Interesting comment from Don Dunn
Apparently, the top offense and the top defense have been squaring off more frequently in practice these days. So when did this start?
I'll let Dunn tell you.
"(It's) rare this year just because of the philosophy and the way we were doing things earlier on offense," Dunn said. ``Now, we're getting back to doing inside against the offense and doing blitz and things like that that you need to do."
So when did it change?
"Ten days, two weeks ago."
I'll let Dunn tell you.
"(It's) rare this year just because of the philosophy and the way we were doing things earlier on offense," Dunn said. ``Now, we're getting back to doing inside against the offense and doing blitz and things like that that you need to do."
So when did it change?
"Ten days, two weeks ago."
posted by Jay G. Tate at
8:02 PM
177 Comments:
So that's why Defense has been struggling lately. They are practicing false starts, holds, and wiff blocks by the O-line...
Throwing the old (10 months) guard under the bus.
Well, different coaches do things differently.
I can't imagine it's hard for the starting D to shut down the attack of the starting O right now.
Geez- There is no way the offense or the defense can be as physical as they need to be without. Thats just terrible that we have not been running these drills.
Actually Mr. Sensible, I think the Starting O could give the Starting D a run for its money.
Well that explains the gaudy numbers that Todd and Burns were putting up in fall practice.
Back in the winter Rhoads said he was concerned that his defense wasn't getting or going to get enough time against a power O
Todd and Burns must have been throwing at Ethridge to get those gaudy numbers in the fall practices.
Eddie, you asked me earlier what I really think will happen.
Tubs stays.
Knox and possibly Ensminger do "other things." I think Gran may go for a job as an OC somewhere - maybe even out of state. (He interviewed for a job with USA last season.)
I can see Tubs bringing in an OC that runs the "hybrid-spread" he is wanting - probably from mid-major conference or even I-AA - along with a couple coaches.
Not sure if any of the Defensive staff "moves."
I hope you are right Mr. Sens. I doubt that any of the Defensive coaches will go anywhere. Dunn and Price are top notch if you ask me and I believe Willis is beloved by most.
I am very concerned with where this team is in terms of injuries. We are in serious trouble with the defensive backs. We relied on the defense to save the day too many times and we are now paying the price.
The injuries on offense have also been pretty staggering. It seems like our runningbacks have been constantly banged up. Key players such as Dunn and Fanin have hurt as well.
Somehow they need to find a balance between practice and keeping people healthy for the last two games. In terms of defense, we need to get the backup DBs ready, but the rest of the defense needs to be rested.
In terms of offense, I think it was pretty clear what was missing. We must be able to throw the ball over the middle, behind the linebackers. The longer the game went on against WV, the closer to the line the linebackers crept up. They didn't fear giving up passes over the middle or long. That has to become a threat.
"U.S. Army Says Blogging Site 'Twitter' Could Become Terrorist Tool"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444089,00.html
Hope your not a terrorist Jay.
Don't know where I'd get my Auburn info.
James Willis is a dogged recruiter. I know that.
I'd never use Twitter for anything other than HOTTIE-benefiting communications.
Oh, and the occasional concert update.
Just think. The CIA probably has some schmuck monitoring this blog!
JG, does Dunn Grumble when he talks?
...just got back from a trip to North Carolina. I will not be reading the thousand+ comments of the last half week, as they will make me feel even more disappointed than I already am.
Dang, Ones on Ones. Novel Idea.
Mr. Sensible, you're scenario for what might happens sounds reasonable to me. The offense needs some changes, but I sure hope they keep Tubs and the defensive coaches around.
The injuries sure haven't gone Auburn's way this year. I had a bad feeling about the season when we lost our supposed 2 best receivers on the opening kickoff and the first play from scrimmage. Wonder how the season might have turned out if Pierre-Louis hadn't gotten hurt? Having just one playmaker like him could have been the difference in winning and losing.
Its always such a fine line between winning and losing in the SEC. What if Spencer Pybus had hit the LSU QB a half-second sooner on that first long TD pass they had? If they don't convert that play, they probably don't win the game. And if AU had beaten LSU, they would have had an altogether different attitude going to Vandy, and probably beat them. And Franklin doesn't have his Tuesday meltdown and doesn't get fired, and who knows where we might be today? For sure, we wouldn't be talking about Tubs getting fired.
We need to just make it through the season and give Tubs a chance to correct things before next year.
And I would rate the year a huge success if we beat an undefeated Bammer team and knock them out of the BCS picture. Don't think it can't happen.
War Eagle to all.
And hitting?
WOW.
