News of the day, 3/13
Hey everyone. Here we are. I'm sitting at home, ready for a big day of Auburn athletics. It's 6:11 a.m. on the dial. Scrimmage starts at 7:30.I'll be back with a brief scrimmage update around 10. Then I'm off to Atlanta for the SEC basketball tournament. I'll try to add more details from both football and hoops as the day progresses.
Vanderbilt 93, Auburn 82: The 7-foot center, AJ Ogilvy, went 12-of-13 from the field and scored 27 points. SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster supplemented that with 26 points. The Tigers couldn't get any stops. They had no answer for Ogilvy. That's a wrap. Auburn finishes 14-16 overall and 4-12 in league play.You may not believe this, I sure didn't, but an official from the new postseason basketball tournament (the College Basketball Invitational) called Auburn to request a statstical overview of the team. Seriously. This is a start-up tournament attempting to rival the NIT. In a Kansas City Star story that ran a few days ago, the Missouri athletic director said teams basically pay $60,000 to get in the tournament ... within reason. Is Auburn within reason? I can't believe it.
Scrimmage has ended. It was 100 plays. Offense was very good on the opening drive ... six plays, 80 yards, 5-for-5 passing from Kodi Burns. Defense controlled the next 70 plays or so. The offense regained the edge during the final 20 plays.Here are some stats:
PASSING
C. Todd: 17-25, 168, 3 TD, 0 int
K. Burns: 7-19, 122, 2 TD, 1 int
N. Caudle: 10-14, 142, 3 TD, 0 int
RUSHING
No players of varsity interest participated today
RECEIVING
Charles Olatunji: 5-79, 0 TD
M. Billings: 5-42, 1 TD
T. Trott: 4-90, 2 TD
T. Zachery: 4-46, 2 TD
GUYS WHO STOOD OUT TO ME:
QB Chris Todd -- It's clear he has the skills to be a good player. He eludes pressure with ease, can look one way and quickly throw the other way, he knows where to put the ball in relation to where the receiver is running. If he gets his arm strength back, Todd will be the starter. I saw that today.
CB Jerraud Powers -- Made a really nice interception off Kodi Burns deep. Powers timed the jump perfectly, made the catch and stayed in bounds. He also broke up a screen pass earlier in the day that, really, nobody else on the team would have broken up given the same scenario.
DT Sen'Derrick Marks -- He was overpowering up front today. He was at least indirectly responsible for several sacks.
TE Tommy Trott -- He has a grace, I guess you'd say, that tight ends don't have. He's lost 20 pounds, though he's seems like more of a bruiser out there. It's obvious that he's thrilled with the new offense. The offense will be thrilled with him.
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
**I didn't realize Neil Caudle was so efficient. He didn't look great at all.
**LB Josh Bynes was getting a lot of praise.
**DT Jake Ricks is out for the rest of spring with a broken right hand.
**TB/WR Mario Fannin will have surgery on Tuesday to repair his left shoulder.
**WR Robert Dunn missed the scrimmage because of class.
**TB Brad Lester missed the scrimmage because, as Tuberville said, coaches didn't want him being the only tailback out there. Doesn't make sense to me, either.
**TB Ben Tate spent the morning running the stairs at Jordan-Hare Stadium, ostensibly still rehabbing that troublesome hamstring.
Here's your play-by-play.
29 L
>18-81 R screen
>18-80 L
>18-5 L deep
>18-83 C deep
>18-14 R seam TOUCHDOWN (He pump-faked, too)
19 keep
41 R quickpitch
19 L scramble, faked quickpitch R
12-83 INC high pass
>12-84 L deep
12 keep R
18-35 INC
25 R read option
18-23 INC high pass
19 keep
19 INC; Powers tips an attempted L screen
19 sacked by Savage
>12-21 C dump; good elusiveness
12 INC screen L
>12-14 L mid
>12-14 L scramble
>12-23 L screen
>12-81 L seam; great work after the catch
>12-23 R corner route TOUCHDOWN
19 scramble; bad snap
19 R keep
>19-21 L
19 L scramble
19-16 INC high pass
>19-16 C crossing pattern; Caudle looked off defensive backs
19-81 INC
12-80 INC
12 sacked
>12-84 L way short of the first down
18-86 INC
18-35 INC
18 sacked
19-29 INC
42 R
>19-84 R short of the first down
12-35 INC dropped
>12-21 R; excellent jumping grab in double coverage
12-35 INC dropped
>12-21 R quick
12 sacked
18 scramble
18 L keep
18 sacked
19 L keep
19 L read option
>19-80 R slant not enough for the first down
12 sacked
12 sacked
29 R read option
18 INC
18 L read option
>18-21 C
>18-41 L screen
41 L read option
41 C
25 C
18 R keep
25 C
41 C
18 keep R TOUCHDOWN
---THIS IS WHEN THE DRIVES BEGIN NEAR THE 30---
>19-5 L deep TOUCHDOWN outworks McFadden one-on-one
>12-25 L screen
25 L quickpitch
12-35 INC dropped
25 L
18-80 INT by Powers. Thrown into double coverage. Burns left it short.
