AUBURN'S FIVE MOST PRESSING NEEDS:- Linebacker
- Offensive tackle
- Defensive tackle
- Cornerback
- Wideout
THE COMMITMENTS:
OT Shon Coleman, Olive Branch, Miss.
LB Jake Holland, Pelham HS
WR Shaun Kitchens, Atlanta, Ga.
K Cody Parkey, Jupiter, Fla.
WR Jeremy Richardson, Springville HS
LB Jawara White, Troy
LB Jessel Curry, Buford, Ga.
CB Jonathan Mincy, Decatur, Ga.
DE Joel Bonomolo, Fullerton, Calif. (juco)
S Demetruce McNeal, College Park, Ga.
S D.J. Howard, Lincoln HS
WR Antonio Goodwin, Atlanta, Ga.
OG Chad Slade, Moody HS
DL Kenneth Carter, Greenville HS
DE Justin Delanie, Linden HS
LB LaDarius Owens, Jess Lanier HS
DE Craig Sanders, Ariton HS
K Steven Clark, Kansas City, Mo.
OT Ed Christian, Valdosta, Ga.
BY SIDE OF THE BALL:
Offense: 6
Defense: 11
Kickers: 2
BY POSITION:
QB: 0
TB: 0
WR: 3
OT: 1
OG: 2
DT: 1
DE: 3
LB: 4
CB: 1
S: 2 *I'm counting D.J. Howard at safety.
#1 Substance
ReplyDeleteBTW, Jay what does your poll look like this week, or are you tired of the griping about it?
ReplyDeleteFSJ- From last thread, absolutely, like I said, FU Tubs!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy Top 25 poll:
ReplyDelete1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Boise State
5. Cincinnati
6. Iowa
7. TCU
8. LSU
9. Georgia Tech
10. Miami Florida
11. Southern Cal
12. Penn State
13. Oklahoma State
14. BYU
15. Virginia Tech
16. Ohio State
17. Oregon
18. South Carolina
19. West Virginia
20. Mississippi
21. Houston
22. Utah
23. Pittsburgh
24. Texas Tech
25. Kansas
So I guess we need more DT's and CB's in this class.
ReplyDeleteThe Iowa folks will be happy with you now....Maybe they'll shut up.
ReplyDeleteWe need the NCAA to allow us to sign 40 players this class to make up for previous years lost.
ReplyDeleteE-Bro,
ReplyDeleteY'all recruiting the DB from Gadsden? I think his name is Trimble?
meow
ReplyDeleteI appologize, I posted this on the last thread, but wanted to discuss with others, so sorry for the long repost and please forgive me Jay G:
ReplyDeleteOk, finally a chance to catch up on Auburn.
Wow, what a crummy day yesterday. I haven't a chance to read most of the comments, so i'm sure much has been discussed before, but here are my 2 cents:
Chris Todd- His run at Auburn needs to be complete. I really enjoyed seeing him weeks 1-5, but the last 2 weeks, something is wrong. He cannot throw the ball anymore and looks to be back in 2008 form again. Play Caudle or Trotter....anybody besides him right now. I just think he is hurt. Todd is also only looking at 1 to 2 guys max in the passing game with Darvin Adams being 1 for sure. There were several times that we had guys running wide open and Todd didn't see them. The Tommy Trott open with about the closet guy at least 15 yards was the worst miss by Todd. Anyways, i'm sure this has been beaten to death. Rollison...is the future. He needs to keep the redshirt at this point and take the reigns next season.
Defense- Worst defense I have ever seen at Auburn period. They stink to high heavens and the LB'ers are the worst starting group in a long time in Auburn history. They simply have no idea on how to tackle. Bynes loves to leave his feet at the first opportunity he gets. Bates is going to be a fine player in the future, but we are lucky we don't get beat deep in the air. There is no reason for the safety to be 15 yards behind a deep pass. We are just lucky that Kentucky couldn't connect. We won't be so fortunate the rest of the season, again.
Coaching- Chizik gets an F for the Kentucky game. They came out sleep walking and the score board reflected it. I think we have a pretty good staff, but I have the most questions on defense and the lack to teach good fundamentals (which is too darn late in the season to correct IMO) and proper pursuit angles. Boulware had his bes showing despite Durst inability to punt consistantly.
It would be fair to be negative without the positives and that is Ben Tate. The guy can play. He should make some NFL club happy in the future IMO. Sorry he didn't have better times at Auburn.
Lastly, Screw Tuberville. I hate the guy right now. He absolutely left nobody there. He gets the last laugh in watching Auburn flounder due to his personal agenda. He sucked it up his last few years and we are paying a steep price. I'm willing to say that he left the program worse than Bowden did...no, I will say, he did. So here is a big FU to coach Tubs.
I love Auburn and I think these coaches will get players in here and we will be fine. Losing to Kentucky stinks and should not have happened. That is Chizik's fault, but I'm happy with where it looks like the program is headed.
Sorry for the rant, i'm sure I will upset someone, and if so, I appologize, it's not personal, just football.
Eddie - I think you make some very valid points.
