Hows much more money, Hoopie? You got an actual dollar figure? I don't count money until it's in the bank (even if that bank will be shutting its doors tomorrow, yuck yuck). Lots of people say things, but until they write the checks, there is no proof that it was anything more than posturing.
I'd say the lack of route running skills and the lack of a grasp of the playbook are the likely reasons why they're not, but that's speculation on my part.
I'm sure they're fine young men who love their mothers and help old ladies across the street, though, and please don't accept my assessment as casting aspersions at them personally.
You and I have experiences with the man up close. I defend him only to the extent in that he's the type of man who makes extremely difficult decisions, sees a field much larger than most, who puts his money where his mouth is and doesn't worry about whose feeling he hurts. There's a part of that I respect.
Is he a nice guy? Nope. Vindictive? Yes. I consider the person in the Biscuits' tickets anecdote a personal friend. It was a silly policy, but it was his policy.
Has he harmed Auburn along the way? At times, yes. At times, no.
But I believe that we'd nowhere near where we are right now without his sense of purpose, his singular focus, and his money. That's why I won't dump on him easily as others. I know who he is and what he's about. We're not friends, and he's not a likable character.
But a lot of Auburn people have been willing to burn the house down to save Auburn from him. I've seen too many faculty members beat the drum against him and whip up student frenzies about issues of which they have no basis for understanding.
I don't have much use for that.
His bank has failed ... either through greed or bad luck. He may be in greater trouble than that, but as I said earlier that's for the law to handle.
It's not that I'm a huge fan. I just get tired of people making him the cause of every problem from anthrax to our special teams coverage.
In answer to Kathy's question on the previous thread, we will be at the game and we will be tailgating at our traditional spot in front of Miller Hall. This will be our final traditional tailgate in this spot as we should have our condo by the Ole Miss game. Then we will be tailgating across the street from Lowder on the grounds of The Brown Crest.
All are welcome - we have new bags for our cornhole game. Well be at our site at about 10:30 am Saturday.
Listening to the news, they just stated the NCAA infractions committee said UAT was a habitual offender. I do not follow that stuff so I do not know what is happening but that doesn't sound good.
Eltoro, as best I can tell, is super frustrated with his (peripheral) role.
I don't think he's suggesting that he deserves a bigger role. I think he's frustrated that things don't come as easily as expected and, rather than do something rash, he's taking a little time to step back and assess.
UAT fans hate him today, but what a lead to his article by Scarbinsky: Lucky for Alabama that the NCAA Committee on Infractions doesn’t rule on eligibility issues.
Otherwise, Julio Jones and Mark Ingram might’ve been suspended for six games and Jerrell Harris disassociated for life. If anyone had any questions about the committee’s attitude toward its favorite repeat offender, those questions were answered in reading Alabama’s rebuttal brief in Bookgate.
It’s obvious. The COI looks at Alabama and sees red.
You don’t have to read between the lines when you read lines like these:
“Serial repeat offender.”
“Abysmal infractions track record.”
“An institution with an appalling and unprecedented recent infractions history.”
“Extensive recent history of infractions cases ... unmatched by any other member institution in the NCAA.”
Tubs slivered his way out of it and said that basically nothing and changed subjects quickly. Said this defense returned most starters from last year and can / should be better. Classic Tubs deflect.
Freep- I expected what I heard from Tubs. It's just interesting that he takes calls knowing he will get pressed like this. Tubs is one cool cat under pressure. I'll give him that.
Here's your stat comparison between AU's defense from 2008 and the 2009 model.
2008 (entire season): 317.8 yards per game 2.2 TDs per game 64.8 plays per game 4.9 yards per play 29:48 average TOP allowed
2009 (through 6 games): 369.3 yards per game 3.2 TDs per game 73 plays per game 5.1 yards per play 32:07 average TOP allowed
As you can see, our per-play average is a mere .2 of a yard worse than last year (to put it another way, on average our defense is giving up roughly 7 inches more on each play than they did in 2008).
The real difference is the amount of time our "D" is on the field relative to our opponents - more than 8 plays and 2 minutes a game longer than last year.
Throw in the obvious fact that three of the offenses we have faced this year (MSU, UT and Arky) are much better than they were last year, and you begin to see where that extra 50 yards a game comes from.
As an aside, if we were still following the same 'live to punt' strategy that Tubs utilized in '08, we would probably be 3-3 right now. At best.
2008- Bend don't break 2009- Bend over and take it like a man.
When an opponent gets in the red-zone, I have zero confidence that we can hold them to a field goal. The holding pentalty that pushed Arky back to the like the 20 from the 5 to have them even closer the next play was a good example of that.
Last year's defense wasn't all that good. This year's is worse, but not by that much.
Last year's defensive performance was skewed primarily by (a) Tub's ball-control philosophy and (2) the fact that we faced some absolutely horrid offenses.
The three schools I mentioned above, Arky, MSU and UT, are currently ranked #15, #44 and #48 in total offense. In 2008 they were #49, #113 and #115.
I never said last year's D was good...however last until the Ark game our D was only giving up 11 points per game, starting with the Ark game it gave up 25 points per game.
What up, Jay, no Michael Jackson theme today? I was dying to hear a little "you are not alone".
Yea, I was looking at this years Athlons this a.m. in my office (toilet) and took a pen, and crossed out all the players who are injured, not on the team, and or arent ready to play or didnt qualify. It wasnt pretty.
But its a fact, the starters we do have for the most part I think are very SEC talented type players. The problem is they cant play every snap nor can they play special teams. This isnt 1953, too much speed and power to stay out there all day at 100%. I say we ride it out see how it ends up. Really what else can we do? Nothing.
