Thoughts - Week 3

[Townhallsavoy]

Auburn

- Not sure how many more of these I have in me this season. Maybe with the next regime I'll feel more inspired to write.

- You can watch this:

- Or you can choose to keep the food in your stomach. Such awful, awful coach speak from a guy that should be fighting for his job.

- I don't think Auburn needs a splashy hire. Auburn can recruit players. Auburn has the resources. The facilities. The fan support. The reputation. The history. Auburn can get the players. Auburn can get the assistants.

- Auburn needs someone that is professional and consistent. A Tuberville. A Richt. Someone that will teach sound fundamentals and prepare a group of young guys to play disciplined football. Develop the players. Teach them how to block and tackle. Someone that will be a good representative of the culture at Auburn. Not Petrino. Not Briles. Not Kiffin. No idea who. Someone that's experienced in managing a football program and winning games.

- I don't have much more to say. We dominated a mediocre football team that may have had a bunch of guys out with the flu. We looked like dogshit on offense against Clemson and Texas A&M. Time for a change.

[dallaswareagle]

good teams [ anything above fbs] fuck him up. the gus bus is a handicap short bus on the road to retard land.

[Kaos]

We're a work in progress.  For 15 games we're working in progress. We're gonna get better.  For 15 games we're gonna get better. 

 

[The Six]

We're a work in progress.  For 15 games we're working in progress. We're gonna get better.  For 15 games we're gonna get better. 

 

[WiregrassTiger]

Yeah, I don't need to hear Gus. We have the same OC and same QB trouble that we had all of last season. It's disgusting.

[Kaos]

I just don't understand how we got from the 2013 offense that everyone on this board honestly believed could score from its own one yard line with eleven seconds on the clock and no timeouts to this abortion that couldn't score from the opponent's one yard line with eleven tries. 

What happened?  Was Nick Marshall that good?  We gashed everybody in 2013.  Piled up yards and points like it was XBox.  Did that all the way until Reese snapped the ball early against Texas A&M in 2014.  That season ended on a 1-4 slide. 

Prior to that bobbled snap, Gus was 19-3.  After? 9-12.   The only SEC wins since that moment are a three point squeaker over Kentucky and Jeremy Johnson's only quality start, the 26-10 win over A&M last season. 

I just don't know what happened. 

[The Six]

Look, let's all take a moment and view the rest of the schedule.

LSU
They won't beat Auburn by a lot because they can't score either. We have a chance with this defense. L (1-3)

UL-Monroe
Gus murders Sun Belt teams. W (2-3)

at Mississippi State
Pfffffffttttttt. They suck ass. We win leaning on the run game. W (3-3)

OPEN
Gus will make the open week his bitch.

Arkansas
We have a chance. Hogs will be overlooking us and they are not that special. We get a late 50 yd FG for the W. (4-3)

at Ole Miss
I look forward to the Rebs spotting us a 20 point lead so we can cram it down their throats later. W (5-3)

Vanderbilt
This isn't a scholastic bowl. Mason is gonna get canned. W (6-3)

at Georgia
I saw the Mizzou game. Not impressive. Chubb can be contained. We have a chance and we own them one. W (7-3)

Alabama A&M
We commit a hate crime. W (8-3)

at Alabama
They are better right now. L (8-4)

We are fine at 8-4. Totally doable.

[wesfau2]

Look, let's all take a moment and view the rest of the schedule.

LSU
They won't beat Auburn by a lot because they can't score either. We have a chance with this defense. L (1-3)

UL-Monroe
Gus murders Sun Belt teams. W (2-3)

at Mississippi State
Pfffffffttttttt. They suck ass. We win leaning on the run game. W (3-3)

OPEN
Gus will make the open week his bitch.

Arkansas
We have a chance. Hogs will be overlooking us and they are not that special. We get a late 50 yd FG for the W. (4-3)

at Ole Miss
I look forward to the Rebs spotting us a 20 point lead so we can cram it down their throats later. W (5-3)

Vanderbilt
This isn't a scholastic bowl. Mason is gonna get canned. W (6-3)

at Georgia
I saw the Mizzou game. Not impressive. Chubb can be contained. We have a chance and we own them one. W (7-3)

Alabama A&M
We commit a hate crime. W (8-3)

at Alabama
They are better right now. L (8-4)

We are fine at 8-4. Totally doable.