ReplyDeleteEddie,
ReplyDeleteDye pretty much nailed it on Finebaum this week regarding Tubs recruiting.
He said that he knows that it is tough to recruit against Alabama in Alabama, but you don't have to get the majority of them to do well...but you still have to try and you have to win some....
What Jay? Why don't you have Auburn ranked?
ReplyDeleteJay,
ReplyDeleteDo you think the coaches would ever admit that Todd has an issue with his shoulder? They did such a good job at choosing a starting QB, one has to wonder whether they discussed the possibility of Todd's arm weakening mid-season. If so, they would surely have had an idea of how they would deal with it.
FSJ- That is correct. I stated to several people the first time Saban locked up every single Alabama recruit that Auburn was after that we had problems. Tubs reacted by doing nothing from that point on. The writing was on the wall then.
ReplyDeleteY'all think his arm may be sorta like a pitcher's arm that just goes dead as the season goes along?
ReplyDeleteI played high school baseball with a guy that had that happen to him.
By mid season he was a shadow of his early season form.
Eddie is right. Tuberville left us in pitiful shape. This coaching staff has us moving in the right direction, but we desperately need a fresh infusion of talent.
ReplyDeleteFSJ, not sure about the DB from Gadsden. To be honest, I only have keep up with recruiting at times. Don't like to get excited about things until the piece of paper come through the fax in February.
ReplyDeleteEddie - honesty should never be apologized for.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points.
FSJ, think Va. Tech losing last night kept y'all from 1st in the BCS?
ReplyDeleteFSJ- Dead arm is one thing that it could be if there is no "real" injury, notice I stree "real", because I believe there is. Todd last two games is exactly what we saw last year. He is floating the ball on the deep throws and he haz zero confidence in his ability to pull the trigger when he needs to or he just completely forgot how make reads. Also, playcalling suggests that there is an arm problem. We took limited shots down the field and we hardly ever passed the ball unless we were forced to.
ReplyDeleteI had a person at the game actually tell me midway through the 3rd quarter that folks are probably wishing Tubby was still here. Seriously? I let them know right quick that he was the reason we are in this predicament. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he is laughing all the way to the bank. And he left those coaches he was "protecting" for so long, high and dry when he took that money and ran.
ReplyDeleteI place all of the blame on the current coaches. Inherit or not, they are not getting it done. These guys may love each other (and that's great), but they can't play football worth a flip when it comes down to it. We looked awful against mediocre competition - I fear what 5 of the next 6 games will bring.
ReplyDeleteI may have overestimated that 2-5 going down the stretch.
Back to back 6 losses in the conference.
What a mirage.
Our defense was pretty solid last year, but even then, you could see the cracks forming. Compared to the previous 5-6 years, I felt our defense slipped a bit last year. This year is just a free fall.
ReplyDeleteGood points Eddie...
ReplyDeleteE-Bro...Not sure..possibly. I saw some predictions before the games this weekend that had us at 2, so who knows.
At any rate, as long as we keep winning it will be fine.
The mirage was believing that we had quality with the starting group on defense. We don't.
ReplyDeleteWe still need a couple of more offensive linemen. A couple of more corner backs, a couple of runningbacks, and this class will look pretty good. I am also hopeful for another linebacker.
ReplyDeleteOffense - mirage
ReplyDeleteDefense - badly out of position mirage
Special Teams - just plain sucks
FSJ - You said it - this is our Shula.
Jay, you ranked West Virginia and didn't rank us. I call you pn the Iowa rule.
ReplyDeleteExcept no steaks.
ReplyDeleteWe lost a lot on defense through injury, leaving early, and discipline.
ReplyDeleteI'm not ready to blame the new coaching staff. It is what it is.
Didn't Todd have a trainer working on his forearm during the TN game?
I'm having a hard time remembering, but has Todd been hit hard this year?
ReplyDeleteListen, I understand everybody is in despair. But getting hung up on this six SEC losses thing is ridiculous. Can we at least wait till we get 2-4 or 2-5 in conference play before thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteAs for Todd, I stress for conservatively the billionth time, can we look at all those penalties on those two fourth quarter drives instead of Todd's arm strength. Yeah, his arm may be messed up and he needs to pick it up or get out of the way, but if the rest of the offense doesn't shoot itself in the foot, we probably win the game.
Eddie-Nice rant. Was even better the 2nd time. Most, butnot all, got caught up in the 5 wins and lst perspective.
ReplyDeleteLooka t who UK has lost to inthe SEC. USC, FL, UAT. They played two of them well. They aren't bad but AU should have beaten them. 7 wins will be great and can go a long way to getting us through this year. The downside is that means we went 5-0 and then 2-5.
I see we have entered the assign the blame part of the season.
ReplyDeleteIf Malzahn has adjusted his play calling because he has lost confidence in Todd making his throws, then why not take him out? Are our back-ups that much worse?
ReplyDeleteSensi, explain the "our Shula" comment.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at the replay this afternoon...I'm not a big fan of the play call where Todd lined up at center...Whether it was a legitimate penalty or not I have no idea, but line up and let your tough RB run the ball if you are planning on running it in that situation.