Aaron Savage would have helped at DB, Mike McNeil could have spelled Bates, (I prefer Bates, hell Drew Cole could have played special teams, Nose could have played some line, Pybus would have helped on special teams and subbing in, Zach Clayton, the MASH list goes on and on.
Stars are only good for one thing and thats buying the naming rights to them as a present when you dont have any cash for christmas. I have two already so I would know.
Freep, I'm glad to see someone else mention the defense not being that strong last season. The rushing defense problems especially began last year and have gotten steadily worse this season. One more number-
08- Auburn allowed 138.9 yds per game rushing, 8th in the SEC
09- Auburn allowing 164.7 yds per game rushing, currently 10th in the SEC
To be 100 percent fair to the defense...we have seen such TBs as Noel Devine, Michael Smith, Anthony Dixon and Montario Hardesty. Those are good players.
Last years D had a pretty good stretch where they didnt let teams convert on 3rd down...ever. That 08 D was WAY better than this 09 D. However, they had absolutely no help on offense and that took it's toll as the season progressed.
Sean- Not to disagree with you, but Michael Smith was only averaging like 60 something yards a game rushing coming in. We tend to make backs look better than they are. Hardesty is the only exception this year.
What is Trotts major? Anyone notice he gets tons of interviews, which he does well. He is on the gameday interviews, the behind the tigers show, pre-game, post-game, is he the next Cole Cubelic?
And good backs can run on a good defense. See what I just did there? It's not hard to make overreaching generalizations. That said, we don't have a good defense.
Like I said, through the first 5 games, last year's defense had played some of the worst offenses in FBS. And we had yet to play WVU, who by the way is also much improved in total offense compared to last season.
Here's the total season rankings for our first 6 opponents in 2008: #82 LAMO #20 USM #113 MSU #55 LSU #115 UT #117 Vandy
Now here's this year's rankings for our opponents thus far: #88 LA Tech #44 MSU #16 WVU #116 BSU #48 UT #15 Arky
I think the difference is pretty clear: only one in the top 50 (and three in the bottom 10) last season versus four in the top 50 (and only on in the bottom 10) in '09.
The good news is, some of the best offensive teams we played in the second half of 2008 (#22 UGa. #29 Ole Nutt, and #55 LSU) are really struggling on that side of the ball this year (#97, #85, and #109 respectively).
Our defense will rely on our offense to bail it out, plain and simple. I almost think it should sell out on ball control offense and risk giving up the big play for the chance at a turnover instead of getting methodicly driven down the field and then give up the score after 5-6 minutes goes by.
I did a couple of motivational posters for Bammer at the end of last season. One that says, TEBOWED: Nick Saban wears Tebow Pajamas. The pic is Tebow trucking some Bammer player.
The other says, HUMILITY: Pride Commeth Before the Fall. The pic is JPW being owned.
Maybe, this was the wrong year to have Gus' offense. It has won some games but is hurting our defense. The offense either scores to quick or they turn it over with high risk plays. Hmmm, I still take the Malzahn offense.
You know who else is an ass? Danny Sheridan, I see him all the time around Mobile and he is an ass, even to the die hard bammers who kiss his ass. His hair is dyed blacker than tar. Once me and my friends realized he was an ass, after a few drinks we would yell things like "Yo Danny, you owe me $100 for that Vandy spread last week". It annoyed him enough where he would move.
At some point this D has got to revisit some fundamentals. We miss more tackles than a little league team. That is why we have made average athletes look so stellar.
My brother n laws HS team is giving up like 300 to 400 yards rushing a game. HS Coach said "We are even making the bad teams running backs look like Heisman trophy winners"
Scottie, as long as they refrain from the Tommy Trott cover this year, he looked like he was posing for JC Penny with his coat over his shoulder and his tie undone. That was gayer than the volleyball scene from Top Gun.
About Smith: it wasn't that 'other teams had no problem containing him' - it was Arky hardly used him the first four games - a grand total of 32 carries for 180 yards, or 5.6 ypc. I wouldn't call that 'containing' him.
Our "D" has already faced 3 of the top 12 rushers in FBS, plus the #14 and #15 QBs in passing efficiency (Mallet and WVU's Brown). We'd faced only one player in the top 20 in either category this time last year - USM RB Damien Fletcher, who we did hold pretty much in check.
We had a photographer who wanted all the football players our senior year of HS to take a shirt less pic holding a football. I showed mercy on future picture viewers and declined
So maybe in 1994 this photographer was a trend setter.
And our 28-points-per-game average has also been hurt by the number of our opponents' drives that have started beyond their own 40 yard line thanks to poor kickoff/punt coverage and turnovers. During my research I counted 6 scoring drives of 35 yards or less.
Suddenly I don't know waht to say. But I will say it anyway
The defense needs to go back to basics and learn how to taclke and play a little pool to better understand angles.
Roof needs to watch some good defensive football teams and see what is going on in todays world. Quit making excuses and try some bold plays. There are literaly thousands to choose from.
The D was definitely a big part of the losing equation late last year. They were more responsible for the Ole Miss loss than the O in my opinion. They also got driven on by Vandy quite a bit.
I know no one wants to talk much about this but our offense made the ARK defense look all-world for at least a half. Our first series looked like they had a copy of our coaching notes.
Judging from what the players and coaches have said, they played like they practiced last week. I have a feeling that will remain with them as a constant reminder that you can't just show up for the game and expect a W.
That first series was so screwed up it was pitifu. Exicusion was like a Jr. College team playing an NFL top defense. No blocking no faking no running no passing
I think the team learned alot from the ARK game on both sides of the ball. I think the coaches learned as much as the players. Im pretty anxious to see the improvements on both sides of the ball. Did anyone read the article from the Arkansas paper that quoted their DC as saying our offense was predictable? I only heard about it but I beat Malzahn is thinking, "i have them right were I want them!"
