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Just Ain't Cuttin' It

Snaggletiger

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Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« on: November 14, 2014, 09:59:42 AM »
I like Joel Erickson on al. I am a gay twerker that has no balls!!!!  I also have no idea how to use the quote function to post stories, so I annoy the piss out of others.  I like male genatalia in and around my mouth..  He normally just reports what's happening with Auburn without interjecting his opinion or sunshine pumping.  While this isn't exactly ripping anybody a new one, it's about as "scathing" a piece as you'll get from him.  But to me, it sums up our defensive problems perfectly.


No matter how much Auburn's defense looked like an improving unit on the verge of a turnaround through the first five games, maybe the potential for the Tigers' defensive decline the past three games should have been evident.

Auburn's foundation simply isn't strong enough.

Elite SEC defenses are built around disruptive, relentless defensive lines, fronts that have separated the SEC from the rest of the conferences around the country for the better part of the last decade.

Auburn's defensive line hasn't met that standard.

And as much as a malfunctioning secondary deserves its share of the blame for the Tigers' three-game skid against the pass, Auburn's front four hasn't offered a lot of help.

Take the Tigers' upset loss to Texas A&M. A freshman quarterback making his first SEC start on the road should never look as comfortable as Kyle Allen did last week.

"We knew coming into the game that our best chance to have a really good defense was to make the quarterback uncomfortable," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "How do you do that? You take his running game away, which we did very average, below average of being consistent with that. Then we didn't hit the guy, couldn't cause enough pressure on him."

Both of those problems start in the front, and the pass-rush problem has plagued the defense all season long.

The losses of Dee Ford and Carl Lawson, along with a couple of other key seniors, should no longer be an excuse.

Ford and Lawson are incredible talents, to be sure. Losing a first-round pick and a freshman All-American on the edge would hurt any team. A drop-off at defensive end had to be expected.

What's killed the Tigers' defense is that one of the most experienced interiors in the SEC hasn't done much to ease the pain of those losses, even if Auburn's rush defense has improved this season.

Denying Auburn's overall improvement against the run would be a mistake. Auburn is 44 yards better per game, giving up almost a yard per carry less than it did last season, and after allowing six teams to rush for more than 200 yards a year ago, only one has performed the feat in 2014.

The problem is that Auburn's defensive line isn't merely expected to take up blocks in Johnson's scheme.

Auburn's defensive line is expected to make plays.

"We don't run a read defense here," defensive tackle Gabe Wright said. "We like to get off the ball and cause chaos in the backfield."

The numbers indicate that Auburn's defensive linemen hasn't caused a whole lot of chaos. Montravius Adams, who leads the Tigers' line with six tackles-for-loss - behind linebackers Cassanova McKinzy (8.5) and Kris Frost (6.5) -- is only tied for 28th in the SEC in that particular category.

Twenty-four SEC players have as many or more sacks than DaVonte Lambert's team-leading 3.5. Nobody on Auburn's defensive line is within the top 50 in the SEC in tackles.

In other words, Auburn's defensive line isn't making enough plays in a scheme designed to get big plays from its front four.

"That's a big factor in our defense is being able to put pressure on a quarterback with just four guys," Gus Malzahn said. "At times, we have not gotten that done."

And what makes it worse is what the Tigers have up front, even without Ford and Lawson. Five members of Auburn's regular eight-man defensive line rotation are seniors; two of the others, Adams and Elijah Daniel, arrived on campus with five-star ratings from one recruiting service or the other.

No matter who the Tigers lost, that combination of experience and talent should have been enough to set the foundation for the improved defense fans glimpsed in the first five games.

The problem is that this defensive line hasn't lived up to its billing.
 
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My doctor told me I needed to stop masturbating.  I asked him why, and he said, "because I'm trying to examine you."

Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2014, 10:28:52 AM »
And I believe every word you wrote.
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CCTAU

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2014, 10:35:15 AM »
OK. He's right.