The more this thing sets in with me the more pissed I am at Tuberville for the hire. maybe Borges needed to go but CTT not interviewing the candidate is lazy and irresponsible.
His record is fine and his players are classy. I have no problem with that stuff but SOONER rather than later, this lazy, complacent attitude will catch up.
I hope he steps aside on his own personally.
Probably shouldn't refer to federal agents as "schmuck."
Just an idea...
Dunn definitely grumbles. He's a D-line coach! They come out of the womb grumbling about pad level.
Spencer Pybus?
I've got a better scenerio. What if this staff had recruited better and a guy who was offered on signing day wouldn't have had to be in the game and a 3rd year sophomore with three years under Coach Yox had been in his spot?
Spencer Pybus being in that game at that point in time proves that this head coach is lagging in recruiting.
I agree that Pybus having a significant role is not a good sign for this team.
I feel the same way about Dee Hood. He shouldn't be playing at all. I'm certain he has good days ahead of him, but he's not sufficiently refined.
the only thing missing this year is some sort of scandal.
Agree on Pybus and Hood, says a lot, especially in Pybus' case. Bo Harris was supposed to be one of the linebackers this year, but point about weak recruiting well-taken.
Whats our ranking in the BCS?
Ok, now I have got that off my chest. I hope we keep tuberville and win two or three games we are not supposed to a year and lose two or three games we are not supposed to and the stars and moons will stay aligned in their right orbits.
Had the defense remained injury free, we would have won 2 of the four. Certainly the Vandy game.
We knew we were thin this year. The injuries to a thin team are the difference between a decent team and a a crappy team.
I am actually kind of pleased with our recruits. It looks like we have many that can contribute. Pybus didn't have to be a starter. There were other options. Last years recruiting class may have not been star studded, but I think it turned into a pretty solid class.
I think the question of position coaches is mute. Let Tubbs decide that. He should know better than any of us. If he doesn't, we need to get a head coach that does.
I am curious why so many seem to feel Muschamp would be a good head coach. Yes, he is a good defensive coordinator, but I didn't see characteristics in him that made me think he was head coach material.
Jay,
Have you been hearing anything on Muschamp? Not sure why, but the boards today have been consumed with Muschamp talk. Anything to it? wde
Jay, is this just a bad year? It seems much worse than that- team looks flat, no emotion and maybe it is just me but Tubbs just looks like he has nothing left. I know he talks the good game but something just seems...not right.
I know AU is pretty beat up in the secondary, but haven't heard much about D line and linebackers. Only ones I've heard on the injury list are Blackmon and AC Carter. Is there any kind of full list available? Just curious.
It seemed the whole defense looked tired by the start of the 2nd half. I thought the offense controlled the clock well if nothing else. That was more Tubsesque. Just bad play in the second half all-around though. It looked like there was a good bit of the Borges offense mixed in there Thursday as well. Anyone else notice that?
Coosa- I don't see any way this season can be a success. Beating bama would ease the pain of a lot of people, but when you are predicted (rightly or wrongly) to win the SEC West and you are sitting at 4-4 after 8 games, to me this year is a failure no matter how the rest of the games finish. You should not be out of the SEC race after 7 games, which we were. I'm tired of never living up to expectations, but I guess that is the Auburn Way.
The most frustrating seasons as fans are when you believe your team is going to be good (2003, 2006 & 2008 in football and 99-00 basketball) and you don't come close to living up to what the hype is. I'm tired of winning in the underdog role all the time. Maybe it is crazy to want more, but I do.
I was born in 1977, so for most of my life Auburn has been on an equal footing if not a better footing than bama and I'm tired of everyone being satisfied with just beating bama.
Sorry guys, just felt like sharing some of my frustrations with this year and previous years.
Scandal??? Anyone remember some guy named Tony Franklin?
Jay G., why do you think Tuberville has already ruled out any of the current staff for promotion to OC next year?
If you think it's frustrating being an Auburn fan, take a walk in a Tennessee fan's shoes.
This if from Gridiron Breakdown regular guest Will Shelton.
State of UT
Your right Mr. Sensible, I'm glad i'm not an UT Fan. Fulmer is all but gone at the end of the year.
Eddie,
It's going to be a long 5 months until the Spring Game and even longer 4 more months until next season.
Basketball - I don't expect much here
Baseball - New coach so who knows?
Welcome to Scarlet.
I actually think basketball will be improved and more competitive this year, but I don't see any post season play. I really miss having a good basketball team, granted, we don't have one very often. I'm just glad I was at Auburn during the great times as far as Basketball goes.