BigCat- I saw that mentioned but have never seen the real reference on that quote. I find it hard to believe he is predictable unless someone stole his scripted play sheet.
Well he can be predictable as far as the play calling goes. The trick is in the execution and tempo. The other team can know what you're going to run, but if our offense blocks and moves like they're supposed to, it shouldn't matter if they know or not.
As long as we execute properly we should be able to move the ball even if we are predictable.
Execution was key. I know this is the type of comment that seems to make people think I'm not a true fan...however Tommy Trott got people killed on swing passes a couple of times by not holding his block.
RK- I saw the same and I also noticed in previous games how nice of a job we did in blocking on those screens. Before this year, I never felt Auburn was going to be able to block on a bubble screen, but they can. They just need to take it seriously again.
I think preparation played a lot into the loss, but I also think Arkansas is just good. Also, there have been numerous quarters this year where Auburn's O didn't show, but it has generally been for no more than one quarter a game. We were bound for a bad game where we got 2 or 3 bad quarters, and this was it. So much of the O is based on timing/execution and not necessarily how good or athletic the opposing defense is, so it also shouldn't be such a surprise that a D as bad as Arkansas was the one to shut the O down.
Take another look at the West Va game. Had W Va not shot themselves in the foot so much and if we had decided to turn the ball over like we did Saturday, that score could have been about the same.
So, I am sure lack of focus during preparation played into this last loss, but it is not like slow starts were new this last week. It’s just that they didn’t snap out of it fast enough this time. Add in all the turnovers, missed opportunities, and a couple of questionable calls from the refs, and you can see why the score ended up the way it did. Lack of focus at practice didn’t cause Fannin to fumble on the kickoff return, Tate to fumble the handoff at the goal line, or Todd to overthrow his receiver on a wide open bomb. These plays happen and they just all decided to happen in one horrible game.
I think the Florida was supposed to have returned all 11 starters and something like 10 of the second string on their defense. It was something crazy like that.
But they will still possibly get into trouble if they can't find their running game.
Summary of my last post: it is fine to look for reasons for the loss so that they can be corrected, but in reality, the potential for this sort of game has been there all season if you just looked a little closer.
Roof has been forced to change his defensive plans at Auburn. That is 100% correct.
His top two linebackers play every snap of every game. You can't ask them to blitz very often under that workload.
As you saw last week, Neiko Thorpe has some issues in man coverage. So that's a situation where a safety needs to provide support as often as possible.
If your linebackers can't blitz and your safeties are needed in coverage and your corners are loaded to the gills as it is ... who is going to blitz?
I understand the rationale with not blitzing, but I don't agree with it. I think both Herring and Freeman would be better used if they blitzed more often.
And I can also live with those passes on Thorpe. He was in good position, he just has to make a play on the ball. Easier said than done, but I am not worried about him. Blitz and trust your corners.
That being said, when we did blitz in the UT game, we still didn't get any pressure. That also might be a part of the problem: maybe we don't have effective blitzers.
Jay G- I say it's a pick your poison at that point. I say that you are better to blitz against a good QB which Mallet is and risk giving up the homerun ball. Our defense is not good enough to give good QB's all day to throw the ball. I'd rather see us take our chances of blowing a coverage and getting to the QB quickly than a good QB picking us apart slowly.
Freeman isn't on the field. He's not playing. He won't be blitzing.
Adam Herring? Maybe. They run nickel a lot, so you're more apt to consider Demond Washington as your designated blitzer. Then again, why are you blitzing out of a nickel?
I know Freeman isn't playing, but he wasn't blitzing when he was playing. I think a good way of getting these youngsters feet wet is to take out the thinking part and let them run like mad men at a quarterback like Mallett.
Alright peeps, there's something everyone needs to realize. It's imperative we get pressure with our front 4. If we don't we will have all kinds of problems. Blitzing isn't much of an option for reasons already stated. The front 4 is our best chance to improve and get more pressure. IMO, that's where the majority of our defensive effort needs to come.
But Sean, that's like saying, “Todd needs to start running faster”. It is a little late to work on the pass rushing techniques of our front 4, so you have to go to plan B: either play it conservative and drop into coverage or bring some extra rushers and make you coverage more vulnerable. Of course everyone wants to get a rush without blitzing, but it hasn’t happened the last two games, and it isn’t likely to happen in the near future.
I have disabled auto-play for this video.
Above average videos are my favorite kind.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't even seen it.
ReplyDeleteHello, Mayor West.
ReplyDeleteOne HABOTN.
ReplyDeleteI took your word for it. I'll offer confirmation in mere minutes.
ReplyDeleteOne HABOTN.
ReplyDeleteFanin is funny.
ReplyDeleteRoof likes to get out if there's nothing else.
Two HABOTN
ReplyDeleteThree HABOTN
Four
I love the Roof clip. Best part of my video day.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, Mayor West?
ReplyDeleteHow do you know my language?
Hard to see Roof doing the HC deal. He doesn't seem to like interviews very much.
ReplyDeleteIs Quindarius Carr one of the third or fourth wideouts Malzahn referred to in the earlier thread?
Hows much more money, Hoopie? You got an actual dollar figure? I don't count money until it's in the bank (even if that bank will be shutting its doors tomorrow, yuck yuck). Lots of people say things, but until they write the checks, there is no proof that it was anything more than posturing.
ReplyDeleteI am one of many that thought Benton and Blake would start and play a lot this year. What has happened to either of them?
