Thoughts - Week Spoiled

[Townhallsavoy]

Auburn

- I think we've gotten spoiled.  I know I have.  I said to a friend of mine during the Arkansas game week one that I was bored with the ten yard gains.  Like ten yards gains for Auburn were the new 3 yards and a cloud of dust.  Like every play should go for 15+ or it was a failure. 

- Against LA Tech, we averaged 5.3 yards a rush and 10 yards a completion.  We racked up 473 total yards, had a punt return for a touchdown, and had zero turnovers.  Our defense forced two turnovers.  Nick Marshall completed passes to 12 different receivers.  Both CAP and Marshall had runs for 30+ yards.  We were so far ahead that in the 4th quarter we able to play our backups. 

- I know Prowler's already doing the 2013-2014 comparison, which I think is good, but I'm going to investigate how the 2010 team compares to this one in a similar situation.  I feel that going into year two of Malzahn's offense in both cases should convey if the 2014 team is progressing or regressing.

- In 2010, Auburn was 4-0 having won three straight difficult games and needing a breather against LA Monroe.  Here in 2014, we had a long week after a tough Thursday night game, and we had one other tough game against Arkansas in week on.  2010 was probably more winded than 2014.

- Here are some direct comparisons:

*Cam Newton -  14/19 for 245, 3 tds, and 1 interception.  1 touchdown was for 94 yards thus inflating his overall yardage a bit.  He averaged 12.9 yards a pass.  Without the long bomb, he averaged 11 yards a pass with 150 yards. Newton ran for -11 yards on 1 carry.
*Marshall - 10/17 for 166 yards.  9.8 average.  3 tds.  0 ints.  Marshall ran for 105 yards on 13 carries. 

*Fannin - 10 carries 89 yards.  1 td.  McCcCallellebbebb - 5 carries 56 yards.  1 td.  (1 carry for 50).   
* CAP - 22 carries 116 yards.  1 td.  Grant - 8 carries for 13 yards.  (See Marshall above)

*Blake - 2 receptions 104 yards.  1 td.  (94 yard bomb).  TZach - 4 receptions 50 yards.  Lutz - 4 receptions 41 yards. 1 td.
*Bray - 3 receptions 91 yards.  2 tds.  Duke - 2 receptions 33 yards. 1 td. 

*LAMonroe had 270 total yards and 3 points.  ULM had 38 yards rushing. 
*LA Tech had 321 yards and 17 points.   LA Tech had 105 yards rushing including a 33 yard run. 

- In a quick analysis like this, it seems that 2010 was ahead of 2014 at this point of the year playing a cupcake.  I think that's why so many are upset.  Auburn didn't pass the expected (and worthless) eye test.  We expect domination.  We worry when we don't obliterate because we are in a position to win championships and not just shoot for 9-10 wins. 

- I think we start a true test this month.  Obviously.  I've never seen a schedule this difficult.  If I had to put my finger on the problem this year, it's that we haven't been that hyped up for games.  I think the team knows what's coming in October.  I've heard numerous coaches say that it's only possible to get a team hyped up for four or five games a season.  Well, we have seven left that need serious hyping.  I'm glad we've looked flat. 

- I only hope it is flatness though that's causing cloudy eyes.  If not, we're in for a long year.  If the o-line doesn't gel and start dominating some dudes, we're in for a long year.  If #11 Fulse doesn't stop whiffing on blocks, we're in for a long year.  If Marshall doesn't stop throwing into double coverage, we're in for a long year.  If the defense is going to continue to give up 30+ plays against inferior opponents, we're in for a long year. 

- But I think we come out swinging against LSU.  I think Duke and Coates finally get heavily involved.  I think CAP and Grant get some lanes.  I think the defense shuts down LSU's run game.  I think Les Miles eats grass in tears leaving Jordan-Hare. 

Tennessee

- Moral victory!  I heard the same things with Dooley.  And Kiffin.  They almost beat Alabama!  They almost beat Florida!  Now, they've almost beaten Georgia! 

- I feel bad for Tennessee.  There really is only so much talent to go around.  If Tennessee goes north, they run into Ohio State, a recently-successful Louisville program, and Notre Dame.  If they go south, they hit Georgia, Alabama and Auburn, and a recently-successful South Carolina program.  I think Tennessee is just stuck in a hard spot.  They were great in the late 90s and early 2000s because South Carolina was non-existent.  Notre Dame was hitting their lowest lows after Holtz left.  Louisville didn't have pizza man building their program.  Ohio State also was poking along until Tressell came in the early 2000s. 

