What They Said, 11/20
Hey everyone. Here's a look at some interesting things I heard today:GABE MCKENZIE
- Said former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin made it clear that McKenzie would not be welcome at tight end. That's why he moved to defensive end during the pre-season. McKenzie now is back on offense.
"He said: All right, we're pretty much going to speed guys. I think I did a pretty good job, but I thought I could do a better job on the other side of the ball under the circumstances." - McKenzie said he gained a better appreciation for how defenders work and think, though: "Sometimes you can't tell – if you pass rush it could be a draw or something like that. When the game's going, you can't just guess. If you guess wrong, you might be out here and he might go in the hole and gash you. It's harder than it looks."
ROD SMITH- On thinking about what might have been this season: "It's definitely frustrating -- always going back and thinking what could have happened. That's been on my mind a lot just to think about all the things that could have happened. When you start dwelling on that stuff, it gets worse. You just have to keep moving forward and getting better as the week goes on. It hurts. We've been in situations like this since I've been here. If you think back to 2006 season when we were ranked No. 2 and we had control of our destiny, we gave it away. It's crazy how things work."
- On becoming a No. 1 receiver after beginning his career as a walk-on: "I think about that every day. I've been truly bless. God really blessed me. I couldn't have gotten anywhere without him. I always thought I had it in me to be a top player in the SEC, come to Auburn and do well. I had a pretty successful career at Auburn. I just want to go out in the right way -- with a win against Alabama."
JOSH BYNES- On Sen'Derrick Marks: "He's always hyped. He's always making noise. He's just hyped. He's just always into it, and he brings it to practice, especially when we have some days when you won't be into it, he brings his hyperactive things to him, he brings this enthusiasm. And he'll wake us up and we'll just have a good day of practice."
- On if rivalry-game wins matter in recruiting: "Florida probably is the best team in the whole country -- or USC. It doesn't matter. It's how you fit into that system and how you feel when you go there. Because you can go to a lot of schools and they might be the best school, always undefeated, but it's all about that feeling when you go there. If you don't feel comfortable with the players or anybody else, you're not going to want to be there. And that's how I feel. But I went to a lot of other places, and that's why I came here.
Photo credits: 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
8:34 PM
49 Comments:
Jay G.,
I'm not endorsing Paul Johnson, nor am I including him on a wish list ... I respect the guy ... I just would love to get your take on his offense vs. SEC
I haven't watched much Ga. Tech this season.
I thought I remember CTF bragging on Gabe about how much improved he was over the summer.
I'm tuning in now.
about 3 bills of rushing ... the RB and the QB are gimpy and still gashing Miami
The more I read things like that the more I am convinced that CTF is a complete and total moron of the highest order. What an idiot. He was right about himself. He really is a dumbass.
Phred, he told you.
If you didn't believe him, that sounds like a me problem.
I was fooled by CTF. I thought he might be out to prove his offense could work in sec. Peach bowl gave me false hope.
Phred ...
Don't misunderstand me, but it seems here that Gabe didn't fit what Tony's true offense was ... not that we ever got there.
He certainly fits what we are doing now. My issue with Tony was the anointing of a QB that was damaged goods instead of investing the time to coach up the one with the potential.
Tommy, to me, has to answer to the little of this, little of that gobbledygook we ended up with that ended with Franklin's demise.
And he certainly has to answer for things like "Where's Mario?"
Tony? A moron? I don't know. Maybe an idiot savant? Who knows? He certainly wasn't prepared for the attention he received.
I was knocked off by the Peach Bowl, too. I'll admit it.
I think CTF fooled himself also.
Well, maybe not. Didn't he say numerous times how "stupid he is?"
Jay, great quotes. Rod is a class guy
not playing gabe at TE does not bother me. Just look at WV. wouldn't fit their O either. now however, it is a perfect fit.
I think we could get him from Tech if we wanted him. I don't think he is making but 1.5 over 7yrs. I would love to go back old school. When I played at Hueytown we ran the Wing T and that was a ton of fun.
Miami has a unique was to defend the option ... they leave all options open.
34 for 351 with 5 left in the 3rd.
CHOP BLOCK! CHOP BLOCK! CHOP BLOCK!
I'm now for Paul Johnson!
Chop block on the goal line. Wasn't called. Center had the NG stood up, and the G pulled out the axe!
I mean ... c'mon dude ... you have a guy who is a phreaking phreight train with hands like a soft place to lay down and you say ... Nah, we can't use you man.
And by the way, was CTF saying Trott is faster the Gabe? Really? Good grief. I have to stop talking about this before I go into a Franklin Rage.
Franklin Rage!
Hire him. Johnson still going for points even when up by 30.
jet do you do stand up. lol
they leave all options open.
Phred ...
Part of my problem ... and it's my problem ... is that I'm stuck remembering the Trott I used to see play.
He should have been perfect for the TF System. But he wasn't.
I'm not debating you ... I'm just scratching my head ... I was in Atlanta ... I was eatin' the chikin' after the bowl game.
How did we get here?
Tech moving in on a quarter-mile rushing.
He may be a genius, I don't know. But the opinion I'm developing now that things are starting to come out is - CTF took counter intuitiveness to the point of stupid. And here we are. 5-6. Just lovely.
I don't necessarily care if Auburn hires Paul Johnson, but I can't help visualizing what they'd look like running the spread option. Peronsonally, I think they'd be hard to stop.
Are there any OC's that Coach Tuberville could bring in that would run it similarly to PJ?
guess this rules out Pat Nix as a possible OC.