ReplyDeletewtc...
ReplyDeleteYou voice the question of many.
WTC ...
ReplyDeleteI'd say the lack of route running skills and the lack of a grasp of the playbook are the likely reasons why they're not, but that's speculation on my part.
I'm sure they're fine young men who love their mothers and help old ladies across the street, though, and please don't accept my assessment as casting aspersions at them personally.
You guys just can't help yourselves can you?
ReplyDeleteI've never wanted to criticize players...until I was told I shouldn't. Now I want to just for spite.
ReplyDeleteHoopie ...
ReplyDeleteYou and I have experiences with the man up close. I defend him only to the extent in that he's the type of man who makes extremely difficult decisions, sees a field much larger than most, who puts his money where his mouth is and doesn't worry about whose feeling he hurts. There's a part of that I respect.
Is he a nice guy? Nope. Vindictive? Yes. I consider the person in the Biscuits' tickets anecdote a personal friend. It was a silly policy, but it was his policy.
Has he harmed Auburn along the way? At times, yes. At times, no.
But I believe that we'd nowhere near where we are right now without his sense of purpose, his singular focus, and his money. That's why I won't dump on him easily as others. I know who he is and what he's about. We're not friends, and he's not a likable character.
But a lot of Auburn people have been willing to burn the house down to save Auburn from him. I've seen too many faculty members beat the drum against him and whip up student frenzies about issues of which they have no basis for understanding.
I don't have much use for that.
His bank has failed ... either through greed or bad luck. He may be in greater trouble than that, but as I said earlier that's for the law to handle.
It's not that I'm a huge fan. I just get tired of people making him the cause of every problem from anthrax to our special teams coverage.
Well I heard that Lowder was on the sidelines giving Boulware tips on kickoff coverage.
ReplyDeleteIt's just what I heard from a source.
AUfan,
ReplyDeleteRoof was the head football coach at Duke, he never had to do interviews there as the media there never realized they had a football program.
That Roof clip never gets old.
In answer to Kathy's question on the previous thread, we will be at the game and we will be tailgating at our traditional spot in front of Miller Hall. This will be our final traditional tailgate in this spot as we should have our condo by the Ole Miss game. Then we will be tailgating across the street from Lowder on the grounds of The Brown Crest.
ReplyDeleteAll are welcome - we have new bags for our cornhole game. Well be at our site at about 10:30 am Saturday.
Jet-I get most of my 'cruitin' news from Lowder.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'.
Well, RK, that changes everything.
ReplyDeletewell = we'll
ReplyDeleteWTC ... I got no problem with that.
ReplyDeleteDuke has a football team? That gym is not 100 yards long. I call BS.
ReplyDeleteListening to the news, they just stated the NCAA infractions committee said UAT was a habitual offender.
ReplyDeleteI do not follow that stuff so I do not know what is happening but that doesn't sound good.
Coach K won't let the football team in the gym. He's afraid they'll infect it.
ReplyDeleteNo, it was habitUAl offender.
ReplyDeleteUAT- also, "an extensive recent history of infractions cases unmatched by any other member institution in the NCAA."
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the NCAA say what they really think?
Is this something new with UA and the NCAA? Why is this on the news all of a sudden?
ReplyDeleteThese videos are worth watching, if only for the cool closing music.
ReplyDeleteThe players don't look as carefree, but they don't seem down. They seem focused. I hope I am getting the right impression.
another great video, JayGT. Have you ever thought of Cannes? Or that place in Utah?
ReplyDeleteNothing new, Cincy.
ReplyDeleteAlabama's rebuttal to the textbook case was released to the media today. It contained the Infractions committee comments and Alabama's rebuttal.
Thanks, AUfan
ReplyDeleteGoodnight HABOTN. I love you all, even the ones that suck.
ReplyDeleteLawzy...been out of pocket for a few days with family and I see I missed a BUNCH of stuff. ou-wee!
ReplyDeleteLet it be known that I still believe in Auburn and love it!
So are we being nice to each other yet???
Maybe rehashed before; but, what is the story with Eltoro?
ReplyDeleteEltoro, as best I can tell, is super frustrated with his (peripheral) role.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he's suggesting that he deserves a bigger role. I think he's frustrated that things don't come as easily as expected and, rather than do something rash, he's taking a little time to step back and assess.
Happy Hump Day.
ReplyDeleteThat Todd Van Ernst, he sure is a capable photographer. Hopefully he one day gets his due as a capable photographer. The guy's money...and capable.
ReplyDelete優質行動網!!!!
ReplyDeleteI need to become an top specimen of human efficiency.
ReplyDeleteThere is an app for that.
ReplyDeleteUAT fans hate him today, but what a lead to his article by Scarbinsky:
ReplyDeleteLucky for Alabama that the NCAA Committee on Infractions doesn’t rule on eligibility issues.
Otherwise, Julio Jones and Mark Ingram might’ve been suspended for six games and Jerrell Harris disassociated for life. If anyone had any questions about the committee’s attitude toward its favorite repeat offender, those questions were answered in reading Alabama’s rebuttal brief in Bookgate.
It’s obvious. The COI looks at Alabama and sees red.
You don’t have to read between the lines when you read lines like these:
“Serial repeat offender.”
“Abysmal infractions track record.”
“An institution with an appalling and unprecedented recent infractions history.”
“Extensive recent history of infractions cases ... unmatched by any other member institution in the NCAA.”
Unmatched. Hey, another national championship.
Feng!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you called me out too.
Did you not read Jay G's thing about harmony?
They can add the violation national title to their recruiting one and their largest spring game attendance one.
