Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports
Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Snaggletiger on July 24, 2013, 02:11:35 PM
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This article says all the things I think we've all been hoping were true. No way we suck as bad as it looked last year. The recruiting gurus couldn't have been wrong on all our guys and there really is a lot more talent than we've displayed. Not saying AU's defense is going to suddenly become Da' Bears. But, I think we can expect some serious improvement. Coppage de la Ellis pasta Johnson al.kum
A defense can rarely be rebuilt in only one year, but Ellis Johnson has done it before, back in his first season at South Carolina. Whether or not he can pull off the same type of turnaround in his first season at Auburn depends largely on whether or not a defense long on potential but short on prior SEC production can take a huge step forward collectively. For Johnson, the key is whether or not Auburn's experienced defenders can make that leap.
"I think we've got good, solid SEC players that when you play like they did last year, they’re going to have to play differently," Johnson said. "I don’t think we have to have different people, we have to have different performance."
When Johnson took over at South Carolina, the Gamecocks jumped from ninth in the SEC in 2007 to fourth in 2008 and promptly reeled off three top-15 finishes nationally in his four seasons on the job.
Steve Spurrier, Johnson's head coach at South Carolina, pointed out at SEC Media Days that his former assistant is perfectly capable of replicating the same success at Auburn, provided that he has the players to pull off his scheme.
Auburn's defense is full of depth, flush with players who were highly recruited and fought their way into playing time early on in their careers.
What Johnson needs is players at every position to take the next step and become All-SEC-caliber performers capable of making big plays.
Right now, still more than a week before Auburn opens the fall camp, the jury is still out.
"I don’t know that I can make that judgment in 15 practices," Johnson said. "We’re probably deeper than we were at South Carolina or Mississippi State but I don’t know our players well enough yet to know what we’ll accomplish."
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn saw plenty of reason for optimism during the spring.
For starters, a defensive tackle unit that has largely played below its recruiting hype impressed with both its depth and playmaking ability, led by Angelo Blackson, Jeffrey Whitaker and Gabe Wright.
At linebacker, both Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy started to come into their own, flashing potential, and the cornerbacks, led by Chris Davis, might have been the most consistent unit on the team.
And at the crucial "Star" position -- the hybrid safety-linebacker who provides most of the flexibility in Johnson's 4-2-5 defense -- Justin Garrett emerged as the star of spring practices.
"You know, the thing that stood out in spring, (Johnson)’s very fundamentally sound," Malzahn said. "He’s going to let our guys play. Line up and let ‘em play. We’ve worked very hard on identifying our top 11 guys, and we’re going to put them on the field."
More importantly, Auburn made big strides in open-field tackling, another of Johnson's area of emphasis during the spring, and ability to create turnovers out of the secondary.
Over the summer, the players have spent time watching film, trying to eliminate errors and pick up tendencies from the Tigers' first couple of opponents. And the Tigers defense, a unit that struggled under former head coach Gene Chizik, is starting to build some confidence. "I really feel like we're going to shock everybody with our new defense," Garrett said.
The task for Johnson and the rest of his staff is to iron out a few problem areas, namely the pass rush from the outside at defensive end opposite Dee Ford -- a problem that newcomers Carl Lawson and Elijah Daniel might help -- a few problems with calls at the line of scrimmage, inserting sub-packages and building depth at safety.
But the Tigers feel like they're ready to make the kind of leap Johnson needs to turn in another impressive single-season turnaround.
"We've played for years together," defensive end Nosa Eguae said. "I feel like, as a collective group, we feel like it's our time to go out there and be a force in the SEC."
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A couple more notes I saw in skimming the al.kum articles. Gus Malzahn has had 10 different QB's run his system in college. He's never had one of them return for a second year.
Avery Young says he's 100% healthy after off season shoulder surgery. He started 3 games as a true freshman before the shoulder injury put him out. He was granted a redshirt. He's currently 6'6" 314. I'm hoping he can get his spot back because Patrick Miller got owned a lot last year. Plus, Miller is just a hair over 280. If Young wins the starting spot, that will be a plus for the overall size of our O-line. That would give us Robinson, Slade and Young all well over 300 with Dismukes and probably Kozan around 290.
