Chizik talks SEC Championship game

[djsimp]

http://video-embed.al.com/services/player/bcpid619329486001?bctid=693311616001
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/video_auburn_coach_gene_chizik_4.html

Auburn coach Gene Chizik takes a look at SEC Championship Game
Published: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 12:34 PM
Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times
 


Coach Gene Chizik said playing in the SEC Championship game is "exciting time for us at Auburn," but the Tigers are not going to do anything crazy leading up to Saturday's game against South Carolina.


"We'll have another normal game-week schedule,'' he said Tuesday.


That's part of this video from Chizik's press conference.


Chizik talked about the rematch with the Gamecocks - Auburn won the first one 35-27 - and said, "they were a very, very good football team when we played them eight weeks ago, and they've improved each week.


"There are challenges all over the field for us. We're going to face a much-improved team, there's no question."


Chizik also said his Tigers have improved, but won't be overconfident Saturday.


"Our team remembers we fought back and won the game, but it could have very easily gone the other way,'' Chizik said.


**With the title game looming, Chizik said the Tigers haven't spent a lot of time thinking about their 28-27 win over Alabama, but, "at some point, we'll have a chance to look back on that and see how monumental that was."


**On Auburn's defense, which hasn't been so hot in the first half of games this season:


"I see guys who are out of position. I see guys who are not communicating like they should.


"We need to be better communicators, need to react better and have a better idea of the challenges early in games."


**Chizik indicated the Tigers could replace Quindarius Carr as the punt returner. He fumbled a punt return against Alabama that led to a field goal.


"We're going to evaluate that this week. That was potentially a game-changing event, and not in a positive way,'' Chizik said.


**On Cam Newton, who is from College Park, Ga., playing close to home in the Georgia Dome:


"I think we've all kind of been here before in the other games. That's big for us, and I think that's big our guys individually."


**On offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who is up for the Broyles Award, which goes to college football's top assistant coach:


"When you have success, and our guys are brought up, I'm extremely happy for them,'' Chizik said. "He's a great football coach, and anything he gets, he deserves it. I'm all in."


**On whether Nick Fairley should be an All-American:


"Nick Fairley has played as any defensive tackle in the country. He's playing great football right now."

[The Prowler]

"Nick Fairley has played as any Defensive Tackle in the Country" = coach speak.

[The Prowler]

A few things in Auburn's favor.  When Auburn played USCe earlier in the year, Cam was still, somewhat, in the learning process.  The coaches were still in the learning process of what Cam could do.  Auburn was also breaking in a new RT in a former TE, Brandon Moseley.  Lee Ziemba wasn't at 100%.  Mike Dyer was still in the learning phase.  USCe was getting back a couple defensive players from injury.  Garcia was at 100%, until Darren Bates knocked him out (note: Garcia did come back in afterwards, but he wasn't the same).  The Auburn defense, basically, made Lattimore quit (remember the Ol Ball Coach asking him something on the sidelines as if he was asking him if he could go back in).

[djsimp]

A few things in Auburn's favor.  When Auburn played USCe earlier in the year, Cam was still, somewhat, in the learning process.  The coaches were still in the learning process of what Cam could do.  Auburn was also breaking in a new RT in a former TE, Brandon Moseley.  Lee Ziemba wasn't at 100%.  Mike Dyer was still in the learning phase.  USCe was getting back a couple defensive players from injury.  Garcia was at 100%, until Darren Bates knocked him out (note: Garcia did come back in afterwards, but he wasn't the same).  The Auburn defense, basically, made Lattimore quit (remember the Ol Ball Coach asking him something on the sidelines as if he was asking him if he could go back in).

That pretty much sums it up. All we hear is "Auburn better watch out playing the Gamecocks again". "The Ole Ball Coach knows Auburn having already played them". I would just like to reiterate what has been said on this site by several people, we know them too and I think the Gamecocks better watch out playing the Tigers again. So be it if they want to continue this talk though, its more motivation.

