BLAWGIN' FOR YOUR NOGGIN: Gene Chizik speaks
Hey everyone. You know what's coming.
- He has arrived.
- ``It'll be a fun day and a very challenging weekend."
- On Ole Miss: ``They're probably the most balanced team we've played to date. They're solid all the way around."
- General comments: ``I'm really proud of this group. The mark of the men is coming out. They have been phenomenal. They really want to be a good football team. They've been excellent. Our seniors have really stepped up to the plate and are ready to move past next week and move on to the next game."
- On offensive troubles: ``I don't think there's one thing you can pinpoint. It's everywhere. It's a little breakdown here and a little breakdown there. What seemingly would be little things are big things. We're not panicking by any stretch of the imagination. We have to get better at what we do. The level of competition has gone up. You can't just pin it on one guy."
(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Actually, you can pin it on one guy if you'd like. It happens all the time. Ask Jim Zorn about it.) - On Hot Carter: ``You don't know until you're banging on those guys all night long. It's really good to see him being back close to what he was during the spring before the injury. We need him. With our situation at defensive end, the most depth we can build up, the better."
- He admires Kodi Burns for playing after having two teeth knocked out. ``I talked to our team about that kind of courage and that mark of a man. He's special."
- On not practicing Sunday: ``I thought it was great timing for us to say: Let's take time on the film. Let's take time on the mental part of the game. We took our time. I thought it would be better to have a mental day with film work from the game. The response was great."
- Concerned about dissention?: "If there was any of that finger pointing going on, yeah. But they don't want to go through that again. You can choose to be different. There is absolutely zero of that (arguing) going on. They've chosen to go in another direction."
- On the complexities of Chris Todd's job: ``People want to pin all the great stuff on the quarterback and all the bad stuff on the quarterback. That's at any level. This is the most widely recognized league in the country, so it magnifies that. That's what makes the league great. The positions comes with what it comes with. In Chris' case right now, I don't think he pays much attention to it. When it's 3rd-and-7 and he has five guys in his lap, that's not Chris Todd."
- On reaffirming his commitment to Todd: ``He gives us the best chance to win. He needs to know that we have a vote of confidence in him. He knows that."
- More on Todd's situation: ``Quarterback's got to be a tough-minded position. It all comes with the territory. If you're not mentally tough enough to get through those things, more than likely you don't need to be playing in this league. You get the good and you get the bad."
- On Dex McCluster: "He is a very good player. Now it's not just Wildcat. It's not just receiver. He's your dotted-I tailback. He hits a crease and he's gone. That's something they're hitting on now. He plays at a whole different speed."
- That's a wrap.
119 Comments:
Go chiz tell it like it is Ha Ha
A fun day.
I hope it isn't a Navy Nightmare!
You can pin it on coaching if you want to but I don't think that is the problem
At this point in the season, why have press conferences. It's the same old, same old. "They are a good team." "Execute." "Day-to-day" yada yada yada
So all we need to do is execute.
It is good news that "they have chosen to go another direction"
The HOTTIES know how to execute.
If Chris Todd has 5 guys in his lap then....i'm not going there. Too many bad images.
Kathy,
If Auburn doesn't show drastic improvement Saturday, the Navy Nightmare may be the most well-named event in recent Auburn history.
I have nightmares of watching Nutt celebrate post-game in a Navy Nightmare T-shirt.
The coaching staff can help Todd out by putting other players who are not hurt or not gettting the job done. Fannin for FAH and another wide receiver in for Kodi
That's what I'm afraid of AUfan! I can not stand Nutt, especially when he is on the sideline running around, making those faces like an crazy lunatic.
And I see from PF's headlines, that he is at it again. I refuse to listen or read that little twerp, so I don't know what it says. I'm sure it is very derogatory of Auburn, and he has put the team on the other side of the state on their throne.
Finebaum is just trying to get everyone in a frenzy. That's his deal.
I expect Eric Smith's legal troubles to get a little bit worse during the next few days or weeks.
He has a court date next week.
