Deliberance (or is it deliberate?)
MONDAY MORNING
Post No. 1,067
Hey everyone. Not much happening (yet) on a chilly February morning, so why not talk about football?
TB David Oku of suburban Oklahoma City still hasn't made a decision about where he'll play college ball next season. I thought my Gannett-mandated furlough could spark some profound moments of clarity for the young man. I was wrong.
He's still mulling offers from Auburn, Tennessee, Syracuse and now Ole Miss.
So what's his timetable? Oku isn't saying. The first major recruit to play The Waiting Game, Pennsylania quarterback Terrelle Pryor, made his decision in mid March last year. Could Oku go that long?
As Al Borges would say: "Oh, you bet."
Since an official Auburn depth chart hasn't been released since November, this list includes my best guesses as to what it'll look like in late August:
Can Oku crack that rotation? He certainly could. He's a shifty tailback whose quickness could help him overcome his underdeveloped body. Oku is not ready to bang with SEC linebackers right now. The same was true for Carnell Williams in 2001, though, so being slight isn't a deal-breaker. Williams couldn't hide his love for high-speed collisions and missed parts of his first two seasons with injuries.
Oku looks like a different kind of back to me. He tends to elude.
Post No. 1,067
Hey everyone. Not much happening (yet) on a chilly February morning, so why not talk about football?TB David Oku of suburban Oklahoma City still hasn't made a decision about where he'll play college ball next season. I thought my Gannett-mandated furlough could spark some profound moments of clarity for the young man. I was wrong.
He's still mulling offers from Auburn, Tennessee, Syracuse and now Ole Miss.
So what's his timetable? Oku isn't saying. The first major recruit to play The Waiting Game, Pennsylania quarterback Terrelle Pryor, made his decision in mid March last year. Could Oku go that long?
As Al Borges would say: "Oh, you bet."
Since an official Auburn depth chart hasn't been released since November, this list includes my best guesses as to what it'll look like in late August:
- Ben Tate, Sr.
- Mario Fannin, Jr.
- Onterio McCalebb, Fr. (from prep school)
- Eric Smith, Soph.
------ - Dontae Aycock, Fr.
- Brandon Jacobs, Fr.
Can Oku crack that rotation? He certainly could. He's a shifty tailback whose quickness could help him overcome his underdeveloped body. Oku is not ready to bang with SEC linebackers right now. The same was true for Carnell Williams in 2001, though, so being slight isn't a deal-breaker. Williams couldn't hide his love for high-speed collisions and missed parts of his first two seasons with injuries.
Oku looks like a different kind of back to me. He tends to elude.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
8:58 AM
171 Comments:
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Your words strike me deep in my soul, michael.
That's what I call substance.
If there is one thing MichaelJanTerri can claim, it is that he is one of the most substantive comment makers around.
Michael,
Always a way with the words THe women must love you...
It's why my friends call me whiskers.
Do you think there will ever be a date that they must sign by? Discouraging 17 year olds from being a prima donna sounds like a winner to me
I have always found that when talking to the ladies, if you don't have something smart to say, it is better to blab gibberish that let the air stay silent. Hey, I got three kids, so it must work!
youngpj wins Hottie of the Day for not saying "premadonna"!!!!!!
I hope he chooses Auburn but if he does not I really think McCalebb is going to be a game changer for us... He will take a lot of pressure of Tate. Get Ont, Ben and Mario on the field at the same time as Frency and you have some serious weapons.
I also hope Big AL does well... I really Like him...
Hahahaha!
young,
I believe there is a deadline, sometime in March.
Who would be premadonna?
Teri Nunn from Berlin maybe? Terry Bozzio from Missing Persons?
ALSO: I think the NCAA soon will mandate a football signing deadline. It'll be around the first of April.
Pffft, one can't get away with nothing around here.
According to this 2008 story from the AP (which I consider highly credible), there already is an April 1 deadline.
Whew I got lucky. I would have thought about my spelling a little more had I known the discussion it would generate!