Erique Florence was spotted on Troy's campus yesterday. The article said they didn't know if Troy had offered or had room for him but interesting to see where he lands.
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A couple more notes I saw in skimming the al.kum articles. Gus Malzahn has had 10 different QB's run his system in college. He's never had one of them return for a second year.
Great, he's the Lebo/Barbee of QB coaches
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Great, he's the Lebo/Barbee of QB coaches
Hustle...ur doin it rite!
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Sorry but until proven otherwise, we're still shootty.
Takes more than positive articles to wash the stain and taste of last year away from memory.
Hoping for vast improvement but going in with muted expectations in year one. That's the fairest I can be about the new day.
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Sorry but until proven otherwise, we're still shootty.
Takes more than positive articles to wash the stain and taste of last year away from memory.
Hoping for vast improvement but going in with muted expectations in year one. That's the fairest I can be about the new day.
My overall expectations aren't that high either. I just want us to be more competitive and believe we're on the right track. I'd be satisfied with a .500 record and not being tired of the other team's fight song by the end of every game.
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I expect 7 wins, possibly including the bowl game, and no 28+ point deficits, even to Bama or A&M.
Achieve that, and I'm excited about Auburn football again.
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I expect 7 wins, possibly including the bowl game, and no 28+ point deficits, even to Bama or A&M.
Achieve that, and I'm excited about Auburn football again.
I agree with everything except the bowl game. I think making a bowl game would be an accomplishment and one I don't expect this year. 5-7 and no embarrassing losses is what I really expect
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I agree with everything except the bowl game. I think making a bowl game would be an accomplishment and one I don't expect this year. 5-7 and no embarrassing losses is what I really expect
This is pretty much where I am at, although I do think Nick Marshall could come in and win us some games. I think one or two players can turn a team around and I am hoping we aren't as atrocious as we played last year.
If we don't have a QB step up though I retract my previous statement and 5 might be a stretch.
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This is pretty much where I am at, although I do think Nick Marshall could come in and win us some games. I think one or two players can turn a team around and I am hoping we aren't as atrocious as we played last year.
If we don't have a QB step up though I retract my previous statement and 5 might be a stretch.
Every bit of THIS :bar:
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This is pretty much where I am at, although I do think Nick Marshall could come in and win us some games. I think one or two players can turn a team around and I am hoping we aren't as atrocious as we played last year.
If we don't have a QB step up though I retract my previous statement and 5 might be a stretch.
I have a feeling Marshall will step in and impress us.
But I'm more worried about other glaring issues on our team.
Middle linebacker, defensive tackles, cover corners, and our offensive line were absolutely putrid last year. So much so that if the same people are starting, I don't see how improve at all.
Jake Holland is bad. Terrible. Worst linebacker I've ever seen play. He's the one weak spot that has to be improved or replaced or we're done. It's over. Game over, man.
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This is pretty much where I am at, although I do think Nick Marshall could come in and win us some games. I think one or two players can turn a team around and I am hoping we aren't as atrocious as we played last year.
If we don't have a QB step up though I retract my previous statement and 5 might be a stretch.
God, I don't think I could live through another season like last year. :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:
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I have a feeling Marshall will step in and impress us.
But I'm more worried about other glaring issues on our team.
Middle linebacker, defensive tackles, cover corners, and our offensive line were absolutely putrid last year. So much so that if the same people are starting, I don't see how improve at all.
Jake Holland is bad. Terrible. Worst linebacker I've ever seen play. He's the one weak spot that has to be improved or replaced or we're done. It's over. Game over, man.
Work ethic has a lot to do with how the lineman played last year, and I really expect to see improvement on both sides of the ball.
Didn't Holland lose the starting job during the spring?
