Drain the Swamp

[Townhallsavoy]

I was shocked at how I was able to get back on the Gus Bus. After beating Arkansas 56-3 - an opponent that was ranked in the top 20 - I started really believing that Gus could be our long term answer.

I'm off the bus again.

The SEC West was on the line. If we lose, Alabama goes to Atlanta no matter what. We're 2-8 against Georgia in the last ten games. They were fucking awful going into today.

And we can't win?

Not only that, we can't get one first down in the 2nd half? Our offensive genius is so locked onto one or two freakishly talented players that when they're out, we go limp dick until the clock strikes 0 and we lose?

Today's game is perfect for champions. Guys that make millions of dollars coaching football dream of getting into these kind of situations. A top rival standing in the way of a fucking championship. You instill that dream into your players and promise them that this season will provide true moments of competition where it's all on the line.

And Gus failed. He failed hard. He not only failed, he failed at the one thing he's supposed to be good at: offense. He recruited every single of one of his quarterbacks, and if Sean White really was too injured to play QB, he should have had some kind of back up plan.

Considering weeks 1-4 showcased the same kind of ineptitude, I think there needs to be a serious discussion about Gus being here any longer. That's what I think. I'm sure Jacobs and Company will give him another year. The stretch from LSU-Ole Miss was good enough.

And I'm sitting here watching some night time football realizing that the stars were aligning for us to have a special year. Louisville is down by 9 to Wake Forest at the half. Clemson lost. Washington is losing to USC close to the half. Michigan and Ohio State still have to play each other.

We're in if we can beat Georgia and Alabama.

But we've been let down by poor coaching and terrible program building.

We had no business losing to Florida State in 2013. We were too talented to have a subpar season in 2014. 2015 was an awful rebuilding year. 2016 is unacceptable.

I get that 2013 was special after 2012. We had the biggest Iron Bowl victory in history, and that matters. We won an SEC champioship, and that matters.

But like Gene Chizik, the writing is on the wall. One season can be special but a program must be established by year 4.

And as usual over the past decade, Jay Jacobs is the only real constant.

Drain the swamp.

[The Six]

 

[wesfau2]

In addition to my thoughts in the game thread, I think I think these things as well:

1) Our WRs reverted back to week 1-4 form for some reason.  Can't blame the "freshman wall" since Davis and Stevens were the most egregious offenders yesterday.  Some of SW's throws were off the mark, but some very catchable balls ended up on the turf yesterday.

2) The stubborn insistence on passing in the 2nd half after the 3rd time the O went 3-and-out was a depressing display of ego on the part of whomever is calling plays right now. 

3) A hobbled KJ has no place on the KO return team.  BUT if he's going to be out there, he should absolutely know to NOT bring the ball out of the EZ from 3 yards deep.  Kid has no acceleration right now.

4) Running that shitshow whirlybird FB wildcat needs to be outlawed.  We could have possibly pieced together a running game with our lead blocker.  But he got hurt...running a play that has not been successful all season.

5) All of that said, not many teams who lose their starting QB (or have him rendered so impaired as to be more liability than asset), RB1 (SEC leader in yards and ypg), and lead blocker are going to light up the scoreboard during a conference road game in the SEC.  But there are still playmakers on the bench and a "genius" should have some strategies to work around those personnel losses.

This was a replay of the Clemson/A&M games (and, to a lesser extent, every game pre-LaMo) and it depresses me so much to know that this coaching staff isn't LEARNING FROM THEIR GODDAMNED MISTAKES.  We were poised to make real post-season noise (would have been top 5 today) if only the transgressions of the early season had been analyzed and the lessons therefrom applied in a manner befitting our $4M genius.

He's not gone...and I don't want him gone yet (when this offense is rolling, it is so much fun to watch and there is finally a defense to match with it).  Unless we can get Les Miles.  That's fantasy, though, and the reality is that Gus will be here next year along with the vast majority of this offense.  When they're healthy, the future is bright.  Now Gus needs to work on the "Plan B" section of his playbook.

[Townhallsavoy]

Could we have run zero pass plays and won the game?

What about Malik? I know he had a horrendously bad play with missing that catch, but to at least give KJ some rest plays?

