Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports
Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Buzz Killington on August 22, 2013, 03:28:08 PM
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http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/08/auburns_jake_holland_the_start.html (http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/08/auburns_jake_holland_the_start.html)
Auburn's Jake Holland the starter at linebacker after consistent, productive camp
AUBURN, Alabama -- When the month of August began, Jake Holland knew he had work to do.
Holland, a two-year starter with 16 career starts under his belt, opened camp second on the depth chart at middle linebacker behind talented sophomore Kris Frost.
The senior responded with the best camp of his career.
"Jake's been the most consistent, for sure," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "The two legitimate scrimmages that we had, Jake just had more production, had more tackles, more plays, had a pick, hasn’t had as many missed tackles, he’s cut those down."
Holland has 125 tackles in his career at Auburn, including 73 a year ago, but he has struggled to be an impact playmaker in his time as a starter.
Part of the problem has been a never-ending battle with injuries, beginning with ankle injuries and a torn bicep as a sophomore and extending to a bulging vertebrae in his neck last season.
He's also played for three defensive coordinators in the past three years at the defense's most complicated position.
Auburn's new 4-2-5 scheme made the role a lot more simple. Instead of a complicated system, Johnson's calls require a single word, freeing the defense -- and particularly the linebackers -- to make a call and then focus on playing the down.
"Coming off last year, it's definitely a different feel," Holland said. "Our calls and adjustments, we're able to get them in really fast and play really fast. That's allowing us to make plays."
Holland also spent the summer trimming his body fat from 14 percent to 12 percent, a key for a 240-pound player who has struggled at times in pursuit.
During his sophomore season, Holland made two interceptions, and he wanted to be effective in coverage again.
Making an interception in the Tigers' first scrimmage was a signal that he feels more comfortable dropping into a zone and finding the football.
"I got a little pick," Holland said after the scrimmage. "We were doing a little blitz in red zone. I was a hole player, I was spying the quarterback. I got lucky because he threw it right to me."
Holland's efforts landed him the starting job, although Frost is still expected to play significant snaps in Johnson's rotation at the position.
His consistency earned him the role.
Now, with the season-opener only a week away, it's time for Holland to transfer that consistent play to the Jordan-Hare Stadium turf.
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:suicide:
So Frost is kinda like El Toro?
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Bold prediction: Jake Holland will lead the team in tackles. Puts up monster numbers.
I admit, I'm moderately annoyed by everyone that's 100% sure he cannot possibly perform well because their mind is made up from last year.
SLATE CLEAN. NEW DAY.
If Gus thinks he's the guy, he's the guy.
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If Gus thinks he's the guy, Gus had no other alternatives including the water boy.
Fixt.
:& :&
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Really, all bs aside-- all we can do is hope that the new scheme, coaching and off season work gives us a 180 in his play. Can't say I'm completely surprised by this. I think even last years coaches were capable of putting the best players on the field.
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Bold prediction: Jake Holland will lead the team in tackles. Puts up monster numbers.
I admit, I'm moderately annoyed by everyone that's 100% sure he cannot possibly perform well because their mind is made up from last year.
SLATE CLEAN. NEW DAY.
If Gus thinks he's the guy, he's the guy.
Been saying this a while. If he performs like shit again I'll be on the bandwagon. But right now, clean slate. And instead of getting mad at him, how's about everyone critique Frost for how bad he must suck.
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Bold prediction: Jake Holland will lead the team in tackles. Puts up monster numbers.
I admit, I'm moderately annoyed by everyone that's 100% sure he cannot possibly perform well because their mind is made up from last year.
SLATE CLEAN. NEW DAY.
If Gus thinks he's the guy, he's the guy.
I think Frost will be starting by game 3. I think Jake is a good practicer. Sometimes a guy can be all world in practice and stink in games, conversely there are guys that are just gamers.
I was with you last summer. Everyone was missing Bynes. I thought Jake was going to come in and do well for us. IMO I don't think he has the speed.
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Bold prediction: Jake Holland will lead the team in tackles. Puts up monster numbers.
I admit, I'm moderately annoyed by everyone that's 100% sure he cannot possibly perform well because their mind is made up from last year.
SLATE CLEAN. NEW DAY.
If Gus thinks he's the guy, he's the guy.