Do you think they'll ever start an early signing period for football?
No. Makes too much sense.
Why would they need to do that RK?
I've been trying to find out if Auburn is having a junior day this year, but not having much success. Seems important to get the highly touted juniors onto campus and get some face time with them, etc
So kids who were 100% certain of their college choice in the fall could cast their lost and not be bothered.
It also would help programs by not forcing them to babysit their early commits. They'd now be early signees and, therefore, steal-proof.
Auburn will have a junior day.
Count on it.
Michael - in more familiar language, is that translated as 'sim, sim, salabim'?
What Jay said...also it would cut down on some of the stress of fans who get all upset over recruits saying they are commited and then visit another school.
I think it would save or lengthen the lives of people who are die hard recruiting fans.
I am trying to recall the old rule ... the old SEC rule that could sign an SEC intent with a school early (December?) which locked you into that school in the league, but you could go to another school outside the league in February or reaffirm your plans with the previously determined SEC school.
Maybe I'm just losing my mind.
I like the look of the depth chart at runnningback. We look to be pretty solid. If Oku comes to Auburn, it will be for playing time in a couple of years. I doubt he would crack the starting line up this coming season.
The thing is, we have seen Auburn play a lot of runningbacks. The top 4 will have a reasonable chance of seeing the field.
Recruiting season and NFL Draft season are very similar in my mind. They both give fans hope for next year, even though that may or may not be a probable result. I'm not sure the recruiting spotlight is a positive for college football, but it looks to be here to stay. The worst aspect in my mind is the "mentors", "family friends" etc. who are nothing but leeches that put themselves into the equation.
Having a mentor is a good thing, particularly a friendly older man who drives you around the country in an RV, teaching you life lessons.
That way, when you yell "Shazam" and turn into Captain Marvel, you have a foundation of values upon which to rely to do good.
Did anyone see the NFL combine workouts yesterday? They featured QBs/WRs/RBs. I was shocked at how slow the RBs ran. Knowshon Moreno ran 4.55 and Beenie Wells (OSU) was about 4.66. However Ian Johnson from Boise ran a 4.38 and a 4.44!! I never saw that speed from him on the field.
The WRs on the other hand were crazy fast. Johnny Knox from Abilene Christian clocked an unofficial 4.25.
BigCat, you always run slower in water ... and on blue turf.
We are going to have plenty of steam from our RB's but the problem again lies with the guy handing them the ball and the Line blocking for them... We definately need one of of our QB's to step up and the Oline to stay healthy...
BTW do yall know any good relief pitchers looks like our team needs some or its gonna be another long year for Auburn Baseball...
So true Jet! I wonder what was the deal with KM because he looked every bit of 4.4/40 every year he ran threw our defense.
Steve, I think if OKU has the "shake and bake" moves as advertised, he could play this year. Not start, but none of the current RB's have much wiggle to them. In this offense, he or McCalebb look to be the type of back we currently don't have on the roster. I think they can all be much more effective than shown thus far if properly utilized. I don't expect to see Tate running sideways 8 yards trying to turn the corner under Malzahn.
Bigcat, I often wondered why they don't have them run in full pads(esp. the RB's.) That would give a more accurate picture of football speed, wouldn't it?
Would Debbie Harry fall into the category of pre Madonna?
the new offense utilizes alot of rb's so the more the merrier.. I think Oku would get plenty of touches with his running style but I do think McCalebb will make a big splash. I think with the competition at RB all of the guys we have will step up their game to keep them in the game.
Actually, for this board, David Johansen of the NY Dolls is probably more PreMadonna.
I agree with that Depressed. I also think the WRs should at least catch with helmets on to simulate the limited field of vision.
I would like to see a modification of the recruiting process. This having one deadline for everyone just seems inefficient. Why not have a different signing days for different players. To spice it up, don't tell players when their signing day is. Then, when the day comes, if they haven't chosen a school, have the NCAA automatically pick one for them. Yea, this may seem crazy, but recruits would make up their own minds much quicker.