- I don't think Tennessee comes back until Spurrier retires. 

Georgia

- Just give Gurley the trophy.  He's the best player in the country.  Marcus Mariota has repeatedly shown over the years that he dominates against inferior talent.  The PAC 12 has always been known for giving up huge chunks of yards.  Just look at Reggie Bush and USC from 2003-2008.  Get some speed and some decent o-line play, and players can look like gods out there. 

- Gurley though is crushing SEC defenses.  He just needs to stay healthy. 

Florida State

- I'm so sick of this team.  It's an embarrassment to what is a pretty wholesome form of entertainment.  NC State could have put them away, but instead, we're having to listen to nervous analysts provide hedged commentary on a team that is led by a criminal quarterback who is beyond inappropriately immature and a head coach that has zero concern for the well-being of his own players and how they treat other students on campus. 

Arkansas

- If you weren't coached by Bert the Derp, you would have won this game.  It wasn't play calling.  It was preparation.  A well-coached team doesn't fumble the snap when it has the chance to put the game away.  A well-coached team doesn't give up 14 points in the 4th quarter especially when staring at a team's first SEC win in two years. 

Texas A&M

- And you aren't as good as you think you are.  Kenny Hill was exposed.  Their receivers?  Exposed.  Run game?  Exposed.  Most dominating offense in college football?  Nope.  Defense?  Still gives up huge chunks of yards to good running backs. 

- Still a good team though but maybe someone will pump the brakes on anointing this team too soon. 

South Carolina

- Who had the bigger choke job?  Arkansas or South Carolina?  I think South Carolina.  Reestablishing themselves as SEC East front runner?  Nah.  Lose a 2nd game in front of the home crowd?  Yeah.  Give up two touchdowns in the 4th quarter after dominating the majority of the game?  Yeah. 

Missouri

- And here they are again.  The only undefeated team in SEC East play.  Just that pesky home loss to Indiana standing in their way. 

Next Week

- If you like couch-sittin', get ready for next Saturday.  11am Texas A&M-Miss State.  230pm Alabama-Ole Miss.  6pm Auburn-LSU. 

[jmar]

We are successfully dialing it up when we need to.

When Gus reminds everyone in his post game presser that we ARE 4-0 and don't want to peak too early I think he is resetting his own expectations as well. Last week it was about Nick Marshall's prowess with a game on the line which I believe to be true.
And for all of the imperfections we see on some of the choices that he makes we still have the scariest guy on the field for opposing defenses and that is very comforting.
Nick does seem to have more of a "live for another day" approach on many of his wide runs which is a good thing when we are just now beginning murderer's row, when we are not blocking well up front as a unit and when we are failing to seal blocks on the edge or resort to holds in order to make it happen.

But with all of this said without the O&B glasses or sugar coating I still think it is the offensive line that has to improve the most heading into league play. And if this is the unit that Gus is flagging when he uses the phrase about peaking too early then yeah, by all means if we are on pace similarly to last year at this time as The Prowler notes then Grimes and Malzahn also think we can turn up the ferocity and begin clearing out bodies much better along the way. We lost Kozan early and now Miller is nursing a bad ankle so I understand the survival aspect with the meat of the schedule ahead. But it still doesn't explain why we don't look sharp or crisp in our execution at this stage of the season.

The defense on the other hand has made the greatest strides so far and the early season woes in the secondary have been drastically reduced by the intensity of the defensive line along with the steady play of the linebackers. We still have moments where we get beat and grab on for a TD saving penalty but there are far less busted coverages overall which is a huge relief knowing we aren't clicking so well on offense to the point where we have to match score for score with the other team.

Last week Gus pointed to special teams as an area that needed to improve and it looks as if that was addressed.

Obviously this team has big play capability all over the field. And if and when the offense peaks this could be without a doubt one of the four teams chosen. The key IMO of this becoming a reality rests up front with our offensive line. This is where we live as a team. Our identity is first and foremost running the ball and controlling the line of scrimmage. The circus catches and electrifying returns should be icing on the cake instead of something to be expected.

So when can we peak?         

[bottomfeeder]

Yo be fair, I personally think they are going through a transition with the offensive scheme of Malzahn. Also, the defense is still a work in progress, so I give them both a pass at this point. I appreciate you taking the time to present this analysis. It's really fun to read. WDE!

[GH2001]

Slow the roll on Girly. He has crushed no Defense worth a poop.

[djsimp]

What is the latest on the AU injuries? Little concerned about that. The D has been playing pretty well this year and the loss of Frost and Mr. Love would be a bad thing.


