Semi-Serious Take On The Iron Bowl

[Snaggletiger]

Outside of hijacking the Turd busses and driving them to Meridian Misuhsssippi on Saturday, what would it take for the boys in orange and blue to win?  All orange uni's?

Bama is about a 2 TD favorite, and rightfully so.  It's as much about what they've done as it is what we haven't. In one sense, I'll be glad when this season is over so I don't have to hear someone talk about their front seven anymore.  Best evah since 92'.  We hear it every year until someone exposes it.  Several times, that's been Auburn.  Problem is, this year they haven't shown any Chinese people in the armor. 

Are they beatable?  Absolutely! And I still think we have the talent to do it. Plus, I love the fact that despite the disappointment that's been our 2015 season, the players are still going at it 110%.  So, what's it going to take?  IMO, 3 things.

1. Our defense has to bring the same games they played against A&M and Georgia.  This is a different animal but if they show up and tackle the way they did in those match ups, they can keep this game within reach. 

2. Play calling!  Play calling!!  Play calling!!!  A defense like Bama's traditionally gets tripped up by teams who go fast and run the ball just enough to keep them off balance.  Malzahn's offenses have always been able to run the ball on them and that has allowed him to mix in passes at the most opportune times. Their run defense has been nasty this year but I still think we have the personnel to move it on the ground.  The whole key is whether or not we're going to get that run/pass mix we saw against teams like UK, Arky and A&M?  Or are we going to see 52 bubble screens and a cloud of dust?

3. Help.  From the Turds.  Several times.  We need some penalties and turnovers.  They need to slop around and be out of sync. 


Thoughts?  Cool stories, bro?     

[ssgaufan]

If, and it's a big IF, we can slow Henry down enough to make Coker have to make plays, we can keep it close.  I'm not sure we can win this one even if we keep it close till the fourth quarter though.

I read somewhere that Gus is considering using a two QB package this week, but won't be sure until Thursday.  WTF?  He's going to wait until Thursday to decide the gameplan for the biggest game of the year?

[Buzz Killington]

Agree with everything. 

1.  Need to get to Mr. Proactiv to make some mistakes from the impending no-name pressure.  Need to keep a safety on #16 at all times when he drops back to pass.

b.  Need the OL to block their asses off and let Robinson get loose and then use the jet sweep to keep them honest. 

Tres.  No bubble screens.

D.  Did I say NO BUBBLE SCREENS?

5.  Need to keep #5 from actually returning a punt.  If that means kicking the ball out of bounds every time, so be it.

[Snaggletiger]

If, and it's a big IF, we can slow Henry down enough to make Coker have to make plays, we can keep it close.  I'm not sure we can win this one even if we keep it close till the fourth quarter though.

I read somewhere that Gus is considering using a two QB package this week, but won't be sure until Thursday.  WTF?  He's going to wait until Thursday to decide the gameplan for the biggest game of the year?

Did you know you have the same avatar as another poster on here?

[RottenBottom]

I agree with most of this except the talent part.  Saw a stat where CBS has all of our WRs ranked 44th or worse in their respective NFL draft class.  That stat is shocking

 In order to win, we can't let Henry read the second level but a few times. I feel like we can accomplish this if the DTs can step up and get penetration. We saw glimpses of this against UGA! If we hold them to 21 there is a chance.

If we do like mentioned above, it will still take throwing the ball to win.  I'll have to see Jeremy actually throw the ball down the field to believe it.

[Townhallsavoy]

You're allowing yourself to get your hopes up. Bad idea.

The statement "Anything can happen in the Iron Bowl" is mostly false when it comes to upsets. There have been very few actual upsets in the game. I think 2001 is the last time there was a significant upset in the series.

So what needs to happen is something unexpected. Something unpredictable. Jeremy Johnson getting a 65 yard touchdown on a read option. Ricardo Louis catching a tipped pass for a touchdown. A special teams score. A safety. A blocked punt. A kickoff return. Things that coaches mostly can't plan for.

[jmar]

Outside of hijacking the Turd busses and driving them to Meridian Misuhsssippi on Saturday, what would it take for the boys in orange and blue to win?  All orange uni's?

Bama is about a 2 TD favorite, and rightfully so.  It's as much about what they've done as it is what we haven't. In one sense, I'll be glad when this season is over so I don't have to hear someone talk about their front seven anymore.  Best evah since 92'.  We hear it every year until someone exposes it.  Several times, that's been Auburn.  Problem is, this year they haven't shown any Chinese people in the armor. 

Are they beatable?  Absolutely! And I still think we have the talent to do it. Plus, I love the fact that despite the disappointment that's been our 2015 season, the players are still going at it 110%.  So, what's it going to take?  IMO, 3 things.

1. Our defense has to bring the same games they played against A&M and Georgia.  This is a different animal but if they show up and tackle the way they did in those match ups, they can keep this game within reach. 

2. Play calling!  Play calling!!  Play calling!!!  A defense like Bama's traditionally gets tripped up by teams who go fast and run the ball just enough to keep them off balance.  Malzahn's offenses have always been able to run the ball on them and that has allowed him to mix in passes at the most opportune times. Their run defense has been nasty this year but I still think we have the personnel to move it on the ground.  The whole key is whether or not we're going to get that run/pass mix we saw against teams like UK, Arky and A&M?  Or are we going to see 52 bubble screens and a cloud of dust?