What I like about Malz's offense is it tries to get the ball early and often to whomever is hot. If the rec are getting open and making catches, they're going to get more thrown their way. If one of the backs gets hot, he'll get more touches as well. Any of the RBs who take the field for AU next yr will have ample opp's to shine. It will be on them to take advantage.
I think the night before the combine, they should serve the guys with paternity lawsuits and make them carry around handguns and narcotics while hittin up tha' strip clubs. I just think this would better simulate the actual NFL experience.
Guys dont count Eric Smith out just yet. For a big back, he has some pretty quick feet and shifty moves. He didnt get to show it much last season but check out his HS vids.
Eric Smith
Malzahn's offense could make him a superstar with his size and ability to make people miss.
NCAA sends Bryce Brown to the Idaho Vandals.....due to missing his signing day...
Will, that isn't so different from what we have seen in the past. The big difference I see with this compared with the pre-Franklin Experience Auburn is that the QB will be expected to make the decision of where the ball should be going. A lot will be determined by pre-snap reads. In some ways, these modern offenses are similar to the wishbone in that they are read and react rather than having, for instance, primary and secondary receivers.
With the spread type of offenses, the much of the reading is done pre-snap because of the time that the QB has to concentrate on catching the snap. With the fly/sky offense that Johnson runs at GT, it is more of a read at the snap, which is why you see the QB in almost a sitting position looking forward in that offense.
The key with these newer offenses is that they are more flexible in terms of where the ball will go, not to mention that misdirection has taken a major roll as opposed to the power game.
Can someone tell me how to go about getting into the A-Day Game? Do they sell tickets to this? Any info for the game would be great.
I'm thinking Michael is post-Madonna.
AUJunkie, that is the something I would love to see. Due to the new NCAA choose or lose policy, Alabama State has landed the nations top recruits. Sources close to the recruit say that he responded by saying "What the ...".
Oku, what a name... :)
Here's my idea ...
Each player submit the name of a dozen schools to the NCAA. On National Signing Day Even, a Magic 8 ball with each of the schools is returned to the player.
The prospect must shake and reveal the winner at a press conference at a time of the player's choice between National Signing Day and Mardi Gras.
This is how Ole Miss got 61 signees this year.
Bow9den the A-Day game will be April 18 at 1 p.m. Tickets aren't that much. I think they were like $5 last year if memory serves.
Jay, due to the off season sporting news may be a bit down. I just thought of something that might provide some material. I would like to see where are they now stories. Some topic might be...
Greg Smith, The Tiger The Wasn't
Tray Blackmon, CFL, What happened to 4th down?
Leon Hart, Do you want fries with that?
B.J Chitty.... You think we will even want a qb to sign for next class? We will still have 5 after Todd leaves
Chitty will likely play WR
jhaq, I would be shocked if we signed more than one QB next season.
Steve, I like ... here are my additions ...
Raven Gray: Thought to be a Star, Doomed to be Poe
Lee Tilley: Stolen from Columbus, Ohio? More Like Leaving the Keys on the Hood with Jumper Cables
James Swinton: So Fast He Outran the Depth Chart
Bwahahahaha, I love the James Swinton one. I still can't believe that guy never produced anything. At times I forgot he was on the field.
I like this idea. Jay, can we compile a list and you do brief updates on former AU Tigers?
I always wondered whatever happened to that Jackson kid who played RB for AU in the 80's.
Will I think he and his four brothers formed a signing group before he went solo and bought Never Never land.
anybody else think that Tate just LOOKED slower bec. our OLine lost weight and ended up faster than him?
I will miss hearing "yeah, we have to get him the ball more," and then watching "him" not get the ball at all next game.
recruiting is fun and all, but die hard recruiting fan = emotionally unstable. I don't really care for rules being made to placate them. I'd be dissapointed in the NCAA if they made decisions for those type of people...Now, for the valid points that Jay G makes, I don't mind. My opinion is like my butthole, though. (how's that for a mastery of American metaphors).