Welcome Scarlet!!!!
I find it hilarious to listen to the bama fans complaining right now about Penn State jumping them if they don't win big.
It's a mixed bag on WMSP this morning.
Some Bama fans talking about booking tickets for Atlanta.
Some talking about Saban and "The Process" and one game at a time.
Running through a few questions...
re: Muschamp. He won't be the next head coach at Auburn. All the hype in the world won't change that.
re: Is this a bad season? That's my opinion. I should have been more aware of the lack of vocal leadership on offense. There's nobody to rally people together. It's basically Jason Bosley right now and that's not his thing. Look at the other high-profile seniors: Brad Lester (quiet), Tyronne Green (quiet), Rod Smith (unassuming).
I think that's an important element to this situaiton.
The defense? Those issues are more concrete.
Jay,
Has there been any talk about someone else doing kickoff duty? Can Durst kick off a tee?
Jay,
What leads you to believe that Muschamp is not now, nor ever will be, a candidate at AU? Is the resistance coming from him or from AU?
Also, what are the assistants saying about the criticism of their performance this year? Do they think it's unwarranted? Or are you permitted to talk to them about that kind of thing?
Thanks, I'll hang up and listen. . .
Byrum has been OK with kickoffs.
Passable.
As far as Muschamp ... if Auburn fires Tuberville, it has to get a top-tier coach. Muschamp, as much as I like him personally, isn't there just yet.
He needs a smaller HC gig first.
I bet Syracuse has an opening for Muschamp.
I can hear his profanity reverberating off the Carrier Dome walls now...
Syracuse has a football team??? I thought they gave it up when they hired Greg Robinson :)!
Much like UAB, Syracuse has uniforms and offers "scholarships" for people to play a game similar to football. Unlike most games of football though, these teams specialize in being cannon fodder for other teams.
Byrum has been decent on kickoffs...our kickoff coverage & punt coverage teams haven't been very good though.
My concern is that there are no slam-dunk 'top tier' HCs out there that we could realistically pursue.
I don't think Davis would leave Chapel Hill. That's a great gig and they seem willing to pay him well. I may be wrong, but I'd be willing to bet that their admin would be easier to work with than AU's.
Who else? I'd like Grobe, because he seems to be a no-nonsense, standup kind of guy, and he's won games (and a conference title) at a place where virtually no one could be successful. Would we go after someone like that? Maybe, but again he may be comfortable enough at Wake to stay put for less money.
Other than that, everyone is a crapshoot. Leach? Pinkel? Gundy? They are all historically 4-loss guys, like Tubs. Can you honestly call them 'top-tier'? I don't think so.
I guess I could live with Muschamp, because he would inject some buzz into the program that I think has been lacking for some time now. He may not be up for the job, but he may end up like Bob Stoops, too, so who knows.
Hey, haven't heard this name mentioned, but what are the odds that Chizik is considered? He's basically got the same resume as Muschamp plus a couple of year's HC experience. Granted he hasn't done much yet at ISU yet, but at least he meets that part of the criteria.
Uhmm...I thought we were all past the "fire Tubs....bring in new blood" stuff.
All, Do we have another 2004 scenerio shaping up this year? I'm willing to be that the most we have undefeated at the end of the year is 1 team, and it will more than likely be Penn State. What says ya?
I'm not sold that the SEC champion will be unblemished.
I agree Eddie. I see (we are) Penn State winning its last three, but I'm not so sure about Texas, Bama, and the other unbeaten that nobody is talking about, Texas Tech, going umblemished. Though ask me again if Texas wins this weekend; after that, a probable rematch with Missouri is all that stands in the way (or Colt getting hurt).
Hell has froze over. My brother "Michael" is actually posting on the blog :)!!!
Oh, so Jay dropping the odds to 'only' a 1-in-4 chance that Tubs survives means we're past the crisis?
Dang, reading the AU futures market has gotten more confusing than predicting the price of oil in six months. . . ;-b
hey, there is already a michael posting in here! F!
In reply to Byrum being OK in kickoffs, he still has never gotten a touchback that I can remember and kicks it out of bounds here and there. If Durst can get touchbacks regularly, that is a huge advantage. I would think it would at least be worth looking at by the coaching staff.
Brent- I don't know about AU, but i'd be selling oil.
I don't consider discussing possible new coaches appropriate at the moment. Should we win the next two games things will get interesting. Until recently, I considered an upset of UGA possible, but they seem to have finally come together. Bama is a different matter. They are similar to us in that they seem to be a first half team. If it is close at halftime, we could upset them.