ReplyDeleteNot "assign blame" but "missed assignment" part of the season.
ReplyDeleteGulf: They won't admit anything with Todd's shoulder. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if the injury to FAH on the unpunt had a lot to do with us going away from our motion game?
ReplyDeleteE-Bro - it took a team effort to blow it up last night. Agreed.
ReplyDeletePenalties, bad coaching, porous defense, bad offense, it all had a roll in the buffet of FAIL we served up the last two weeks.
FSJ- Todd has been hardly touched this year and had plenty of time to make throws last night.
ReplyDeleteSensi- you and my wife think alike about Chizik, but I do like him and believe he is the right man for the job. I just think he was left in a terrible position to win this year. If you want to crucify Chizik now for the Kentucky loss, that is fine, but give him his due to, and that was the WV win. This team played above it's talent level to win that game.
E-Bro,
ReplyDeleteI think I said at the time of his and Kiffen's hire that they were Shulaesque..
Chizik has performed better than I thought going into the season....so far.
I'm almost ready to say that the deficit is too much for the Titans to overcome.
ReplyDeleteSensi - I don't think you can blame all this on the coaches. I think the lack of talent and depth is starting to take it's toll on the team. We all knew it was a possibility.
ReplyDeleteEddie,
ReplyDeleteThe WVU game is both the best and worst thing to happen to Auburn this year, IMO.
It artificially inflated expectations which is leading to some of the criticism that you'll hear on Monday.
At times Todd is more like McElroy. he gets locked on his favorite recevier (D Adams in oour case) and thinks no matter what, I am going to throw to him.
ReplyDeleteMany Bama folk - our own very nice and easy to post with FSJ, observed back in the wake of the hiring that Chizik was/could be our Shula: a coach who did care for the school and had history here but was only hired to stop the bleeding from the previous issues/staff/etc. However, any success would be limited and ultimately, the "Shula" was here to just hold on until the tides of fate changed again.
ReplyDeleteThat's all I'm going to relive about that.
I'm hearing plenty of criticism today, actually.
ReplyDeletelol ehyou...
ReplyDeleteI kept hearing in the preseason how good the Titans were going to be...This is interesting to see.
What's it up to now, ehyou. Local CBS dropped it after the sixth Brady TD.
ReplyDeleteWow, a couple of weeks ago we had talent. We are entering the fair weather fan part of the twilight zone.
ReplyDeleteFolks, Chiz gets a pass this season. Actually, he gets a pass for the next several season until he can get his players in there. It is the cost of a coaching change. Be prepared to pay up.
Sensi,
ReplyDeleteI hope Chizik is not our Shula. Time will tell, of course. The one thing that annoys me is that he called UK a "good team" in response to a question about Auburn's struggles. Shula used to do that. Every time they would lose, Shula would make it sound as if they had just played USC.
Sensi..
ReplyDeleteThat was an accurate description of my thoughts at the time.
Chizik is our Shula??? Puh-leeze. No comparison at all.
ReplyDeleteAnd they are quite understandable. At this point, I'll take it because Shula couldn't win at Alabama, but he stopped the bleeding. That's important. It'll be totally lost when you guys hoist the trophies this year, but it is true.
ReplyDeleteWe might lose one more game this year, but I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteSteve - I think we have guys playing above their level. IMO.
ReplyDeleteJay-Hearing crtitiscm from the blog here or in other places?
ReplyDeleteBTW, I don't agree that Chizik is our Shula. I believe he will have AU competing for SEC championships in a couple of years. He has exceeded expectations so far.
ReplyDeleteSensi..
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that Shula stopped the bleeding. To be honest I wanted him to win big because he is a good man, an alum, and probably a solid QB coach.
Several players he recruited made significant contributions to the 2008 team. Several are contributing in a big way this year too. He should get credit for that.
However, there's no way we are where we are today if he is still here.
Steve- I promise you it's a price that got heftier each year Tubs stayed. We just stopped the bleading last year and into the ICU. We are in critical but stable condition right now. If Tubs had still been here, we would be on life support.
ReplyDeleteway to go ehyou.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, it will take anywhere from 4 to 25 years to recover from what occurred last season.
ReplyDeleteHere's the Titans' QBs stats for today:
ReplyDeleteVince Young
0-2, 0 yards, 1 INT
Kerry Collins
2-12, -7 yards, 1 INT
And I thought Auburn had QB problems?
I have never seen a professional team amass NEGATIVE pass yards until now.
Eddie, Tuberville is no longer at Auburn and will likely be successful somewhere else before Auburn turns around. It is pointless to discuss.
ReplyDeleteSteve- Sometimes you make no sense. I love ya man, but I don't get ya....but maybe that is what you shoot for.
ReplyDeleteFSJ - agree with your assessment. He got you as far as he could and went back to doing other things.
ReplyDeleteI guarantee Chizik is not our Shula, and no offense, but I think any comment to suggest otherwise is beyond premature.
ReplyDeleteChizik may fail as a head coach, but it won't be because he didn't have a clue.