ReplyDeleteThey will. Daniel Moore is working on a painting now so it can be out by Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGood One WTC on Moore.. What will it be - a reclining $aban on a bed of money?
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Hotties!!!
ReplyDeleteNCAA bama comments is hilarious. Can you imagine if something else comes up in the near future what the punishment will be?
Hi Hotties,
ReplyDeleteI've been chillin' at Toyota for the past hour.
Here's JayGT's article for today on AC.
I knew that was messed up, but I didn't get any html error. Let's see what I did wrong...
ReplyDeleteJGT article of the day
ReplyDeleteCongrats to former AU LB Haven Fields, Assistant AD at USA. Very nice article here.
ReplyDeleteHow about Jones, Ingram, Saban holding up $$$ bills, in the Gulf of Mexico.
ReplyDeleteTitle is "I'm on a $*&@ Boat"
Not that it matters, but I see where AU has moved up in the rankings on Rivals to #12.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair-I WAS NEVER one of those that said stars do not matter. I said they are not the most important.
I like what I'm reading about how the team has reacted to the loss last week, hopefully that will translate well into the rest of the season.
ReplyDeleteAnother thread successfully killed.
ReplyDeleteShane putting Tubs on the spot by asking him what he thought about it being his fault for the depth issues we are having.
ReplyDeletePlease tell us his response. I'm on a conference call until 11:30, so I can't listen to anything until after lunch.
ReplyDeleteTubs slivered his way out of it and said that basically nothing and changed subjects quickly. Said this defense returned most starters from last year and can / should be better. Classic Tubs deflect.
ReplyDeleteWhat, did any of you actually expect Tuberville to take responsibility for anything bad?
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Kristina!
ReplyDeleteHave a great birthday Katrina.
ReplyDeleteFreep- I expected what I heard from Tubs. It's just interesting that he takes calls knowing he will get pressed like this. Tubs is one cool cat under pressure. I'll give him that.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY B-DAY Kristina!
yippee Zoo Keeper! happy b-day gal!
ReplyDeleteEddie,
ReplyDeleteI concur.
Staff meetings are not interesting.
ReplyDeleteConference calls developing a QA database are thrilling.
ReplyDeleteHere's your stat comparison between AU's defense from 2008 and the 2009 model.
ReplyDelete2008 (entire season):
317.8 yards per game
2.2 TDs per game
64.8 plays per game
4.9 yards per play
29:48 average TOP allowed
2009 (through 6 games):
369.3 yards per game
3.2 TDs per game
73 plays per game
5.1 yards per play
32:07 average TOP allowed
As you can see, our per-play average is a mere .2 of a yard worse than last year (to put it another way, on average our defense is giving up roughly 7 inches more on each play than they did in 2008).
The real difference is the amount of time our "D" is on the field relative to our opponents - more than 8 plays and 2 minutes a game longer than last year.
Throw in the obvious fact that three of the offenses we have faced this year (MSU, UT and Arky) are much better than they were last year, and you begin to see where that extra 50 yards a game comes from.
As an aside, if we were still following the same 'live to punt' strategy that Tubs utilized in '08, we would probably be 3-3 right now. At best.
What is the points per game difference?
ReplyDeleteThat's the key stat.
Difference in last year and this year's defense:
ReplyDelete2008- Bend don't break
2009- Bend over and take it like a man.
When an opponent gets in the red-zone, I have zero confidence that we can hold them to a field goal. The holding pentalty that pushed Arky back to the like the 20 from the 5 to have them even closer the next play was a good example of that.
We're giving up 1 more offensive TD per game than last year (3.2 this year vs. 2.2 in 0.8).
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, we are scoring 4.3 offensive TDs per game thus far in '09, vs. an abysmal 1.6 last year.
Happy birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear zookeeper Kristina!
Happy birthday to you!!!
Hope you have a totally AUsome day!
We are giving up 10 more points per game than last year. 18 to 28.
ReplyDelete18 per game is generally unacceptable for an Auburn D, 28 is mind blowing.
Methinks you're missing the point.
ReplyDeleteLast year's defense wasn't all that good. This year's is worse, but not by that much.
Last year's defensive performance was skewed primarily by (a) Tub's ball-control philosophy and (2) the fact that we faced some absolutely horrid offenses.
The three schools I mentioned above, Arky, MSU and UT, are currently ranked #15, #44 and #48 in total offense. In 2008 they were #49, #113 and #115.
Stars do matter. Very much. Especially the one that I named for Kate Beckinsale.
ReplyDeleteI never said last year's D was good...however last until the Ark game our D was only giving up 11 points per game, starting with the Ark game it gave up 25 points per game.
ReplyDeleteLast years D got worse as our offense got worse.
What up, Jay, no Michael Jackson theme today? I was dying to hear a little "you are not alone".
ReplyDeleteYea, I was looking at this years Athlons this a.m. in my office (toilet) and took a pen, and crossed out all the players who are injured, not on the team, and or arent ready to play or didnt qualify. It wasnt pretty.
But its a fact, the starters we do have for the most part I think are very SEC talented type players. The problem is they cant play every snap nor can they play special teams. This isnt 1953, too much speed and power to stay out there all day at 100%. I say we ride it out see how it ends up. Really what else can we do? Nothing.
Aaron Savage would have helped at DB, Mike McNeil could have spelled Bates, (I prefer Bates, hell Drew Cole could have played special teams, Nose could have played some line, Pybus would have helped on special teams and subbing in, Zach Clayton, the MASH list goes on and on.
Stars are only good for one thing and thats buying the naming rights to them as a present when you dont have any cash for christmas. I have two already so I would know.