But is it coaching, talent, or scheme?
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Five statements of WISDOM
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friends, is the beginning of the end of any nation.

WiregrassTiger

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2014, 10:43:46 AM »
I am hoping so very, very much to see great d line play these last 2 big games. Realistically, if it has not happened all season, its not likely now.

Unfortunately, I'm expecting to have to win with all offense.
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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2014, 11:01:14 AM »
Quote
And as much as a malfunctioning secondary deserves its share of the blame for the Tigers' three-game skid against the pass, Auburn's front four hasn't offered a lot of help.

Take the Tigers' upset loss to Texas A&M. A freshman quarterback making his first SEC start on the road should never look as comfortable as Kyle Allen did last week.

"We knew coming into the game that our best chance to have a really good defense was to make the quarterback uncomfortable," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "How do you do that? You take his running game away, which we did very average, below average of being consistent with that. Then we didn't hit the guy, couldn't cause enough pressure on him."

Both of those problems start in the front, and the pass-rush problem has plagued the defense all season long.

I have a question for the author -

Why did Arkansas have to resort to the draw in the 2nd quarter against us?  Why was it so successful until the 2nd half started?

I remember in week one, our defensive line was OVERLY aggressive.  Absolutely blowing the fuck out of the line of scrimmage and getting to the backfield as soon as the ball was snapped.  We were bullrushing and disrupting the line of scrimmage so effectively that BertFat said, "Fuck it.  Just run the draw until they start playing more disciplined football."  And it worked until we slowed our horses down.

Where did those horses go?  Arkansas has proven that it has an efficient offensive line.  Big hogs that have pushed enough to be the 17th ranked rushing offense in the country. 

Here are our QB hurries stats for each game:

Arkansas 9
San Jose State 11
@Kansas State 0 (though I'm curious about this one as we had 3 sacks in the game)
Louisiana Tech 9
LSU 10
@Miss State 4
South Carolina 10
@Ole Miss 4
Texas A&M 7

Wisconsin - the nation's #1 defense in total defensive yards given up - doesn't have more than 5 QB hurries in a game all season.  24 total on the year.  Auburn has 64 total. 

Alabama - run by God Saban and demi-God Smart - has one game with 10 QB hurries (against Southern Miss).  The next highest is 3 against Florida.  Three. 

Clemson has the #2 ranked defense in total defensive yards given and they have a high of 6 QB hurries in a game against NC State.  Next highest is 4.  Total of 23. 

I think our defensive line is causing enough disruption.  Now, their ability to wrap up for the sack or the tackle for a loss can be criticized.  But I don't think it's enough to criticize them for receivers catching a three step drop pass and taking it 60 yards for a touchdown. 
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The Guy That Knows Nothing of Hyperbole

WiregrassTiger

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2014, 11:40:57 AM »
I have a question for the author -

Why did Arkansas have to resort to the draw in the 2nd quarter against us?  Why was it so successful until the 2nd half started?

I remember in week one, our defensive line was OVERLY aggressive.  Absolutely blowing the fudge out of the line of scrimmage and getting to the backfield as soon as the ball was snapped.  We were bullrushing and disrupting the line of scrimmage so effectively that BertFat said, "fudge it.  Just run the draw until they start playing more disciplined football."  And it worked until we slowed our horses down.

Where did those horses go?  Arkansas has proven that it has an efficient offensive line.  Big hogs that have pushed enough to be the 17th ranked rushing offense in the country. 

Here are our QB hurries stats for each game:

Arkansas 9
San Jose State 11
@Kansas State 0 (though I'm curious about this one as we had 3 sacks in the game)
Louisiana Tech 9
LSU 10
@Miss State 4
South Carolina 10
@Ole Miss 4
Texas A&M 7

Wisconsin - the nation's #1 defense in total defensive yards given up - doesn't have more than 5 QB hurries in a game all season.  24 total on the year.  Auburn has 64 total. 