You're smoking crack.

[The Six]

You're smoking crack.

I'm am, like many of you, at the end of my rope. I'm choosing to tie a knot and hold on tight...for the moment.

[Kaos]

You're smoking crack.

Let's say he's not.  Well, he is, but pretend he isn't. 

What happens if Gus somehow uglies his way to eight wins?  What happens if he does manage to beat MSU (which I doubt).  What happens if LSU (not a very good team even with Etling) goes into a shell and we scrape by them? 

We aren't going to get much better.  Sixteen games (plus all the ones with Trottersly) have proven that to me.  But LSU isn't that good, State isn't that good, Vandy should be beaten, Georgia isn't very good, Ole Miss has long gaps where they don't know what game they're playing.  Arkansas is boring.  I don't think any of those teams blow AU out and if we hang around there are some we could potentially win. 

I don't think we beat LSU, or Georgia, or Ole Miss or Arkansas (fuck Alabama, not even thinking about that).  Right now, I don't believe we'll beat MSU on the road. 

But what if?  What if we take LSU 18-17 (six field goals)?  What if we bumble past a team that lost to South Alabama, beat Vandy and trip up a Georgia team that will be without an injured Chubb by the time we get them?

Do we stick with this miserable shit and watch Jacobs dole out another $500,000 raise and extension? 

[Snaggletiger]

Yeeeah, we're just trying to get better every week.

[Townhallsavoy]

I just don't understand how we got from the 2013 offense that everyone on this board honestly believed could score from its own one yard line with eleven seconds on the clock and no timeouts to this abortion that couldn't score from the opponent's one yard line with eleven tries. 

What happened?  Was Nick Marshall that good?  We gashed everybody in 2013.  Piled up yards and points like it was XBox.  Did that all the way until Reese snapped the ball early against Texas A&M in 2014.  That season ended on a 1-4 slide. 

Prior to that bobbled snap, Gus was 19-3.  After? 9-12.   The only SEC wins since that moment are a three point squeaker over Kentucky and Jeremy Johnson's only quality start, the 26-10 win over A&M last season. 

I just don't know what happened.

I think Nick Marshall was that good. He was one of the best running quarterbacks the league's ever seen but he was overshadowed by Manziel at A&M and the memories of Cam.

I wish I knew what the real issue is. I've typed four different paragraphs with four different reasons and had to delete them all because I just don't know. I don't know if I care anymore. Gus is done. We'll lose to LSU most likely in the same manner we did A&M. 20-10 or something like that. We'll probably beat Miss State to get a little hope.

But Ole Miss and Alabama are going to cream us. Arkansas might as well.

Georgia might be a competitive game but who knows? They have a good young quarterback that's developing as the season goes along.

I think we're staring at 5-7. We'll beat Vandy. Might beat Miss State. We'll beat LA Monroe and Alabama A&M by 50 because we are an SEC program with loads of talent.

[Townhallsavoy]

Let's say he's not.  Well, he is, but pretend he isn't. 

What happens if Gus somehow uglies his way to eight wins?  What happens if he does manage to beat MSU (which I doubt).  What happens if LSU (not a very good team even with Etling) goes into a shell and we scrape by them? 

We aren't going to get much better.  Sixteen games (plus all the ones with Trottersly) have proven that to me.  But LSU isn't that good, State isn't that good, Vandy should be beaten, Georgia isn't very good, Ole Miss has long gaps where they don't know what game they're playing.  Arkansas is boring.  I don't think any of those teams blow AU out and if we hang around there are some we could potentially win. 

I don't think we beat LSU, or Georgia, or Ole Miss or Arkansas (fuck Alabama, not even thinking about that).  Right now, I don't believe we'll beat MSU on the road. 

But what if?  What if we take LSU 18-17 (six field goals)?  What if we bumble past a team that lost to South Alabama, beat Vandy and trip up a Georgia team that will be without an injured Chubb by the time we get them?

Do we stick with this miserable shit and watch Jacobs dole out another $500,000 raise and extension?

If all of that happens, yes, I firmly believe Jacobs will give him another raise and extension.

