Blackmon out for the season
It was obvious that Tray Blackmon's wrist injury was fairly serious.Now we know. Coach Tommy Tuberville said Wednesday that Auburn's junior middle linebacker will miss the remainder of the 2008 season. Blackmon will undergo surgery later this week.
``(Blackmon) is going to have a screw put in his wrist and he'll be done for the year," Tuberville said. ``It's just one of those situations where you're going to have to go ahead and do it. It didn't respond as well as we'd hope but that's part of it. We just keep right on going but it's been tough luck for him."
Sophomore Joshua Bynes has been playing in Blackmon's spot for three games. Tuberville said senior Chris Evans, who has been playing at weak-side linebacker, may move inside to provide support for Bynes.
Blackmon broke his right wrist while playing against LSU on Sept. 20.
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
7:35 PM
105 Comments:
dang..little ball of hate just cant catch a break!!
He and Brad Lester ... can't stay on the field.
I guess this means Blackmon won't declare early for the NFL draft.
I know everyone is REALLY looking forward to the debate in a few?
JayG, I heard someone talk about Trotters hair and wondered how he could get him helmet on.
Is it true is nickname is "Bear"?
I read somewhere his nickname is "The Fourth Jonas Brother".
Derek Winter has more hair than Trotter.
I'll be interested to see what happens with Tray regarding the draft. I mean obviously looking at his career he would not be picked highly(if at all)? But he has family obligations and has been at AU since 2005 I believe. Just wondering if he may decide to roll the dice and see what happens especially if AU brings in a new coach. Whatever he may decide, I worry MUCH more about losing Marks and Coleman. Hard to replace those type of players.
Well I guess we have Blackmon next year again. Didn't expect to have it beginning of the year.
Wish Bynes had a little speed. He's no better at than what some of you say Blackmon is no good at - pass coverage.
By the way, didn't Blackmon actually break his wrist in the MSU game on that monsterous lick he threw on the MSU running back on the 4th and 1 stop?
Winter can also catch a lot better than Trott, Jay. Hair to hair and first and ten.
Then if we can have a lot of Trotter to Winter passes, then we have a QB in the making.
Today, I have a bad feeling about a lot of things.
- I thikn CTT is gone.
- I think the #4 recruiting class we've got going is about to break up.
- I think we are going to finish 6-6 at best.
- I think the next two or three years are going to be really hard to swallow.
- I think we are basically getting ready to start over, and I don't think it is a good idea.
Forget me not.
Agree Phred. The mood just seems so bleak around AU it gets harder and harder to see CTT coming back. One thing I've always wondered- is Lowder the sole decider on hiring and firing our coach or is anyone else seriously listened to? Please, nobody mention J Jacobs I mean this as a serious question.
I don't see us starting over. I am suspecting we will see a much improved offense against WV. Of course it could get much better and still be a pretty bad offense, but I have a good feeling.
I do think the coaches made a mistake by not getting Burns more experience during the season. Yes, I thin Todd needed to be the starter early, but his upside is limited and he isn't getting better. I would have never anticipated Todd being able to be the guy by the end of the year. even if his arm healed, you can't count on a QB staying healthy.
Phred,
If we see more of the same or possibly worse against WVU then I'll have to agree. Hopefully with the week off and naming Kodi the definite #1 will help to improve things.
I believe blackmon hurt the wrist in the 4th quarter of the UT game.
One of the biggest mistakes, in my opinion, was made when the whole smokescreen Kodi has a 6" laceration thing happened. Kodi was not outdone by Todd in that first game. In fact, he was slightly better. Both QBs didn't get any real rhythm going. But Kodi has had much less help in terms of WRs catching the ball.
I think that move right there started the separation from potentially good to awful. And I'm not saying Kodi gets it right now. Todd knew the offense. But it didn't matter. He couldn't react fast enough, he couldn't run, and he couldn't get enough on the ball to be remotely dangerous. I am saying a good opportunity was missed by not running with Kodi early on.
If we see the same offensive results and the corresponding defensive breakdowns that have arisen particularly over the last two games, a reasonable person could surmise that the team has thrown in the proverbial towel. A team that quits on their coach=new coach. Period (grammatical rules dictate another one). Next Thursday will be the gauge for the rest of the season.
Kris, I felt I witnessed the defense throwing it in vs Arky. I haven't seen Auburn loafing like that since last year's UGA game. Loafing on and off the field and loafing in pass coverage. No attitude. Human nature to finally cave in when your supporting cast can't produce.
