Thoughts - Week 1

[boartitz]

Ok, I'll be the bammer asshole.  IT WAS ARKANSAS FUCKING STATE.  Chizik was obviously making with the coach speak to keep from throwing his DC under the bus.  On talent alone, 13 points is all Arkansas State should have scored.  That defense was tired, and now they are practicing on a short week.  Auburn should still handle Miss State because they'll probably score 80 points, but that defense didn't look a bit different to me than it did last season. 

Until someone on the defensive side of the ball can figure out how to put any type of consistent pressure on the QB, those DBs will be wore out halfway through the second quarter of every game.  To make matters worse, Auburn's offense looks like it may be the fastest scoring offense in football this season, so that defense will be give out by mid season.  And I'm really not trying to paint the defense in a bad light, but fuck, Arkansas State held the ball for 10 more minutes on offense than Auburn did, and that's passing the ball 49 times.  That shit is going to catch up with Auburn quickly.

It could have been worse, Auburn could have been playing UL-Monroe.

[The Prowler]

Go 'head and write this down....Auburn will be in the Top 15 in the Country stopping the run, there isn't a team out there that'll be able to run between the tackles against us.

[Jumbo]

Go 'head and write this down....Auburn will be in the Top 15 in the Country stopping the run, there isn't a team out there that'll be able to run between the tackles against us.

[djsimp]

Lot of assumptions on all of our parts after that one.  One game leaves a lot of room for both sides to debate their sides with plenty of ammo either way.

I'll be glad to see Craig Stevens back.  Word is he could be back by Clemson (according to Rivals mod). 

I think the fact that the defense got better in the second half would nix your "tired" statement from this past game.  I certainly didn't see that.  If anything, they got better as the game went on.  JMO...

I'm definitely ready to see what they'll do versus Miss States re-vamped offense.  Should tell us much more.

After watching the replay on FSN yesterday, I will say I feel alot better. I did see a number of missed tackles but mainly freshmen in over pursuit. The quick slants were killing us, which was really the only thing they were able to do, and there was some soft D being played but again after watching it on TV I do feel better. I certainly see an improvement from last years D. Next up the bulldogs which will be a much better test.

[GH2001]

Ok, I'll be the bammer asshole.  IT WAS ARKANSAS FUCKING STATE.  Chizik was obviously making with the coach speak to keep from throwing his DC under the bus.  On talent alone, 13 points is all Arkansas State should have scored.  That defense was tired, and now they are practicing on a short week.  Auburn should still handle Miss State because they'll probably score 80 points, but that defense didn't look a bit different to me than it did last season. 

Until someone on the defensive side of the ball can figure out how to put any type of consistent pressure on the QB, those DBs will be wore out halfway through the second quarter of every game.  To make matters worse, Auburn's offense looks like it may be the fastest scoring offense in football this season, so that defense will be give out by mid season.  And I'm really not trying to paint the defense in a bad light, but fuck, Arkansas State held the ball for 10 more minutes on offense than Auburn did, and that's passing the ball 49 times.  That shit is going to catch up with Auburn quickly.

I would say Arkansas St is better than, oh.....SJSU, Jacksonville St, N. Dakota St, Samford, Youngstown State, Stoney Brook - which are just some of the teams that other big name teams played Saturday. All but Samford and SJSU kept those games close until the end. They are on par with Miami(OH) and Rice statistically who both lost by 16 and 17 to Fla and Texas. All about perspective my friend.

[Token]

Go 'head and write this down....Auburn will be in the Top 15 in the Country stopping the run, there isn't a team out there that'll be able to run between the tackles against us.

I don't think many teams will care too much about running between the tackles when they can pass for 500 yards.

I would say Arkansas St is better than, oh.....SJSU, Jacksonville St, N. Dakota St, Samford, Youngstown State, Stoney Brook - which are just some of the teams that other big name teams played Saturday. All but Samford and SJSU kept those games close until the end. They are on par with Miami(OH) and Rice statistically who both lost by 16 and 17 to Fla and Texas. All about perspective my friend.