Who else sees the BCS falling apart in a few years?
I think the end is near.
Same goes for you, G.I. Joe!
Jay G. is now attracting fringe elements to the posts.
Nevertheless, welcome aboard Cobra Commander and glad you have an account.
Hey, a Tim registered!
Check this quote out:
"Mazzone, we wanted to make a change because we wanted to run a little different offense. We weren't doing that well," Tuberville said. "Al, basically, we wanted to go to the spread. Hugh, that's because we were doing pretty good - give a guy a chance who's been with me - and it didn't work out."
So once again, we learned that we were running a form of the spread all along with Borges. You know, this Tuberville Zen experience is starting to wear on me. I am about to start bragging about our innovative 2004 undefeated run where we used the spread, and how our success pressured Florida to bring in a spread guy, and whatnot.
Where did you get those quotes Michael Jan Terry?
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1225008932229840.xml&coll=2&thispage=1
Thanks.
Wow, I realize I totally misread that quote. They made the change with Al because they wanted to go spread, not that Al ran the spread.
OK, gravity still pulls things down, up is up again... for now.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sorry Michael. I mean, what are the odds that there would be another Michael posting? Such an uncommon name. Hopefully my new name leaves you less bereaved, as well as more indentifiable with my big bro.
Tuberville changing coordinators is like me and my organization always trying to get someone to take out the Joes. Destro? Zartan and the Dredknocks? then that idiot Serpentor?
Maybe we should give Franklin a call as he seems to have completely poisoned Auburn this year...
I wouldn't say Franklin poisoned Auburn. Was he a good fit? Clearly not. But I don't think the team is poisoned, per say.
Va Tech has had down years too. They didn't throw the regime out when the chips were down. They stuck with him and are on the way back up in the near future.
By the way, I know it's Halloween and all, but aren't you taking this "Cobra" thing a little far?
Maybe he is the real Cobra Commander.
Hopefully the Commander isn't a booster, because I'd hate for someone to come in and investigate where the money is coming from.
On the BCS, I do see a possibility this year that we end up with something similar to 2004. Should Penn State win out, I think they are a lock for the BCS title game. With JoePa, it is just too big of a feel good story for them not to make it. If Texas goes undefeated, they will be the other team. This could leave a team like Bama on the outside looking in, although I don't think Bama will go undefeated. The SECCG should take care of that.
Steve- If we have 3 undefeated's at the end of the year, I think that Penn State will be left out due to the computers and their strength of schedule being weak. We really need a plus one system. I could live with that. Surely that that is something that could not be hard to do.
SteveFC, who do you take in the Cocktail Party? Florida or Georgia?
Mr. Sensible,
I don't understand the VT reference. Are you talking about from several years ago? They have had at least 10 wins 5 of the last 6 years.
Also, VT's winning tradition started with Beamer. Why would they dump the only coach who has ever done anything there?
Not Steve, but I take Florida. Georgia' defense has been pretty bad lately. This game has potential to be a prime time Big 12 game with a lot of scoring. It shoudl be an entertaining game to watch.
Who would have thought that LSU's defense would have given up over 50 points to both Florida and Georgia?
Jim- I think the reference that people are making to VT is that in Beamer's 6th season at VT he went 2-8-1 and most wanted him fired. He survived and the rest is history. People are suggesting that patience is the way to go regarding Tubs and not jumping ship after one terrible year.
I am tending to take Georgia over Florida because I think Georgia has a more complete offense. It is actually a pretty close match up because both seem to have hit the stride.
That is why I believe either will beat Bama. I see Bama as limited to how much they can improve. They still have depth issues.
As for a plus one game, I think this is the most likely thing we may see within the next 10 years. I don't see a big change happening.
People are assuming Fulmer is out. If you look at their schedule, they have lost to good teams, at least better than those we have lost to. I think the UT situation is different because they have been on a more gradual decline.
Jim,
Eddie's answer is same as mine.
Thanks Eddie and SteveFC for weighing in on the SECCG.
That's open to all by the way as are all my question posts.
By the way, I still Nominate SteveFC for RoF honors.
Eddie, you are next I bet.
eddie and sensi,
No doubt patience was the right call in 1992 with Frank Beamer. But six seasons at VT (who had no winning tradition and was not in a conference at the time) is totally different that 10 seasons at AU.
Also, I bet Beamer was not one the top 10 highest paid coaches in 1992.
"Who would have thought that LSU's defense would have given up over 50 points to both Florida and Georgia?"
I don't think you can blame Lee's 2 pick-6's on LSU's defense.
