Four games into the 2014 season what does Auburn look like...

[The Prowler]

Compared to the 2009 team, the 2010 SEC & National Champion, 2011 team & the 2013 SEC Champion & National Champion runner-up?

2009 (45.25 ppg/allowed 24.25 ppg):
LaTech                  W 37-13
Mississippi State  W 49-24
West Virgina          W 41-30
Ball State               W 54-30

2010 (32.75 ppg/allowed 22.75 ppg):
Arkansas State          W 52-26
@ Mississippi State  W 17-14
Clemson                     W 27-24 OT
South Carolina           W 35-27

2011 (34.25 ppg/allowed 31 ppg):
Utah State             W 42-38
Mississippi State  W 41-34
@ Clemson            L 24-38
Florida Atlantic     W 30-14

2013 (28.5 ppg/allowing 22 ppg):
Washington State  W 31-24
Arkansas State      W 38-9
Mississippi State   W 24-20
@ Louisiana State  L 35-21

2014 (42.25 ppg/allowing 16.25 ppg):
Arkansas              W 45-21
San Jose State     W 59-13
@ Kansas State   W 20-14
Louisiana Tech    W 45-17

[jmar]

Compared to the 2013 SEC Champion & National Champion runner-up?

2013 (28.5 ppg/allowing 22 ppg):
Washington State  W 31-24
Arkansas State      W 38-9
Mississippi State   W 24-20
@ Louisiana State  L 35-21

2014 (42.25 ppg/allowing 16.25 ppg):
Arkansas              W 45-21
San Jose State     W 59-13
@ Kansas State   W 20-14
Louisiana Tech    W 45-17

My gripe spoiled or not as you well know is that we aren't firing together up front and we are blocking poorly overall on the perimeter and it serves to make us look very average as a running team.. The rainbow for us is that we can still get it right. When we do so, Grant and Louis will break those outside runs which will in turn help with the read option, the passing, the PACE, help the defense EVERYTHING...is tied to advancing the football on the ground. WHEN WE DO THIS WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE!

Amen.

[CCTAU]

My gripe spoiled or not as you well know is that we aren't firing together up front and we are blocking poorly overall on the perimeter and it serves to make us look very average as a running team.. The rainbow for us is that we can still get it right. When we do so, Grant and Louis will break those outside runs which will in turn help with the read option, the passing, the PACE, help the defense EVERYTHING...is tied to advancing the football on the ground. WHEN WE DO THIS WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE!

Amen.

The key is NM. I rewatched every AU play in slow motion. NM was terrible reading the option until the last part of first half. That is when he decided to run the ball when he was supposed to. This opened the game up. Made a huge difference. But he still is not running like he did last season. He is a bit reserved and looks like Onterrio headed to the sideline. Then it hit me, he is playing not to get hurt. Not sure if this is by design or not, but it affects the offense in a huge way.
Fulse is really not a good blocker right now. But I remember thinking at this time last year that  Prosch was missing his blocks on the smaller DBS also. Hopefully he gets it. Watched Uzomah, not much better.

NM needs to keep in mind his relief valve. Several times wit was wide open and NM forced it deep.


Over all he finally did well, but my concern is that if we take too long to get it right, it might not turn out well against SEC foes.

LaTech used the DB on the slot to spy NM all night long. We never exposed it with. Short hitch behind him after the RB fake.

I imagine NM will finally turn it loose this week. If not, we will struggle.

Like I said, NM is the key. If he makes good decisions, we roll. If not, well...

[Kaos]

NM needs to keep in mind his relief valve. Several times wit was wide open and NM forced it deep.

This is the only thing that really bothered me and everything else flowed from it. 

Every team we play is going to try to force us to throw to beat them.  Ok.  Why are we throwing it up for grabs so many times?

Marshall drops back, glances around (or scrambles) and heaves the ball as far as he can throw it.  We were lucky to grab some of those yesterday, but those kind of passes into double coverage (sometimes) are iffy. 

Is it some kind of crazy miracle that the moment Johnson enters the game, D.Williams is running free over the middle?  Or the dig route is there? Or the comeback?  Are those routes there when Marshall is dropping back and he's just ignoring them to throw the rainbow? 

I'd really like to know, but don't want to try to break down film or anything that time consuming. 

I'd like to see Johnson get more of a chance to show what he can do I guess.  But if he comes in to pass and Marshall is in to run, we become ridiculously predictable. 

When you can't consistently move the chains throwing the ball, there's no reason for defenses to give any significant effort to stopping it so the running lanes get clogged.  I don't think the O_Line is playing all that well -- injuries is a big part of that -- but Payne isn't Mason yet either.  He reminds me of Mario Fannin without the stone hands.  Mason made three yards out of the holes Payne is getting one or less. That's just the way it was. 

[The Prowler]

This is the only thing that really bothered me and everything else flowed from it. 

Every team we play is going to try to force us to throw to beat them.  Ok.  Why are we throwing it up for grabs so many times?

