Springing into Summer

[Kaos]

Spring training essentially over.  On to summer workouts and a quickly approaching fall season. 

Just after Thanksgiving, I apologized to Gus for doubting him.  Now I think I want to apologize for apologizing.  As good as I felt after curb stomping both UGA and UA, the cruel march of time has caused me to re-evaluate that euphoria and consider whether it was misguided.  

In those two games we looked as strong and confident as any Auburn team I can remember.  Under Malzahn those are exceptions and I'm just not confident at all he can turn them into the rule. 

In his AU career he's ended the season 1-4, 1-3, 2-2, 2-2.  He's 1-4 in Bowl games with the lone win coming over Memphis and lopsided losses to Wisconsin and Oklahoma. 

When he finally identifies a horse (Nick, Kerryon, Pettway, Tre) he rides it until it completely breaks down.  When it does eventually falter, he has nothing that resembles a backup plan.  There is Plan A and Plan A only.  The SEC-CG was particularly disturbing.  He tried to keep riding Kerryon when it was obvious he couldn't carry the load. Still could/should have won that game.  Just as disturbing was the pathetic effort the year before against the worst Georgia team of my lifetime.  Could not even generate a first down when K. Pettway couldn't carry the ball 74 times a game. 

I think he does a poor job at identifying talent. He does a worse job at developing that talent. The broken string of high profile, highly rated quarterbacks littering his wake is troubling.  So, too, is the reliance on one player to the point that that player is burned out by the end of the season.  Only Tre bucked that trend and it worries me that the 90 carries a game broke his brain.  

I'm not standing in line with pitchforks and torches.  I'n not starting a Gus Must Go hashtag movement. But I do want to see progress in having all players ready and not looking like a complete douzenwaffle when things don't go according to the one and only plan he seems to have.  The record (given that eight or nine wins is the absolute floor) is almost secondary to me seeing progress toward long-term stability and sustainability.  

At that?  I expect him to douzenwaffle against Washington (maybe win, maybe not), beat LSU, hit a mid-season stride and then fall apart toward the end.  Again.  

[AUJarhead]

Kaos, totally agree.

And he's all ours for at least 5 more years.

[Buzz Killington]

I expect him to douzenwaffle against Washington (maybe win, maybe not), beat LSU, hit a mid-season stride and then fall apart toward the end.  Again.  

Based on past precedent, here's exactly how the season will go.  I will revisit this post in late November to gloat about just how spot on I was...
9/1 - Washington (Atlanta):  Window lickers on offense and world beaters on defense.  A late defensive score keeps it close.  17-24  L
9/8 - Alabama State:  Kam Martin gets 54 carries and Stidham throws for 275 on 5 completions.  Easy win, with no backups playing  58-3 W
9/15 - LSU:  Gus is just lucky Ensminger is on the other sideline.  Defense looks like the 1985 Bears squad.  12-3  W
9/22 - Arkansas:  Asa Martin finally gets a few jet sweep carries and takes them all to the house.  Defense looks good again.  41-17  W
9/29 - Southern Miss:  Offense starts to gel and runs for 525 yards, while passing for 225.  Defense is stout.  48-10  W
10/6 - at Miss State:  Twirlybird makes it's gallant comeback when Stidham struggles.  Defense is getting tired.  17-13  W
10/13 - Tennessee:  Kam Martin goes down early after his 537th carry of the season.  Defense slows with injuries.  18-10  W
10/20 - at Ole Miss:  With key injuries to the befensive backfield, they struggle and offense looks like a 2A High School team.  12-31 L
11/3 - aTm:  Martin comes back and runs wild, but defense can't keep up this time.  24-34 L
11/10: at Georgia:  Oops...Martin out and Stidham gets hurt early.  Surprisingly, 35 QB runs don't surprise them.  Defense looks good tho.  13-14 L
11/17: Liberty:  CJ Tolbert gets 43 carries and 5 TDs.  Defense gets well needed rest for the starters.  55-3 W
11/24: at West Vance:  Martin comes back from injury, but is only about 85%.  Defense can't find it's previous mojo.  21-41 L
7-5 with a trip to Nashville to play NC State...and we all know how that will go.  So, 7-6.

