Tomorrow's notebook today
Since we don't have space in Monday's editions to run Auburn and Alabama notebooks, we have relegated them to "online only" status.
As such, I think the HOTTIES should get first crack.
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AUBURN -- With Tray Blackmon out with a wrist fracture, sophomore Josh Bynes became the de facto defensive leader against Tennessee.
He didn't disappoint.
The middle linebacker finished with a team-high 11 tackles and all but eliminated the communication problems that beset the Tigers' defense against LSU a week earlier. Bynes was named the team's Defensive Player of the Week.
``He was taking on blocks like he would take on a sled in practice," defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said. ``He was ripping through blocks like we do a string-out drill in Tuesday's teamwork stuff. He was carrying over the drills to the field and his play reflected that."
Kicker wanted: Coach Tommy Tuberville said Sunday that he'll be examining all options for field-goal duties this week.
Sophomore Wes Byrum missed a 35-yard kick against Tennessee last weekend and now has missed each of his last three attempts. Tuberville, who is notoriously fickle with kickers, said he'll be changing how Byrum and fellow kicker Morgan Hull prepare this week.
``We'll have a competition," he said. ``We've got to put more pressure on (Byrum). We might need to do more live rush, go against scout team, do some things, get some people in front of him. Do a little running if he doesn't make it. Get the whole team involved."
New sensation: Auburn flashed some innovation last weekend by using wideout Mario Fannin at quarterback.
He was allocated three direct-snap plays. He gained 12 yards.
Tuberville said he's planning to make that set -- dubbed "War Eagle Formation" -- a recurring element of the Tigers' attack.
``That's going to give us an opportunity to change the pace of a game. It gives you a lot of options," the coach said. ``It gives you a fresh guy running downhill in the game. He's a lot like Kodi (Burns), but he's a little stronger than Kodi. I'd rather have (Fannin) in there running the ball -- just for injury purposes."
Tuberville said Fannin will play tailback next season.
--Jay G. Tate
As such, I think the HOTTIES should get first crack.
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AUBURN -- With Tray Blackmon out with a wrist fracture, sophomore Josh Bynes became the de facto defensive leader against Tennessee.
He didn't disappoint.
The middle linebacker finished with a team-high 11 tackles and all but eliminated the communication problems that beset the Tigers' defense against LSU a week earlier. Bynes was named the team's Defensive Player of the Week.
``He was taking on blocks like he would take on a sled in practice," defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said. ``He was ripping through blocks like we do a string-out drill in Tuesday's teamwork stuff. He was carrying over the drills to the field and his play reflected that."
Kicker wanted: Coach Tommy Tuberville said Sunday that he'll be examining all options for field-goal duties this week.
Sophomore Wes Byrum missed a 35-yard kick against Tennessee last weekend and now has missed each of his last three attempts. Tuberville, who is notoriously fickle with kickers, said he'll be changing how Byrum and fellow kicker Morgan Hull prepare this week.
``We'll have a competition," he said. ``We've got to put more pressure on (Byrum). We might need to do more live rush, go against scout team, do some things, get some people in front of him. Do a little running if he doesn't make it. Get the whole team involved."
New sensation: Auburn flashed some innovation last weekend by using wideout Mario Fannin at quarterback.
He was allocated three direct-snap plays. He gained 12 yards.
Tuberville said he's planning to make that set -- dubbed "War Eagle Formation" -- a recurring element of the Tigers' attack.
``That's going to give us an opportunity to change the pace of a game. It gives you a lot of options," the coach said. ``It gives you a fresh guy running downhill in the game. He's a lot like Kodi (Burns), but he's a little stronger than Kodi. I'd rather have (Fannin) in there running the ball -- just for injury purposes."
Tuberville said Fannin will play tailback next season.
--Jay G. Tate
posted by Jay G. Tate at
9:54 PM
37 Comments:
I figured Fannin would be back at RB next season. That just makes sense. Now if we can get through this season in once peace.