3. Help.  From the Turds.  Several times.  We need some penalties and turnovers.  They need to slop around and be out of sync. 


Thoughts?  Cool stories, bro?     

Agree we can win with the intensity we have steadily built on the defensive side of the ball. Naturally we have to play virtually error free as in most of the Iron Bowl's when we are 10+ point underdogs. But we have to play a bit loose to do the things on offense we haven't been able to muster so far this season. Actually think we have to throw it 30 plus times and go about 60% from both JJ and Sean.
And like you I do not want to see those flanker screens or a back or wide receiver getting the ball 7 yards deep against that kind of pursuit. Instead I want to see some type of opening that Idaho sprung on us or where Bama's Ridley or Howard could very well be open against us which is beyond our outside backers, in the 15-20 yard range.
We have to run the ball somewhat effectively and break a few but for me it's about moving the chains any way we can and running clock. And seriously the two QB effect might allow us the versatility to do this even though I'm not much of a two QB guy. As long as we are mixing JJ's runs and White's boundary throws with our run game I feel pretty confident as long as we are forcing some punts out of the Turds.


Note:My favorite wrinkle came in the Barfield years in Birmingham when we went up on Alabama two scores and William Andrews took a snap from the upback position on an extra point for a two point conversion. (yes we lost)
This is how we have to play it...where every point is critical and necessary.

We also have Legatron in the bullpen. That's a comfort.   

[Snaggletiger]

You're allowing yourself to get your hopes up. Bad idea.

The statement "Anything can happen in the Iron Bowl" is mostly false when it comes to upsets. There have been very few actual upsets in the game. I think 2001 is the last time there was a significant upset in the series.

So what needs to happen is something unexpected. Something unpredictable. Jeremy Johnson getting a 65 yard touchdown on a read option. Ricardo Louis catching a tipped pass for a touchdown. A special teams score. A safety. A blocked punt. A kickoff return. Things that coaches mostly can't plan for.

I'm not getting my hopes up at all. In fact, I'm usually nervous as a Dothan whore in church the week of the Iron Bowl.  But this year, I have zero expectations going in and just plan on enjoying a football Saturday on teh Planes. Just saying we've played well enough in certain games on both sides of the ball to be able to play with this bunch.  Problem is, we've only really put it all together once, at A&M. 

And yes, we're going to have to either get some help from them or get that kick off return or punt return that gets some momentum going our way.  My biggest fear is that we get the Gushlee we've gotten 80% or 342/411ths of the season.       

[ssgaufan]

Did you know you have the same avatar as another poster on here?

That guy's avatar was no where near as good as mine.

The two QB system we've seen at times this year is horrible.  It basically tells the defense if we are planning on running it or throwing it.  The wildcat shit is horrible too.  #21 is in the game at QB, defense knows he's running it, and usually right up the middle.

[Snaggletiger]

That guy's avatar was no where near as good as mine.

The two QB system we've seen at times this year is horrible.  It basically tells the defense if we are planning on running it or throwing it.  The wildcat shit is horrible too.  #21 is in the game at QB, defense knows he's running it, and usually right up the middle.

Why can't avatars be bigger?

I'm not a fan of the Mildcat but I think it's actually been pretty effective for us this year.  I seriously think Carry-on needs several more touches a game.  Not necessarily in the Mildcat, but somewhere in teh open spaces.

And yes, the 2 QB system sux steamy nuggets.

[ssgaufan]

Kerryon reminds me of Mario Fannin.  Without the fumbleitis.

[Snaggletiger]

Kerryon reminds me of Mario Fannin.  Without the fumbleitis.

Or the 20" guns.

[ssgaufan]

Or the 20" guns.

He's just a freshman.  Gotta give the roids a little time to start working.

[Godfather]

Outside of hijacking the Turd busses and driving them to Meridian Misuhsssippi on Saturday, what would it take for the boys in orange and blue to win?     

Score more points than them

[Snaggletiger]

Score more points than them

Score more poi....oh bugger off!!!

[jmar]

You're allowing yourself to get your hopes up. Bad idea.

The statement "Anything can happen in the Iron Bowl" is mostly false when it comes to upsets. There have been very few actual upsets in the game. I think 2001 is the last time there was a significant upset in the series.

So what needs to happen is something unexpected. Something unpredictable. Jeremy Johnson getting a 65 yard touchdown on a read option. Ricardo Louis catching a tipped pass for a touchdown. A special teams score. A safety. A blocked punt. A kickoff return. Things that coaches mostly can't plan for.

We have to get our hopes up to the level of play it will take to overcome a better opponent. This isn't any different than it was for nearly 30 of the 47 of these Iron Bowls I've witnessed. And I have to say this one has me thinking 30 points will be enough to win it.   

[The Prowler]

Score more points than them

^This...this what Auburn should do^

[AUJarhead]

Alternatively, if we don't allow them to score, we should win.

[Buzz Killington]

^This...this what Auburn should do^

Agreed.  Outscore them in the 1st through 4th quarters.

[jmar]

Agreed.  Outscore them in the 1st through 4th quarters.

...or even in overtime if need be.