copypasta from teh Dothan Eagle
Auburn looking for some more playmakers at receiver
By: Ryan Wood | Opelika-Auburn News
Published: September 04, 2012 Updated: September 04, 2012 - 9:48 PM
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AUBURN - Given the chance, Emory Blake avoided any made-for-YouTube moments Tuesday.
He had every reason to lecture and vent and hand Auburn’s young receivers a verbal lashing. The stat sheet from the Tigers loss to No. 12 Clemson on Saturday showed a lopsided offense. Game film proved it wasn’t for lack of chances.
Plays could’ve been made Saturday, but weren’t. Silly mistakes showed Auburn’s inexperience. Surely, Blake saw it.
But the mild-mannered senior didn’t have an explosive temper, at least not in front of reporters and their cameras.
“We played well, we blocked well on the perimeter and we had our chances,†Blake said. “We’ve just got to make more plays when our names are called.â€
We?
Blake doesn’t fall into that category. First, the senior isn’t young, serving as the group’s elder statesman for more than a year. And with four catches, 109 yards and a 54-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, Blake was a playmaker.
The problem with Auburn’s receivers has been the gap between Blake and everyone else. It was that way last year, and it continued Saturday.
Auburn’s trusted receiving targets are Blake and tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen. After 60 minutes of the 2012 season, all the summer talk of multiple options stepping up and accepting the burden washed away.
Blake didn’t see it that way.
Maybe it was coddling. Maybe Blake just has faith. The senior showed he had faith in things that haven’t been seen.
“I know they can do it in the game,†Blake said. “I’m not questioning that, but sometimes it takes a little bit of game experience. Sometimes it takes some things happening and some success for you to get rolling and comfortable.
“So I believe that’s what’s coming.â€
It will be a tough task this week. To establish more playmakers in the passing game, Auburn will have to beat the strength of Mississippi State’s defense.
Last season, the Bulldogs’ 194.9 passing yards allowed per game were barely middle of the pack, ranking ninth in the SEC. Now the group is one year older, mature enough to hold its own. It showed Saturday when Mississippi State held Jackson State to 156 passing yards in its 56-9 opening win.
Defending Auburn’s athletes will be a much stiffer test. Still, Tigers coach Gene Chizik was impressed.
“One of the strengths of their defense is certainly their secondary,†Chizik said. “They have playmakers back there. They’re aggressive. They hit. They run. They make plays with the ball in the air.â€
Mississippi State’s leader is senior Johnthan Banks. Blake knows him well.
Both play on the boundary, the side of the field closest to the sideline. While they aren’t always matched up one-on-one – Jones has split time at safety and cornerback, and the Bulldogs secondary sometimes drops into Cover 2 – they’ve had their battles.
Last season, it was hard to say one had the upper hand.
Banks’ 27-yard interception return for touchdown gave Mississippi State a 7-point lead in the second quarter. Blake tied the game with a 46-yard touchdown the next possession, part of his 7 catches for 108 yards.
On Tuesday, Blake didn’t hide his respect.
“He’s good,†Blake said. “He’s very good, a very good cover guy. Long body, fast. He’s a DB that you don’t see every day.â€
Added Chizik: “Johnthan Banks probably could’ve come out (for the NFL Draft) if he wanted to, but chose to come back. He’s that good.â€
With the two stars potentially cancelling each other out, depth will be a factor Saturday. Auburn knows it can also count on Lutzenkircen.
Who else will step up?
Blake said he doesn’t care about pressure being taken off him. He’s proved he can handle it. But for Auburn to have success, he knows it’s important for other threats to emerge.
“Just helping the team, that’s what I’m concerned about,†Blake said. “So the more plays they can make, the more games we’ll win.â€
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