I'm moderately annoyed by eveyone that thinks he is going to be an All SEC type of linebacker now. The guy just doesn't have that killer instinct in him.
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According to the article above, Jake layed down on top of 73 piles last year. I sure don't remember that.
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Slowest LB on the field. By a lot. I honestly think Frost is mildly retarded.
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I'm moderately annoyed by eveyone that thinks he is going to be an All SEC type of linebacker now. The guy just doesn't have that killer instinct in him.
Where is this bandwagon?
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According to the article above, Jake layed down on top fell down in front of 73 piles last year. I sure don't remember that.
fixt
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Slowest LB on the field. By a lot. I honestly think Frost is mildly retarded.
Nah, if that was the case he'd be at alabama.
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Slowest LB on the field. By a lot. I honestly think Frost is mildly retarded.
I'm betting Lazy.
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Where is this bandwagon?
Who said bandwagon?
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According to the article above, Jake layed down on top of 73 piles last year. I sure don't remember that.
Except the ones that he was on the bottom of because he tripped and fell down.
I think he panics under pressure. Practice is one thing. Stopping an SEC caliber player running at full speed is another thing entirely. It's like test anxiety - no matter how hard you study, you freeze and freak out when the test hits your desk.
If Auburn football was the SAT, Jake would make a 5.
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Where is this bandwagon?
At your house apparently.
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At your house apparently.
No that's the party....in his mouth.....everybody is cumming.
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No that's the party....in his mouth.....everybody is cumming.
And if Jake is blocking, everyone is going right past too.
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Honestly, it may be that he froze with the complexity of the stache's calls last season. Maybe with easier calls and reads, he will be a monster.
(http://collider.com/wp-content/image-base/Movies/M/Monsters_Inc/Monsters%20Inc%20movie%20image%20Pixar%20(2).jpg)
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No that's the party....in his mouth.....everybody is cumming.
:pee::thumsup:
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Honestly, it may be that he froze with the complexity of the stache's calls last season. Maybe with easier calls and reads, he will be a monster.
:high: :high: :high: :high:
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Honestly, it may be that he froze with the complexity of the stache's calls last season. Maybe with easier calls and reads, he will be a monster.
(http://collider.com/wp-content/image-base/Movies/M/Monsters_Inc/Monsters%20Inc%20movie%20image%20Pixar%20(2).jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt136/gnomeface89/cookie_monster_dead.jpg) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/gnomeface89/media/cookie_monster_dead.jpg.html)
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Slowest LB on the field. By a lot. I honestly think Frost is mildly retarded.
Agree with this. I think Frost is a ruhtard.
Maybe Jake has turned it around. Looking at the last three years I have a hard time believing that though. Why haven't we recruited better at LB is what I want to know?
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To be SOMEWHAT fair, Jake has spent the last 3 years playing for a staff that did not teach tackling or put them through physical practices. Maybe...just maybe....
The one thing I have to believe is that he's proven himself because a corch's livelihood depends on putting the best they've got on the field.
Either way, my drunk ass will be in JHS next Saturday ready to see something different than we have the last couple of years.
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I guess my hyperbole is lost on this crowd.
Point is, no one here knows the kid's potential. No one has seen what Gus has seen. Not a fan of lynch mobs and people being so damn certain that someone is complete and utter garbage given the context of last season being an epic cluster fuck on every level.
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To be SOMEWHAT fair, Jake has spent the last 3 years playing for a staff that did not teach tackling or put them through physical practices. Maybe...just maybe....
The one thing I have to believe is that he's proven himself because a corch's livelihood depends on putting the best they've got on the field.
^Gets it.
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Well, that should tell you a lot about our defense.
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To be SOMEWHAT fair, Jake has spent the last 3 years playing for a staff that did not teach tackling or put them through physical practices. Maybe...just maybe....
The one thing I have to believe is that he's proven himself because a corch's livelihood depends on putting the best they've got on the field.
Either way, my drunk ass will be in JHS next Saturday ready to see something different than we have the last couple of years.
I get that and understand that our coaching sucked. Maybe he is the man or maybe he is just a beast in practice and can't get it done when the lights come. I don't know. I do know that he has been horrible for 3 years and that gives me no faith in him. 2010 I can overlook, he was a freshman, but I can't overlook 11 & 12 and he was horrid. Just hard for me to believe that he can make a 180 since spring practice has ended. Don't get me wrong, I hope he plays like Urlacher this year, but I am not banking on it. I still think Frost is a ruhtard.