Here's a few current head coaches who received alot of first year criticism. Tell me what you think about it:
Pete Carroll
Urban Meyer
Nick Saban (at both Bama and LSU)
wtc, you gave us some interesting tidbits regarding recruiting last week. Here is a statement from Chizik:
ReplyDelete"Doesn't think wins and losses will affect the recruits Auburn currently had. He does think it might be a factor in some of the bigger-named recruits the Tigers are still chasing."
Do you think this affects the situation you stated earlier regarding full commitment list and the class? I know it's a long way until Feb.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteIf it takes longer than 4 years to turn it around....there are going to be some Finebaum callers jumping off of the nearest bridge.
So maybe we should try to lose to Kentucky more often during recruiting weekends.
ReplyDeleteAs for Auburn, we just have to stick behind the team. Chizik should get 4 or 5 years to turn things around. If things don't improve, we can do the Bama new coach every few seasons thang.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletekathy-I do nto think it changes anything. this classs is almost set and I think most players can see, thoughmany fans can not, that there will be a lot of room for them to get early playing time And it will be early playing time for kids that are HIGH quality athletes. by high quality, I mean that know how to play and know how to compete every play.
ReplyDeleteComparing Gene Chizik to Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer, and/or Nick Saban is a bit premature. No offense.
ReplyDeleteIs he the worst coach ever? No. Not close.
Is this team not as good as they looked in the first five? You betcha.
Will it be the end of the world if Auburn doesn't win a lot? No, but I would hope it gets turned around sooner rather than later.
Should I stop posting questions and answering them? Yes.
Thanks wtc!
ReplyDeleteI am an athletic department's dream. When you spend 100% of your time loving and supporting your team, there's no time left for negativity or criticism.
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting document. It rates the teams with the toughest opposition over the remaining games..
ReplyDeleteTough Road
So, that's where we are now? If I (or anyone else) offers criticism, we don't love and support the team enough?
ReplyDeleteAt least I didn't get up and leave before it was over last night.
A premature comparison as he will end up better than those guys.
ReplyDeleteFolks, you can sulk or you can listen to Gordon Lightfoot. The choice is all yours.
ReplyDeleteLOL ehyou.
ReplyDeleteSensi, I only speak of myself.
ReplyDeleteNo offense to the current crop, but we landed a guad from auburn high last year that even JayG said was a project at best. FOlks, he started a game this year. Au fought off Duke for Mr Pybus. He is a fine kid but fighting off Duke. Come on.
ReplyDeleteLook at the number of kids that are contributiong to UAT that were recruited the past 2 years.
FSJ, tell us how many of those are starters now.
Too late Sensi. I had already read your previous post. Most of us really do give a sh%t. We love our Auburn Tigers. We seem to have started a trend of losing a Hottie or two with each loss. What's up with that? We had a 5-7 season last year. Did everyone really think there would be that much improvement this year? I know we can hope, but really?
ReplyDeleteListening to Gordon Lightfoot will cause me to commit crime.
ReplyDeleteQuite possibly the most over-rated 70s singer songwriter of all time.
Sensi, I'll readily admit that comparing Chiz to Carroll, Meyer, and Saban is premature
ReplyDeleteBut only if you admit it is incredibly premature to compare Chiz to Shula.
You can't have it both ways.
Kathy, I'm not bailing like Aero and Mon did (for very different reasons mind you).
ReplyDeleteThe previous was meant to say give a s about my questions or answers. A little nudge to my own ribs.
Hey, if I can't take a joke then that's on me.
Kathy, Eddie, E-Bro (most of the time), and the lot of you are classy folk. Why you hang with me I'll never understand. ;-)
Gosh..over the past two years..
ReplyDeleteJulio, Barron, Cody, Ingram, Deadrick (I think) Peek Washington..
A bunch have a role even if they don't start.
The Shula recruits that start off the top of my head are McElroy, Arenas, Johnson, Tiffin, Fitzgerald, & maybe another DB and OL or so.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a little fun playing devil's advocate folks. There's always another point of view.
ReplyDeleteI am a certified, unabashed sunshine pumper though.
Javy Arenas was the wildcard guy in of all the Shula recruits. He saw something no one bu FIU saw. Good for him.
ReplyDeleteE-Bro:
ReplyDeleteSensi wasn't comparing Chizik to Shula..I did when he was hired.
The talk was that money wasn't an option when Tuberville resigned/or was fired however you look at it.
To come back with Chizik as the choice was a shock to many like me....and many here too.
But are you a kool-aid drinker, ehyou?
ReplyDeleteKathy - Those that bail, were never true fans.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'
I completely disagree with Sensi, but I value his opinion.
You guys are a bunch of idiots
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing about Javy being banged up last night is that he is only 200 yards or so from breaking the all time punt return record in the NCAA. He would have got a ton last night. The USC punter kicked a very returnable ball.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that Chizik's facial expressions when he doesn't like a call are fun to watch? It looks like he is trying to shoot his eyes out of his head.
ReplyDeleteI would count Hightower. Ikow he is out due to injury and now NJohnson or JHarris.
ReplyDeleteMy point is that he went after quality players. If they are rated 4-5 stars, then so be it, but they evaluated talent that could contribute. They are not fighting LaTech & Duke for talent and now AU is not either.
