Thoughts - Week 2

[Godfather]

Here is where I'm at... kind of a mix between JR & Wes.  I want to be optimistic but I don't know if my heart can take it.  The things that are pissing me off is not just QB play, it's Gus's whole gameplan and then response.  Look I'm still 100% on the Gus Bus, but I don't get the complete and utter loyalty. 

We hardly ran the ball at the beginning. We are doing zero hurry up. Jeremy can't read a defense throwing or in the zone read, he gives it to the RB every time.  I get sticking with your QB but what is wrong with bringing White in for a series, let's see how the kid does?

I just don't get it.  I had great expectations for this season, and after the first two games I just don't see much hope in those expectations.

[djsimp]

Here is where I'm at... kind of a mix between JR & Wes.  I want to be optimistic but I don't know if my heart can take it.  The things that are pissing me off is not just QB play, it's Gus's whole gameplan and then response.  Look I'm still 100% on the Gus Bus, but I don't get the complete and utter loyalty. 

We hardly ran the ball at the beginning. We are doing zero hurry up. Jeremy can't read a defense throwing or in the zone read, he gives it to the RB every time.  I get sticking with your QB but what is wrong with bringing White in for a series, let's see how the kid does?

I just don't get it.  I had great expectations for this season, and after the first two games I just don't see much hope in those expectations.

I was kind of chicken to be honest with hearing all these high expectations. Maybe I am still a little gun shy from years past. I couldn't help but think of 2003 losing to USC and GA Tech to start off the season. Auburn is 2-0, even if it was as ugly as hell. I am hoping the almost loss to JSU with wake up the AU players and coaching staff that to me have seemed to be sleep walking a little bit. If not, I could get really ugly. And no, my heart can't take this shit either but like my said which is true, we as Auburn fans should have learned to expect this craziness by now.

[dallaswareagle]

Here is where I'm at... kind of a mix between JR & Wes.  I want to be optimistic but I don't know if my heart can take it.  The things that are pissing me off is not just QB play, it's Gus's whole gameplan and then response.  Look I'm still 100% on the Gus Bus, but I don't get the complete and utter loyalty. 

We hardly ran the ball at the beginning. We are doing zero hurry up. Jeremy can't read a defense throwing or in the zone read, he gives it to the RB every time.  I get sticking with your QB but what is wrong with bringing White in for a series, let's see how the kid does?

I just don't get it.  I had great expectations for this season, and after the first two games I just don't see much hope in those expectations.

I think everybody is, we know he has the coaching mind. Maybe its just me but after these two games and his comments about sticking with JJ, I know I have looked on my GPS to see if there are any up coming exits to get off at.

[WiregrassTiger]

Here is where I'm at... kind of a mix between JR & Wes.  I want to be optimistic but I don't know if my heart can take it.  The things that are pissing me off is not just QB play, it's Gus's whole gameplan and then response.  Look I'm still 100% on the Gus Bus, but I don't get the complete and utter loyalty. 

We hardly ran the ball at the beginning. We are doing zero hurry up. Jeremy can't read a defense throwing or in the zone read, he gives it to the RB every time.  I get sticking with your QB but what is wrong with bringing White in for a series, let's see how the kid does?

I just don't get it.  I had great expectations for this season, and after the first two games I just don't see much hope in those expectations.

I don't think there is many--if any--that didn't have great expectations. Some higher than others. But, how in the hell could any of us thought we'd have to go into OT with Jax state?

Here is the good news Imma gonna lay on you. We won't be 2012 bad! Rejoice brothers and sisters!

Bad news is, we ain't going to the playoffs. I never actually banked on that anyway. Do we have a shot at SEC? I don't think we have much. But we can make a bowl.

Gus is sticking with JJ until who knows when. And I think a sharp JJ likely gives us the best chance at going far. We haven't seen a sharp JJ yet. Unless Benny Hinn gets ahold of JJ before Sat, I expect more of the same.

And for you boys holding out hope on him, look, I hope too. But did you see those freaking interceptions? It's like the defenders were invisible to him.

I am still encouraged with some aspects of the D, even though I'm expecting more. Who the hell knows? Sat will go a long way toward at least telling us what we are capable of as a team.

If I'm Muschamp, I make Harris beat us with his arm. If it takes 10 in the box most of the game, I sell out to hold Fournette under 150 and Harris under 100 on the edges. And that will be an accomplishment.