Alabama - run by God Saban and demi-God Smart - has one game with 10 QB hurries (against Southern Miss).  The next highest is 3 against Florida.  Three. 

Clemson has the #2 ranked defense in total defensive yards given and they have a high of 6 QB hurries in a game against NC State.  Next highest is 4.  Total of 23. 

I think our defensive line is causing enough disruption.  Now, their ability to wrap up for the sack or the tackle for a loss can be criticized.  But I don't think it's enough to criticize them for receivers catching a three step drop pass and taking it 60 yards for a touchdown.
I get what you are saying, I think. And I agree its a unit thing and not just the line. But I think hurries are far behind tfl and sacks in my pecking order of importance.

And yes they were really good against the run on d line early but we've slipped some there too.

Bottom line is, finger pointing won't help us stop thugs from rolling up 300 on the ground and 200 by air. Only the coaches and players can do that. They need to be in position and use sound technique. We've lacked in both far too often.
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Snaggletiger

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2014, 12:19:57 PM »
It's the last 3 games our D has been gashed.  Prior to that, we were playing well enough on D to make the top 4, given what we know our offense is capable of.  We've given up less than 150 a game on the ground during those 3 games, which is not far off our average in the first half of the season.  MSU ripped us for 223 and that's by far the most we've given up with 128 of that coming from Dak on draws and breaking containment. 

My feeling is that it's the teams that really can spread you out with offensive gurus running the show that will always give AU problems....given the fact that our D-Line is just not causing any havoc in the back field.  I see us faring far better against someone like Georgia, who is going to line it up and come right at you for 4 quarters.   
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My doctor told me I needed to stop masturbating.  I asked him why, and he said, "because I'm trying to examine you."

Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2014, 02:13:31 PM »
I do question what the plan is for Montrae Adams.  He was a stocky fat guy that could run last season.  He's skinny this season. 

Seriously does not look like a defensive tackle when I've seen him on campus. 
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The Guy That Knows Nothing of Hyperbole

Buzz Killington

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2014, 02:57:56 PM »
I do question what the plan is for Montrae Adams.  He was a stocky fat guy that could run last season.  He's skinny this season. 

Seriously does not look like a defensive tackle when I've seen him on campus.
Failed experiment in trying to make him a DE.  Hopefully he will eat a few hundred cheeburgers in the offseason and get back to making his mark in the middle of the line.
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Now I may be an idiot, but there is one thing I am not, sir, and that, sir, is an idiot.

djsimp

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2014, 03:33:28 PM »
Failed experiment in trying to make him a DE.  Hopefully he will eat a few hundred cheeburgers in the offseason and get back to making his mark in the middle of the line.

My questions for the D is the position coaches. I was under the impression that Gardner was Tracy Rocker type DL coach.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2014, 04:05:22 PM by djsimp »
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WiregrassTiger

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2014, 03:42:22 PM »
Failed experiment in trying to make him a DE.  Hopefully he will eat a few hundred cheeburgers in the offseason and get back to making his mark in the middle of the line.
I'm perfect to help coach him in the cheeseburger eating. Despite my athletic look and can put away some cheeseburger and still have room for a large chocolate shake at the cheeburgerx2.
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Snaggletiger

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2014, 03:46:52 PM »
Have Montraviosity@aliciousness meet me at the Five Guys.  I got this.
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My doctor told me I needed to stop masturbating.  I asked him why, and he said, "because I'm trying to examine you."

Tiger Wench

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2014, 06:06:29 PM »
Have Montraviosity@aliciousness meet me at the Five Guys.  I got this.

You da Greasy Bag Man.
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jmar

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Re: Just Ain't Cuttin' It
« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2014, 11:35:19 AM »
My questions for the D is the position coaches. I was under the impression that Gardner was Tracy Rocker type DL coach.
Coach Rock has smaller DTs to work with at UGA this season according to Cubelic so he's having to make allowances too. IDK if Garner experimented with more stunting early on or if not having Lawson changed that wHOLE dynamic.  :sad: 
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