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I guess I'm just on the Gus Bus ($1 to Snaggs). I see 7 or 8 wins plus possibly a bowl win, assuming Marshall is at least 10% better than Kahleel or Wallace.
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I agree with everything except the bowl game. I think making a bowl game would be an accomplishment and one I don't expect this year. 5-7 and no embarrassing losses is what I really expect
My happiness rests on a minimum of 6-6 and a bowl win, or 7-5 and a bowl loss. I am having Deja Vu with Kaos when Chizik was hired.
7's the magic number.
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnwKKX0SfRBHz4cer0SdFFqtp-EBKlJkGPkYMBOyTz90Lv-D7yJg)
It should be attainable with our schedule assuming we don't suck like we did last year. If we suck anywhere close to how bad we were last year, then we're not turning shit around.
With all the changes to the coaching staff and on the field, we should get over the .500 mark, if not in the regular season, than after the bowls.
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Been listening to some clips from a recent interview CGM did with Ivan Maizel (sp?) Malzahn basically said the players were shell shocked when he first met with them. Saying you could see it in their eyes that the confidence was shot after what they went through last year. And getting that confidence and trust back has been priority one.
He also talked about the QB's and sounds genuinely excited about both Johnson and Marshall. He really sounds like he wants one of them to step up and show they're better right now than either of the two coming back. So do I.
Like I said, I'm with most of you on tempering expectations and I don't believe we're going to suddenly kick ass and contend for the West. But something was bad, bad wrong with that team and that staff and I don't know if we'll ever hear what the real problems were. It wasn't just shitty schemes or play calling or whatever. I've said it 100X before. They quit. That's not a lack of talent. That goes back to something incredibly wrong with the staff.
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My happiness rests on a minimum of 6-6 and a bowl win, or 7-5 and a bowl loss. I am having Deja Vu with Kaos when Chizik was hired.
7's the magic number.
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnwKKX0SfRBHz4cer0SdFFqtp-EBKlJkGPkYMBOyTz90Lv-D7yJg)
You can be a winner too! :miltie:
(http://eurweb.zippykid.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/milton_mcgregor2010-med.jpg)
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Been listening to some clips from a recent interview CGM did with Ivan Maizel (sp?) Malzahn basically said the players were shell shocked when he first met with them. Saying you could see it in their eyes that the confidence was shot after what they went through last year. And getting that confidence and trust back has been priority one.
He also talked about the QB's and sounds genuinely excited about both Johnson and Marshall. He really sounds like he wants one of them to step up and show they're better right now than either of the two coming back. So do I.
Like I said, I'm with most of you on tempering expectations and I don't believe we're going to suddenly kick ass and contend for the West. But something was bad, bad wrong with that team and that staff and I don't know if we'll ever hear what the real problems were. It wasn't just shitty schemes or play calling or whatever. I've said it 100X before. They quit. That's not a lack of talent. That goes back to something incredibly wrong with the staff.
Something went wrong, right around the bye week after the LSU game. That's when Coach Loeffler told a big-time QB to hold off on committing to Auburn, told him that things might be changing. I can't remember the exact words that were used, but they were enough to let that QB prospect know to wait and to not commit to Auburn when he wanted to (he wanted to commit on his birthday, the week after the Arkansas game)
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Work ethic has a lot to do with how the lineman played last year, and I really expect to see improvement on both sides of the ball.
Didn't Holland lose the starting job during the spring?
I think he lost it during anyone of the games last season.
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Work ethic has a lot to do with how the lineman played last year, and I really expect to see improvement on both sides of the ball.
Didn't Holland lose the starting job during the spring?
Yes...should be "Jump Jump" Frost and "I'm your" Cassanova
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I think/hope it will be McKinzy and Frost. I'd really like to see LaDarius Owens come on strong too. The cool thing would be if Kenny Flowers turns out to be bad ass and ready to jump in the rotation.
Just, no more Jake please.
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Yes...should be "Jump Jump" Frost and "I'm your" Cassanova
You're a regular Chris Berman.
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Didn't Holland lose the starting job during the spring?