[Snaggletiger]

Based on past precedent, here's exactly how the season will go.  I will revisit this post in late November to gloat about just how spot on I was...
9/1 - Washington (Atlanta):  Window lickers on offense and world beaters on defense.  A late defensive score keeps it close.  17-24  L
9/8 - Alabama State:  Kam Martin gets 54 carries and Stidham throws for 275 on 5 completions.  Easy win, with no backups playing  58-3 W
9/15 - LSU:  Gus is just lucky Ensminger is on the other sideline.  Defense looks like the 1985 Bears squad.  12-3  W
9/22 - Arkansas:  Asa Martin finally gets a few jet sweep carries and takes them all to the house.  Defense looks good again.  41-17  W
9/29 - Southern Miss:  Offense starts to gel and runs for 525 yards, while passing for 225.  Defense is stout.  48-10  W
10/6 - at Miss State:  Twirlybird makes it's gallant comeback when Stidham struggles.  Defense is getting tired.  17-13  W
10/13 - Tennessee:  Kam Martin goes down early after his 537th carry of the season.  Defense slows with injuries.  18-10  W
10/20 - at Ole Miss:  With key injuries to the befensive backfield, they struggle and offense looks like a 2A High School team.  12-31 L
11/3 - aTm:  Martin comes back and runs wild, but defense can't keep up this time.  24-34 L
11/10: at Georgia:  Oops...Martin out and Stidham gets hurt early.  Surprisingly, 35 QB runs don't surprise them.  Defense looks good tho.  13-14 L
11/17: Liberty:  CJ Tolbert gets 43 carries and 5 TDs.  Defense gets well needed rest for the starters.  55-3 W
11/24: at West Vance:  Martin comes back from injury, but is only about 85%.  Defense can't find it's previous mojo.  21-41 L
7-5 with a trip to Nashville to play NC State...and we all know how that will go.  So, 7-6.

Great take there, Nostra Dumbass.  Apparently you didn't put in the research and don't know that Alabama State's kicker tore an ACL while competing in a Gangnam Style Dance-Off.  No way they put 3 on the board with the back up.  Sheesh!

[War Eagle!!!]

Based on past precedent, here's exactly how the season will go.  I will revisit this post in late November to gloat about just how spot on I was...
9/1 - Washington (Atlanta):  Window lickers on offense and world beaters on defense.  A late defensive score keeps it close.  17-24  L
9/8 - Alabama State:  Kam Martin gets 54 carries and Stidham throws for 275 on 5 completions.  Easy win, with no backups playing  58-3 W
9/15 - LSU:  Gus is just lucky Ensminger is on the other sideline.  Defense looks like the 1985 Bears squad.  12-3  W
9/22 - Arkansas:  Asa Martin finally gets a few jet sweep carries and takes them all to the house.  Defense looks good again.  41-17  W
9/29 - Southern Miss:  Offense starts to gel and runs for 525 yards, while passing for 225.  Defense is stout.  48-10  W
10/6 - at Miss State:  Twirlybird makes it's gallant comeback when Stidham struggles.  Defense is getting tired.  17-13  W
10/13 - Tennessee:  Kam Martin goes down early after his 537th carry of the season.  Defense slows with injuries.  18-10  W
10/20 - at Ole Miss:  With key injuries to the befensive backfield, they struggle and offense looks like a 2A High School team.  12-31 L
11/3 - aTm:  Martin comes back and runs wild, but defense can't keep up this time.  24-34 L
11/10: at Georgia:  Oops...Martin out and Stidham gets hurt early.  Surprisingly, 35 QB runs don't surprise them.  Defense looks good tho.  13-14 L
11/17: Liberty:  CJ Tolbert gets 43 carries and 5 TDs.  Defense gets well needed rest for the starters.  55-3 W
11/24: at West Vance:  Martin comes back from injury, but is only about 85%.  Defense can't find it's previous mojo.  21-41 L
7-5 with a trip to Nashville to play NC State...and we all know how that will go.  So, 7-6.

Giving up 30+ points aint happening against Ole Miss and aTm.

[Buzz Killington]

Giving up 30+ points aint happening against Ole Miss and aTm.

The defense isn't the only squad that can give up points.

[Kaos]

The defense isn't the only squad that can give up points.

I've heard you can score on Bama's cheerleaders if you want to, but nobody ever really does.  



Can somebody please close the door to the horse stalls?

[Snaggletiger]

I've heard you can score on Bama's cheerleaders if you want to, but nobody ever really does.  



Can somebody please close the door to the horse stalls?

She could eat corn through a picket fence.

[Buzz Killington]

I've heard you can score on Bama's cheerleaders if you want to, but nobody ever really does.  



Can somebody please close the door to the horse stalls?

Why the long face?

[ssgaufan]

I've heard you can score on Bama's cheerleaders if you want to, but nobody ever really does.  



Can somebody please close the door to the horse stalls?

I'd hit it.

[Buzz Killington]

I'd hit it.

From behind, yeah

[WiregrassTiger]

From behind, yeah

Horsey style?

[CCTAU]

Horsey style?

Neigh!