[AUChizad]

I'm a benefit-of-the-doubt giving motherfucker right now.  We should roll a DII team and snooze through the process.  As pointed out, however, this DII school is loaded with former SEC players with legitimate skill. 

Barge and Gonzalez made some absolute circus catches despite good coverage.  There were some busts, but that is to be expected with a backfield full of true frosh.  The story on the DBs in the preseason has been proven correct: talented starters, but woefully thin on experience behind them.  The youngsters showed obvious improvement as they got comfortable in the game and they earned some valuable live action experience.  Expect this group to be improved in Baton Rouge with the return of Countess and (presumably) Matthews.

The LBs have been frustratingly out of sync: Cass is playing like a man possessed and Frost is running wild and over pursuing the plays.  I noticed that Darrell Williams (he's our defensive #4, right?) was getting big chunks of playing time in the 2nd half.

The interior D-Line has been getting good push.  Monty Adams and Devonte Lambert are frequent visitors in the opposition's backfield.  Kennion is a non-factor at End/Buck and Cowart is showing flashes of dominance at the same positions but he can't play consistently for some reason.  Is it possible that while we recognize his high level of play, we are totally underestimating Lawson's value to our defensive line and, by extension, our defense as a whole?  Are we beholden to one player's presence? 

I submit that the fundamentals of this defensive unit are far superior to those under Johnson in that we're breaking down and tackling like actual football players and not launching at the ball like a SCUD fired from the top of a sand dune somewhere.  I trust the coaching on that side of the ball and feel like we're going to see this group become a team strength sooner rather than later.

This is where I'm supposed to consider the offense by wailing and gnashing and what not.  I won't.  Jeremy's well-documented fuck-ups are disturbing and, hopefully, fixable.  We've seen him perform at a high level, against elite competition and excel.  He can do this, but it's up to the coaches to figure out how to get him focused again.  It would also be optimal if his wide receivers would not drop the rare ball that is thrown on target.  When your QB is struggling but he finally puts one on the money, you have to make the play.  All of that said, White needs some warm-up time shortly after kickoff.  Just in case.

The receivers are mostly performing well and there were some instances of excellent blocking for the run game yesterday.  Of the entire group Louis looks most like the guy who came to play.  The aforementioned drops are presumably curable since we've seen most of this group display good-to-elite pass catching ability.

I'm not sure why there is any debate as to who has shown the most potential as the starting running back.  Give Peyton Barber the ball and watch him grind yards.  The guy reminds me of Tre Mason in his low pads and propensity to fall forward for an extra 2-3 yards per carry.  Mix Roc in for sweeps and wheel routes (loved seeing that play again...shades of Ronnie Brown), but let Barber carry the load.  Kerryon Johnson was impressive for a young guy and looks like he could be Corey Grant 2.0.

Finally, the O-line deserves some mention.  While not the road-grading force that was expected, yesterday appeared to be a live-action experiment.  There was lots of rotation at each position (with Braden Smith playing at least 2 positions) and I have to think that wasn't a panicked decision, that there was forethought to that much substitution.  The lack of consistency and chemistry led to unsteady run blocking and pass blocking that often found someone rolling around Jeremy's feet, preventing a decent plant.  Hopefully, this was a calculated risk against an assumed foregone win.  If the O-line is, in fact, as unsettled as it appeared to be, then they are in serious trouble in Baton Rouge.

I think the opponent was underestimated, the offense in flux and the defense undermanned.  It was a perfect storm which was weathered by the good guys.  LSU might tear us a new asshole, but they're going to have to show up and try.

I'm still catching up, but this is a way better articulated version of what I struggled to throw together in the other thread.

I think the only difference is you are a bit more optimistic on Johnson's chances of promptly getting his shit together than I. I'm not saying it's impossible, but at this point I'm not expecting it.

[Kaos]

Here is the good news Imma gonna lay on you. We won't be 2012 bad! Rejoice brothers and sisters!

You're just saying this because:


BTW? Toledo would rip JSU two new assholes.

[WiregrassTiger]

You're just saying this because:


BTW? Toledo would rip JSU two new assholes.

And you didn't know AU would need OT to defeat Jax State. Shows what you know.

[CCTAU]

As I stated before, it looks like plug and play with JJ. I'm not sure they changed one thing in the off season. The only thing that changes is JJ don't run.

We are in trouble if that does not change.

Once again, they changed the offense more for last year's Arky game than they have al off season!