Hey Jay does this mean that Bynes will start from now on instead of Blackmon?
I just hope the players are focused this week. Tub said they couldn't get past LSU last week and that made the UT game difficult.
This week we are on the road and playing the biggest game in the history of Vanderbilt football and we'll need to be ready.
Stat of the day:
Vandy ranks 12th (of 12) in the SEC in Total Defense. That's a surprise for a team that is 4-0.
Even more surprising:
Vandy ranks 12th in the SEC in Total Offense. Auburn is ranked 10th. Huh? How can that be?
Now Fannin is a tailback NEXT season. Not now as Tuberville has said twice already this week. And not like we saw Fannin get a snap at tailback in the game during which he ran for an easy 10 yards.
Why do people even quote Tuberville? Nothing he says has value.
Anon....If you expect quotes from a CFB coach to be precise, then you are kidding yourself. If you think that CTT is just lying then..DON"T READ HIS QUOTES.
I have been a fan of TBlackmon ever since he beat our HS team in the playoffs. JBynes really looks good. Interesting commment about the sudden disappearance of communication problems.
It seems that Vandy knows how to do enough to win. They will be jacked up....hope we're ready.
Hoopie, I have to read them because they are printed. Always childish to receive a response like that basically in defense mode of a man you don't even know personally. Secondly, I think it's pretty reasonable to say most coaches mean what they say unless you can provide concrete examples providing evidence otherwise?
Jay,
I said two weeks ago that I thought Josh Bynes was a better fit at MLB than TB. I am the President of the JB fan club, jump on board.
But don't think for a minute that Blackmon isn't more important than Bynes in a big game. Tray is still an animal. He's a heat seeking missile. Bynes isn't exactly. He's more of a technician. Who do I want to plug the hole vs UGA and UAT? Blackmon because he'll do more than plug it. He'll rupture it.
Hoopie, I thought that communication comment was interesting as well. Hopefully Jay will do some indepth investigating when he gets back down here to the Plains.
Obviously there is some disconnect with the coaches concerning the offense. CTT said playing Burns was a mutual decision, CTF said the head coach wanted him in. We run a series almost completely under center and score then go back the the shotgun and fizzle out. CTF said we are not running the "TF system" we are running Auburn's system. Even with our divided house we are still 4-1! Man if we ever get this thing on track, we might do some damage. Does that statement make me a sunshine pumper? ;)
pumpin' like an offshore oil rig. just kidding.
They don't have space for sports on Mondays? I don't like the world I am living in nowadays. Online only. I don't like it I tell ya.
Defense wins games.
While this is true, and our motto, it is also code for ... our offense sucks.
So whenever you hear a coach say, "defense wins games," just remember what ol' Phreddy told you ...
Defense wins games ... translation ... our offense blows.
I'm working on a new play for Tony. It's called the flea-punt-flicker. Robert Dunn rolls left and fakes a throw, and instead kicks the snot out of it and we try to recover it on the five. Sounds ridiculous? Well, then it should fit right in.
And of offense sucks. That's right Phreddy. And if you have a good offense they'll say your defense is one of the best in the country anyway.
That's in next year's plan, Phred. Auburn has a juco 4 star WR that also kicks. Averages 40+ yards a punt. Better than Shoemaker.
I'm also working on the "onside punt."
In this play, we send all the recievers long on 3rd down. Todd fakes the throw and then punts it hoping that it will bounce of the head of an unsuspecting defender. Tommy Trott makes his trademark play of bobbling the ball, except in this scenario he can then just fall on it for a 40 yard gain.
Winner!!!!
Last but not least ... the "option read punt."
In this play Todd rolls out and has the option to stop and punt, or pitch it to Tate who can then stop ... and punt.
The rest of the play is run similarly to the "onside punt."
This play can be run on any down.
Holy smokes, I have turned into an offensive guru. I should put this on the internet and sell it to knuckleheads for $3000.