Edit:

From what I have read on the Auburn Sports FB page, the main concern is McKinzy with a possible concussion. The others were just held out for precaution.

[The Six]

From what I have read on the Auburn Sports FB page, the main concern is McKinzy with a possible concussion. The others were just held out for precaution.

Good thing he doesn't play for Michigan.

[Tiger Wench]

Good thing he doesn't play for Michigan.

No shit. Brady Hoke needs to be fired at season's end for the shitty season. But he needs to be fired TOMORROW for letting that kid play. Holy shit.

[The Prowler]

So, it's looking like Michigan & Florida will, more than likely, up for grabs after the season.

[Townhallsavoy]

No shit. Brady Hoke needs to be fired at season's end for the shitty season. But he needs to be fired TOMORROW for letting that kid play. Holy shit.

Someone needs to be fired for that.  Would be an easy excuse to get rid of Hoke now too. 

I just watched the video, and considering how much talk there's been the past few years about football and concussions, I am absolutely disturbed that they would put him back in the game after that.  Not only was he obviously concussed and not only was there zero indication that his leg was injured, Michigan was down 30-7 in the middle of the 4th quarter.  The game was over.  There was no value in taking that risk for his safety. 

[WiregrassTiger]

I thought Tim Rattay looked pretty good, esp to be 40 something and still have a cannon.

Our defense is titillating as of late.

Nick or the o line have not played their best game yet. This is a great thing.

Q Bray had a stud like performance. 189 yds., 3 catches for 2 t.d. and 1 punt return for a t.d.--if memory of the AU review serves correct. Every year, there is one player that I look at their athleticism, speed and muscle definition and tell myself, "He reminds me of W.T." Quan was that guy on Saturday. Let's hope he continues.

[Godfather]

So, it's looking like Michigan & Florida will, more than likely, up for grabs after the season.

And Kansas....They just fired the fighting Weis's

[WiregrassTiger]

And Kansas....They just fired the fighting Weis's

I think UF should hire him as OC. That would be a perfect fit.

[Kaos]

Here's why I'm disillusioned and perhaps even a little apathetic. 

We finished last season as SEC champions and within an eyelash of winning it all.  We returned more starters than just about any SEC school not named Mississippi. 

Any other school does that?  Automatically ranked first or second to start the year.  Not us.  We're five -- outside the initial 'final four' scenario.  Based on what?  Oregon is fast?  Oklahoma donkey punched Alabama? Alabama is ..... well..... what?  I don't know.  They lost twice to end the season.  FSU I get, we lost to them and they have their crazy loco rapist back. 

They say "well, Auburn has a tough schedule so..."  When has that ever been a criterion? 

Even after four games where we've essentially methodically dominated three teams, shown marked improvement on defense, and beat a ranked team on a Thursday night in their place, when you hear the talking heads list potential final four entries we're typically sixth or seventh and behind the above four and A&M or Georgia or SC or Ohio State or Baylor or Notre Dame or UCLA or whatever flavor of the moment pops up.   

So I hear our fans say they "like flying under the radar" and that the "rankings will take care of themselves." 

WHY?? 

When is it our turn to GET the benefit of the doubt instead of having to prove we belong?  When is it our turn to be up there so a loss doesn't drop us out of contention? 

LSU has that cachet now despite the fact that they are nouveau riche.  Until very recently, LSU was a mediocre program at best.  We've been consistently better than them for almost all of our histories.  But there's a narrative that LSU has "always" been an SEC power.  They haven't.  They really aren't. 

I've grown tired of a fight it doesn't seem we can win.  Thanks to a relentless state media that influences a typically daft national media we will hardly ever be as we are, but only as we are downgraded.  It's depressing. 

[WiregrassTiger]

Here's why I'm disillusioned and perhaps even a little apathetic. 

We finished last season as SEC champions and within an eyelash of winning it all.  We returned more starters than just about any SEC school not named Mississippi. 

Any other school does that?  Automatically ranked first or second to start the year.  Not us.  We're five -- outside the initial 'final four' scenario.  Based on what?  Oregon is fast?  Oklahoma donkey punched Alabama? Alabama is ..... well..... what?  I don't know.  They lost twice to end the season.  FSU I get, we lost to them and they have their crazy loco rapist back. 

They say "well, Auburn has a tough schedule so..."  When has that ever been a criterion? 