So, someone is taking Jay's comments about Muschamp not being the next HC from here and trying to get Bryan Mathews opinion on that comment. By the way, Bryan only said maybe / maybe not on Muschamp being the next OC, but it did get a response from him. Just thought I would share that.
Jay- What is your take on Gouge and JJ not saying anything?
Your right weagle, but I don't think LSU could stop air at the end of those games.
Dang it. Remind me to preview my posts. I mean HC instead of OC in the above comment. But hey, Muschamp would make a good OC i bet :)!
Weagle is hitting on something.
The top teams in this conference (and the Big 12) all have one thing in common - a QB coming in with playing experience and/or major next-level talent.
SEC
Georgia - Stafford w/that cannon arm
Florida - Tim Superman Tebow
Alabama - JPW has leadership & exp.
Big 12
Texas - Colt McCoy (Heisman 08)
Oklahoma - Sam Bradford (Hman 2nd)
Tx.Tech - G. Harrell (stat monster)
Ok. St. - Zac Robinson solid leader
Regarding the WLOCP, I think Florida takes it. As Eddie said, Georgia's defense has been less than impressive even though it's managed to keep them from getting beat by all except Bama.
Look for the revenge factor to come into play as Meyer asks Tebow & Company "Remember last year? Remember the End Zone Dance?"
I really think Florida has too much to play for this year to lose the game. Course, you could've said the same thing about them last year when WE beat them.
Mr. S, championship teams seem to always have an experienced QB and a solid defense. Even with a team like Bama, JPW has been around long enough to where he is able to make smarter decisions. QBs can't win games by themselves, but they certainly can loose them.
No Doubt Mr. Sensible. You need a proven QB to be successful in this league. Most teams that win the SEC Championship have experienced QB's that can manage the game well and make playes when needed(Flynn, Flynn, Shockey (maybe the exception but still a SR), Campbell, Mauk, Greene,Davey & Grossman (THE EXCEPTION). Just saying.
Florida is looking outstanding, but I still don't see how they lost to Ole Miss. Georgia's loss to Bama isn't nearly as shocking as what Ole Miss was able to do. Granted, UGA's defense looked horrible in the first half against Bama. It actually reminds me of how UGA did us last season in the second half. The defense got on its heals.
Costly mistakes is how they got beat by Ole Miss but have you noticed any mistakes in the three wins they've had since that game?
I think the whole team really took that loss to heart and have used it to motivate them.
Wish that AU could've done the same after the LSU or Vandy loss.
Does anyone have a full injury report for this team? I tried this question before, but no response. Just curious how bad off we are.
Senior experienced QB's are generally worth two or three wins as they can handle the pressure of close games.
I was never a big Brandon Cox fan, but we wouldn't have beaten Florida, Alabama or Arkansas last year without him.
As much as my brother would laugh at me for saying, Cox definitely put us in a postion to win games and managed the game fairly well...except when he played Georgia the last 2 years.
Monica gets another shout out from Doug on The Roundtable.
I'm jealous. I've known the guy for 5 years.
The Roundtable guys are talking about a possible move at Tennessee.
Tune In
Mr. Sensible- I would have thought you were getting paid by Doug and Josh as much as you plug them. Just said that they cannot acknowledge you. So I will officially give you a shoutout on the HABOTN!!! :)
If Florida can maintain the level they've been at for the past few weeks, then forget the WLOCO. They're winning the conference.
Weagle- What's "WLOCO"?
For the record, I am not compensated in any way by WMSP. I just think for "local/regional" sports programming, they are superior to other options in the state.
Sending an email Mr. Sensible...well you got the shout out.
They love Monica!!!
Doug just gave a shout out to all the hotties on The Roundtable...Monica is getting some serious air time!!
'Preciate it, Eddie$
Which coach(es) currently on the hot seat to be fired do you think will be coaching elsewhere next season?
Greg Robinson - Syracuse
Ty Willingham - Washington
Phillip Fulmer - Tennessee
Joe Tiller - Purdue
Tommy Bowden - Clemson(fired early)
Tommy Tuberville - Auburn
Here are my opinions.
Robinson may go back to the NFL. He's respected there.
Willingham is a good coach but can't seem to get it done on the field. I'm sure someone will give him a chance.
Bowden will wind up on CBS or ESPN.
Fulmer and Tubs if they are run will probably just retire.
Tiller - I'm not sure about at all.
World's Largest Outdoor Coke Orgy.
It was EDSBS's suggested alternative name for the game after UGA's president asked that it not be called the WLO Cocktail Party anymore.