[The Prowler]

That pretty much sums it up. All we hear is "Auburn better watch out playing the Gamecocks again". "The Ole Ball Coach knows Auburn having already played them". I would just like to reiterate what has been said on this site by several people, we know them too and I think the Gamecocks better watch out playing the Tigers again. So be it if they want to continue this talk though, its more motivation.

I love it when the talking heads doubt Auburn...makes it that much sweeter after we win.

[djsimp]

I love it when the talking heads doubt Auburn...makes it that much sweeter after we win.

Smoke'em if you got'em.

[JR4AU]

I love it when the talking heads doubt Auburn...makes it that much sweeter after we win.

Talking Heads know dick.  Finebaum said today he'd spoken at length with a coach in the SEC that has coached against Auburn and USCe this season, that broke down the last game and teams...he paraphrased his assessment of the game as being "not much chance at all SC can beat Auburn".

[djsimp]

Talking Heads know dick.  Finebaum said today he'd spoken at length with a coach in the SEC that has coached against Auburn and USCe this season, that broke down the last game and teams...he paraphrased his assessment of the game as being "not much chance at all SC can beat Auburn".

I'm curious as to whom that might be. First thought was Saban.

[JR4AU]

I'm curious as to whom that might be. First thought was Saban.

The timing of it certainly lends itself to being a bammer coach, no doubt.

[AUChizad]

The timing of it certainly lends itself to being a bammer coach, no doubt.

There's a 1 in 5 chance it was him......

If not, it was Richt, Philips, Petrino, or Swinney.

Which one of those do you think he has on speed dial?

[djsimp]

There's a 1 in 5 chance it was him......

If not, it was Richt, Philips, Petrino, or Swinney.

Which one of those do you think he has on speed dial?

Based on this comment...

Finebaum said today he'd spoken at length with a coach in the SEC that has coached against Auburn and USCe this season

...I would say that Petrino would be the only one out of that list. Petrino could be a good possibility. Finebaum talks with the Sabans on a regular basis, which makes that a greater possibility.

[JR4AU]

There's a 1 in 5 chance it was him......

If not, it was Richt, Philips, Petrino, or Swinney.

Which one of those do you think he has on speed dial?

I can't recall for absolutely, but I'm I think he alluded to it not being a head coach. 

[djsimp]

I have the Au/USCe game on DVR. Out of curiosity, I went back to watch it tonight. As we all know, Auburn had to make a comeback in this game as well. What I saw was a first half where Auburn had two fumbles and penalties that killed three scoring drives and pretty much spotted the Cocks 14 points. I also saw a lot of Dime package D on Auburns part for whatever reason. I will say though, besides the above mentioned setbacks and some dropped balls, I saw a pretty damn good offense. Jeffries was hurting us a little but not near as much of an impact that Julio had, in my opinion. The second adjustments mostly came on the D side of the ball for Auburn. I saw much more push from the D-line, but more importantly I saw more blitzing. The offense just made fewer mistakes. The Gamecocks also, if you remember, had made a public statement saying they had practiced for this game since Spring much like MSU and also had a season littered with nobodies before their match with us. The Cocks showed no ability to stop Auburn, only Auburn stopping Auburn. 

[JR4AU]

I have the Au/USCe game on DVR. Out of curiosity, I went back to watch it tonight. As we all know, Auburn had to make a comeback in this game as well. What I saw was a first half where Auburn had two fumbles and penalties that killed three scoring drives and pretty much spotted the Cocks 14 points. I also saw a lot of Dime package D on Auburns part for whatever reason. I will say though, besides the above mentioned setbacks and some dropped balls, I saw a pretty damn good offense. Jeffries was hurting us a little but not near as much of an impact that Julio had, in my opinion. The second adjustments mostly came on the D side of the ball for Auburn. I saw much more push from the D-line, but more importantly I saw more blitzing. The offense just made fewer mistakes. The Gamecocks also, if you remember, had made a public statement saying they had practiced for this game since Spring much like MSU and also had a season littered with nobodies before their match with us. The Cocks showed no ability to stop Auburn, only Auburn stopping Auburn.

Yes, Auburn fumbled the ball, and since then, has not done so too much.  Both teams have honed what they do since thin. 

I don't think SC has the defense to stop us.