19 L keep
>19-84 C deep
41 L read option
25 C TOUCHDOWN
12 sacked
>12-86 L screen
>12-5 C in zone seam
>12-81 INC pressured
>12-5 C TOUCHDOWN post route, beats McFadden again
18-25 INC dropped
18-25 R screen TOUCHDOWN
>19-42 L screen
>19-14 C
>19-14 C-L TOUCHDOWN broke through a few tackles
>12-41 C
>12-16 C Knox tells Swinton to "run over" Mike Slade and Neal Vickers. Nope.
>12-84 L dump pass
>12-84 C slant TOUCHDOWN
18 INC
18-86 INC
18-81 INC miscommunicated on the route
18-21 INC high pass
25 C read option
>19-80 L quick
>19-81 C TOUCHDOWN
--END OF SCRIMMAGE--
An anonymous poster commented on yesterday's blog that I'm a "wuss" for hiding behind a keyboard. This is an apparent reference to today's WMSP morning show, which must have generated that flawed conclusion. I was on the show Tuesday morning, nary 48 hours ago, and haven't heard from either host since then. I will be on The Roundtable, WMSP's early-afternoon show, today and possibly Friday.Love,
Phil Collins and your staff at British Airways
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
posted by Jay G. Tate at
6:11 AM
33 Comments:
Pretty ironic that someone using the name "anonymous" would call you a wuss for hiding behind a keyboard.
I mean, damn, you can rip me for a lot of stuff. Hiding behind a keyboard? Can't do that.
...Can look one way and throw the other way.
That's an extremely great talent to have. It's been quite a while since AU had one who could do that confidently. We have to understand these QBs are practicing against a very stingy, stout defense with tons of speed.
Great to see Todd got it done.
Kodi started 5-5 and ended up 7-19. That is horrible.
Yea. Kodi really fell off. Todd looked much better today.
Jay any idea what happened with Slaughter? He looked highly PO'd leaving the field and I saw him kick a trash can going under the tunnel.
Jay G,
Loved the interview with Doug and Josh today. As an AU fan, I appreciate the fact that you tell me the reader the facts, and just not what I want to hear.
Slaughter needs to take out a restraining order on you.
re: WMSP. I enjoyed the hell out of my big segment on The Roundtable today. Those guys do a great job. I really enjoy that they discuss facts and actual insights. Good for them. I hope they do really well.
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Ron Mexico,
I looked through the archives, because what you said threw me. Three weeks ago, arguing with auburnmath101 (where did that guy go?)you were on the other side of the argument. No way we have a two QB system according to you.
Are you saying that you now think we will and why the change of mind?
Pretty sad way for Quan to go out. 3 fouls in the first nine minutes, then picked up two more quickies in the second half. I think he only played about 11 minutes total.
Tough to win when your biggest threat is on the bench with foul trouble for three quarters of the game...
11 minutes for Quan. Awful.
I never said that. i was actually agreeing with Auburnmath101 (the only time that i can recall) I restated the tony franklin quote "some people make playing two quarterbacks complicated but it's really not big deal" someone else said people never win with two quarterbacks and i said this isn't the 90's anymore. Now how about you really go back and read the archives instead of trying to remember what i said.
we do need to sound the amber alert for auburnmath101
Jay G!!!! Congratulations are in order my friend. On my way home from the jobsite, Tigger from Montgomery talked about you on FINEBAUM!! OMG! You're in the big time now my friend. You have made the Finebaum show. Can you stand it? Aren't you just all gigglely. Wow.
I don't think Tigger actually said anything and I'm not sure if there was a point. I think he was testing the water. It was pretty cold.
Anyway, thought that you would want to know.
Something interesting, if you listen to the morning show, the noon show, and Finebaum, you have just listened to the radio for 8 hours. DUWHA?
Something else interesting. All these call in cats say they don't read your blog, so how in the wide world of sports do they know what is on it.
... my name is Phred and I approved this message ...
I wonder how anyone made me relevant to Finebaum's show. There's no way.