That's what Finebaum has right now. It's that ... or how Lowder's financial situation may or may not affect Auburn Athletics' bottom line.
Well, since Eric Smith was declared a youthful offender and those records are now closed and the other suit was dropped, he did have to move on to something else. Now he is apparently attacking our coaches. They are big boys with big salaries. They can take it.
Who listens to that guy, uneducated rednecks? Even my Bama husband can't stand him. He is not a sports person. He is just a comedian and seems to be laughing all the way to the bank. I want to listen to someone who actually has more football knowledge than me!
Navy Nightmare - I'm wearing orange. Why? Because I can't stand JJ.
What's this about Eric Smith? I didn't know he was having legal troubles. I like him. We call him "Hands" because he's been a good receiver. I know he's a running back, so I was hoping he'd slip into Ben Tate's spot next year.
Kathy, I can't stand PF. I won't listen to him either.
Happened back in the August.
http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/2009/10/auburn_rb_eric_smith_granted_y.html
Luv, we were staying at the Crowne Plaza in BR. Did you take the bus over to Tiger Stadium?
Kathy, ummmmmmm.....yes. I saw you there but I was too damn shy to come talk to you. (hanging head)
You should have joined in the party! I was with my sister, my niece, and a friend of my sister's. We met those kids (all Auburn students) that day tailgating in the parking lot and ended up babysitting them. They were nice kids. We had a great time. Hope we weren't too loud and unruly.
I was in the lounge watching the Arkansas-Ole Miss game when you got there. You weren't loud and unruly on the bus.
This comment has been removed by the author.
if you're in Baton Rouge on gameday and NOT wild and unruly, were you even there?
Scottie, our group has fun wherever we go. We are always loud! Even sober! We are probably too loud for most folks.
Well, I was there, but after the game started, I wished I was at home.
Kathy, was the guy leading the cheers on the bus with you?
We had a great time in spite of the game, and I met a lot of nice folks. I don't regret the trip at all. I love my Auburn Tigers! I'll be there Saturday, being loud!
good work then Kathy!
I still love the Tigers too. We'll be there on Saturday too. I hope the crowd will be loud despite the early kickoff and how they've been playing lately.
Well, it's quittin' time!
War Eagle!!
Good football team...get better...small things...execute...day-by-day...character....teeth...
Yes, the cheerleader was with us. They left at halftime and took a taxi back to the hotel. They kept texting wanting to know when we were going to leave. We were having fun in the stands with the fans. They had seats down low and had been harrassed by some LSU fans. We had a nice Alabama guy sitting behind us, and we were giving him a hard time.
Beat Ole Miss!!
Bammers...
Well, it looks like Coach Nell has another tough situation to work her way through. I think she can do it, at least she will give it her all. I am proud of what she and her young ladies have and are doing. Coach Chizik presser. Hohummmm....snooze.
I've always had a great time in Baton Rouge.
Kathy..
I can't believe that bammers would want to hang out with Auburn fans..
:-P
FSJ, he was actually an Auburn student. At least he knows where to go to get a great education!
Yeah, take that FSJ! Auburn is better!!!
Kathy...
I've often wondered how many people go to each school that are actually fans of the other school.
I know we had a cheerleader a few years ago profess his love for AU on national television.
I had a relative that went to Auburn but was a Bama fan...but she wasn't a hard core football fan.
My nephew went to Auburn and he is a die-harded AL fan. My dad, who lives in Tuscaloosa, went to Auburn for a semester (following my mom), and he hates to admit it.
I don't know any Auburn fans who went to school in Tuscaloosa! :- P
My next door neighbor is an Auburn grad in Forestry but a big Ala Fan along with his dad and brothres. Terbacy chewing redneck but a really good neighbor.
Some of you may remember a couple of months back when I mentioned my friends' kid who has CP and is attending MSU. He now has a blog about what it's like being a college freshman with a disability. Here's the link, in case you're interested in checking it out:
M.S.U. and the View From My Chair
If Dexter goes crazy on us Saturday, will the game be considered a McCluFu.
A friend of mine went to Auburn as a hardcore UT fan and came out an Auburn fan.