ReplyDeleteFreep, I'm glad to see someone else mention the defense not being that strong last season. The rushing defense problems especially began last year and have gotten steadily worse this season. One more number-
ReplyDelete08- Auburn allowed 138.9 yds per game rushing, 8th in the SEC
09- Auburn allowing 164.7 yds per game rushing, currently 10th in the SEC
To be 100 percent fair to the defense...we have seen such TBs as Noel Devine, Michael Smith, Anthony Dixon and Montario Hardesty. Those are good players.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Hot Ones!!
ReplyDeleteLast years D had a pretty good stretch where they didnt let teams convert on 3rd down...ever. That 08 D was WAY better than this 09 D. However, they had absolutely no help on offense and that took it's toll as the season progressed.
We had 2 different D's last year.
ReplyDeleteThe one early on that was really strong and the one at the end of the year that wasn't the same due to the collapse of our offense.
Add in Senderick and Powers, wow, much better.
ReplyDeleteSean- Not to disagree with you, but Michael Smith was only averaging like 60 something yards a game rushing coming in. We tend to make backs look better than they are. Hardesty is the only exception this year.
ReplyDeleteHot Carter, I know is recovering from a major surgery, but he should be renamed tepid carter.
ReplyDeleteDARVIN ADAMS!
ReplyDeletei went blank on Zach Clayton. what's his deal?
ReplyDeleteEddie,
ReplyDeleteAgreed, most of are tackles are from behind on running backs as we are chasing them.
Scottie, they say undisclosed injury, problem got hurt throwing the shot put in his dorm room.
ReplyDeleteEddie, that's fine and it's a good point, but didn't he lead the league in rushing last season?
ReplyDeletePDWT- Agreed, but we also seem to try and take them down high off our feet and whiff and then it becomes a big gain when it could have been minimal.
ReplyDeletethx PDWT.
ReplyDeleteWatch last weeks game, we throw our body at them no where close to the offensive player hoping to knock them down or throw them off balance.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Trotts major? Anyone notice he gets tons of interviews, which he does well. He is on the gameday interviews, the behind the tigers show, pre-game, post-game, is he the next Cole Cubelic?
ReplyDeleteSean- He was 2nd last season behind Moreno. I get that he is a good back, but others had not problem containing him before our game.
ReplyDeletePDWT- I hope he is a heck of a better person than Cole.
ReplyDeleteGood defenses shut down good backs. We have done it before, we just dont have a great defense this year.
ReplyDeleteEddie, probably so. :)Im sure he is a better person than Tyler Watts.
ReplyDeleteCole Cubelic and Tyler Watts are my favorite drinking buddies. be nice.
ReplyDeletej/k.
And good backs can run on a good defense. See what I just did there? It's not hard to make overreaching generalizations. That said, we don't have a good defense.
ReplyDelete"We don't have a great defense". Boy, that's something you could have missed if you weren't paying close attention.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, through the first 5 games, last year's defense had played some of the worst offenses in FBS. And we had yet to play WVU, who by the way is also much improved in total offense compared to last season.
ReplyDeleteHere's the total season rankings for our first 6 opponents in 2008:
#82 LAMO
#20 USM
#113 MSU
#55 LSU
#115 UT
#117 Vandy
Now here's this year's rankings for our opponents thus far:
#88 LA Tech
#44 MSU
#16 WVU
#116 BSU
#48 UT
#15 Arky
I think the difference is pretty clear: only one in the top 50 (and three in the bottom 10) last season versus four in the top 50 (and only on in the bottom 10) in '09.
The good news is, some of the best offensive teams we played in the second half of 2008 (#22 UGa. #29 Ole Nutt, and #55 LSU) are really struggling on that side of the ball this year (#97, #85, and #109 respectively).
Agreed there PDWT.
ReplyDeleteOur defense will rely on our offense to bail it out, plain and simple. I almost think it should sell out on ball control offense and risk giving up the big play for the chance at a turnover instead of getting methodicly driven down the field and then give up the score after 5-6 minutes goes by.
haha, we should all write motivational posters
ReplyDeleteScottie- Cole had plenty of chances to be nice but consistantly was an ass.
ReplyDeleteI did a couple of motivational posters for Bammer at the end of last season. One that says, TEBOWED: Nick Saban wears Tebow Pajamas. The pic is Tebow trucking some Bammer player.
ReplyDeleteThe other says, HUMILITY: Pride Commeth Before the Fall. The pic is JPW being owned.
Maybe, this was the wrong year to have Gus' offense. It has won some games but is hurting our defense. The offense either scores to quick or they turn it over with high risk plays. Hmmm, I still take the Malzahn offense.
ReplyDeleteYou know who else is an ass? Danny Sheridan, I see him all the time around Mobile and he is an ass, even to the die hard bammers who kiss his ass. His hair is dyed blacker than tar. Once me and my friends realized he was an ass, after a few drinks we would yell things like "Yo Danny, you owe me $100 for that Vandy spread last week". It annoyed him enough where he would move.
ReplyDeleteToo much research for me to debate.
ReplyDeleteI'll just say our D was better last year and agree to disagree.
At some point this D has got to revisit some fundamentals. We miss more tackles than a little league team. That is why we have made average athletes look so stellar.
ReplyDeleteWith only 8 seniors each one should get their own personal gameday program cover.
ReplyDeleteWERK, quit being a naysayer and continue to supposedly support Auburn. Even if it means lying to yourself.
ReplyDeleteMy brother n laws HS team is giving up like 300 to 400 yards rushing a game. HS Coach said "We are even making the bad teams running backs look like Heisman trophy winners"
ReplyDeleteI agree with that per Auburn.
PDWT, i agree on the program cover thing. i'm sure no one really cares but as a collector i like having the Seniors on there too.
