tackles, penalties or loafing:

FROM NMSU GAME:
CB Jerraud Powers -- 27
SS Zac Etheridge -- 26
DE Sen'Derrick Marks -- 20
CB Pat Lee -- 17
DE Courtney Harden -- 16
SS/LB Eric Brock -- 13

**I didn't get the season-to-date tally.

Here are your team defensive goals for the AU-NMSU game. I forgot to post this earlier in the week:

Win: YES, 55-20
Allow 13 pts or less: NO, 20
Allow 3.3 yards per carry or less: YES, 3.3
Allow 5.0 yards per pass or less: NO, 5.69
Create at least 3 turnovers: YES, 6
Allow no big plays (defined as 15+ rush or 20+ pass): YES on run (0); NO on pass (4)
Allow no TDs inside "red area": YES
Force opponent to convert less than 30% on 3rd down: NO, 47%

Also, NMSU's YAC (yards after catch) number was 51

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
Tonight is the season premiere of "The Office," which is a popular show around H.A.B.O.T.N. headquarters. If you'll notice, I have taken this opportunity to get the effervescent Jenna Fischer on the blog. It's a big day. I have asked her people if she's willing to stop by and talk Auburn football one of these days. No word yet. She seems like a Tristan Davis fan. I'm just basing that on anecdotal evidence gleaned from our sources in Hollywood.

The show kicks off at 8 p.m. CDT.