Be that as it may, it's still Arkansas State. 

[GH2001]

I don't think many teams will care too much about running between the tackles when they can pass for 500 yards.

Be that as it may, it's still Arkansas State.

And also the first game. But I don't feel so good about MSU Thursday after they dismantled Memphis.

I still think Bama dismantles PSU after Youngstown St. was within a touchdown before the half. Plus its at BDS.  Poor PSU and their true freshman QB.

[Aubie16]

Arkansas St. against BCS-Conference schools last year. They aren't a good team by any means, but they aren't bottom of the barrel terrible.

Sat, Sep 12.......at (22) Nebraska.......L 9-38
Sat, Oct 3.........at (13) Iowa..............L 21-24
Sat, Oct 31.......at Louisville...............L 13-21

[djsimp]

And also the first game. But I don't feel so good about MSU Thursday after they dismantled Memphis.

I still think Bama dismantles PSU after Youngstown St. was within a touchdown before the half. Plus its at BDS.  Poor PSU and their true freshman QB.

I still think we hammer MSU. It should be interesting to see how Cam responds to Mullen considering Malzahn picked right out of Mullens hand. As far as MSU vs Memphis, well Memphis is terrible.

[jmar]

Well I think everyone has some good points including the pace which Auburn's offensive style brings upon itself. We are a quick strike team even though I heard Chizik c'speaking about ball control offense which is completely averse to what Malzahn wants to do. How many teams can you name that have THIS problem, where the O and D have to be a coordinated effort? Huh?

I don't fall for the we didn't know what to expect BS. As TOKEN says, it's Arkansas St.,  AGAIN, a dumbed down version of Malzahn's no-huddle, which basically everyone else's IS. We practice against the MASTER fcs!

Prowler, the line play was very good, no complaints there. If the pace of the game dictates such, go to a three-front and drop down on the slot. We have sufficient run stoppers. That was an eyesore last season and it has been addressed.

The LB's are the prime tacklers on this team obviously as they should be. Stevens is the best cover guy and he was out. The other two between Bynes, Freeman and Bates are all predominantly headhunters. Doesn't matter where you line up Bates.

We are all proud to have Savage and Etheridge back and I'm sure there was some trepidation as to how they might react in a real game situation but they put that concern to rest quickly. If it take eight corners then we need eight corners ready to dish out all of the abuse they possibly can. But the level of abuse pales when we give up 7 yards and have to calf rope or wrestle a guy you just CONCEEDED a reception to. There is as much room for error there on a spread field with multiple recievers playing soft than there is in shadowing the receivers.

 I want us to take our chances with better talent and more of them than they have thanks to this staff's recruiting. Let the young kids take their lumps and their talent will prevail. They are skilled in coverage, it's why they are here. Don't hide them! Put them out there and show the other team that we are not giving anything.   

Chizik did not coach THAT while he was the DC at Auburn. That unit was IMO, the pride of the team, the best representatives of what AU was then, stingy and nasty. They made mistakes and had a bunch of penalties but they were champions. I want Roof to let these guys play and stop overcoaching them out of his own fears. It's my only complaint of the entire game because it was the first game.

It's just that it's so demoralizing to watch an entire effort with everyone fighting their asses off and we have these aggressive kids hobbled against a team with far less ability, decent gamers but not of our league.

Hey Ted, what say we remove the cuffs from the corners and turn 'em loose, full bore?

It's not about a defensive philosophy, it's about a strategy that needs to change.     

 

[The Prowler]

The key to this year's Defense will be being able to get pressure with our front four, Fairley is unstoppable when he wants to be.  If we can get the needed pressure with our front four, we can drop our LBers into middle zone coverages and play man up with the Wideouts.  That's how you stop the WR Screens and the Short Slants, 4-3 Man/Middle Zone. 

If any QB, that we play, holds onto the ball for more than 3 seconds, he'll be pickin' turf outta his teeth.  <--betta run an tell that homeboy.

[Aubie16]

If any QB, that we play, holds onto the ball for more than 3 seconds, he'll be pickin' turf outta his teeth.  <--betta run an tell that homeboy.