Pat Nix is always welcome to come back to Auburn to be saluted as a fine representative of the football program.
If he puts on a headset, he better be taking Stan White's job.
guys & girls,
It seems that CTF wanted his system and his system ONLY. No matter how bad AU has looked this season we all know the we have talent! I was told early on that CTF wanted the offensive lineman to lose weight so that they would be quicker. This experiment just did't work.
I wonder what part did not work though. Sometimes it takes TIME. As long as the D was healthy we hung in there. Against LSU almost won. Against Bama, our D is healthy. I just wonder if by now, it might have clicked.
I do not think we can beat Bama now; because of the offense we run now, not then. That is not to say that our offense is wrong now. I just think we need to have put it in before the 5th game of the season.
Mark,
I don't think any of it worked! CTF said that AU didn't want to do this and I think he was right. I am not sticking up for him I just think CTT was grasping at straws offensivily.
I think CTT wanted to bring in an OC that would utilize Kodi and his running ability. Not just running but passing also. But he wanted QB to be able to run. Then CTF brings Chris Todd in and things go down hill from there. Not blaming CT seems like a good kid. But CT can't run or throw with a bum arm. Ever since Texas won it all with vince young CTT wanted that type offense. Not comparing KB with VY but you get my point. I realy think bringing in Todd was the biggest problem.
We're holding our semi-annual yard sale this weekend.
Come get some.
(I just got back from putting up signs.)
JET G ATE
Dont get me started on the broadcasting team!
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Speaking of CTF,
Good article on death of the spread. Speaks of Auburn, Michigan etc.
http://www.cleveland.com/
osu/index.ssf/2008/11/
spread_offense_has_one_foot_in.html
Dude,
I had a yard sale --- ONCE --- ONCE.
Some bitch wanted to "negotiate" on a dollar fitty and something actually got "stole".
Last time.
My take on the problem was the CTF was 'the guru' of this offensive or in our case OFFENSIVE scheme and sold many systems. Gurus do not change. It is usually their way or nobodies way. He had too much invested in his system to change.
I drank the kool-aide also. I really just wanted us to score about 7-8 more points per game than in '07. If that had happened, I thought we had very good shot at ATL. Never thought the O would sink lower than in 2007.
I need to have a yard sale. JGT, Is it yours or a neighborhood thing?
Circles within circles...that's how the OC/HCspeculation/blame game has gone this season. Why?? B/C fans believe rumors, study the coach's every movements, make assumptions and then spout declarative statements as if fact based on those assumptions. I'm sure that the whole story isn't yet known and will change even more, yet the declarative statements still fly....and the declarants are oblivious to the damage caused...
The real loser.....Auburn University.
The only good press is positive press...all the other noise will be construed to be negative.
Scott-Good article. Not sure that Danielson knows what he is talking about though. Many teams do run their version of it and Tubbs has constantly said he likes Oklahoma's version. I just think w/o the players for that system, you are doomed. AU has no speedy receivers that can separate. They have no quick release QB. CTF just didn't know how to blended his system in.
So here's your sign.
Jay G ... you selling any good furniture?
The way to not be fooled is to not make assumptions based on a tiny bit of info.
A team should never release private info. Without that info, fans that make assumptions will most likely always be to some degree...wrong.
Jim Rome rewards good "takes"(cynicism that has a chance to be true)....he doesn't go back and grade those "takes" for accuracy.....it doesn't sell well. What suffers?...the truth.
Touchy-feely, shades of gray type comments aren't as entertaining as those strong cynical statements, however most of the time they are more accurate.
In 1996, when Jim Rome started..."takes" were aimed at your enemy...not the team that you suppposedly supported. My have times have changed.
I haven't read all the comments yet (it's bed time, I'll read them tomorrow), but I just don't put that much stock in players talking trash about Tony Franklin. Of course all is rosy with Ensminger/Tuberville, they are the current coaches. And since Franklin is fired, the players know there is no way they will get in trouble for trashing him. Heck, the might even feel somewhat encouraged to do so, knowing the coach not only will allow it but enjoy it.
Anyway, on every team I have ever played on, there have been players who hated the coach and players who liked the coach. I imagine that was the same with CTF. I also imagine if Auburn had pulled the trigger and fired Tubs you could probably find some comments from players here and there about how much better things were since he was gone and how the new way is better and blah blah blah.
So, I am saying Gabe's comments throwing CTF under the bus kind of ring hollow and don't prove right who was right or wrong. If you only go by player quotations, then you will always think the problem was whichever coach isn't there anymore. Startling coincidence.
Is the consensus not that CTT botched the CTF hire by not bringing in a support team that could coach the spread? I don't care how good the system is, if only one guy knows it, it won't be successful.
CTF was doomed to fail from the start. And no, the Peach Bowl doesn't prove me wrong.
The Peach Bowl should've fooled no one. With all those plays and all those yards, we scored 17 in regulation. With a 5th year senior at QB.
Meh. Tony's roadkill. On to the next scapegoat, er, I mean OC.
The comment by McKenzie reminds me of something the greatest Bama coach of all times, namely Mike Dubose, did. He had hieght requirements on linemen. Because of this he missed out on a lineman named DeMarco McNeil. I would expect an offensive coordinator to know that receivers don't necessarily have to be fast. Their are guys that just have a nack for running good routes and getting open. I think this is another indication of the problems with CTF's mindset.
Yard sale: No furniture, but I'm selling a very kick-ass recumbent bike. I used it for the first year after I lost all the weight. I was scared to go into a gym back then.
I demand more advanced equipment now. So ... here it goes.
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