*** Tubs said he worked all three QB's about equally today and they all looked good.
Too bad Franklin's not around to talk about how bad they really were.
Just kidding.
No, they were noy loafing. And a new coach (Rhoads) wouldn't have stood for it.
They were worn down. They have been hurt, less substitutions and with that you get the "look" of someone not being aggressive.
At the beginning of the season, everyone was worried this new "Spread" offense would caise the defense to become tired.
Wrong, this offense and all of its 3 and outs have made this defense "tired". Its not loafing or giving up.
so I am gonna try this question again..i read where someone suggested malzahn at tulsa for OC and I asked whether that was the guy that is the ex-coach from arkansas..you know he came in a package deal with Casey Dick..really I want to know cause the funny thing is he was a high school coach what..two years ago..think he bought the DVD?
Todd had the edge in terms of knowledge of the offense and executing the plays correctly, going through the progressions. He was also about 5% better in completion percentage. That is where I think he had the edge. He played very well the first few games, but the further the season has gone on, the worse he has look.
My biggest criticism of Todd is that any time Kodi got some playing time, Todd seemed to come back in and play worse, as if his ego got bruised because another QB was in. That is my trouble with Todd, not his arm. If a QB is not mentally tough enough to come in and play at any time, I don't think he should be the starter.
On the other hand Kodi tends to come in and make things happen. No, it won't work all the time. His passing has to improve, but he has been good enough where I couldn't see not letting him get at least around 20 snaps a game. If we had done that, I believe his passing would have progressed.
Like I said, Thurs. will be the tale of the tape. We will have had 12 days to hopefully put in a DIFFERENT offensive game plan. If we come out with the same stuff and produce the same results, the only conclusion to draw will be that the team and their coaches have quit. Those players know that their head coach's job is in question, the staff knows heck, everyone knows. If the staff doesn't come up with a different plan and the players don't execute it with more urgency and enthusiasm then at least in my mind, the "overweight" lady has started her tune. West Virginia is not a very good defensive team.
Malzahn is the former Arkansas high-school coach, but his affiliation was with Mitch Mustain.
Not Casey Dick.
Here we go with the "we're tired" stuff. I never here that excuse from other coaches. I've heard it from Tubs repeatedly when Auburn loses. And I here it from the cronies. I was at the game myself. I saw the defense walk on and off the field early and late. They just weren't themselves. But don't blame it on being tired. It's 4pm and they're 20 years old.
how long did they practice? what type of sets are they using? Does Rhoads think the Arky game was an anomaly?
Do we see I formation or spread. What about Power I. Wishbone? Anyone at practice tell us this stuff? Curious minds want to talk more about football than personality. We will drive ourselves crazy talking about the hate stuff.
Let's talk football.
Mslzahn came in a deal with Mitch mustain and the springdale 5. This was following one of the most successful high school coaching careers in Arkansas history.
He is great but would never come here, he has already been down that road before of having zero support from his head coach and fellow offensive staff.
Jay, totally off topic....Are you going to get the new Macbook Pro?
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2332512,00.asp
I noticed in one of your blog entries a month or so ago that you had one.
Ok. Lets talk football.
How long did they practice? Long enough.
What type of sets are they using? Who knows, it changes everyweek, but tends to look the same in the game.
Does Rhoads think the Arky game was an anomaly? I would hope so.
Feel better?
thanks for the correction jay your right...mustain tranferred to USC right?
Mark ... if you want to talk football, then start talking football. So far, you are just talking about talking about football. Let it rip. Bring up some issues. Solve some problems. Get it done.
did Malzahn bring the wildcat formation or was that Nutts?
Add Tristan Davis to your "always on the MASH" list...
OK. Question for the bloggers.
Name me your top 3 playmakers on Offense and why?
Coach Donnan today said that AU biggest problem is we have no playmakers. I know he was an offensive coach. so he might have had some validity, there.
Who they should be or who they are?
Sorry. Who currently are the playmakers? Our problems are well documented, but Donnan said playmakers were our biggest issue.
It doesn't matter what you run, I, veer, wishbone, spread. If you don't have playmakers, you will suffer.
Tristan-speed, Lester-proven, and Fannin-potential
I just thought Malzahn was a name outside the box that has the ability to create an offensive machine that can score points from a 'spread' system. Sure he got no support from Nutt, but if we had McFadden and Jones, and tried to run a pass oriented offense, he would not get my support either. I just thought that if AU is going to stay with a spread type offense, then he might be a great hire as OC.
What do you guys think?