My brother went to UT as a hardcore Auburn fan but now says he is about 50/50... the lesson here is that Auburn was very good when my friend went there, and UT has not been very good while my brother has been there. People like rooting for winners.
I will give Auburn just a couple more weeks before I do my yearly heel turn and turn into a bama fan again.
What does this comment mean? "When it's 3rd-and-7 and he has five guys in his lap, that's not Chris Todd."
Auwade- I take it to mean that Coach Grimes much teach the Ole blocking scheme on 3rd & 7 since I'm guessing he suggests that we don't block anybody then... :)
Antonio Coleman compared McCluster to Noel DeVine. Not exactly a comforting thought for Saturday.
I like Dexter. Sure, he kills people, but he does it with good intentions, which is all that really matters.
The key to the Ole Miss game is getting some good licks in on Enrique Davis. It may be difficult if he doesn't get in the game, but the players should keep an eye out on the sideline for any openings.
Scott Choc,
Thanks for posting the link to your friend's blog. He sounds like a heck of a kid. I will enjoy keeping up with him and his acclimation to college. Thinking of what he goes through just to accomplish ordinary tasks will sure keep me from complaining about what I think is hard.
Wasn't Brandon Cox a UAT fan before going to Auburn?
Coach Fortner does have an uphill battle, but like IV, I think she'll make it.
I think the women (mainly Kathy & Luv) have overtaken the guys on this thread! Way to go girls!
Looks like Patrick Trahan is looking forward to this weekend. Here's the link: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20091027/SPORTS030103/910270333/1287/SPORTS&referrer=SPORTSCAROUSEL
He pouted and left AU when declared academically ineligible for his sophomore year and now blames the previously coaches for not "supporting" him and his family. The Trahan situation would fall under the "attrition" catagory. Whose fault?....xCTT or Trahan?
Off to Nashville with my college daughter and her friend to a Hanson concert at The Wildhorse Saloon. My body might be getting a little too old for all this traveling and late nights, but I'm really blessed that my daughter wants her old mom to tag along!
War Eagle!
Hoopie, I say it's Trahan. Are they not made aware of the academic standards at Auburn?
Hoopie- Both. Tubs for not keeping on him about his grades and Trahan for not doing his part. Honestly, there is a lot more there to that situation that Tubs and Trahan prefer to keep behind closed doors. It's both fault, but Tubs recruited him and he is not here.
Kathy,
Have a great time with your daughter! I am going up to Nashville for a visit and to Christmas shop with my daughter in a couple of weeks. Don't you love that they want us around?!!
Definitely Cincy! When she graduates from UAH next year, she wants to go to Belmont in Nashville to get her Masters. She's my homebody, so that will be difficult for me.
Seems to me that rest is in order for this team. Rest can improve focus and hopefully reduce mental mistakes. Hopefully physical mistakes will tradeoff with rest improving coordination and strength while lack of reps will hurt timing. This team has been getting a lot of reps anyway.
Anyway...rest now and hopefully an easy game next week could set us up to play better at UGA.
I hope you're right, Hoopie.
Maybe Trahan grew up while at JUCO and maybe Ole Miss is easier academically(actually, kids from here go to OM when not able to get in many other places).
Eddie, sounds like you know some of the kind of stuff that's better left unsaid...kudos for quietness.
Hoopie- Let's hope so. Let's also help that Todd finds his mojo, even if he has to time travel to do so.
Jay Jacobs- Please for the love of God make sure we have a bye week in the middle of the season and not at the end.
Well, Eddie, it won't be until at least 2011.
Faker, do you know I might be able to get tix for the Penn St. game next season?
I googled Auburn's 2010 schedule and on the site I went to, it states Auburn is playing Samford in 2011. Anyone else see this?
I was at the Ole Miss - Arky game Sat. Trahan played well. Enrique didn't even get in the game. They don't even need him.
Ole Miss runs the Wild Rebel with a purpose. Unlike the Wildcat which more times than not is just a wasted down.
what's this talk about execution? who are we going to execute?