Trust the power of Gordon Lightfoot. Gordon Lightfoot will set you free.
ReplyDeleteAgreed wtc...
ReplyDeleteI was trying to think about who I saw on the field last night. Obviously Nico filled in for Hightower.
Agree. It's nice not to be at recruiting war with Troy.
ReplyDeleteShula's recruiting was mirage too. One class he had was in the top 15 and had a ton of DB's that never panned out. It did not even come close to meeting our needs which was OL/DL.
ReplyDeleteWhen Saban arrived we were in poor shape on the DL. He's taken swift action on that one.
That's a final.
ReplyDeleteNew England 59
Tennessee 0
Titans finish with -7 passing yards. A grand total of 186 net yards.
Pats threw for 426 and gained 619.
Yeah, that number one pick seems to be ours.
Caudle, Burns, Ziemba, Tate, and Fannin were all bound for Troy. We were lucky to pull them away.
ReplyDeleteI realize that Sensi took his cue from you FSJ [just like a Bammer would, :)], but he backed up what you said. I don't think I'm wrong in assuming that he compared Chizik to Shula when he said:
ReplyDelete"FSJ - You said it - this is our Shula."
I'm not starting an AFIP civil war or anything. I totally respect what Sensi says, I just happen to strongly disagree with this assessment.
Weren't those all in the February 08' class?
ReplyDeletesorry..February 07' class
ReplyDeleteMan, New England sucks. They didn't even score in the 4th quarter. What is the problem with the Patriots?
ReplyDeleteI am trying to get a grasp of how I feel about being called an idiot by someone that herds goats.
ReplyDeleteTo be determined.
E-Bro if you want to read some interesting comments go back to the day that Chizik was hired. There were alot more folks on here that agreed with Sensi than you would guess.
ReplyDeleteNot that it matters at all but there was alot of skepticism.
ReplyDeleteI posted it. Yeah, it seems fair enough at this point.
ReplyDeleteChizik loves Auburn. Shula loves(ed) Bama.
Chizik is focusing recruiting. Shula did that too.
Chizik/staff are trying to install a "modern" offense which is mostly smoke, mirrors and runs up the middle. Shula/staff tried that too but it was still mostly smoke, mirrors, and runs up the middle.
The ending is still way to early to call, but the beginnings of these two movies look very similar.
agreed FSJ
ReplyDeleteSensi...
ReplyDeleteYou've got to understand, when someone criticizes Auburn, it's my natural reaction to lash out. You've had some harsh things to say that I don't care for and disagree with.
You're one of my HABOTN peeps and always want you to say what you feel, and I will do the same.
Sensi-I am not sure the offense is smoke and mirrors, but they do run up the middle a good bit, which is different than the previuos year.
ReplyDelete"Folks, you can sulk or you can listen to Gordon Lightfoot. The choice is all yours."
ReplyDeleteSo my choices are either to sulk or stab myself in the ears?
I'll sulk.
Eddie,
ReplyDeleteNever appologize, it's a sign of weakness.
Never appologize if you feel you are speaking the truth.
We still lost to Kentucky, right?
ReplyDeleteOctober 18, 2009
ReplyDeleteThe day RK and I start the HABOTN subgroup of Anti-Gordon Lightfoot.
Awesome.
Sensi, I think your first year comparison of Shula and Chizik is applicable to just about every first year head coach anywhere. Why single out Chizik?
ReplyDeleteFSJ, I can't remember if I posted the day I was hired, but if I did, I'm sure I said similar things about being way too early to judge. I know I said that to my brother.
Here's what I know about Shula, our ball boys working the Alabama sideline in the 2003 Iron Bowl said he was basically taking orders from his assistant coaches on what decisions to make over the course of the game.
That's not Chizik. He may fail, but I don't think it will be because he didn't have a clue to begin with. He's got a plan and he'll make the executive decisions with input from his assistant coaches. He won't have them tell him what to do.
8:30 is too doggone late to start a football game.
ReplyDeleteThe day Chizik was hired, not me. I can unequivocally I say I would be a terrible head coaching choice for Auburn's football team.
ReplyDeleteJGT has Bama at #1. I don't like that because I hate Bama.
ReplyDeleteFor better or worse, Chizik's success will depend on his coordinators' success. I think he seems to have the right balance of discipline, accessibility to players, recruiting aggressiveness, and here-and-there strategy tinkering to be a successful hands-off head coach. But like Tubs, he will always need someone doing the heavy lifting on the offensive side of the ball for him. He already instills more confidence in me than deer in the headlights Shula must have at Alabama. But you never know.
ReplyDeleteI was quite disappointed with the timeout usage last night. There was no reason to make that drive our last one. A timeout after a first down and after an incomplete pass? That was pretty bad.
I am digging a football game lasting until the late game starts.
ReplyDelete"Why single out Chizik?"
ReplyDeleteBecause this is an Auburn blog. If I were in a Washington blog, I'd compare Sarkisian to Shula.
"He's got a plan and he'll make the executive decisions with input from his assistant coaches."