Marshall drops back, glances around (or scrambles) and heaves the ball as far as he can throw it.  We were lucky to grab some of those yesterday, but those kind of passes into double coverage (sometimes) are iffy. 

Is it some kind of crazy miracle that the moment Johnson enters the game, D.Williams is running free over the middle?  Or the dig route is there? Or the comeback?  Are those routes there when Marshall is dropping back and he's just ignoring them to throw the rainbow? 

I'd really like to know, but don't want to try to break down film or anything that time consuming. 

I'd like to see Johnson get more of a chance to show what he can do I guess.  But if he comes in to pass and Marshall is in to run, we become ridiculously predictable. 

When you can't consistently move the chains throwing the ball, there's no reason for defenses to give any significant effort to stopping it so the running lanes get clogged.  I don't think the O_Line is playing all that well -- injuries is a big part of that -- but Payne isn't Mason yet either.  He reminds me of Mario Fannin without the stone hands.  Mason made three yards out of the holes Payne is getting one or less. That's just the way it was.

I've been wondering where our medium passing game is on third downs.
3rd & 4? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 5? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 6? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 7? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 8? BOMB into double coverage
etc.
Then the coaches say that "we aren't converting on third downs enough to keep drives going"...well, tell Marshall to stop throwing Hail Marys on every third down, because I'm sure there's atleast two more receivers running routes, unless we're doing some dumbass pass play were only one receiver runs the "Go to the endzone and wave your arms around" route.
Then Johnson comes in and it's like where the fuck have all these receivers been, because he's flinging it all over the damn place...there's receivers everywhere. Hell I thought Uzomah was injured or something and he was just a decoy, until Johnson hit him in the corner of the endzone while a DE was dangling off him.

[Townhallsavoy]

The issue with QB controversy is that as always, we don't know half the story.  Johnson's looked great when he's been in, but how much of the playbook does he know?  How many reps has he gotten with the starters? 

How many games has he won?  How many times has he played against a championship caliber team and won?  Has he ever played a down in another team's stadium? 

How would the other players feel if Marshall was benched after rushing for 70 yards a game while throwing six touchdowns and only 1 interception? 

I agree that it's a bad predicament to have.  At the beginning of the year, it was a great one.  Two incredible quarterbacks.  Now, it looks like Marshall has regressed, but there's just no way to smoothly transition to a new quarterback when the guy that took you to the BCSCG is still healthy.

[Townhallsavoy]

Something else to look at when comparing to the two seasons:

After four games this year, Auburn is averaging 47 carries a game, 5.46 yards a carry, 260 yards a game, with a total of 10 touchdowns. 

Last year through four games, Auburn averaged 46 carries a game, 5.05 yards a carry, 232 yards a game and a total of 8 touchdowns.

We're technically better at this point than we were last season in terms of running the ball.  I think if Marshall wasn't so careless with his deep throws, we probably wouldn't be all that worried.

[The Six]

I've been wondering where our medium passing game is on third downs.
3rd & 4? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 5? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 6? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 7? BOMB into double coverage
3rd & 8? BOMB into double coverage
etc.
Then the coaches say that "we aren't converting on third downs enough to keep drives going"...well, tell Marshall to stop throwing Hail Marys on every third down, because I'm sure there's atleast two more receivers running routes, unless we're doing some dumbass pass play were only one receiver runs the "Go to the endzone and wave your arms around" route.
Then Johnson comes in and it's like where the fuck have all these receivers been, because he's flinging it all over the damn place...there's receivers everywhere. Hell I thought Uzomah was injured or something and he was just a decoy, until Johnson hit him in the corner of the endzone while a DE was dangling off him.

Been evident since the first two plays of the Spring Game that they wanted to go deep down the sidelines this year come hell or high water. Baffling, this is.

[Townhallsavoy]

Here's another interesting comparison since we're not too happy about the 3rd and BOMBS:

Last season through four games: 40% conversion rate on 3rd down.  24/60. 
This season through four games: 58% conversion rate on 3rd down.  35/60. 

So on the exact same number of attempts to convert a 3rd down, we're better. 

[Townhallsavoy]

Another!

In 2013, through four games, we had a turnover difference of -2.  (6 turnovers caused and recovered, 8 turnovers given and lost). 

In 2014, through four games, we have a turnover difference of +2.  (8 turnovers caused and recovered, 6 turnovers given and lost.)

[Townhallsavoy]

2013's starting to look like a shit football team compared to this one.

Through four games last season: 6 sacks.
Through four games this season: 9 sacks. 

[Townhallsavoy]

Here we go again:

2013, four games, total offense: 1758 yards.  6.06 yards per play.
2014, four games, total offense: 1920 yards.  6.64 yards per play. 

The takeaway from this is that we need to cool off on the QB controversy, the questioning of this team's ability to win the SEC, and the state of woe that most Auburn sites seem to be going through.  If we really think Malzahn is the genius that he seems to be, then he will most likely improve this team going forward.  His offense has been a top 5, awe-inspiring, dominating force of destruction at every stop he's been at outside of 2011 when many would say that he was hindered by a poor head coach.