Like I said, the water was pretty cold ... no offense to you.
No offense taken. None at all.
That's a wrap from ATL. I'm headed home. Peace and love to everyone who made this thrilling trip possible ...
2/8 comments phred. i can also grab the hooked on phonics number for you too if you having trouble reading what it says
well that clears it up for me Ron. I think I got confused. Sometimes it's hard to see the point someone is trying to make when they are also trying very hard to be a smart ass for no real reason other than to just be one.
Point is, I read AND understand quite well, thankyou. I also don't like to argue very much. I am sorry I brought it up.
Jay, That was a hearty endorsement of Todd. Does he look that good or do the others have weaknesses. In other words, if Todd wasn't there would we need to be worried?
Some of the lewssor named receivers seem to be dongthe best. Is Slaughter not doing well or stillnot able to get into the mix?
I know Trott is a Montgomery guy and prolly a favorite, but last season seemed to me that McKensie was a better receiving athlete(more agile). I've read that Trott moves much better now that he has lost 20 lbs. I just figured that Trott blocked better and therefore played more.
Sometimes weird thoughts go through my head, like ...
What is Queen Elizabeth's last name?
Or Prince Charles?
What about Prince Harry?
Do they have one, or are they like Prince or Sting or Bono?
They have last names. I forgot what it is.
Trott and McKenzie are totally different kinds of players. Trott didn't look as good last year because he was miscast and, from what I can gather, unhappy.
Back home in MGM now. Long day. Headed to bed ...
Last names of British Royalty? On an Auburn blog??!! I guess we're officially in the off season now.
Winsor, by royal decree. It used to be Saxe-Coburg (due to Queen Victoria's husband/prince consort). In 1914 it was changed due to the state of war that existed between the three nations with Vicky's grandkids as monarchs (Britain, Germany and Russia). Bad for morale, what?
However, on the uniforms for both Harry and William, the nametag says 'Wales' (as in "Prince of"). Another tradition for serving members of the royal family.
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3 questions
1. In Franklin's new offense, how much blocking does the tight end do?
To the point, is Trott's weight loss preferable because his role will be almost completely pass catching and not being a key block on the end as it has been?
2. What are the current odds on Todd's arm strength returning to a sufficient level by fall practice?
3. With your schedule, I doubt you've seen it yet -- but, when you do, I'd also be interested in your odds/comments on what happens to a particular Lost character at the end of last night's show.
Sorry for being so cryptic, but it'd be pretty low to give anything away.
I am now up to speed on LOST. Thanks for being cautious with possible plot spoilage.
Obviously, we found it alarming that his date of death was listed as 9/22/04, which doesn't jibe with what appears to be the truth. I'm really not sure what to believe about that.
re: Todd. Yes, I think he can get 90% of his arm strength back by August and I believe, considering the other elements of his game, that will be enough power.
re: tight end. They block in maybe 25-35% of plays. It's definitely an offensive position now.
re: Sullivan's answer on royalty. This is why I love the HOTTIES. Well done.
Phred Duke of East Montgomery said
It sounds like Mr. Todd is a pretty smooth operator. I hope Dr. Andrews can work some magic on the arm.
It also sounds like Franklin doesn't like Caudle very much. It's almost like he's pulling against him. Coach CTT says it like, "Dang it, Neil had a pretty good day today. I don't know what we are going to do about that. We keep waitin' on him to really suck, but so far he hasn't."
Did anybody else notice what was on the TV that Sun turned off before she went into labor? It looked like a movie about Sawyer.
I wonder if he is the last of the Oceanic 6?
That was a pretty big shocker on the date of Jin's death. Somehow, all 5 of the known 6 are in on the conspiracy.
I wish I knew what in the hell ya'll are talking about.
I wish you would all shut it. I have it on TiVo and dont have time to watch until tomorrow.
At least toss me a **SPOILER ALERT** tag.
To be fair, hippy, we've been pretty real-time in terms of our LOST chatter since the beginning.
Is it really a spoiler the next day?
It seems like the survivors are all keeping a pretty big secret about what went on at the island. That situation reeks of ben and his manipulative/blackmailing ways. But this whitmore fellow seems to have alot of significance as well. Also surely aaron does not count as one of the six right? And any thoughts on whose funeral Jack was trying to go to on the finale of season 3? My guess is Sawyer's, but that seems way too obvious.
That was a pretty good episode. Props to the writers for throwing in the flashforward and flashback combo.
Jay,
With what you've seen so far from sprin practice, do you think AU has a legit chance at the west in 08?
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