Agree with you there. This is his blueprint one way or another and for that, I see and acknowledge the difference.
Shula had different pressures at Alabama - live up to the history (damn near impossible), deal with the insane fanbase, deal with the normal fans, deal with Tommy Tuberville, etc.
Chizik's pressure are vastly different from my point of view.
Will it be a tie?
ReplyDeleteI hate that I will be driving all day tomorrow. I'm sure the conversation will be good. Worst part is heading back to WV with boredom...pure boredom.
ReplyDeleteOh well.
By the way, I think i'm not heading to Ole Miss and will probably have a pair available. I've decided to enjoy halloween with my kids over watching another bad game, which I fear it will be.
If you could remind my mind, HOTTIES, what a tale my thoughts could tell.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to see if the Falcons can get one against Da Bears.
ReplyDeleteHave a good night all.
Has the time been set for the Ole Miss game?
ReplyDeleteEddie, that game could very possibly be a morning game and you could well be home before dark.
ReplyDeleteI should have proof read that last comment. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteKathy- If I leave in the 3rd quarter, maybe. It gets dark around 6pm EST, which means with a 4 and 1 year old I need to be back at my house at 5pm at the latest, which means being in my car by 3pm EST. That would be tough. I hate missing any games, but I was already struggling with it before we laid the two eggs, now it's just an easier decision. I only get so many opportunites to be around my kids with Halloween is innocent and joyful for them.
ReplyDeleteEduardo ...
ReplyDeleteFor the most part I agree.
1. Todd is shot. Actual injury or not. His arm is dead.
2. Burning Rollison now is foolish.
3. Bates is our lone player on defense. The rest of them are worn out, or just plain bad.
4. I don't know if Chiz deserves an F for the Kentucky game. We can quibble about play calls and schemes.
Because No. 5 ... you nailed the true author of this. It's the one who drove the car with changing the oil and rotating the tires. It's Tuberville.
As much as we wanted this year to be like 1993, let's hope it's more like 1981 where the seeds of greatness were planted.
We'll be 6-6, and we'll just have to take it.
I'm not knocking you Sensi, and I'm not saying you're wrong, but only time will tell. Not 7 games. That's all I'm trying to say. It was premature of me to compare Chiz to Carroll, Saban, and Meyer earlier, but just as I think it's too premature Chiz to successful head coaches, I think it's premature to compare Chiz to a failed head coach. That's all I'm saying.
ReplyDeleteJet,
ReplyDeleteI never want to read your mind.
Someone posted earlier that Carnell had 150 yards today...that was DeAngelo Williams of Carolina who the Bucs played against who had 150.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree Eddie, kids over football any day of the week. I forgot you live in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteWho else plays on 10/31?
ReplyDeleteI know Bama is off..
I may have to go buy a blue shirt and go to the Auburn game....
Good assesment of the defense Jet. I think Bates will be a player, but I think Thorpe can be as well. In a year or two, our secondary should have an All-SEC calibre safety and cornerback.
ReplyDeleteFSJ, Florida-UGA and UT-USC are two games that I know of.
ReplyDeleteFSJ- I know of a pair of tickets most likely available :)!!!! As far as your navy shirt, your Habotn shirt will do just fine.
ReplyDeleteOther 10/31 games are:
ReplyDeleteGeorgia Tech at Vandy
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas
Miss. St. at Kentucky
Tulane at LSU
My thing is, if Todd is hurt and not telling anyone how bad it is and just trying to tough it out, then he's hurting this team by trying that.
ReplyDeleteIf Todd is hurt and the coaches know it and they are still putting him out there despite not being able to make the plays, then they are hurting the team.
If Todd is healthy and this is what we are getting now, I don't know what to say.
As weird as it sounds, but I've always wanted to go see all the various big rivalries in the SEC that don't involve Alabama. I want to see AU-UGA, UGA-UF, UT-UF, UM-MSU, etc.
ReplyDeleteI have seen LSU-Auburn which was the night the barn caught on fire, but I would like to go back.
Nutt vs Malzahn should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Kathy...
ReplyDeleteProbably like Stallings-Oliver but maybe more civil.
Pat Dye's first 3 years:
ReplyDelete5-6
9-3
11-1
Tuberville's first 3 years:
5-6
9-4
7-5
Chizik
TBD
Time will tell. Relax.
RK- Agree completely. I'm calling for change there!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, have I said FU Tuberville lately. I will make that comment each day till our next SEC win. That is my commitment to HABOTN!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree FSJ on watching other games. I'm a huge college football fan in general. I love anytime I can go watch a game as a neutral. I'd love to track across the country and see all the various big programs and watch a game in their stadiums.
ReplyDeleteWent to Tennessee-Georgia in Athens back in 2004 and had a blast watching a game without any rooting interest.
Other games I've been too as a neutral are less stellar, but interesting experiences all the same. Went to Iowa State-Colorado in Boulder last year and went to Texas-Wyoming this year in Laramie.
LOL Eddie....
ReplyDeleteIf you don't get to quit by Thanksgiving...I hope it's next September for you.