Offensive guru = Homeless used car salesmen type guy who runs an ebay store selling VHS tapes of his football system.
Get it know while supplies last. The Phormerly Phred Offensive System - a quick punt based offense.
The objective is to wear down the defense by keeping them off guard and making them chase live balls all over the field.
Try the Phormerly Phred Offensive System today. And just remember folks, like Phred said ... "Try it. I promise it won't suck anymore than yours."
please. nothing with "option read" in it.
anybody know why they don't have fannin take the snap and run outside like mcfadden used to do? the defense swarms the middle and tight on the end when he took the snap. the wide ends were open.
You all have raised some really good points here. I'll do my best to address them in today's first post.
I didn't mean to make it sound like Fannin wouldn't play TB until next year. I asked CTT if Fannin and Tate would his Two Tailbacks next season and he said "yes."
Fannin isn't officially a tailback right now.
That's all.
Looking at the UT-AU 4th quarter stats for evidence of AU's defensive stops that looked so impressive in the game. Here they are:
UT - 12 plays - 12 net yards Average starting position - Auburn 48 yard line.
Now that is just outstanding D. Tennessee was 0-6 in passing for that time, with only one sack for two yards. The rest was just a stonewall run defense.
I felt pretty good....until I looked at Auburn's offensive production for the last four possessions.
12 plays (not counting the last three "kneel downs") - 8 net yards, 1 first down. Average starting position - Auburn's own 16 yard line.
Not good. This is when the entire game hinged on a successful first down, which came on only the second completed pass during that time.
Ouch.
Near the end of the game when Auburn was Auburn was constantly punting near the goal line, I was seriously thinking that maybe they ought to take a safety and let the score be tied. Then maybe the defense could hold Tennessee on their side of the field--maybe get another turnover or play field position and set up a game winning field goal or at worst try your luck in OT. But then I realized that our kicking game is in the can as well.
How bad can it get?
"like an offshore oil rig" LMAO! That's right Pred..I'm pumping it but I aint selling it. I'm just going to stockpile it and wait till everyone runs completely out (the Vandy game should do) then I'll raise the price and make billions off all of the sunshine deprived AU fans! muaaahhaahaahaaaa!
Here's my comment:
Auburn fans need to take a big fat Zanex and relax.
Todd will probably play better on away games without our own stupid fans booing him.
That's interesting logic. Could be true I guess.
So is there no ABC night game this weekend? Herbstriet & Musberger are listed as the broadcast team for the game this weekend.
So Todd will respond better to other fans booing him than his own?
How well did he do vs Miss State on the road? That crowd in Starkville will be nothing compared to Nashville this weekend.
jay g, you know you could have saved us all a lot of heartache if you'd told us a long time ago that franklin wants a robot to run his offense :-) here i've been spending all this time fretting over whether the guy knows talent when its staring him in the face. now i see that isn't the problem, he just wants his qb to do exactly what he is told, nothing more, nothing less.
impromptu displays of talent will not be tolerated.
also, all of this is just more evidence that we are moving away from the running version of the spread and more towards the texas tech version. best i can tell, the highest premium is placed on check downs and passing progressions. the qb's running ability is only of secondary concern, if at all.
our o.c. would rather have a below average passer managing the team than an above average runner.
Franklin pretty much indicated this is not the offense he runs. These aren't his plays. This is Nallberville ball. This is what I said yesterday morning per "sources". And now it's coming out of Franklin's mouth and not all that cautiously.
So ... he's been apologizing on behalf of CHN and CTT?
I think he's apologizing to us, Phred, because this is totally not what we expected. I'm not on the Franklin caravan. Just saying we've seen the hard heads at play under the Tuberville admin before.
Crudup ... not arguing. I hear you. But now that you mention it, the O does have a certain Nallish flavor.
i hope rodeny scott doewn in florida keeps his commitment..now that we arent running the ball well im scared those stinkin gators are gonna grab him or somehting
Maybe Tubs should stay out of the way and let Franklin do what he hired him to do.
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