Tiller will go back to making commercials about Quaker Oatmeal and Diabetes. He'd also be available for Cocoon 3.
I said this in my call this morning to the Sportsline on WMSP but the most interesting part of the article that was in the B'ham news this weekend was Tuberville's decision to go to the spread away from Al Borges. "Al was with us four years. That's a pretty long time," Tuberville said. "And he did good. If we wanted to stay and keep doing that, Al knows the offense. That's not the reason I made that change. I made the change because I wanted to do something different because of recruiting. We were just getting hammered in terms of getting wide receivers."
How do we get killed at recruiting recievers when the recruiting coordinator is a recivers coach?
What name do you go by on John & Barry's show Biscuitator?
Lou Holtz better watch out for this guy on the postgame wrap up show. Enjoy if you can:
Bama Fan Review of UT Game
And why is getting hammered getting WRs Al Borges's fault?
The Tuberville Zen Experience™, biscuitator.
Learn it. Know it. Love it.
Cobra- I believe Bowden most likely to coach again. Tiller is retiring and Tubs I don't think would coach again, but just my opinion.
High school recruits can see that a WR has never gone to AU and improved their game. Tim Carter told somebody after a Senior Bowl practice that he learned more in 5 days down there than 5 years at AU. Sad?
What's in the special sauce at Bronco Burger, weagle251?
Something must be up today.
Very few updates from Jay G.
Usually means he's gone dark and is digging for the news.
Or Tubs has the place on lock-down.
eddit, thanks for the link. I do so much admire expert analysis by Bama fans. You really can't beat it. I am not sure what makes it special, possibly the alcohol.
Your on to something Mr. Sensible- Jay sure has been quiet today. Wonder whats up?
Eddie$, that's a great vid. Thanks for the laugh.
Maybe I'm going too much into the black helicopter world, but I have my suspicions raised due to the lack of stuff on here from JGT.
Wonder if he's at the airport watching airplanes? Just sayin...
Other than injury reports, I am not sure there is much I want to hear out of Auburn for a while. To talk about how much better the players feel about what we are dong prior to each loss gets pretty old. The offense can only be simplified so much.
On the upside, I do think Burns has finally shown he can be a solid SEC QB. That has to be a bright spot, even with the losses.
If the West Virginia game wasn't a must win, it was close. The game against Ole Miss has to be a must win for Tuberville.
As for receivers, I think Auburn has become the place that high profile reveiving recruits to disappear. This has to change. Our success with runningbacks has only been matched by our failures at wide receiver. Somehow they must get some kind of intermediate passing game going.
Maybe Jay is incapacitated with a bad case of diarrhea.
I wonder how many bama fans pose as Auburn fans and call into these shows. I've jus heard too many things over the past couple of weeks tjat I would never would have believed an Auburn Fan could or would say.
Steve- I agree whole heartedly about our WR play. It seems like we have some decent recruits that come in and never materialize. I do believe that we have a special WR on the roster in Pierre-Luis sp?. He has potential to be a game breaker. Just sucks that he was hurt on the first play of the year.
Dang it! I missed shout outs????
SteveFC, you make good points. Ole Miss is a must win in my book.
I'm not ready to say Burns is a top-tier SEC QB just yet. He finally got to play one full game.
He needs to be the guy to get these other guys together. One thing that impressed me about Nick Stephens at UT was how he got on his guys. One WR was cutting up on the sidelines late in that game and Stephens let him have it.
Point is, the program doesn't have experienced leaders so the young guys need to step up big time.
I hope this is just a bad year and nothing more and not a slow move down the SEC ladder like Tennessee has taken since 2001.
Part of me thinks we'll get this turned around...but that same part also thought we'd win the last 3 games because we'd eventually just snap out of it.
Funny thing about that slow slide for UT. They still made it to Atlanta last season and were within reach of winning that thing and playing Hawaii.
"What's in the special sauce at Bronco Burger, weagle251?"
It's not the sauce really; I just shouldn't have drunk all that cough syrup this morning. It makes me forget to quote the post I'm answering.
Pierre-Louis has potential, but we have heard that before. Remember all the excitement over Chris Slaughter and how he was going to be a difference maker? Has anyone seen James Swinton? Terrell Zachary was suppose to be a difference maker. Tim Hawthorne was also suppose to be a playmaker.
Mr. S, as for Burns, I don't know how good he can be at QB. Until recently I wondered if he could ever be a starter. He always seemed to panic and scramble too early. The last couple of games he has finally started to make better decisions on when to run.