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Well, that should tell you a lot about our defense.
We don't play defense, we just gonna outscore em
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I get that and understand that our coaching sucked. Maybe he is the man or maybe he is just a beast in practice and can't get it done when the lights come. I don't know. I do know that he has been horrible for 3 years and that gives me no faith in him. 2010 I can overlook, he was a freshman, but I can't overlook 11 & 12 and he was horrid. Just hard for me to believe that he can make a 180 since spring practice has ended. Don't get me wrong, I hope he plays like Urlacher this year, but I am not banking on it. I still think Frost is a ruhtard.
^Gets it more
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I'm just hoping. Doesn't matter anyway. He's running out there. #5 in your program. #16 in your heart.
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Slowest LB on the field. By a lot.
Give him a fake Girlfriend and he could be the next Defensive Heisman candidate
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Give him a fake Girlfriend and he could be the next Defensive Heisman candidate
This hussel deserves a :thumsup:
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This concerns me.
Kiehl Frazier was OBVIOUSLY not an SEC quarterback. It was blatant. Anyone with a brain could see that no amount of coaching or practice time from December until September would be able to turn the guy into a winner. At most Gus may have taught him how to fall forward instead of getting blistered ten yards in the backfield.
So he moved to safety because we have quarterbacks on roster now that can compete in this conference.
Jake Holland from what I observed was absolutely no different than Frazier in terms of being prepared to compete in the SEC. He was slow. He misread plays. He struggled with making tackles. He was too weak to brings guys to the ground. He frequently whiffed on easy quarterback sacks and if they weren't going to be a sack, he could have at least put a hit on them. He never stuffed the hole. He rarely made a solo tackle. He has the audacity to allow that curly hair to grow way too long.
Yet he's still the starter. To me, this means there are no linebackers on our roster that are capable of competing in the SEC. Holland is the starter because he has experience.
Yeah sure he could prove me wrong. Maybe he hit the roids and took the blue pill. Morpheus hooked him up to a computer program that taught him how to read and react to plays. Taught him how to square up running backs. Taught him how to cover a pass play.
Maybe.
Maybe Mark Stoops will go undefeated at Kentucky this year. How do you know what he's doing in Lexington? He could be revolutionizing their defense so that they are a brick wall against their opponents.
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This concerns me.
Kiehl Frazier was OBVIOUSLY not an SEC quarterback. It was blatant. Anyone with a brain could see that no amount of coaching or practice time from December until September would be able to turn the guy into a winner. At most Gus may have taught him how to fall forward instead of getting blistered ten yards in the backfield.
So he moved to safety because we have quarterbacks on roster now that can compete in this conference.
Jake Holland from what I observed was absolutely no different than Frazier in terms of being prepared to compete in the SEC. He was slow. He misread plays. He struggled with making tackles. He was too weak to brings guys to the ground. He frequently whiffed on easy quarterback sacks and if they weren't going to be a sack, he could have at least put a hit on them. He never stuffed the hole. He rarely made a solo tackle. He has the audacity to allow that curly hair to grow way too long.
Yet he's still the starter. To me, this means there are no linebackers on our roster that are capable of competing in the SEC. Holland is the starter because he has experience.
Yeah sure he could prove me wrong. Maybe he hit the roids and took the blue pill. Morpheus hooked him up to a computer program that taught him how to read and react to plays. Taught him how to square up running backs. Taught him how to cover a pass play.
Maybe.
Maybe Mark Stoops will go undefeated at Kentucky this year. How do you know what he's doing in Lexington? He could be revolutionizing their defense so that they are a brick wall against their opponents.
Eh, I never expected much better than '09 numbers anyway. The coaches have toughened them up and we will be more respectable on defense, make enough stands and create more takeaways. We'll just have to put up some serious offense and hang on.
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LoLz
I think MLB will be a surprise, I think our defense in general is going to surprise some folks. QB & OL is what still concerns me.
Hopefully I am wrong and BVG has worked his magic and made Holland a beast.
He certainly looks like it, based on his picture on the AU web site:
http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holland_jake00.html
(http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/7921269.jpeg)
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LoLzI think MLB will be a surprise, I think our defense in general is going to surprise some folks. QB & OL is what still concerns me.