Why not more Truitt?

If Sean White was so injured that he hasn't thrown a ball in weeks and he was awful in the 1st half AND he opened the 2nd half with a fucking pick 6, why did we elect the throw the ball every god damn down afterwards?

After the third or fourth three and out due to failed passes, why was JFIII not put in? It's not like he hasn't had any playing time. Maybe we lose with him anyway.

But to think an injured player that had already given the other team 6 points was going to save the day was complete buffoonery. Similar buffoonery to the beginning of the season.

Auburn shouldn't have to deal with this. Ever. Not one season.

[Snaggletiger]

The Plan B yesterday should have been having another QB ready to step in.  But sadly, despite 2 weeks of the back ups reportedly taking snaps, they still didn't feel like they had anybody else to turn to. 

A Plan B for his offense is, has been and always will be, non-existent.  In one sense, Malzahn is no different than Paul Johnson or any number of coaches who are completely set in their ways and/or their ability or lack thereof, to adapt.  Wes, you said when the offense is rolling, it's fun to watch.  Troof.  But chapters 1,2,3,4 and everyone thereafter in his book state that it can only roll when we're snapping it fast and hitting the middle of the line for 4 to 7 yards or more a pop.  Do it again.  Hit it again and again and again.  Everything else works off of that.  If that ain't working, the offense is dead in the water.  Simple as that.

Pettway was out.  KJ is maybe 65% and not the back for that job anyway. When that option is not available, he turned to a QB that is maybe 45%.  And like you said, nobody stepped up to help a brother.  Malzahn is no jeenyus.  His offense is what it is and if the one thing he has to have to make it work is not available, you get yesterday.  He's not changing any more than Les Miles would.   

[CCTAU]

Malik out for the year?

[CCTAU]

The Plan B yesterday should have been having another QB ready to step in.  But sadly, despite 2 weeks of the back ups reportedly taking snaps, they still didn't feel like they had anybody else to turn to. 

A Plan B for his offense is, has been and always will be, non-existent.  In one sense, Malzahn is no different than Paul Johnson or any number of coaches who are completely set in their ways and/or their ability or lack thereof, to adapt.  Wes, you said when the offense is rolling, it's fun to watch.  Troof.  But chapters 1,2,3,4 and everyone thereafter in his book state that it can only roll when we're snapping it fast and hitting the middle of the line for 4 to 7 yards or more a pop.  Do it again.  Hit it again and again and again.  Everything else works off of that.  If that ain't working, the offense is dead in the water.  Simple as that.

Pettway was out.  KJ is maybe 65% and not the back for that job anyway. When that option is not available, he turned to a QB that is maybe 45%.  And like you said, nobody stepped up to help a brother.  Malzahn is no jeenyus.  His offense is what it is and if the one thing he has to have to make it work is not available, you get yesterday.  He's not changing any more than Les Miles would.

You are correct. But I can tell you from small time experience, when a player is open because the D gave it to you and you call it only to have a player let you down, there is no plan B for that. But I hear what you are saying.


Someone mentioned WRs game 1-4 sucking. Well, Stevens got hurt and the freshmen took over. Guess who is back.
Where was Kyle Davis? Is he hurt? Where was a series with JF3. No, he can't pass, but they have to respect him. All we needed was one good driver!
Very frustrating that we could not bullshit our way through a game against a terribly shitty uga tem!

[AUTiger1]

Malik out for the year?

Talked to his old HS position coach at work.  He said expect KJ to always have ankle issues and that Malik really needs a year of weights and maturing.  Said Malik told him he could play but wasn't 100% either and really needs the medical red shirt.

[AUTiger1]

The Plan B yesterday should have been having another QB ready to step in.  But sadly, despite 2 weeks of the back ups reportedly taking snaps, they still didn't feel like they had anybody else to turn to. 

A Plan B for his offense is, has been and always will be, non-existent.  In one sense, Malzahn is no different than Paul Johnson or any number of coaches who are completely set in their ways and/or their ability or lack thereof, to adapt.  Wes, you said when the offense is rolling, it's fun to watch.  Troof.  But chapters 1,2,3,4 and everyone thereafter in his book state that it can only roll when we're snapping it fast and hitting the middle of the line for 4 to 7 yards or more a pop.  Do it again.  Hit it again and again and again.  Everything else works off of that.  If that ain't working, the offense is dead in the water.  Simple as that.