When you say Tate was slow, I assume you mean slow to the corner. To call Tate slow is misleading. He seems to be slow in terms or quickness, although in terms of speed, the is pretty fast.
I am uncertain of how much of this is due to uncertainty and how much it is due to him just not being quick.
Overall, I consider Tate a good back, not great. When I think of him, I often think of Heath Evans.
actually, i was just joking...i imagine he's faster than the Oline, but in terms of our other RBs, he is neither faster nor quicker.
I think Tate is a good back asked to do things he is not capable of doing well. I would like to see him catch some passes out of the backfield, Jay has bragged on his hands quite often.
You would be surprised with these bigger backs and who is fastest. Ronnie Brown was faster than Caddy, although in terms of quickness, Caddy wins hands down.
As for the where are they now, Brad Lester would be a good topic too. That is a guy that I kept thinking would have a break out game and never really did.
yeah, i think in terms of all our RBs, last year is no way to truly measure their skills. it was a no-win for all of them, and had to be extremely frustrating.
for example:
fannin--left on bench at end of UGA game.
tate--always in on that ineffective zone read play (seemed a better play for lester)
lester--just could never get anything going. his quickness was not properly utilized.
Great to have you back Jay G!
Fannin not being in at the end of the UGA game didn't bother me. I understood why. Basically Fannin has a tendency to make mistakes, such as the wrong way Fannin play against WV. Tate just knew the offense better.
I can see the argument on the other side because Fannin seemed to have the hot hand during the UGA game.
it bothered me bec. fannin made two plays (both TDs) that i don't think any of our other RBs could have made, and we had plenty of time to move the ball down the field, either running or throwing.
i could have handled a fannin mistake at the end of the game better than him not being in...and we still lost.
anyway, that was a long time ago...
I never will understand what happened to Lester. Even with the poor line play considered, he was a total non-factor.
I'll say this as I have stated before Brad Lester's next 100 yard rushing game will be his first.
Will: Debbie Harry would fit nicely into that niche. Ab-so-RUTE-ree.
Brad Lester's life off the field became a much more complex and important thing in 07 and 08.
His life wasn't 100% football.
I'm not saying that to chastise him. I would have made the same choice.
(I also would have chosen to attend class all the time.)
Jay, not to pry too much, but did these matters involve more then the well-known academic issues?
I wouldn't expect these kids lives to be 100% football, but there are times where even when he was in the game Lester didn't seem to have his head in the game at all.
If there were off the field issues, that makes more sense.
I would comment about Wario's status in the UGA game, but that would reflect negatively on the former staff. I am attempting to discontinue any comments that would be considered negative toward the previous regime, although I am noted supporter of regime change.
I look forward to seeing whatever young men Lupe decides to put on the field to blend harmoniously with Grimes' OL, Boulware's TEs, Trooper's WRs, and Gus' QB for a melodious 2009 concert season.
Jet, I have lower goals for the coming season. I just look forward to a season where the offense having the ball is considered a good thing.
Player rotation was at times suspect at best the past couple of years.
Actually it goes back more than a couple of years, but easier to pick out the last couple of years.
I am still interested in the theory that the performance of the Auburn offense is directly tied to the stock market. It is just a theory, but the facts cannot be denied.
I think Auburn's performance it's inversely proportional to the price of gas.
I think the problem was that last fall we had one too many premadonnas out there.
RK, not so. That would have meant an improvement from Summer Practice to Fall games last year. Instead, Chris Todd deteriorated as gas prices went down, and so did the Auburn offense.
This just occurred to me. I'm not sure if it's been discussed before. Maybe our running backs the last two years just haven't been that good. As Jay said, Brad had other things going on, Tate is solid but not a game changer. Fannin had fumblitis as a freshman and has been inconsistent on the little things. Kenny Irons was the reason of AU's success in 2005 and 2006 and a solid kicking game. I think some have overestimated our talent at RB position the last couple of years, whether or not coaching or scheme can help is to be determined.