ReplyDeleteEddie, i know your love for Cole. i couldn't resist. ;)
Sean,
ReplyDeleteYou are a liar.
WERK,
ReplyDeleteEverybody lies.
Scottie, as long as they refrain from the Tommy Trott cover this year, he looked like he was posing for JC Penny with his coat over his shoulder and his tie undone. That was gayer than the volleyball scene from Top Gun.
ReplyDeleteEverybody lies???? Now i'm screwed. I don't know who to trust.
ReplyDeleteAbout Smith: it wasn't that 'other teams had no problem containing him' - it was Arky hardly used him the first four games - a grand total of 32 carries for 180 yards, or 5.6 ypc. I wouldn't call that 'containing' him.
ReplyDeleteOur "D" has already faced 3 of the top 12 rushers in FBS, plus the #14 and #15 QBs in passing efficiency (Mallet and WVU's Brown). We'd faced only one player in the top 20 in either category this time last year - USM RB Damien Fletcher, who we did hold pretty much in check.
PDWT, i see your Top Gun volleyball scene and raise you the Tennessee topless team photo. now, THAT was gay.
ReplyDeleteScottie, touche' (spelling)? agreed, whoever started that trend needs to end it. I believe Florida did one as well.
ReplyDelete28 points per game is still too much no matter who we have faced.
ReplyDeleteFreep - nice analysis
ReplyDeleteI agree. Last year's D was abysmal against teams with a pulse.
OK, WERK, I will 'agree to disagree'.
ReplyDeleteThis year's defense, with several key players either graduated, dismissed, injured or otherwise playing hurt, is not as good as last year's.
I'll make a prediction, though: our defense will achieve somethings last year's couldn't: a winning season and a bowl game.
Bottom line, that's all that counts.
retract: abysmal is a strong word. More like subpar for an Auburn D, much like this year.
ReplyDeleteWell said Fearless. How many W's is all that matters. Besides, you can give up 28 a game if you're scoring 30+.
ReplyDeleteWe had a photographer who wanted all the football players our senior year of HS to take a shirt less pic holding a football. I showed mercy on future picture viewers and declined
ReplyDeleteSo maybe in 1994 this photographer was a trend setter.
And our 28-points-per-game average has also been hurt by the number of our opponents' drives that have started beyond their own 40 yard line thanks to poor kickoff/punt coverage and turnovers. During my research I counted 6 scoring drives of 35 yards or less.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the record will be better, so in the context of the season it will be a better D this year.
ReplyDeleteLast year's D wasnt the reason for the losing season. It wasn't even the reason for the loss to ARK.
ReplyDeleteI agree the 108 yards and 3 points at the half was why we lost to Ark.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly I don't know waht to say.
ReplyDeleteBut I will say it anyway
The defense needs to go back to basics and learn how to taclke and play a little pool to better understand angles.
Roof needs to watch some good defensive football teams and see what is going on in todays world. Quit making excuses and try some bold plays. There are literaly thousands to choose from.
The D was definitely a big part of the losing equation late last year. They were more responsible for the Ole Miss loss than the O in my opinion. They also got driven on by Vandy quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteScottie, I see your topless team photo and raise you the Urban/Tebow man nuzzle.
ReplyDeletemytommy
ReplyDeleteNOW I am feeling ill
that was sickening
to say the least
The D giving up yards to Vandy was because after our 3rd drive of the game our O was done.
ReplyDeleteah, the nuzzle. i fold.
ReplyDeleteHas any youtuber added music to it yet? If any clip is begging for "Muskrat Love' or "When a man loves a woman" that would be it.
ReplyDeleterk, make excuses all you want, but our D was giving up yards to Vandy. VANDY!!!!
ReplyDeleteWas last year's Vandy game the other game where we knocked out the starting QB just to get toasted by the backup? I know LSU was one.
ReplyDeleteThe D also played pretty much the same way against West Virginia for two years in a row now, also.
ReplyDeleteA qoute from Evan's blog
ReplyDeleteTed Roof has historically been known as aggressive coordinator eager to blitz and harass the quarterback
what! did we get the wrong Roof. The asphalt intead of the steel.
Surely someone jests
We gave up 263 yards to Vandy. Vandy's longest drive was 68 yards...their 2nd longest was 39.
ReplyDeleteOne of their TD drives was 30 yards.
I know no one wants to talk much about this but our offense made the ARK defense look all-world for at least a half. Our first series looked like they had a copy of our coaching notes.
ReplyDeleteJudging from what the players and coaches have said, they played like they practiced last week. I have a feeling that will remain with them as a constant reminder that you can't just show up for the game and expect a W.
ReplyDeleteThat first series was so screwed up it was pitifu.
ReplyDeleteExicusion was like a Jr. College team playing an NFL top defense.
No blocking no faking no running no passing
mytommy- Truer words have never been spoken. I'm hoping they are having a great week of practice this week.
ReplyDeleteWell Eddie, it sounds like Tuesday they got back on track. Lets hope they keep it rollin'
ReplyDeleteSo was the bad practice week due to beleiving the press clippings and the ranking?
ReplyDeleteor believing
ReplyDeleteI really think so.
ReplyDeleteYoung folks seem to need to be shown not told.
RK- Guarenteed that played into and how easily the truely beat UT even tho the score didn't reflect it.
ReplyDeleteI think the team learned alot from the ARK game on both sides of the ball. I think the coaches learned as much as the players. Im pretty anxious to see the improvements on both sides of the ball. Did anyone read the article from the Arkansas paper that quoted their DC as saying our offense was predictable? I only heard about it but I beat Malzahn is thinking, "i have them right were I want them!"