See I told you I was with you last summer.
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I'll say this and all you people that dissect the colors of the rainbow to figure out what each color means in relation to football can think about it for a second. Last year's defense wasn't getting the plays in quick enough to actually get set in enough time to see what was going on. You might not think that matters, but if you're a few steps in the wrong gap, you might as well as be standing on the sidelines, not to mention, for a LB to have any success, whatsoever, his DL has to be able to push the pocket (the past four years our DL has been a read and react DL...meaning, stalemate then shuck the lineman to get to the ball. That's the wrong way to do it if you have a weak DL and we had a very weak DL). You combine the lack of mandatory weight room and conditioning (players not getting stronger) with the DL being taught to read and react (better have strong DL to pull that off) with the plays not coming in from the sidelines quick enough for the Defense to get set you will ALWAYS have a horrible defense.
Remember when I stated that BVG didn't know how to coach against the Spread Offense, it's because his defenses are complicated to learn and a complicated defense trying to go against fast Offenses, the Defense will basically be playing sandlot football because the plays from the sidelines will hardly ever be able to get in, in time.
That's all I'm going to say. Also, look for Frazier to see some playing time at Safety sooner rather than later (around the 2nd or 3rd game)
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LoLzHe certainly looks like it, based on his picture on the AU web site:
http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holland_jake00.html
(http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/7921269.jpeg)
And his music sucks. How Am I Supposed to Live Without You ? :puke:
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I'll say this and all you people that dissect the colors of the rainbow to figure out what each color means in relation to football can think about it for a second. Last year's defense wasn't getting the plays in quick enough to actually get set in enough time to see what was going on. You might not think that matters, but if you're a few steps in the wrong gap, you might as well as be standing on the sidelines, not to mention, for a LB to have any success, whatsoever, his DL has to be able to push the pocket (the past four years our DL has been a read and react DL...meaning, stalemate then shuck the lineman to get to the ball. That's the wrong way to do it if you have a weak DL and we had a very weak DL). You combine the lack of mandatory weight room and conditioning (players not getting stronger) with the DL being taught to read and react (better have strong DL to pull that off) with the plays not coming in from the sidelines quick enough for the Defense to get set you will ALWAYS have a horrible defense.
Remember when I stated that BVG didn't know how to coach against the Spread Offense, it's because his defenses are complicated to learn and a complicated defense trying to go against fast Offenses, the Defense will basically be playing sandlot football because the plays from the sidelines will hardly ever be able to get in, in time.
That's all I'm going to say. Also, look for Frazier to see some playing time at Safety sooner rather than later (around the 2nd or 3rd game)
TL;DR - You've predicted Auburn to turn it around and become a roster full of reconstructed badasses for five years now.
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TL;DR - You've predicted Auburn to turn it around and become a roster full of reconstructed badasses for five years now.
2010 National Champions, now sit down and shut the fuck up.
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2010 National Champions, now sit down and shut the fuck up.
(http://media.govolsxtra.com/media/img/photos/2010/11/26/auburn_alabama_footba_desa_t607.jpg)
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Jake starting :facepalm:
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(http://media.govolsxtra.com/media/img/photos/2010/11/26/auburn_alabama_footba_desa_t607.jpg)
Perfect example.
Nick Fairley..."wasted scholarship", "JUCO guy that doesn't even look SEC caliber", "shows flashes of a really good DLineman, but he takes too many plays off".
I'm sure there were more. But, I told people that I know, and probably on this board that he will be something to watch once he gives the kind of effort that I feel he can give. (Jumbo will back me up on that). DT Angelo Blackson is in that same boat as Nick Fairley...if he gives the kind of effort that I feel he can give on every play, he's going to be something to watch.
Cam..."Barrett Trotter looks better and more 'polished' as a QB", "Cam can't hit the broad side of a barn standing a foot away from it", "he runs with the ball too much, he's gonna get hurt", "I'm not impressed by what I saw at A-Day (8-4), if we're lucky".
I sure am glad a lot of Auburn fans weren't on the coaching staff at that time.
Btw, Cameron Newton didn't become Cammie Cam until about the 3rd game of the season...that's when it started to become obvious that he was a fuckin badass.