Lester...when healthy inside the 10 this guy can score
Burns...when he's on, he can make plays
Rod Smith...good hands, good possession type guy
Yep... Malzahn would be a good hire if we could get him... but he might hold out for a head coaching position. Also, he should probably be credited with the beginning of the angst that caused Nutt's firing last year... so Tubs might want to stay away.
From Wikipedia:
Malzahn is known for his formation the "Wildcat", which became famous during his year at the Razorbacks, but is—in reality—merely a redress of the Single Wing or Wing T Offense. In Malzahn's copy, the redressed "Wildcat" lines up a running back at quarterback and sometimes a quarterback at receiver.
Also...
During the 2007 season Malzahn emerged as one of the premier offensive coordinators in the nation, as Tulsa ranked 1st in the nation in total yards per game, ahead of Texas Tech and Hawaii, and with a more balanced attack than both of these teams.
In Malzahn's first season, Tulsa became the first team in NCAA history to have a 5,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and three 1,000-yard receivers
Auburn has playmakers (i.e., game-changers), but they're all on defense:
1) Jerraud Powers
2) Sen'Derrick Marks
3) Tray Blackmon
I rhink we have two offensive problems.
1. I agree Smith is a possession type of receiver, but we don't have a WR with strength(Taylor) or speed(Obo).
2. Burns can make a bad play look good, but we don't have a QB that can move the chains and be accurate in the passing game (remember the wide open Hawthorne that Burns overthrew?)
These 2 areas have hurt us, regardless of the type of offense we run.
I agree that Malzahn was the start of Nutt's problems, but would you agree Tubb's already had his 'spread' angst from TF? Maybe with that episode behind him, Tubb's can move forward and get an OC that is more able to bend his strategy to one that works with the talent he has available. If you have ever talked to a guru (which TF is often called) you realize they never want to change the thing that gave them that title. So if the Malzahn doesn't come across as a stubborn idiot, he may fit in at AU, however I would say he needs to bring at least one of his guys with him. The BBQ bunch should be broken up.
Tulsa doesn't play in the SEC.
As we haven't made any plays, I am not sure who are playmakers are. The only big time plays we have made have been on special teams.
Actually, now that I think about it, I can name our three PLAYS, and since each one was made by a different person, then I guess that makes them playmakers.
Tristan Davis - Kickoff return for TD
Robert Dunn - Punt return for TD
Mario Fannin - 40 reception for TD
Those are our three offensive plays of the year. It's bad when you can name them.
Buck, that post sounds like the same dog and pony show that got Tony Franklin to Auburn.
Tulsa also doesn't have SEC caliber offensive players... but apparently they still get the job done.
It's all about coaching.
I cannot believe any of you are seriously talking about Malzahn as OC. Step back and think...why in the world would Auburn put themselves back in potentially the same problem as this year AND why would Malzahn put himself back in potentially a repeat of last year.
Because we need an OC?
"It's all about coaching"
Of course. Absolutely. I mean, it has nothing at all to do with size, speed, and athletic ability. It's all about coaching. Mazlahn could take the Lords of the Dance squad and it to weeks have it ready to run all over Texas or Oklahoma. Because he's THAT good man. It's all about coaching.
...and because we have $350k to prove it?
This is EXACTLY the reason you don't redshirt a guy who can play just to redshirt him.
A practice you've seen backed away from lately.
Do we see I formation or spread. What about Power I. Wishbone? Anyone at practice tell us this stuff? Curious minds want to talk more about football than personality.
We can't go to practice. As far as strategy, you see as much as the writers.
I thought that was Malzahns "wildcat" formation. I guess that's not bad that a formation a high school coach came up with is working in the NFL...but I still don't think that qualifies him as a O.C. in the S.E.C.
SEC ball is very good, but just becaus ea team doesn't play here doesn't mean they are not good. There are plenty of good coaches outside the SEC. I think Tulsa is good team that can score points. I think the OC has a creative approach to an offensive scheme that can work in this league.
I agree with buck, it is all about coaching. If you can coach you can coach. If not you should get fired.
Malzahn's offense, while at least somewhat unorthodox, absolutely emphasizes the run a la Oklahoma.
Tulsa runs. A lot. My parents are Tulsa people, live in Tulsa, love them some Golden Hurricane. So I know all about Tulsa.