I thought in late September gas shot up to about $4.00 per gallon just as our team shot down to 190 yards per game.
SeanZ,
Irons definately was a difference maker in 2005, imagine if he had played the GT game?
However after game 1 of 2006 he played hurt the rest of the year and wasn't the same runner. Our running game in 2006 was the sum of Irons, Lester and Tate together.
Oh, and Andrew Turman, I forgot to add him to the RB list.
In 2005 our passing game was good, which helped the running game. As the passing game has declined, the running game has went with it.
I'd like to see Tate and Fannin do well this year and I think if they're utilized the right way will do good things in this offense, I don't however see either of them being a guy that can tote the rock 20 times a game for a 150 and a couple of scores. We need a guy like that if we want to compete at the highest level.
Steve I'm going to echo what you said but in reverse.
On looking to the positive side, prior to last season I found the problem with our offense was that it was too predictable. Last season it wasn't predictable at all, other than the bubble screen to nowhere.
Or maybe it's our offensive line when it came to youth and turnover that led to the decline, either way it hasn't been pretty.
Michael ...
I think it was more "Early Madonna."
The OL played Like A Virgin when they weren't jumping Over the Borderline.
What we need is a runningback that can bust the big run. We really haven't had a home run threat at runningback in a long time. I can remember listening to Brooks/Cribs/Andrews. Every game I waited in anticipation of which one would break a run for over 40 yards. It was almost like clockwork. You didn't know when it would happen, but you knew it would happen.
Steve, I like to reference the 2003 Caddy run on the first or second play from scrimmage...or even that 200 yard game Irons had against LSU in 2005. We're in desperate need of a difference maker.
Or mid-Madonna - every time we thew the ball, it was Like a Prayer.
The offensive line was the cause for the problem in 2007, although it turned into a decent season.
As for last year, the offensive line, like the rest of the offense, looked like a bunch of guys standing in a circle going everyone point to the left and expecting agreement. Nobody was on the same page. It was a bad Abbott & Costello routine on offense. Ironically enough, the departure of the Franklin Experience only made things worse.
I think we can all agree that none of our players are good. Right?
I seem to remember my fuel bill being around 1200 bones in July, but closer to 600 in September. I'd have to go back and check, but I think I'm right. Chris Todd's decline at Auburn was directly proportionate to the decrease in fuel prices over the same time.
And I want to see a new team rule. Any coach that says we need to simplify the offense should be immediately lynched.
Everyone except Kodi Burns, mikhail.
We haven't had a home run offensive threat at RB or WR in a while.
The only way we scored TD's was with either a short field or a long slow drive that grinds down the field with probably a 4th down conversion somewhere.
It was frustrating watching sportscenter and seeing all the long runs and passes the last couple of years knowing we wouldn't see it in our game at all.
I think we've some good players...we're just lacking on outstanding players...on BOTH sides of the ball.
Kodi Burns seems like a poorly executed belly flop. The guy needs work.
"looked like a bunch of guys standing in a circle going everyone point to the left and expecting agreement"
That was King Dunlap's entire career. He was kinda just standing there before, after and during every play that he was on the field.
Well, obviously not Kodi, Frankenbummer. I thought that was clear.
Threats are interconnected.
When Jason Campbell was a 5th year senior -- we had deep threats at RB and WR. Why? Because we had a 5th year senior with a strong arm who didn't make mistakes.
Lack of arm strength for Cox (to some extent) to Todd (to the utmost extent)to Burns (what is this thing in my hand?) tended to diminish deep threat all over the place.
It's simple but it's true: you pass the ball well when you can run it, and you run it well when you can pass it.
I wonder about Chris Todd and that shoulder of his...is it...can it come back?
King Dunlap = The problem with a monarchy.
Looks good in theory, but really a bad idea in practice ... and in games.