Somebody better light a fire under their butt then. That was the #1 area we were lacking in Saturday night. The only times we got much pressure on the QB was when we brought a 5th guy in on a blitz. The front four did great against the run but were very underwhelming in pass rush.

[RWS]

I hate to admit it but RWS was right about some comments he made a couple weeks ago about Roofs defenses playing for the big hit and not the ball.

The comment was actually about Chizik, and it was made after an article came out with comments from Paul Rhodes about how he had to reteach ISU how to tackle when he took over. I would imagine that even though Chizik was the head coach there, I'm sure he had a hand in the defense. I'm sure he gives them a general direction he wants followed. I would think the same holds true at AU as well. Rhodes' comments made sense after watching the poor tackling that all of a sudden plagued AU's defense last year. An issue that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. Lay it all at the feet of Roof if you wish, but I think Chizik has a small part of the blame to bare as well.

 

[Aubie16]

I think Chizik has a small part of the blame to bare as well.

We didn't go for the big hit in 2003 or 2004. Those teams wrapped up and drove to the ground.

That being said, our tackling was MUCH better than last year. There really weren't many times that our guys took the wrong path to the ball or missed a tackle.

[RWS]

Go 'head and write this down....Auburn will be in the Top 15 in the Country stopping the run, there isn't a team out there that'll be able to run between the tackles against us.

I'm not trying to be  so try not to simply disregard my post as that. Honestly, I don't think AU will field a defensive unit like you are used to seeing as long as they run Malzahn's offense. Running that offense burns the defensive candle at both ends sometimes, so to speak.

Think about it. The whole point of Malzahn's offense is tempo, and scoring quickly. That means less rest for the defense. Then if you get a team that is able to stop the offense and force alot of 3-and-outs, same problem. Even if your offense is clicking and you're putting together some 2 minute scoring drives, if you're putting the defense up against a ball control nazi style offense that goes 10-12 plays a drive, they're out on the field even longer. The common denominator to all scenarios is the defense being left on the field ALOT every game. My prediction isn't meant to say that the AU defense isn't talented, or anything like that. It's a simple matter of no matter how well conditioned your guys are, they are going to be dragging ass by halftime. All of that just doesn't equate to a top defense, especially in stopping the run.

[JR4AU]

JR4AU was wrong Cam Newton is a gamer of what could be epic proportions.

I wasn't wrong...my fears were dispelled.  It was a fear, not an opinion.  I'm glad my fears weren't realized...but the fucking defense.  I'm hoping that it was the fact that it was the first game, new OC for Ark St., jitters...etc...if that's our defense, we'll have to score 50+ a game, every game to win 10.  If that's our defense, I'm for canning Roof as soon as it's confirmed that we're that bad...a la Franklin. Can that fucker ASAP! 

[jmar]

The 2004 D averaged 3.3 sacks and 8.2 tackles for losses per game over the regular season. Some portion of that was the cheapy, celebratory, pile it on type when the game was in hand. This defense can generate similar production it just might have to do it by other means.

But...
someone tell me how one can teach kids another way to tackle. What other way? Ass down, head up, drive a shoulder into their sternum, wrap tight and bury 'em.  Teamwise you always swarm and go for strips.  In the old days you could use the headgear for special effects and occaisional birdies would appear. What other way?

Maybe Malzahn should be polled as to how to stop an inferior team that runs the no-huddle. First and foremost is possession. We score in 4 or 5 plays and say here you go, your turn. Roof starts showing blitz and the corners are backed off seven yards and  he says we will concede the short stuff. But then someone gets loose and then the other team has some momentum and what does Roof do? He sends them harder next time. But the whole thing reciprocates in this manner and the guys up front wear down and the DB's are getting cut up by Joe Cox because the second line of defense is both scrambling toward the line and giving chase to help the DB's. WTF is this guy coordinating, a Chinese fire drill!

No offense to China intended.

I'm sure Roof's response is that he is desperately trying to stop the other team.

And he can't. Not with this strategy.