Malzahn and Franklin are the same exact guy. What happened last year at Arkansas was a mirror image of the Tony Franklin experiment. Power running school takes on spread offense. OC brings his own QB. HC doesn't believe in said QB. Offense has problems producing the same numbers that they were sold would be happening. Internal Strife ensues. Spread is a bust. OC is gone to produce huge numbers at a level lower than SEC caliber (well, Franklin hasn't done that yet, but I'm sure it will follow suit.
hehehehehehehehehehehehehe
Golden Hurricane.....
don't.....
do.....
it..........
fffeeennnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
They have a very balanced attack. the problem I see is that many AU fans will wait until he is hired, look at the stats at Tulsa and think AU can put up 600 yards a game. It will not happen. It will get better, but it may take a season.
In my opinion, Tubb's is committed to staying with this offense (non-offense for now) so wishing for an I formation, power running scheme is not going to happen at AU while he is there. now he may get sent packing over it, but if he stays, I think the spread stays.
Did y'all know the Bad News Bears was based on a true story? The part they left out was that all of those unathletic kids went on to play major league ball and win awards like MVP and Golden Glove. Why were they able to do that? Because it's all about coaching. A good coach can work miracles.
This is being typed in the sarcastic font.
"You win with Jimmies and Joes not x's and O's."
Knute Rockne
Bill Parcells
Bill Walsh
Vince Lombardi
Doug BArfield
Gerry Faust
Ty Willingham
Yeah, every damn one of 'em said it.
pred
You surely have to have talent. However, w/o coaching, it is just eleven guys on a field doing whatever. Kinda like the offense AU runs now.
Of course it is coaching. Look to the dark side and you see a coach that knows how to coach. Like him or hate him, he CAN coach. He doesn't have as much talent (upper class) as AU, but so far he surely has gotten more from his bunch then we have gotten from ours and that is coaching.
I just wnat AU to win and am looking for someone that wants the same.
Yep, I agree Anon...
Check these stats:
Tulsa 2006 pre-Malzahn
Total Offense: 5051, 46 TDs
Yds Rushing: 2107
Yds Passing: 2944
Tulsa 2007 (same players, with Malzahn coaching):
Total Offense: 7615, 77 TDs
Yds Rushing: 2421
Yds Passing: 5194
An increase in offensive production of 50%, without decreasing rushing yardage! The The only difference was the coach (and the fact that they picked up a bunch of guys from Lords Of The Dance).
Maybe that is the difference, they are pretty quick with thier feet.
TULSA and Little Rock Central obviously aren't the same as Arkansas, just like Troy and Hoover(and every other high school in america that bought the "How I play football," by CTF book) are not Auburn.
Mulzahn is the worst idea ever.
I concur.
Tony Franklin isn't a D-I OC. He won't be next season. He will be somewhere in the HIGH SCHOOL RANKS.
Same with MAlzan.
Grow a pair and bring in an ENTIRE OFFENSIVE STAFF.
Who is Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post.
He's the Dousche who asked Tubs that gay question today.
He writes the University of Florida blog for the Palm Beach Post:
His Blog
On a more important note, that BAN HAMMER pic on the main blog is hot. I'm so digging that loincloth.
I remember in the pregame interview on the radio with Tub before the LaMonroe game, his line was "we haven't had a lot of big plays the last couple of years, probably less than a handful of 20+ yard plays last year. That's what this offense is going to do. It's going to make us more dynamic and get us a lot of big plays."
As Phred said, it's bad when you can name all of the offensive big plays...and he actually gave Fannin about 15 extra yards than he had on his TD. I believe it was a 26 yard TD and it came folling a Powers int at Vandy.
Last weeks game was the most pathetic I've seen in a long time. Our points came off of a KR for a TD, two long int returns that set us up for FG's, a fumble on a kick off that gave us a short field for a TD, and an intentionally taken safety by Ark. Our only two big plays that weren't defensive or special teams were Trott making a big catch on a ball that Burns threw too high and Hawthorne catching a Burns pass that was throw late and too far behind him that had he caught in stride is an easy TD.
We've taken a step back in every game & I'm still waiting on that offense that consistantly gets 20+ yards at a time.
When is the "Hatin' w/ Jay G. Tate" this morning?
Isn't it usually on Thursday mornings?
Fear the BANHAMMER.
That's all I'm saying.
Yea. 8:30 today.
That Urban Myer and his gimmick spread offense will never work in this conference either...
Get over it people. The spread offense works and can work against SEC level competition with SEC offensive players.
They had an interview with Malzahn on NFL countdown last week. He basically said the "wildcat" was about getting the ball in the hands of your best player. His teams use tempo really well. Something I thought we would see this year at AU. I think he would be a great hire. I'm not sure we could get him though.
Tulsa would beat Arkansas this year.
At least that's what every Arkansas fan I know says.