Eddie, you'll only have to say it five more days...tops. :)
ReplyDeleteRK said:
ReplyDeleteMy thing is, if Todd is hurt and not telling anyone ... he's hurting this team by trying that.
If Todd is hurt and the coaches know it ... they are hurting the team.
If Todd is healthy and this is what we are getting now, I don't know what to say.
-------
Exactly what I have been thinking.
Before the season began most of us recognized this was probably going to be a tough year and that we were building for the future - and we were fine with that. Then we won 5 games and began dreaming of another season like 2004. I know I did! Ok, we've lost 2 games and they looked terrible, but we are still in a rebuilding year.
ReplyDeleteThere has been much discussion about how empty our cupboards were left by the previous staff. I vote that we don't dismiss Chizik as our Shula until we give him at least a year or two to recruit and see how he does with his own players. We can't say this is a brilliant coaching staff the first 5 games and worry that other teams will steal them away, and then proclaim them as imbeciles after two losses - no matter how bad they looked.
I'm going to sit back and enjoy the rest of the season with my Auburn Tigers. It may not be the season I wished for, but I am looking forward to a bright orange and blue future. Ehyou, I too am a sunshine pumper. There is always a silver lining.
This in no way disregards the very thoughtful evaluations various people have posted. I just wanted to encourage some positive thoughts. No matter the wins or losses, it is GREAT to be an Auburn Tiger!
Well said Cincy.
ReplyDeleteDitto cincytiger. I'll be at Baton Rouge next week cheering on my AUBURN Tigers!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, no HABOTNs came by to tailgate yesterday. I felt like I had a party and no one came :) It really was kind of miserable, so cold and windy. I just kept thinking, this is the last time I am doing this. In two weeks if I am cold I will just go inside my condo! Sorry to say, but I had a bad feeling all day yesterday and that bad feeling panned out last night. But, there is always LSU and strange things always happen!
ReplyDeleteCincy,
ReplyDeleteIt's always great to be an Auburn Tiger.
I just can't believe we lost to Kentucky under any circumstances.
WERK,
ReplyDeleteI know, it was the pits.
AU can beat LSU, but not if they play like they have the last two weeks. I would love to see an upset. With that said, the odds are AU loses big.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am normally an optimist.
So we've lost to Miss State, Vandy and Kentucky in back to back to back years...wow.
ReplyDeleteIf suddenly the offense of the first 5 weeks comes back, we can win any game we play.
ReplyDeleteHowever, after last night I'm not sure it's coming back.
Losing to State in 07 doesn't stick in my crawl as much Vandy and UT the last two years. State beat us four times in a row from 1997-2000, so it was something I had experienced before.
ReplyDeleteLosing to Kentucky and Vandy had never happened in my lifetime before these last couple of seasons. All things must pass.
cincy, the weather was miserable yesterday. After we took our purchases back to my truck, we went to eat. We were planning to go visiting afterwards but that sudden downpour deterred us from doing any touring of the campus. We stayed indoors until Tiger Walk. I started getting an uneasy feeling during that. The players just didn't seem pumped up. Then the eagle flight, which took off right above us, was so quick that if you blinked, you missed it. It was just an unusual day all around. Fortunately the trip home was very uneventful. I did have to share the interstate with a lot of very happy Bama fans from B'ham to Hsv.
ReplyDeleteEven though I was at the Vandy game, last nights game seemed to hurt more.
ReplyDeleteI guess because I expected that we were probably equal to Vandy going into that game last year so I figured it would be a fight. Last night's game blindsided me.
Can you guys believe it rained yesterday? That made tailgating even worse.
ReplyDeleteThat rain was symbolic wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteI want tot say that i appreciate the comments you guys bring this blog. It is very interesting how some of us see the same game but interpret it differently.
ReplyDeleteThe euphoria of 5-0 got the best of most of us. The 0-2 string is getting the best of most of us now.
Things are not always a s good as they seem m=nor as bad as they seem. Au is going to be sronger from this. But when you are in the middle of the storm, it really sucks.
Today was a good day though. I got to watch the Steelers win, my wife and I went for a drive to get out of the house then some good food at Ichiban to finish the day.
ReplyDeleteMuch better than yesterday.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream does not make Saturday night any better, but it's helping Sunday.
ReplyDeleteJet-Home made BBQ and cole slaw are not too bad for sunday night dinner.
ReplyDeleteBack to Jay's original post. AU has 2 tackles commited. 2 are highly rated. 4 LBs with possibly one more coming.
ReplyDeleteMy list is getting shorter as I mark them off.
FSJ-you asked about a kid from Gadsdne area. AU is talking but I think to keep the communication lines open. They have a couple they are looking at that are highly rated and wil take them, but not pursuing anyothers, that I know of.
cmon dirty birds
ReplyDeleteWhy are we using 2 scholly's on Kickers? Thats the Tubs philosophy. Early on you could tell eventually we were gonna get run on bad. Didn't think it was gonna be Arkansas and Kentucky. Boweden left us in worse condition if people will stop and think for a moment. 1999 season. Seasons are kinda similar but I remember 1999 being miserable. We need some DOMINANT D-Tackles. We have no pass rush and pushed off the ball. Thats whats saban's done at LSU and now Bammer and you see them reaping the benefits. I'm tired of this undersized "speedy" team that can't tackle and is never in position.