ReplyDeleteBigCat- I saw that mentioned but have never seen the real reference on that quote. I find it hard to believe he is predictable unless someone stole his scripted play sheet.
ReplyDeleteI think the quote was about on 2nd and 6 or less we were really predictable and it helped put us in3rd and long.
ReplyDeleteWell he can be predictable as far as the play calling goes. The trick is in the execution and tempo. The other team can know what you're going to run, but if our offense blocks and moves like they're supposed to, it shouldn't matter if they know or not.
ReplyDeleteAt least I think that was part of the basics for Gus' scheme.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we execute properly we should be able to move the ball even if we are predictable.
ReplyDeleteExecution was key. I know this is the type of comment that seems to make people think I'm not a true fan...however Tommy Trott got people killed on swing passes a couple of times by not holding his block.
Did you all know Florida's defense has given up only 2 touchdowns all year?
ReplyDeleteSensi,
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that, but they do have a really good D.
When we play them in the SEC title game, we'll see how well we do against them, right?
RK- I saw the same and I also noticed in previous games how nice of a job we did in blocking on those screens. Before this year, I never felt Auburn was going to be able to block on a bubble screen, but they can. They just need to take it seriously again.
ReplyDeleteMy long post:
ReplyDeleteI think preparation played a lot into the loss, but I also think Arkansas is just good. Also, there have been numerous quarters this year where Auburn's O didn't show, but it has generally been for no more than one quarter a game. We were bound for a bad game where we got 2 or 3 bad quarters, and this was it. So much of the O is based on timing/execution and not necessarily how good or athletic the opposing defense is, so it also shouldn't be such a surprise that a D as bad as Arkansas was the one to shut the O down.
Take another look at the West Va game. Had W Va not shot themselves in the foot so much and if we had decided to turn the ball over like we did Saturday, that score could have been about the same.
So, I am sure lack of focus during preparation played into this last loss, but it is not like slow starts were new this last week. It’s just that they didn’t snap out of it fast enough this time. Add in all the turnovers, missed opportunities, and a couple of questionable calls from the refs, and you can see why the score ended up the way it did. Lack of focus at practice didn’t cause Fannin to fumble on the kickoff return, Tate to fumble the handoff at the goal line, or Todd to overthrow his receiver on a wide open bomb. These plays happen and they just all decided to happen in one horrible game.
I think the Florida was supposed to have returned all 11 starters and something like 10 of the second string on their defense. It was something crazy like that.
ReplyDeleteBut they will still possibly get into trouble if they can't find their running game.
Summary of my last post: it is fine to look for reasons for the loss so that they can be corrected, but in reality, the potential for this sort of game has been there all season if you just looked a little closer.
ReplyDeleteI think Florida's main problem isn't the running game, it's recievers. They don't have any go to guys like they have in the past.
ReplyDeleteTrue WERK. Percy Harvey ain't comin through that door.
ReplyDeleteRoof has been forced to change his defensive plans at Auburn. That is 100% correct.
ReplyDeleteHis top two linebackers play every snap of every game. You can't ask them to blitz very often under that workload.
As you saw last week, Neiko Thorpe has some issues in man coverage. So that's a situation where a safety needs to provide support as often as possible.
If your linebackers can't blitz and your safeties are needed in coverage and your corners are loaded to the gills as it is ... who is going to blitz?
I understand the rationale with not blitzing, but I don't agree with it. I think both Herring and Freeman would be better used if they blitzed more often.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can also live with those passes on Thorpe. He was in good position, he just has to make a play on the ball. Easier said than done, but I am not worried about him. Blitz and trust your corners.
That being said, when we did blitz in the UT game, we still didn't get any pressure. That also might be a part of the problem: maybe we don't have effective blitzers.
Jay G- I say it's a pick your poison at that point. I say that you are better to blitz against a good QB which Mallet is and risk giving up the homerun ball. Our defense is not good enough to give good QB's all day to throw the ball. I'd rather see us take our chances of blowing a coverage and getting to the QB quickly than a good QB picking us apart slowly.
ReplyDeleteGood point J. I guess we just have to hang on this year and hope the calvary shows up within the next couple of years.
ReplyDeleteFYI: I am doing a chat at the UK Athletics website at 1:30 p.m. CDT.They bring together a UK writer and an Auburn writer for a Q-and-A.
ReplyDeleteI'll post the information in a bit.
Freeman isn't on the field. He's not playing. He won't be blitzing.
ReplyDeleteAdam Herring? Maybe. They run nickel a lot, so you're more apt to consider Demond Washington as your designated blitzer. Then again, why are you blitzing out of a nickel?
I wonder if they will be surprised if a bunch of Hotties join in on the chat. They are probably not used to beat writer groupies.
ReplyDeleteI know Freeman isn't playing, but he wasn't blitzing when he was playing. I think a good way of getting these youngsters feet wet is to take out the thinking part and let them run like mad men at a quarterback like Mallett.
ReplyDeleteAlright peeps, there's something everyone needs to realize. It's imperative we get pressure with our front 4. If we don't we will have all kinds of problems. Blitzing isn't much of an option for reasons already stated. The front 4 is our best chance to improve and get more pressure. IMO, that's where the majority of our defensive effort needs to come.
ReplyDeleteI agree Sean, but I don't see it happening. I hope I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteBut Sean, that's like saying, “Todd needs to start running faster”. It is a little late to work on the pass rushing techniques of our front 4, so you have to go to plan B: either play it conservative and drop into coverage or bring some extra rushers and make you coverage more vulnerable. Of course everyone wants to get a rush without blitzing, but it hasn’t happened the last two games, and it isn’t likely to happen in the near future.
ReplyDelete