Why not talk about Josh Bynes or any number of the Upperclassmen ghat the Auburn fanbase has bashed and trashed that were on the 2010 team? Hell, go back even further to all of the players that were trashed by their own fanbase only to become a player that we all wish would still be on the team right now.
My point is, for all the TL;DR people here, just sit back and enjoy the fucking show...just enjoy that the season is among us, that game week starts very, very soon. That's all, who knows, Jake Holland could become a force in the middle, you don't know, neither do I...but, I do know that there is a new regime, a new attitude, a new emphasis on tackling, strength and conditioning, new demands on all the above...as well as a new technique being taught to the DL to attack instead of read and react (that's a huge positive, along with Coach Garner replacing Coach Pelton).
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Perfect example.
Nick Fairley..."wasted scholarship", "JUCO guy that doesn't even look SEC caliber", "shows flashes of a really good DLineman, but he takes too many plays off".
I'm sure there were more. But, I told people that I know, and probably on this board that he will be something to watch once he gives the kind of effort that I feel he can give. (Jumbo will back me up on that). DT Angelo Blackson is in that same boat as Nick Fairley...if he gives the kind of effort that I feel he can give on every play, he's going to be something to watch.
Cam..."Barrett Trotter looks better and more 'polished' as a QB", "Cam can't hit the broad side of a barn standing a foot away from it", "he runs with the ball too much, he's gonna get hurt", "I'm not impressed by what I saw at A-Day (8-4), if we're lucky".
I sure am glad a lot of Auburn fans weren't on the coaching staff at that time.
Btw, Cameron Newton didn't become Cammie Cam until about the 3rd game of the season...that's when it started to become obvious that he was a fuckin badass.
Why not talk about Josh Bynes or any number of the Upperclassmen ghat the Auburn fanbase has bashed and trashed that were on the 2010 team? Hell, go back even further to all of the players that were trashed by their own fanbase only to become a player that we all wish would still be on the team right now.
My point is, for all the TL;DR people here, just sit back and enjoy the fucking show...just enjoy that the season is among us, that game week starts very, very soon. That's all, who knows, Jake Holland could become a force in the middle, you don't know, neither do I...but, I do know that there is a new regime, a new attitude, a new emphasis on tackling, strength and conditioning, new demands on all the above...as well as a new technique being taught to the DL to attack instead of read and react (that's a huge positive, along with Coach Garner replacing Coach Pelton).
Nope...I refuse to accept anything less than a running game that puts up 4000 yards, a souped-up version of Chris Todd with a shutdown, lights out D.
It's in the contract.
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LoLzHe certainly looks like it, based on his picture on the AU web site:
http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holland_jake00.html
(http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/7921269.jpeg)
I hope you are right. Jake and Cass are what we have. I would hate to start a TF, but I don't have warm fuzzies about Jake. Hopefully I am wrong and BVG has worked his magic and made Holland a beast. I do think our DL is going to be nasty and I think the DB's are going to pretty sick themselves.
I am saying the exact same thing about Jake this year as I did last year. I hope he has turned it around, but I don't have any warm fuzzies that he has. If he is a beast this year I will gladly eat my crow.
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I am saying the exact same thing about Jake this year as I did last year. I hope he has turned it around, but I don't have any warm fuzzies that he has. If he is a beast this year I will gladly eat my crow.
Well...you were right about the DL and teh DBs. The DL really was nasty on those fancy skates with the pom poms. The DBs were sick. At least they looked like they had the goat aids.
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Kenny Flowers
Cameron Toney
Kris Frost
Cassanova McKinzy
Jake Holland
LaDarius Owens
JaViere Mitchell
Anthony Swain
"As far as there being a nice rotation, that's what I like because any time you're playing 80 to 90 snaps a game your body is going to wear down," Holland said. "The rotation is going to be a huge help for us."
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Kenny Flowers
Cameron Toney
Kris Frost
Cassanova McKinzy
Jake Holland
LaDarius Owens
JaViere Mitchell
Anthony Swain
"As far as there being a nice rotation, that's what I like because any time you're playing 80 to 90 snaps a game your body is going to wear down," Holland said. "The rotation is going to be a huge help for us."
Exactly, it's not going to be Holland and only Holland, they will rotate. Especially to see how or if the light comes on for Frost.