A great example of what I feared would happen with Burns at QB was against MSU last season. He did great initially, but once MSU decided they were going to force him to beat us passing, he was done. At times I wondered if Burns could ever be more than a change of pace QB.
I find it ironic that people are starting to realize what Cox contributed last season. When he had a bad game, he could have a real bad game, but in terms of directing the team on late drives, he was about as good as we have seen.
SteveFC, the only thing about Burns that I'm not sold on is that when he is in the game, either by design or invention, he has the most rushing attempts.
I'd hate to lose effort/interest of RBs because of this.
He played much better than he ever has Thursday for sure.
If we ever settle on an offense, maybe he will be "the guy."
Mr. Sensible, UT was strange last season. I still can't figure how they made the SECCG. They are lucky to play Georgia early. In a sense, I see Georgia like us. Sometime during the season our team seems to come together. How early determines how far we go. So far, we haven't reached that point this year, but I do believe Georgia has. Last year there is no way UT would have beaten Georgia late in the season. They were a different team than what UT played earlier.
Steve- I'm just sad that Brandon Cox never got any better than he was in 2005. I know he was physically banged up, but he would lock onto one receiver way too long, but he knew how to get us in the right play when needed.
Why is it we have grown accustomed to the slow start?
I, for one, would like to come out of the gate roaring, just once.
Yay Doug and Josh for not perpetuating crapola like the caller named bammer.
The HABOTN needs to converge on the PFRN someday.
Mr. Sensible- We did come out roaring in 2006 against Washington State, problem is that it was our best complete game of the year.
Ahh, good one Eddie$.
That seems so long ago. I forgot about it.
I miss those days.
Kenny Irons misses his knee too.
Eddie - First thing this morning you expressed my same frustrations exactly. Great post.
eddie, that is really the biggest job of a QB, that and not making bonehead mistakes. Somehow I think they told JPW to try not to do anything stupid, because that is really all Bama needed from a QB this season.
Cox was in a bad situation. Last season we really couldn't count on the running game and the receivers were just as good as they are this year. At a lot of times I think Cox felt forced to make something happen, and it showed. I do believe he was one of our more accurate passers, but he was trying to make plays where there were none.
I'll give a dollar to anyone who will tell me about this alleged shout out to Monica.
SteveFC, just imagine a whole season in the Franklin system with Cox at the helm and Burns at the changeup/backup.
Cox was deadly in the shotgun as it gave his statuesque pocket behavior time to make reads and throws.
Mon,
I'll review my tape and if I find it, I'll email you the audio.
Basically, Doug sent a shout out to the Hotties and to Monica. He singled you out of everyone else.
Mr. S! Don't do that! I just wanted a general idea and you just gave it to me. I hate to have any opportunity to have my ego stroked ya know. :-)
Thanks, Mr. S.
Mon- He gave you a second shout out for the directions you gave him that saved them time.
ooppss - I hate to MISS any opportunity, that is.
Money means nothing to me.
What else you got?
Jay- you saying funds are raised?
Sorry for being quiet earlier. I hadn't worked out in a few days (pre WVU) and had to get some work in.
I'm back for the remainer of the afternoon. Expect a new post within 15 minutes ...
ummm...Weezer backstage Party Pass?
Washington State was a bad team when they played us. The only guy that moved the ball for them was that bowling ball of a running back. We took him out, problem solved. I think their coach got fired after that season too, right? Oh, and we had Kenny Irons.
ahhh ok, Eddie - thanks for the details :-)
Kenny Irons wasn't fully healthy in 2006 after hurting himself on that long TD run against Washington State. With him being slowed after that, the offense slowed down as well.
The key in that game was the fake punt run by Herring, because that broke what was a decently close game open.
Extended Pat Dye segment on Finebaum? Something is up with that.
Mr S, I would have loved to have seen this offense with Cox and Burns as the change of pace guy. I think we did Burns a disservice last season the way we played him. The Peach Bowl was the only game we got in a good rhythm substituting QBs.
Franklin's comments about our QB situation being a good problem to have seem more and more ridiculous as the year goes on. I do think that Todd and Burns both had limitations that we couldn't get around. It is like Todd had the knowledge and Burns had the athletic ability. To me, that is a horrible situation to have.
The thing is, I think Burns has the biggest potential for improvement, unless Todd's throwing arm improves a lot. I am hoping riding the pines will actually be good for Todd. To throw a QB in when we know his arm isn't there isn't fair.
Coach Dye probably has some trees to plant or something.
I'm sure PF will try to bait him in on something.