Pettway was out.  KJ is maybe 65% and not the back for that job anyway. When that option is not available, he turned to a QB that is maybe 45%.  And like you said, nobody stepped up to help a brother.  Malzahn is no jeenyus.  His offense is what it is and if the one thing he has to have to make it work is not available, you get yesterday.  He's not changing any more than Les Miles would.

^^^^yep.  All of it.

[CCTAU]

You guys Are action g like we had a plan A this year.
Everybody so far has just grabbed hold of the ride and hoped it wouldn't end.


We are lucky to be here. Get healthy and beat bama.

[Snaggletiger]

You guys Are action g like we had a plan A this year.
Everybody so far has just grabbed hold of the ride and hoped it wouldn't end.


We are lucky to be here. Get healthy and beat bama.

I'm just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure you just insulted us. 

What's an action g?

You know what?  Had Malzahn gone to Clifford Franklin XVIII and then came out and said, "Look, Sean's injured and we couldn't keep him out there.  Pettway's out, KJ is really banged up as is Stanton Truitt."  I think we'd all be able to take this one a bit better. 

Think about this.  From the end of spring until where we are today.  No Jovon Robinson. No Roc Thomas.  No Malik Miller.  No Pettway.  Kerryon Johnson half speed.  Stanton Truitt limping around.  Kam Martin can't catch and he's 137 pounds. If our QB is injured like he looks to be....

 

[wesfau2]

I'm just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure you just insulted us. 

What's an action g?

You know what?  Had Malzahn gone to Clifford Franklin XVIII and then came out and said, "Look, Sean's injured and we couldn't keep him out there.  Pettway's out, KJ is really banged up as is Stanton Truitt."  I think we'd all be able to take this one a bit better. 

Think about this.  From the end of spring until where we are today.  No Jovon Robinson. No Roc Thomas.  No Malik Miller.  No Pettway.  Kerryon Johnson half speed.  Stanton Truitt limping around.  Kam Martin can't catch and he's 137 pounds. If our QB is injured like he looks to be....

Agree with all of this.

We can argue about how we got here, but the above is unadulterated troof.

[The Six]

We are playing Alabama A&M on the SECN (I assume alternate) at 630 PM Central this Saturday. So we have that going for us.

[Snaggletiger]

We are playing Alabama A&M on the SECN (I assume alternate) at 630 PM Central this Saturday. So we have that going for us.

And my ample sized ass will be in seat 9 (And part of seats 8 and 10), row 44, Section 8.  But first, I'll be outside the north end of the stadium watching what will probably be the best show of the day.

[GH2001]

And my ample sized ass will be in seat 9 (And part of seats 8 and 10), row 44, Section 8.  But first, I'll be outside the north end of the stadium watching what will probably be the best show of the day.

He does have a nice ample ass....I mean arms. Yeah arms.

[Snaggletiger]

He does have a nice ample ass....I mean arms. Yeah arms.

Call me. 

[GH2001]

Call me.

I'm tired of the runaround. You say Call Me now but the min I do you're nowhere to be found. Probably off somewhere with some floozie drinking dcp instead of with m....I mean yeah I'll be at the game too. Should be a good one. The halftime show will be the titz.

[Snaggletiger]

I'm tired of the runaround. You say Call Me now but the min I do you're nowhere to be found. Probably off somewhere with some floozie drinking dcp instead of with m....I mean yeah I'll be at the game too. Should be a good one. The halftime show will be the titz.

Damn it, that guy is no flooz....err...yeah...I can see Franklin getting 100 yards rushing Saturday.

Umm, totally.

[jmar]

Not a fan of draining the swamp but heads should roll if Pettway and White suit up for Alabama A&M.

[GH2001]

This one may hurt but the other side even knew what our problem was.

https://www.dawgnation.com/football/at-second-glance-auburn-teed-it-up-georgia-took-advantage