If you believe in Malzahn (not sure if anyone does at this point), then you believe that he just needs to find the right QB. Woody Barrett is a five star recruit with wheels. I could easily see the PTB justifying keeping Malzahn because his teams fight until the end of the season but have been hampered by poor QB play. Giving Malzahn one more year to get his offense right with the defense seemingly fixed would make sense for the bumbling buffoon that has sunk Auburn football and its fall Saturday culture into the toilet.

[dallaswareagle]

Look, let's all take a moment and view the rest of the schedule.

LSU
They won't beat Auburn by a lot because they can't score either. We have a chance with this defense. L (1-3)

UL-Monroe
Gus murders Sun Belt teams. W (2-3)

at Mississippi State
Pfffffffttttttt. They suck ass. We win leaning on the run game. W (3-3)

OPEN
Gus will make the open week his bitch.

Arkansas
We have a chance. Hogs will be overlooking us and they are not that special. We get a late 50 yd FG for the W. (4-3)

at Ole Miss
I look forward to the Rebs spotting us a 20 point lead so we can cram it down their throats later. W (5-3)

Vanderbilt
This isn't a scholastic bowl. Mason is gonna get canned. W (6-3)

at Georgia
I saw the Mizzou game. Not impressive. Chubb can be contained. We have a chance and we own them one. W (7-3)

Alabama A&M
We commit a hate crime. W (8-3)

at Alabama
They are better right now. L (8-4)

We are fine at 8-4. Totally doable.

we are closer to 4 and 8 than 8 and 4. Way,way,way,way closer than you think.

[The Six]

we are closer to 4 and 8 than 8 and 4. Way,way,way,way closer than you think.

[dallaswareagle]

The 360 fullback 1 yard loss play that we keep running is making me. The playing of a GOOD Qb in year 4 is baffling.

[Kaos]

I think Nick Marshall was that good. He was one of the best running quarterbacks the league's ever seen but he was overshadowed by Manziel at A&M and the memories of Cam.

I wish I knew what the real issue is. I've typed four different paragraphs with four different reasons and had to delete them all because I just don't know. I don't know if I care anymore. Gus is done. We'll lose to LSU most likely in the same manner we did A&M. 20-10 or something like that. We'll probably beat Miss State to get a little hope.

But Ole Miss and Alabama are going to cream us. Arkansas might as well.

Georgia might be a competitive game but who knows? They have a good young quarterback that's developing as the season goes along.

I think we're staring at 5-7. We'll beat Vandy. Might beat Miss State. We'll beat LA Monroe and Alabama A&M by 50 because we are an SEC program with loads of talent.

Extension of that thought:

Prior to the 2014 A&M game AU had scored less than 24 points once in an SEC game with Malzahn as head coach. 

Since?  Seven. 

This offense is as bad (and as woefully predictable) as it was in 2011.  Gus bolted for the Red Wolves after that dismal drudgery.  And we all blamed Chizik (me included) for the putridity that was 2012. 

How can EVERY quarterback brought through the Malzahn system be so heinously average? 

Is he misjudging the position in recruiting?  Is he mishandling the position as a coach?  Remember he wasn't even convinced on Cam and substituted him out in early games? 

Sean White was a 4* prospect, listed as a Pro Style QB. Rep was good decision making and a strong arm. Also recruited by ummmm... South Florida, Marshall and a bunch like that.

Trotter was a 3*.  Pro Style. Chose Auburn over Duke, Troy and UAB.

Mosely was a 3*. Pro Style. Chose Auburn over UAB, Marshall and Arkansas State

Frazier was a 4* Dual Threat.  Kansas State, LSU and Notre Dame were on his list. Once he got out of Auburn and the Malzahn mindfucking (which he said factored heavily into his struggles) he threw for 2000 yards, rushed for 700.  Granted, at a D2 school, but...

Tyler Queen.  Who?  Nobody talks about him any more. Why?  4* prospect with offers from Bama, Clemson, Georgia and UNC.  When will he transfer and start lighting people up?  Why isn't he ever even mentioned?

Franklin III - The savior who couldn't crack the starting lineup at Florida State or East Mississippi Scooba College. Okay then.

I see people clamoring for Woody Barrett.  Why?  So we can fuck up another quarterback's psyche?  What legitimate QB is going to want to play in this circus of a system? 