[Buzz Killington]

Stop it with your stats, mister.  We are in serious trouble here.

[wesfau2]

Here we go again:

2013, four games, total offense: 1758 yards.  6.06 yards per play.
2014, four games, total offense: 1920 yards.  6.64 yards per play. 

The takeaway from this is that we need to cool off on the QB controversy, the questioning of this team's ability to win the SEC, and the state of woe that most Auburn sites seem to be going through.  If we really think Malzahn is the genius that he seems to be, then he will most likely improve this team going forward.  His offense has been a top 5, awe-inspiring, dominating force of destruction at every stop he's been at outside of 2011 when many would say that he was hindered by a poor head coach.

Your comparisons prove how spoiled we've become...and rather quickly.

I'd have drowned a whole litter of kittens to have had these "concerns" in 2012.

[Saniflush]

I'd have drowned a whole litter of kittens to have had these "concerns" in 2012.

I'm willing to do this without the payoff.

[Saniflush]

Here we go again:

2013, four games, total offense: 1758 yards.  6.06 yards per play.
2014, four games, total offense: 1920 yards.  6.64 yards per play. 

The takeaway from this is that we need to cool off on the QB controversy, the questioning of this team's ability to win the SEC, and the state of woe that most Auburn sites seem to be going through.  If we really think Malzahn is the genius that he seems to be, then he will most likely improve this team going forward.  His offense has been a top 5, awe-inspiring, dominating force of destruction at every stop he's been at outside of 2011 when many would say that he was hindered by a poor head coach.

Good stuff.  I am cutting and pasting it all together to then steal and post all over Al Gore's interwebs.

[Saniflush]

Good stuff.  I am cutting and pasting it all together to then steal and post all over Al Gore's interwebs.

Here...

Four games into the season here we are in comparison to last year…

After four games this year, Auburn is averaging 47 carries a game, 5.46 yards a carry, 260 yards a game, with a total of 10 touchdowns. 
Last year through four games, Auburn averaged 46 carries a game, 5.05 yards a carry, 232 yards a game and a total of 8 touchdowns.

Last season through four games: 40% conversion rate on 3rd down.  24/60. 
This season through four games: 58% conversion rate on 3rd down.  35/60.

In 2013, through four games, we had a turnover difference of -2.  (6 turnovers caused and recovered, 8 turnovers given and lost). 
In 2014, through four games, we have a turnover difference of +2.  (8 turnovers caused and recovered, 6 turnovers given and lost.)

Through four games last season: 6 sacks.
Through four games this season: 9 sacks.

2013, four games, total offense: 1758 yards.  6.06 yards per play.
2014, four games, total offense: 1920 yards.  6.64 yards per play.

Make sure you bitches give me credit for what I have stolen fair and square.

[CCTAU]

We SHOULD be better off this season by now. NM only had a month of practice last year. This time he has had a whole off-season. That is why folks are a bit uneasy. And there is no QB controversy. The fact is that JJ needs to get a couple of series in a game, and not at the end.

NM has not progressed like we thought he would. But he is still good. To win it all again, he needs to be polished and smart.  He needs to make better reads, in the option and the pass. Last season at this time we had not seen fully the chemistry between NM and Tre. So maybe it is about to kick in with one of the other guys.  Like I said, after watching the game again, the times the RB had to bounce out were the times that NM made an awful read and sent the RB up in the middle of nothing while the outside was wide open for him. As soon as he started making better reads, we immediately started dominating.

As far the passes, I'm not sure he can see the middle of the field well. Or is comfortable throwing the ball there. How many ball were batted down by K-State? it seemed like every other one. So maybe his confidence is shot on those passes.

But like I said, it starts and ends with his decisions. On the bombs he threw, at least 2 of those had wide open RBs out to the side with open field.  Hit those two and we convert 3rd down.

As for JJ, his first two handoffs should have been keepers. But by then we had worn them out and CAP did his thing. The one JJ did keep, Roc was upfield 7 yards before he was touched.
So no one is saying bring in JJ and sit NM. Just change it up some every now and then.

BTW, the ain't nothing wrong with CAP. Give him the ball with a small hole and he will make yards. Send him up in the middle of nothing, and he too will dance. But Grant is the same way. It is all about the read.

And just because you can sit down and show me numbers that are better at this point than last season, well, that doesn't mean we are where we should be after having an off season to hone this thing.

LSU will be the test. If NM plays balls to the wall, we win this thing going away. If he continues to play with uncertainty, we might fall to the hat. I don't see allowing LSU to hang around like K-State and us winning.

[djsimp]

Here...

Make sure you bitches give me credit for what I have stolen fair and square.

Done

[WiregrassTiger]

"Bitches, let not your weary little brains be troubled, merely because we are winning in a different manner than that of which you have become accustomed. Is it not still winning?"--W.T. Sept. 29, 2014