Hopefully D. Benton and McCalebb are as good as advertised and can get us some immediate help in the home run dept...
Am I the only one who thinks recruiting has really become way to much I mean these kids are crazy with this! If signing day doesn't mean anything and apparently it doesn't then we really should have an early signing period. This has to drive coaches absolutely bonkers.
Can't blame it all on the QB's. It would have been nice to develop a WR once they left HS and came to college.
Not many people were getting open and unfortunately when they did they had to slow down and wait for the ball to get to them.
Chris Todd is one of my big questions for this coming season. I think he has the poise to be a great starting QB if he has decent arm strenght.
The danger here is we see what we saw from him this last season. He looked good for the first 3 or 4 games, but it quickly became clear his arm wasn't going to hold up.
If a QB is clearly not capable of being the starter for a season, go with an inexperienced guy that might. Our schedule gets tough at the end and we need an experienced QB. I will take some bad games early to develop a QB we can count on. If Todd's arm isn't fixed, let him signal in plays, but keep him off the field.
I still think that Al Borges and Nutso Franklin - two coaches with previous success - were the cause of all our problems. We should be a top ten offense easy next year.
Contrary to popular opinion, Cox was one of the better QBs we have had at Auburn. He was great in 2005. As the WR play deteriorated and the runningbacks became average, he was forced to try to become the playmaker. At the same time, we had the watch out offensive line in 2007. If I had my choice I would take Cox as the starter this coming season. Currently we don't have anyone close to him. Hopefully someone like Rollison will be the guy.
Auburn's problem last year when the staff downloaded the playbook was that they mistakently downloaded the The Tony Robbins System.
Positive thinking will only take you so far. At some point, you've got to DO something.
Sean Z- dead-on with the good players, not outstanding players comment. Recruit, recruit, recruit.
I don't think recruiting has been as much the issue as us taking good recruits and turning them into bad players, particularly at WR.
Steve,
I don't think Chris Todd and the word "great" should be together, much like Ben Leard and the word "great" can't be put together. That being said, I think Todd could be a solid Leard type QB if healthy.
As far as Cox goes, I think we found out last year, that he wasn't as bad as we thought he was. He was a decent QB who generally got us in position to win the game.
Michael,
By top 10 offenses, you mean top 10 in the SEC, right?
Steve, I respectfully disagree. Recruiting has been on a downward trend the last few years. Take out the players who never made it into school, and it looks even worse. Compared to say, LSU ,Bama, UF etc. That is the competition AU is playing and recruiting should be based on playing these teams. I'm not saying the players stink, just that AU does not have as many difference-makers as have been here in the past.
We had top ten recruiting classes in 2006 and 2007. Everyone looses players from recruiting classes. The 2008 class wasn't great, but I think it turned out to be better than expected. I expected the decline in the 2008 class and I think we had planned for a small class that season. As for 2009, the recruiting class turned out okay, although I would call it outstanding considering the situation.
And as for Bama, we have consistently out recruited them, although the last two classes may prove otherwise. We will just have to wait and see. Keep in mind that you only get the real picture of a recruiting class a couple of years after the class arrives on campus. For instance, last season should have been the season for the 2006 class to show what it could do. Unfortunately the unique chemistry offensively caused things to go south. On defense, things looked solid as expected.
Steve, the 2006 and 2007 classes look much less impressive under closer inspection. That is one big fault with recruiting rankings, they don't take into consideration players who never set foot on campus. Your point is valid about everyone losing players, but AU has lost several of the higher-ranked players in those years. Those few players can make a big difference on a team's performance.
The 2006 top 10 class included Raven Gray, Bryant Miller, Chris Slaughter, Gregg Smith, Lee Tilley, Neil Caudle & Terrell Zachary.
The 2007 top 10 class included Kodi Burns, Enrique Davis, Eltoro Freeman, Carlton Johnson, Bailey Woods, Johnnie Lee Dixon, Chris Slaughter (again) and Chaz Ramsey.