ReplyDeleteThat is where we offer a large amount of playing time. You will see AU fill those holes this coming year.
ReplyDeleteNext year you will see several new faces. i don'tmind it if they can play at a high level. It won't mean we are taking a step back to have to lay them becasue I think some will be able to play or at least rotate in.
1999 we started 3-0, with close wins over App State and Idaho so there wasn't a lot to get excited over. Leard got hurt and we lose the next 5 including two vs the Miss schools we should have never lost.
ReplyDeleteTodd in 2009 is like Leard in 1999 where our record probably depends on his health.
Bro Jet,
ReplyDeleteNice synopsis. Thats the part that sucks- just having to sit there and take it this year.
I hate the term "fill needs". Sounds like you are just getting "seat fillers". I want players. I want 4 and 5 stars littered throughout the lineup with some kids like Bates scattered in the mix b/c some fall through the cracks. Time to get to work.
I appreciate the commentary by the HOTTIEs today. Last night was very discouraging, but looking back at preseason assessments (both here and elsewhere) we are pretty much where most of us thought we would be. We just took a strange way to get here.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid Todd is done, as well. Too bad, as he's a good guy and a fierce competitor, and his comeback from last year would have been a great story. I hope I'm wrong, but it just doesn't look that way at this time.
I can't believe that Malzahn has gone away from the uptempo, mis-direction offense we ran so successfully for the first four games without good reason. Lack of confidence in the QB to make critical throws would be a good reason.
Despite all the horrific tackling we've seen all year, last night the defense had held UK pretty much in check through the first 3 quarters. They put us in a position to win, despite spending an awful lot of time on the field.
Eddie's comments on Tuberville carry some weight, seeing as how he's spent more time with the program than practically every person on HABOTN (save for JGT, of course).
Ah well, it's still great to be an Auburn Tiger.
Oh, and Faker - please do show up for the Ole Miss game. Muggs will need someone to blame for the booing. ;-]
Thinking about it Freep...
ReplyDeletePoor Coach Muggs....
I'm sure the last 15 months have been pretty tough on him. . .
ReplyDeleteWow, the Hotties are even more negative than I expected today.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all those who said Todd is hurt; he's clearly not the same QB. Folks, that's the primary difference between us the last 2 games and the first 5. Stupid penalties killed us last night, but we had them before and overcame them. No defense? We haven't had a defense all year, and still won. The difference is Todd's arm is dead and we can't complete the deep passes that he easily handled earlier.
If he had just completed that wide-open TD pass to Zachery against ARK we had a good chance to win the game. A first half TD would have made it a different game. If he hits Mario on the wide open TD pass last night we almost certainly win the game. Todd's arm is the reason we aren't 7-0. Now we would be the worst 7-0 team in SEC history, but still 7-0 and with a world of confidence.
I'm sure of 2 things - the coaches know exactly the status of Todd's arm and won't admit until the season is over. And they think that an injured Todd is still the best chance we have to win. I suspect they are right.
I'm still on the Gus Bus; its wrecked and in the ditch, but I'll remain in my seat and wait for the wrecker to come. I'm not sure about our D coaches. We are incredibly thin and that's not their fault, but it is their job to teach the linebackers how to tackle. I'm sure they will be working hard to improve that.
In my opinion, its not in Auburn's best interest to start getting down on our coaches. Chizik will have at least 4 years, and we need to be behind him. I hope they can pull out one more SEC win and make it to 7-5 and get a better bowl than the Pizza Bowl.
War Eagle!
I LOVE AUBURN!!!
ReplyDeleteWARRRRRRRRRRR EAGLE!!!
Coosa and THT,
ReplyDeleteVery well said!
We all knew the season was gonna hinge on staying healthy. Especially Todd who is obviously not healthy in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI really don't blame anyone and for the most part think they are doing the best they can with what they have. I thought this season was gonna be much worse. (Although I guess you can argue that losing to UK is as bad as it gets in SEC play)
Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
ReplyDeleteAnd you won't read that book again, because the ending's just too hard to take.
ReplyDeleteAnd the church bell chimed till rang eighty-nine times for each tackle missed against Kentucky.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I think it's a sin when I feel like Auburn's winning when we're losing again.
ReplyDeleteThe REC sends out girls in a satin dress in the room where you do what you don't confess (to the NCAA).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the levity. We need to laugh :)
ReplyDeleteVIDEO UPDATE
ReplyDeleteVideo will be up around 10:05 p.m. CDT.
This one's for SFC (prolly a little obscure, but it was a minor hit when I first started working in Top40 radio 30 years ago):
ReplyDeleteIt's all right for some but not all right for me
When the school that I'm coaching for slips around
You think it's fine to do things I cannot see
And you're doing it to me
Bobby can't you see that I know how it is. . .
8 point underdog
ReplyDeleteI think that's generous.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds
Can we stop the page from flipping? Defense! Defense! Defense!
ReplyDelete200
ReplyDelete