The whole reason we hired Ellis Johnson was to switch to the 4-2-5.
Sorry Jake, there's no such thing as a middle linebacker in this defense. Wish there was something we could do.....
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You're a regular Chris Berman.
Boom goes the dynamite.
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Boom goes the dynamite.
He...could...go....all....the....way.
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I guess I'm just on the Gus Bus ($1 to Snaggs). I see 7 or 8 wins plus possibly a bowl win, assuming Marshall is at least 10% better than Kahleel or Wallace.
This is where I'm at, even giving $1 to Snaggs.
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But I'm more worried about other glaring issues on our team.
Middle linebacker, defensive tackles, cover corners, and our offensive line were absolutely putrid last year. So much so that if the same people are starting, I don't see how improve at all.
Again I agree, but new coaching (hell coaching period) + conditioning + (http://i1334.photobucket.com/albums/w651/eagledamnwar/BP45_yVCQAEz81n_zps7a0c7bc3.jpg) = change. But then again I'm the guy that thinks we will be looking for a new coach again in 4 years, so....
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Something went wrong, right around the bye week after the LSU game. That's when Coach Loeffler told a big-time QB to hold off on committing to Auburn, told him that things might be changing. I can't remember the exact words that were used, but they were enough to let that QB prospect know to wait and to not commit to Auburn when he wanted to (he wanted to commit on his birthday, the week after the Arkansas game)
I wonder what happened.
The LSU game was a tough loss. It was a tough start to the season. But the defensive effort in the LSU game was phenomenal. Maybe it wasn't the most technically sound performance by either side of the ball, but our players were hitting hard and playing with heart all game long.
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I'll be the fucking kool-aid drinker.
This team wins 8+ this year. There is so much more talent/potential on this roster than all but 3-4 SEC teams. The kids were abandoned and it showed last year. We will whoop the shit out of some folks this year. QB play will limit us a bit, but we will shock motherfuckers.
Book it.
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I'll be the fucking kool-aid drinker.
This team wins 8+ this year. There is so much more talent/potential on this roster than all but 3-4 SEC teams. The kids were abandoned and it showed last year. We will whoop the shit out of some folks this year. QB play will limit us a bit, but we will shock motherfuckers.
Book it.
I am one Offensive Guard away from agreeing completely with this. I honestly believe the offense will score points in bunches against most of the teams on the schedule, and the defense will be a ball hawking bunch that will play at least 10 times better than last season.
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I'll be the fucking kool-aid drinker.
This team wins 8+ this year. There is so much more talent/potential on this roster than all but 3-4 SEC teams. The kids were abandoned and it showed last year. We will whoop the shit out of some folks this year. QB play will limit us a bit, but we will shock motherfuckers.
Book it.
Did you attend the spring game?
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Did you attend the spring game?
Nick Marshall didn't...
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Did you attend the spring game?
I did not.
But I've seen enough of them to know that they mean jack fucking squat in regards to that season's w/l total.
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I did not.
But I've seen enough of them to know that they mean jack fucking squat in regards to that season's w/l total.
Exactly.
In my honest opinion, we'll be better than last year...on the field (Offense and Defense), on the scoreboard, in the win/loss column, in the weightroom, and in the Coach's offices.
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Exactly.
In my honest opinion, we'll be better than last year...on the field (Offense and Defense), on the scoreboard, in the win/loss column, in the weightroom, and in the Coach's offices.
What about in thug department?
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What about in thug department?
I'll say that we'll be better off in that department.
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I'm with the esteemed counselor from 30A.
We are 300/1 to to win the BCS. So Vegas is saying there's a chance.
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What about in thug department?
Meatboi is still here.
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I did not.
But I've seen enough of them to know that they mean jack fucking squat in regards to that season's w/l total.
This ^^^
Per the 2010 spring game, Cam looked only slightly ahead of Trotter at best.
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Meatboi is still here.
Yup, hopefully he has changed his ways, atleast for one year...after that, I couldn't give a fuck what he does or how many times he's arrested.