Even after four games where we've essentially methodically dominated three teams, shown marked improvement on defense, and beat a ranked team on a Thursday night in their place, when you hear the talking heads list potential final four entries we're typically sixth or seventh and behind the above four and A&M or Georgia or SC or Ohio State or Baylor or Notre Dame or UCLA or whatever flavor of the moment pops up.   

So I hear our fans say they "like flying under the radar" and that the "rankings will take care of themselves." 

WHY?? 

When is it our turn to GET the benefit of the doubt instead of having to prove we belong?  When is it our turn to be up there so a loss doesn't drop us out of contention? 

LSU has that cachet now despite the fact that they are nouveau riche.  Until very recently, LSU was a mediocre program at best.  We've been consistently better than them for almost all of our histories.  But there's a narrative that LSU has "always" been an SEC power.  They haven't.  They really aren't. 

I've grown tired of a fight it doesn't seem we can win.  Thanks to a relentless state media that influences a typically daft national media we will hardly ever be as we are, but only as we are downgraded.  It's depressing.

I understand your concern, at the same time, you must understand that people are pissed off that we got Cam for 180k and were really lucky all of last year.

Srsly, I agree. I don't know why we aren't in everyone's top 4 but like my granddaddy said. Fuck 'em.

[Townhallsavoy]

I understand your concern, at the same time, you must understand that people are pissed off that we got Cam for 180k and were really lucky all of last year.

Srsly, I agree. I don't know why we aren't in everyone's top 4 but like my granddaddy said. Fuck 'em.

It extends well beyond Camgate.

But nowadays, I don't worry about rankings.  We won't be left out as SEC champion.  With the money at stake and the business-influenced committee members, there's no way they leave out the SEC champion especially with the advent of the SEC Network.

If we lose a game, as with the BCS, I don't think we have an argument to be included if there are four undefeateds.  Even if there aren't four undefeateds, in college football, you run the risk of perception being against you.  It's the system you have to deal with. 

Further, I really couldn't care less about the ESPN analysts and newspaper writers.  They're so far from displaying expertise that the only true value of their shows are the brief highlight clips.  Maybe College Gameday is valuable with getting a campus involved with Saturday morning excitement.  But I won't allow the pretty boys with too much gel and make up to influence my excitement for college football.  Especially Auburn football.

[Buzz Killington]

If we lose a game, as with the BCS, I don't think we have an argument to be included if there are four undefeateds.  Even if there aren't four undefeateds, in college football, you run the risk of perception being against you.  It's the system you have to deal with. 

This is exactly what is happening right under our noses.  Perception = reality
If we only lose one game this season with the schedule we are playing, we deserve to be in over any other 1 loss team (other than the team we actually lost to, of course)

[Townhallsavoy]

This is exactly what is happening right under our noses.  Perception = reality
If we only lose one game this season with the schedule we are playing, we deserve to be in over any other 1 loss team (other than the team we actually lost to, of course)

We will.  And I agree.

But I still say in college football, you can't argue logic.  You can't point out how things should be because there is no clear defined system for crowning a champion.  The committee could decide that teams with blue jerseys don't seem as good as teams with other colored jerseys.  Nothing you can do or say about it.  Unfortunately, and just as irrelevant and specious, many folks out there see tradition and history as being a pivotal aspect of current football championships.  To me, tradition and history is as subjective and relevant as the color of a team's jersey, but many folks out there think it elevates a team's standing if they happen to win a few ballgames. 

[Godfather]

This is exactly what is happening right under our noses.  Perception = reality
If we only lose one game this season with the schedule we are playing, we deserve to be in over any other 1 loss team (other than the team we actually lost to, of course)

Fuck that if we lose one game we deserve to be in over any other team undefeated or not.  There are no other teams that face a more difficult schedule than us.

[WiregrassTiger]

This is exactly what is happening right under our noses.  Perception = reality
If we only lose one game this season with the schedule we are playing, we deserve to be in over any other 1 loss team (other than the team we actually lost to, of course)

I've thought the whole time that the 4 team playoff could do more harm than good to the SEC. We really need more room in the playoff to get more SEC teams in because of the soft schedules that others and high likelihood that they go undefeated. Sometimes it takes care of itself (ohio state) but there will be a softie in the 4 teams and one left out from the SEC that would beat the hell out of them. Bet on it.

Put Oregon, FSU, or okie in the SEC west and I damn well bet you that they fare no better than Arkansas.

[Buzz Killington]

Fuck that if we lose one game we deserve to be in over any other team undefeated or not.  There are no other teams that face a more difficult schedule than us.

I don't disagree, I was just arguing the logic of 1 loss teams.