Jay,
Do you have the link?
Alan, do you have a link?
Pete, do you have a link to that story that hiring Gus is a bad idea?
Jay, could you remove/replace the lame quote at the top of the page? It gives me bad gas.
I found their webpage, but the link to listen live isn't working. So I guess we can't hear it this week.
Alan,
Every Arkansas fan you know will find out for sure when they play each other on Nov. 1.
Anon, check back for the link on Nov. 2.
Here is the link:
http://www.thefan970.com/
Listen Live isn't working for me either though...
For everyone saying that Malzahn's offense wouldn't work in the SEC, please let me remind you that while he was in charge of the Arkansas offense, that they went to the SEC title game and nearly beat Florida to win it. I would also like to mention that they obliterated us at Jordan-Hare that same year.
Also, I saw where someone said that Malzahn and Franklin are the same because, "they both want they're QB." That's not entirely true. Malzahn was RECRUITED to Arky so that Mustain would sign. When Malzahn was let go, Mustain left.
I'm not saying that I would hire him right now, but I know that his offense can work in the conference. It's been proven.
Football 101 - at least for the SEC - says you run the ball. During today's interviews, I would be interested in hearing if we are running the football more. Are we changing up the style that we plan to use the rest of the year?
I would love for Jay or someone to speak with Tate to find out.
QB. - Honestly, I do think the spread will work. I am just not sure it will work this year at Auburn. We do not have the receivers (or at least they do not have the knowledge/skill/experience to get open consistently in the spread. I would like to see bootlegs, play action and an occasional deep pass to keep everyone honest.
CTT is an excellent coach. He is not doing an excellent job. Personally, I do not like him. That is rooted in this past year's attempt to find a new job. At least that is my take on it.
I just do not think he is an Auburn man. I think he is a Tuberville man. JMHO. Flame On.
As far as Malzahn's offense working in the SEC a couple of years ago, it wasn't exactly his offense. The Nutt made him run wildhog against his will, if I recall. Parents had been told they would run Malzahn's free wheelin' passing offense, and they were pretty upset with Nutt for not letting him.
As similar as that situation was to Auburn's situation this year, it makes me proud that parents weren't involved.
Jay,
I'm listening to wmsp, have you been on yet?
You're right Michael. Arkansas didn't beat us in 2006 using Malzahn's offense. They threw 10 passes for only 87 yards (and that included a lucky 50 yd TD pass).
If he was allowed to run his offense, why would he have left for Tulsa?
I think WMSP was yesterday
Guys,
Here's the link:
http://www.sportsradio740.com/includes/news_items/1/news_items_more.php?id=67§ion_id=1
Malzan left Arkansas because Nutt took over the offense when Mustain struggled.
Well,
I feel like a dummy!!!!!
Well thats te link anyway for the future!!
That link isn't the show Jay is n this morning.
That I think was yesterday mornings show.
Anonymous,
Here's the link to the story about Malzahn being a terrible idea:
See posts by a Peter Frankenschmidt
Why the heck do I have to have a link to some sports journalist (who probably just read a story by Jay G, or another beat writer who actually did the legwork) to have an opinion, especially when the whole situation just played itself out in some form, right in front of our eyes?
It will be interesting to see how the rest of thois season plays out. And I'm looking at UGA, UT, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State in particular. Maybe when it's all said and done there will be plenty of reasons to look back on this season as just plain odd.
Who has the most potential to be the playmakers: Kodi Burns, Mario Fannin, Tristan Davis, Ben Tate.
Who have been the playmakers: Robert Dunn-until an injury; Jerraud Powers- until an injury; Sen Derrick Marks-until an injury. Until the problems with the o-line are fixed it doesn't matter who the playmakers are.
Sorry, guys.
Hatin with Jay G. is based out of Jackson, Miss.
I should have linked. I didn't. I'm a dumbass. I haven't blogged well. I haven't thought ahead enough. I'd boo me.
I'll get back to blogging. That's all I know how to do.
This is about to turn ugly.
Pretty soon Jay G. will be all over these posts,stepping on everyones toes...changing peoples messages...telling certain posters that they would be in the Golden Circle of HABOTN posters if they were really worth a $#!+. This is going to end ugly.
I'm so confused.
Jay, you're going to have to delete your post for insulting yourself and using profanity.
See how that works?
I'll try to be less stupid.
i keep forgetting about that MS station. so, besides the obvious, what what the key topics of 'hate' today?
oh, and this is the WEEZER weekend, isn't it?
Weezer is next weekend.
You know, they have medicine for that.
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