Eddie...a few years ago I did a study of off weeks in CFB. It makes a greater difference in the SEC than other conferences. Generally, the harder hitting the conference, the more the off week helps. Many times, Vegas seems to ignore off weeks.
OK Scott Choco....
Thanks for posting... my life is simple... what wee my issues??? they seem so petty.
Tar Heel, it would be nice if it were the rest of AU's opponents, but I don't see that happening, unfortunately.
How was your Philly Cheesesteak?
Cincy and DL, glad you got a chance to look at Zach's blog. He's a great kid, and came really close to going to AU (even though he grew up a Bama fan). I said in my previous post that he is my friends' kid, but that's a little inaccurate. He is also my friend in his own right. I'm hoping to meet up with him at the AU game in Starkville next year. It will be interesting to check out his set-up for myself.
Peg Bundy was hot.
Howdy hotties. Jet, the McCluFu comment was priceless. And yes, if he goes for 250 all purpose yards, that's exactly what it will be.
Consider Gus Malzahn's offense under this scenario.
A QB that can throw with authority like Todd did earlier in the season, a really fast RB like McCalleb was earlier in the season, but with this added dimension-> The QB is a real threat to run both as a designed QB run such as read option, and when pocket collapses. I believe the playbook gets bigger by default, and the defense has more to worry about by default.
Sponge, I agree with that.
Sponge,
I like that, too. When do we get that?
All need to remember that in Todd we trust. Todd will lead us to the promised land. Have faith.
Cincy...I think that we're all hoping the Rollison Express will give us that next year.
Caudle Express would give it to us this week if they would start him! I'm sure of it!!!
Michael, you need to get in touch with your Toddness.
Steve...Todzilla's arm looked stronger against LSU, than Ky but not as good as early season.
Looking at the film, Caudle's throw to Blake was the strongest throw during a game that I can remember by an AU QB this season. Although the pass fluttered slightly, it still had some steam. The mid-flight flutter slowed the pass enough so that Blake appeared to jump too early.
Hoopie, Todd's play is all part of the process. Have faith in Todd. Todd shall set you free.
I would give Caudle a chance, but the deal with him is that he will make a few decent plays then throw the football right to the defense, no where close to an AU player. We saw that in the one game earlier this year...Ball state maybe?
With QBs, Auburn seems to always have some mental thing about not playing the backup. To me if things aren't going as well as we would want, giving the backup a series to see what he can do only makes sense. It doesn't mean you have given up on the starter or named a new starter. Technically I think it is referred to as trying $hit and seeing what happens.
Sponge, I believe even the coaching staff said the receiver ran the wrong route on that Ball St. interception. Caudle's td/int ratio is infiniti.
Like I said, regardless, I would give him a chance. However, coaches see them every day, so there is probably a reason he doesn't get out there. Same deal last year when everyone was clamouring for Kodi. We finally got him and the results were less than positive. A new coaching staff didn't think he was the guy either, so last years coaches saw what this years coaches saw.
The fear of Caudle throwing interceptions would be easier to understand if the defense was strong enough to stop teams. This defense has shown on a weekly basis they are going to give up a lot of points. Playing it safe and hoping the D can pull it out won't work for AU this year. While Todd is hardly responsible for all of the offense's problems, a QB change has the best chance of bringing some life back to the offense.
if Todd has 40 yds passing at half again and he is not replaced I might jump off the upper deck. Or just get super-mad. I'll decide Saturday
Michael....The coaches have already said tht Todd would be the starter, but I would like to see Caudle get the start this week. Todd could heal this week and play just enough against Furman to regain timing and be ready for UGA.
Some might say that this would be abandoning the OM game and therefore not fair to our loyal senior players. It just seems to me that we need to break up our offensive patterns and Caudle's skill set could allow that. There are obvious downsides to starting Caudle, but probably no more downsides than what we're already trying to correct. I don't think that we would be abandoning the game and has more upside potential than down.
Harrison....don't jump....just mix another one.
Wait..here comes the psycho-logic...Don't get angry over something you can't control.