It's a shame he stoops to that because he is a talented interviewer.
wareaglerk, I think you're right about Irons in 2006. Wasn't he pretty questionable for the LSU game. Seems like he basically was the only offense in that game too.
You know it's gotten bad when we're fantasizing about Brandon Cox in the Tony Franklin System™
That's funny weagle. The truth of the matter is that coming in to this season, we were only going to be as good as our QB was. I still believe that to be the case today.
Back to earlier post concerning injuries. Doesn't it seem like we always have significant injuries to overcome each year? I thought it was the brutal SEC sched, but in a lot of years, it seems we enter SEC play with them, and then they get worse.
Eddie - You were right to call me out on my remark that I'd consider the season a huge success if we beat Bama; I shoulda qualified it by saying that I'd consider it a huge success at this point. But honestly, I never had the expectations a lot of people did for this season. I told a Bammer friend before the first game that I thought we were overrated because you just don't win big in the SEC with a rookie QB. And a new offense that takes time to learn on top of it. Had us figured for a season about like last year. We could still accomplish that - all we have to do is win the rest of our games. ;)
But I'd also say that you younger folks can never have the appreciation of beating Bama that someone of my generation has. You just can't imagine what I endured at the hand of the Bammers. Now, most of them had never been to Tuscaloosa, but they still spoke in terms of what "we" were going to do, and then would endlessly brag about it when Bama beat AU.
And we have a coach that's beaten them 6 straight and some want to fire him? Not me.
I don't understand a lot of what's being talked about on here; what the heck is a "shout out?"
War Eagle to everybody
I can't believe you folks have me listening to Mindbomb. I am trusting that the benefits in posting here will more than compensate for any dumbing down resulting listening to Mindbomb. I just can't not listen, because I know it will be discussed here.
@ coosa
A shout-out is simply a public expression of gratitude or recognition.
Monica got a shout-out for providing someone directions which made their trip easier and/or shorter.
Beating bammer was a great benchmark for the AU program... in the 70s.
The bammer game will always hold an almost indescribable amount of significance for the AU program, but it should NEVER be the benchmark of the program in the 21st century. CPD changed that perception for good.
IMO SEC championships should be the benchmark by which AU football is measured. Anything less, and there's really no point in playing the game.
Coosa- I understand how you feel about beating bama. My dad was close to your time at Aubun in that he was class of '73 I believe. I do agree that I probably don't have the same appreciation, but I think we need to focus on more than beating bama to get where most Auburn fans expect (No reason for that yet, but I believe it to be truth) us to be. I do know that while my time at Auburn, it seems that beating Alabama was the number one priority put on the sports programs. It definitely appeared that way at the Athletic Complex.
The real shame is that Coach Dye ALLOWS himself to be fodder for PF. Nobody forces Coach to go on that program.
Injuries are certainly an issue each year, but usually you have enough experience to overcome. This year, it is pretty clear that isn't the case. Before the season starts, top backups at CB are true freshman. I don't that we've had that at any point in the Tuberville era. Now we're down to one backup starting and the other is 3rd string. On top of that, you have to convert McKenzie to DE a week before the season starts. I thought he's played well all, but who would be left there when he goes down? I thought that we had recruited pretty well there, but I guess not.
Monica,
Dye would probably do an Auburn a favor by not going on PF based on the way he gest treated, but I think he likes the attention. Everyone still sees him as the former savior for AU football and he likes to be seen that way.
Pat Dye is paid nicely to do the spot, and I think he likes to communicate his mesage or feelings in code to the AU Nation. What he says is still relevent to the way things are perceived by TPTB.
I don't understand Bama fan's anger over Fulmer turning Bama in. Frankly, if Auburn is breaking the rules, I would appreciate anyone coming forward so it is stopped. One of the things I like about CTT is that he runs a clean program.
It might be just me, but I have always thought that if you cheat, you have alread lost. You have conceded you can't win playing on an equal playing field.
I agree, Wade. I wish he wouldn't do it. I understand WHY he does. Well, my opinion of why. I just wish he wouldn't.
I completely agree about the PFRN ambush. Did anyone hear the Bama Onliners calling into the "Real Post Game Show" after the WVU game with Sharky?
As for who I call into John and Barry Mr. Sensible...you may have heard me call in as JD.
Wow, a Bama fan just settled it. Bama is clearly better than Texas or Penn State and would beat either by two touchdowns. I know it is hard to believe, but I heard it on Mindbomb so it must be true.
Could someone please ask Mindbomb to replay Bill Oliver's comment one more time. I missed it the first 40 times he played it.
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