All of the above were 4 or 5 star recruits who either didn't pan out, got injured or never have touched the field at Auburn.
Is a recruiting class still considered good when a lot of the people who pushed the class into the top 10 never made an impact at Auburn?
If an offensive coordinator carries his books to his car after being fired, but there are no reporters there to take video, does it make a sound?
Thanks for the list, RK. I would add Bo Harris, Alex Rose and Ryan Williams to that list also. The attrition rate has been horrible the last few years. And it has not been lightly-regarded players leaving.
Axel Rose was an Auburn commitment?
I didn't realize he wasted potential in two different areas.
I'm really starting to reign in my expectations for next year. We have a whole lot of question marks on the offensive side of the ball. Not saying we won't be good but there's no hard evidence to say we will either.
While perusing today's football comments, it occurred to me the magnitude that all AU fans take the defense for granted (no comments today) and agonize over the offense. Of course there is good reason for that syndrome. It's scary to think that our average RB corp will be the strength of the offense. There is no one to lean on.
Until we can repair the offensive talent, we need CGM to scheme our way into some scores.
The OLine starters will be adequate, but the inevitable injuries will leave some holes. I'm hoping that WR and QB player development magic will occur.
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Get the smelling salts ready for Jet.....
I find myself subconsciously hoping that the Tubs naysayers were correct and that it was totally a coaching problem and that the new coaches will right the ship. It wouldn't be the first time such has happened.
Pollyanna says: Not all of our talent could disappear in one season, so we still gotta have some around, therefore we can't be that bad.
Hoop I agree with you whole-heartedly about the defense being taken for granted, I sure know I am guilty in my own right for taking them for granted. I am very worried about the middle of our d-line. Sen'Derick was an enormous loss and will be a big hole to fill. LB'S feel okay to me. I think between the bull (Eltoro) and Bynes continued growth we will be okay but probably thin.
For the record, I did say we needed to get some outstanding players, ON BOTH sides of the ball. Especially with losing three starters.
silly Hoopie, defense wins championships. We AU fans just want (fill in the blank).
Hoopie, where's the defense in your post? The only props you gave them was that the rest of us ignore them. I'm not saying I disagree with you, just that you should eat more carrots.
DBs we will ha e Savage back and Powers spot should be filled by Thorpe. Hood will make a solid nickle. Tai Paige will make a strong play for serious playing time I believe. Mike McNeil will make a good SS.
JD, I wonder about M McNeil. From a casual fan's view, he has not been the player he was hyped to be coming out of high school. Maybe I don't understand the scheme enough, but he is not the force I expected. I am excited to see Chizik work with him. Hopefully the DB's will show improvment across the board.
The lack of depth in the secondary is huge...plus I'm not sure Mike McNeil is a very good starter.
that's authentic frontier jibberish.
DE will be strong with "hotboy" carter and the Coleman goggins was a pleasant suprise to me last year.
The LB's are a mixed bag. While I like the speed we've had there, hopefully we'll start getting more people there with both size and speed.
RK, we seem to have a similar view on many players and positions. Not sure if that is good or bad. I think Savage is also a big question mark due to injuries and a possible position move. I never was sure he could play CB before he got hurt.
Etheidge will take some pressure off of McNeil. He was a sitting duck last season mostly because the weak plays by the CB.
I guess I'm a Mike McNeil apologist....
I just hope Chiz and Co. teach our DBs how to hit...like back in the Will Herring and Junior Rosegreen days...Train wrecks on the football field.
Depressed,
Let's just go with the "Great Minds Think Alike" philosophy until proven wrong.
Carlos Rogers made Junior Rosegreen better. Hopefully Zach will make McNeil better.
Ethridge is a good player, but when he has to trail a player running across the field in coverage he's really exposed.
A lot of the TD's we seemed to give up at crutial points in the game last year were with Ethridge chasing a player from east to west.
Too bad nobody made Montae Pitts, Kevin Hobbs & Horace Willis look good when they started for us.