Malzahn's constant indecision and waffling on the QB is terrible. 

[Snaggletiger]

For me, it's simple.  He's boxed himself in to running the read option style offense without a read option QB. That's not what he ran at Tulsa and they were #1 in the nation in offense 2 straight years.  Not what he ran with sloth footed Chris Todd and they set what at the time were AU records.  Not even remotely the same offense now.  Remember what a throw to the TE looks like?  Remember wheel routes.  How effective was that pump fake/fly route? 

He used to be known for adapting his offense to his talent.  K listed several QB's as "Pro style", which included Sean White.  Why are we running the same offense with Sean as we did with Nick?  There is no "option" in read option.  The defense knows on 94.6% of the running plays that the back is getting it.  And they know on 94.6% of the first down plays, that's exactly what's called.  You can look damn skippy when you're physically superior to the Red Puppies and can get 7, 8, 10, 15 yards a pop up the middle.  Do whatever the hell you want.  When you're not physically superior to your opponent, Clemson and TA&M, that shit don't work when they know it's coming. 

I said, along with so many others, that had we stuck with one QB and run the O we did against ASU, we'd have beaten Clemson.  I'm 100% certain now that we wouldn't have.  They, like TA&M, would have known exactly what we were running on every single first down.  So, instead of 2nd and 1 against ASU, we would have been in 2nd and 10 or 11 like we were last night, all freakin' night.

Sean White is a good QB.  He is NOT a read option QB.  He's Chris Todd better wheels.  Malzahn has either become too stubborn or too lazy to adjust his offense to fit the things his QB can do.  Cam and Nick aren't on the roster anymore, Gus. 

[AUownsU]

If Gus can ugly his way to 8 wins, then I'm good with him getting a 5th year. However, he needs to be given the Tuberville treatment and demand that a new O.C. brought in. Honestly, I was baffled as hell at what I saw last night. Hang with me for a sec but if you'd told me going in AU would run 89 plays, gain 26 first downs, Sean White would open 12-16 passing, have 250+ rushing yards, hold aTm to 2-13 3rd down conversions, hold Trevor Knight 50% passing.....I would've bet $500 straight up AU wins and gave you 7. There was a lot of winning football played last night. However, when you look a bit deeper, the major flaw is obvious. The inability to develop an intermediate passing attack and teach it to his players is a killer for Gus. That along with flat shitty play design sometimes. aTm's vaunted D-line had 4 sacks on the night. At least 3 of them happened when AU decided to give the DE a free release off the ball and try to block him with a pulling guard. With no ability to develop big plays in the passing game besides the occasional "throw it up and let'em make a play" fly patterns, which connect about 25% of the time, AU is fucked when they fall behind the chains.

Honestly, I think if Gus were able to pick up someone like a Briles Jr. to help him out in the passing game, he could turn this around and stay around for a good while. He's gonna have to humble himself and be willing to adapt though. Recruiting is fine. He is on the verge of delivering the best Auburn defense since Tommy T left.

All that said, I'm not sure he makes it to next year.

[AUTiger1]

I just don't understand how we got from the 2013 offense that everyone on this board honestly believed could score from its own one yard line with eleven seconds on the clock and no timeouts to this abortion that couldn't score from the opponent's one yard line with eleven tries. 

What happened?  Was Nick Marshall that good?  We gashed everybody in 2013.  Piled up yards and points like it was XBox.  Did that all the way until Reese snapped the ball early against Texas A&M in 2014.  That season ended on a 1-4 slide. 

Prior to that bobbled snap, Gus was 19-3.  After? 9-12.   The only SEC wins since that moment are a three point squeaker over Kentucky and Jeremy Johnson's only quality start, the 26-10 win over A&M last season. 

I just don't know what happened.

Greg Robinson, Jay Prosch, Mason, Marshall, Avery Young, Uzomah and Alex Kozan before back surgery is what happened.  For the past two seasons and part of 14 Gus has called like he has inferior talent and gets too cute with his play calling. 

We either need to get our line blocking better and run the 09 style of offense or we need to get Woody ready ASAP or hope the passing clicks for JFIII.  If Gus manages to keep his job, then we just hope and pray Woody is ready or we hope Briles doesn't get a job, land Stidhum and he is the real deal.  If not, we are screwed for another year.