Ole Miss defense is better than LSU's up front, so we better be able to pass early and often, or it will be a long day for the tigers. Our only hope is that their QB throws a bunch of picks. just sayin.
Sponge....now dangit....I'm looking for hopeful scenerios here. Solid football analysis will cause reality to set in, which will only lead to depression.... and then we'll have to keep Harrison off the upper deck.
Ok Hoop. Here is the hopeful side. Todd has a good game and throws for 200+ yards. We need 150 on the ground and get it. No turnovers, but we get two from Ole Miss. Defense plays their best game and doesn't allow the rebels any explosive plays. We win at the end on a field goal. Nutt chokes again.
Sponge .... That's the spirit!! Of course your last phrase..."Nutt chokes again" adds the most plausibility to the post.
Eddie-You see where Coleman is still solid to AU after this weekends visit?
Lattimore looking forward to the visit this weekend. He is the only official visitor. Says AU is still very high on the list and AU has a great chance of landing him. he loves Malzahn and the offense. Says Tate gets plenty of carries and he likes that.
WTC. I have always worried about Shon Coleman. He was always saying he was still open even though he was committed to AU. That's good news. I also heard that we had a very good chance at Travon Reed. If he comes, and Seastrunk, then they may bring a couple more with them like Dixon. I don't think we can get Lattimore and Seastrunk though, nor do I think we want both if Dyer commits on Nov 6th.
Sponge-I do not think AU gets all three. I have said before AU gets two of them. Coleman's relatives have said all along he is AU's but he wanted to visit just to see the schools. Remember AU was the first to offer him when he was not rated very high. Other teams came in later as they all wanted his teammate (Damien Robinson, which AU has not spoken with)
AFIP goes live tonight in 6 minutes
WTC- I saw that on Coleman. That is huge. He is a big time need and a good pickup!
I wonder why we haven't offered Robinson?
Also, I understand Dyer was 1st priority for Malzahn. They felt like he was a better tailback than Seastrunk. I worry about Lache's head. However, any of the two I would be fine with. It's been a while since we got a top rated back. Now, where are those other OL;s and DL's.
Disregard the previous link to the show, use this one:
Auburn Football Insider Podcast Correct Link
Sponge-I still say you will be pleased with th OL and DL that ultimately sign with AU.
My concern is will we put most of the recruits on the KO team to get better results.
Not that wtc follows recruiting.
meh
OT
A dear friend -- and a huge Auburn fan -- will be undergoing surgery for a brain tumor in the morning. A week ago, he thought he had a sinus headache or infection, by late Friday night, he was unable to walk. On Saturday, the doctors told him he had a brain tumor. I can't adequately convey to you the incredible strenght of his spirit, but I know Keith would appreciate your prayers.
Done Jet!
You got it
Jet,
Here's pulling for your friend. I hope that the best possible results will be attained from his surgery and that his anticipation is the worst part of the ordeal. Prayers also go out for his family and his good friend Jet.
Feng,
Get the hell out of here.
Jay,
I apologize for that outburst. It was not a very nice thing to say, but at the time, I thought that it was appropriate. My bad.
Jet. Prayer sent. Life can change for all of us in an instant, making all AU football issues seem pretty un-important.
Prayers for Keith, Jet. Football isn't all that is it?
Feng fong fo fum, I smell the blood of a Rebel Mon. Be him live or be him dead, his bones AU will grind to make their bread.
I don't always drink beer, but when I do, it's dos equis.
Steve- If that was you on the line, call back, I was about to go to you.
Jay...... Notice how everyone except a few of the real HOTTIES seem to disapear when things go south? I have not seen a week this slow since June or July. Kudos to all the faithful.(even the ones who stir the pot) War Eagle and heres to the team getting back to winning ways!!!
Eddie, all I hear is tshhhhtshhhhhthshh. was wrong w/ my blog radio....
Storm, I am always weathering the storm of AU. no pun intended.
Did y'all know there was a new thread up?
Jet my prayers go out to your friend and his family. May God bless him and hope for a full recovery
Sorry Sponge. You can download it shortly from Itunes.
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