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Over/Under on how many plays till Holland:
Gets blown up
Misses a tackle
I say under 5
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Over/Under on how many plays till Holland:
Gets blown up
Misses a tackle
I say under 5
I'll take the Over on that.
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Will Owens be a factor at all? He is huge and can hit, but can he keep up?
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This concerns me.
Kiehl Frazier was OBVIOUSLY not an SEC quarterback. It was blatant. Anyone with a brain could see that no amount of coaching or practice time from December until September would be able to turn the guy into a winner. At most Gus may have taught him how to fall forward instead of getting blistered ten yards in the backfield.
So he moved to safety because we have quarterbacks on roster now that can compete in this conference.
Jake Holland from what I observed was absolutely no different than Frazier in terms of being prepared to compete in the SEC. He was slow. He misread plays. He struggled with making tackles. He was too weak to brings guys to the ground. He frequently whiffed on easy quarterback sacks and if they weren't going to be a sack, he could have at least put a hit on them. He never stuffed the hole. He rarely made a solo tackle. He has the audacity to allow that curly hair to grow way too long.
Yet he's still the starter. To me, this means there are no linebackers on our roster that are capable of competing in the SEC. Holland is the starter because he has experience.
Yeah sure he could prove me wrong. Maybe he hit the roids and took the blue pill. Morpheus hooked him up to a computer program that taught him how to read and react to plays. Taught him how to square up running backs. Taught him how to cover a pass play.
Maybe.
Maybe Mark Stoops will go undefeated at Kentucky this year. How do you know what he's doing in Lexington? He could be revolutionizing their defense so that they are a brick wall against their opponents.
^^Gets it!
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Perfect example.
Nick Fairley..."wasted scholarship", "JUCO guy that doesn't even look SEC caliber", "shows flashes of a really good DLineman, but he takes too many plays off".
I'm sure there were more. But, I told people that I know, and probably on this board that he will be something to watch once he gives the kind of effort that I feel he can give. (Jumbo will back me up on that). DT Angelo Blackson is in that same boat as Nick Fairley...if he gives the kind of effort that I feel he can give on every play, he's going to be something to watch.
Cam..."Barrett Trotter looks better and more 'polished' as a QB", "Cam can't hit the broad side of a barn standing a foot away from it", "he runs with the ball too much, he's gonna get hurt", "I'm not impressed by what I saw at A-Day (8-4), if we're lucky".
I sure am glad a lot of Auburn fans weren't on the coaching staff at that time.
Btw, Cameron Newton didn't become Cammie Cam until about the 3rd game of the season...that's when it started to become obvious that he was a fuckin badass.
Why not talk about Josh Bynes or any number of the Upperclassmen ghat the Auburn fanbase has bashed and trashed that were on the 2010 team? Hell, go back even further to all of the players that were trashed by their own fanbase only to become a player that we all wish would still be on the team right now.
My point is, for all the TL;DR people here, just sit back and enjoy the fucking show...just enjoy that the season is among us, that game week starts very, very soon. That's all, who knows, Jake Holland could become a force in the middle, you don't know, neither do I...but, I do know that there is a new regime, a new attitude, a new emphasis on tackling, strength and conditioning, new demands on all the above...as well as a new technique being taught to the DL to attack instead of read and react (that's a huge positive, along with Coach Garner replacing Coach Pelton).
Cam? Not even the same. They'd only seen him as a Fr. in mop up work. It was largely speculation.
Fairley? He did show some flashes at least. Nobody has seen even a hint of it from Jake. Not one spec of real hope to cling to.
But...I still hope too.
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I guess my hyperbole is lost on this crowd.
Point is, no one here knows the kid's potential. No one has seen what Gus has seen. Not a fan of lynch mobs and people being so damn certain that someone is complete and utter garbage given the context of last season being an epic cluster fuck on every level.
Even when it is a cluster fuck, you can always identify players that you wish you had 10 more of. They are a bright spot. A perfect example was Alabama's 2005 year. Shula couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag, but the starting 11 on both sides were peppered with just the right amount of talent and experience to have a respectable season.
If Gus can fix Holland, he's a miracle worker. Sorry, but he goes beyond "our defense was a cluster fuck". The defense being a cluster doesn't make guys run right through you, or you whiff on half of your tackles. Or be a gaping vagina in general. Half of the time, he was in the right places. Simply couldn't physically and/or mentally make the play happen.