I meant savage not etheidge.
JD, I tried to make clear I do not understand all of the schemes and player responsibilities. He just looks out of position a lot to me, but that may not be a fair analysis of McNeil. I just thought he would be more of a stand-out player than he has shown thus far. Chizik is a very good DB coach, so hopefully there will be an improvment from all the DB's.
RK- Agreed. I'm sure someone will prove us wrong, but let's enjoy our moment.
Montae Pitts looked good on his CD cover...
Guys I have a conference call I have to be on. I'll catch ya later.
--JD the biscuitator and Mike McNeil apologist
From www.montgomeryadvertiser.com:
Senator Jet Jetarsky is in stable condition at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery after collapsing in his downtown office.
The first-term Senator was apparently unconscious for five minutes, but was talking to paramedics as he was wheeled out of the RSA Tower.
"It was Hoopie," Sen. Jetarsky was reported to have said. "He did it. He did this to me."
Due to HIPAA laws, Jackson Hospital would not confirm reports that a brain scan was performed on Sen. Jetarsky, but nothing was found.
Mike McNeil is soooo laid back.
I can't imagine someone that low key ever being a star. I like the kid. He seems nice to me and I seriously doubt you'll ever hear about him getting in trouble. He's not that type.
Still, you wonder if he's awake sometimes. He's as low key as it gets.
As for expectations for next season, I think it fair to say we shouldn't get all hot and bothered over the offense. Our goals should be reasonable. My simple goal for 2009 is to not suck offensively. I am not looking for good at this point. I am looking for us to not suck offensively and have an outstanding defense.
Now, there are those that say we should expect the best. I don't really buy into that. I think we should expect improvement, and there is plenty of room for improvement offensively.
Yea, our record sucked butt last season, but we were in most games. If our offense hadn't been so ummm offensive, we would have likely won around 9 games.
Shades of Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding. I think Hoopie had an assistant do the dirty work.
And can we remove the Kodi run for you life play from the playbook. I think we can come up with a play that doesn't make me go oh crap every time.
Ask the OL about that one, Steve.
Jay, you wouldn't describe Ethridge in the same manner as McNeil would you? He seems to have a mean streak.
Steve, unfortunately that works both ways and we were very very close to being even worse at 3-9 last year.
PF....I apologize...I didn't convey my tongue in cheek very well. I also find myself taking the defense for granted. Our D has been so good for so long that we(me included) take it for granted.
Jd.. I agree....the DLine is a worry this year. It is time for some O and D linemen to step up. there are opportunities everywhere.
My My My...it seems that bama just cant win for losing:
Who's Not Hot At NFL Combines
"Andre Smith, Alabama OT
In a public-relations disaster, Smith became the talk of the Combine with his sudden departure. He showed up out of shape and ill-prepared for the workout, checking in at a mushy 6-4 and 332 pounds, while failing to lift or do any of the drills before taking off to Atlanta for a pair of scheduled workouts. He thought he could take off without telling anyone, and there seemed to be more overall confusion than anything else, but for a player thought to be a near-certain top five pick, he has some damage control to do."
Talk about "Where are they now"... it seems that Bo Jackson and Ronnie Brown are partners in starting up a bank!
Bo Knows...Banking?
Zaccheus Etheridge is a much more intense person. He's nothing like Mike McNeil.
Just to be clear: I'm not ripping Mike McNeil. I'm just trying to give you insight into who these kids are. I know that's a tough thing to discern from outside the practice ropes, I guess you'd say, so I try to pass that information along when appropriate.
That's really interesting, Big Cat. I'm moving that to the front of the blog.
We need depth on D ... think we have some talent, but need depth in secondary and at tackle.
Part -- not all -- of our problem last year on defense was being on the field entirely too much.
By middle of the season, our defense was like Chris Todd's shoulder.
By the way, how does that sound for the name of a band -- Chris Todd's Shoulder?
Old thread down.
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