AURex

As far as I'm concerned, JS is a fine prospect who can *compete* for the starting QB position next year at Auburn. Everyone everywhere thought Coker would step in as the new QB at Bama when he arrived. It didn't happen. I'm eager to see what WB can do. But frankly, I think it has got to be between those two guys. I appreciate all that SW has done for Auburn, but he's fragile as granny's china. Let's go with a DT guy with some resilience.

I watch very little TV, so I'm very picky about what I watch more than an episode or two of. The best program other than GoT, as far as I'm concerned, is Westworld. Excellent cast and well acted. Surprising new reveals every episode. Waiting waiting waiting. Now that Westworld's season is complete and we now have to wait until 2018 for more episodes, and 6+ months for the next episodes of the upcoming abbreviates season of GoT, what is there? Even Marco Polo is done for the year. I sure wish some network could come up with a really savvy, intelligent Sci-Fi series. Maybe a take-off on Ex Machina -- taking off with the escape of the AI infiltrating the general public. Or a semi-realistic space-based kind of thing -- something that is intelligent and complex with human beings and technology, and actual plots with emotions and puzzles, unlike the kind of superficial drek we currently get.

It's been a mystery to me why Auburn has not thrown to the TE more. Razzle-dazzle trickeration is not necessarily required to have a TE catch a football. However, it certainly worked in this case, and I jumped to my feet hollering when I saw the play unfolding.

We should also remember that every defensive coordinator makes defensive adjustments at halftime to try to counter what the opponent's offense is having success with. And any offensive coordinator *should* be anticipating the defensive adjustments and plan for attacking the weaknesses that the defensive adjustments open up. CGM seems to just run the same plays in the 3rd quarter that he ran in the first half, so it doesn't really surprise me when there is a "lull" in the 3rd. He can be really obstinate sometimes in adjusting his offense to counter defensive adjustments. But reality bites. I haven't really analyzed the Miss State game. The second half was boring, but a win is a win. I too wish he had put JFIII in the game sooner. The Auburn D was not going to let Mooo U score 35+ points.

I have always admired MSU in that they do more with less than any team in the SEC. They are never an easy out. They may not have the most talent in terms of stars, but they have filled their tanks with "want to" and always seem to bring their A game against Auburn. Auburn really needs this game. Early starting time or not, deafening cowbells or not, I'm going with the Tigers. WDE!

Maybe if the OL could give him better protection, he'd have a little more time for the longer routes to open up. Or do you think the receivers are just not getting open? Or does SW just not have the arm? Or does he not trust the WRs to be able to out-muscle the DBs? Or is it a product of the play-calling and instructions from the coaching staff to take the shorter passes, drive the field, and play ball possession football? Personally, I think this is likely on the OL.

Thanks for the numbers, Stat. I'm wondering about your calc of 9 yards per completion. SW completed 19 passes for 234 yards. That's 12.3 yards per completion. Where am I going wrong? Those big plays by LSU -- ugh! What would have happened if Fournette had not sat with an ankle injury? 6.9 yards per rush is pretty ugly, with Fournette, Guice and Clark all ripping off big runs. I'm not dissing the defense. They played a good game. But not exactly shutting down thew LSU runners. In comparison, KJ and KP averaged 3 yards per carry. This is on the OL. And this weakness up front also explains (IMO) why Auburn is having so much trouble in the red zone. SW got Auburn into scoring position repeatedly. But if you can't get push against the defense and have defensive guys in your backfield, scoring TDs is kinda hard.

That was a good read. I'm looking forward to analyses like this before all of our other games this year. Thanks!

Well, ya know, Bama had a pretty decent defense last year. Clemson racked up 600+ in yardage on the Tide. In fact, if Clemson had not given up both a 50 yard run by Henry and a 95 yard kickoff return, Clemson would have won that game. Just one breakdown, Clemson still would have won. If Watson can toss for 400+ yards and run for another 70+ on Bama, you just gotta respect that offense. IMO, you do the best you can to minimize the damage and not totally bleed out on defense. But the only way to beat Clemson is to outscore them. I know Clemson lost some real talent on defense. I also know they recruit well. The question is not. "how does Auburn stop Clemson?" I don't think you do. The question is, "Can Auburn slow down Clemson enough to outscore them?" I don't know what kind if magic CGM can conjure offensively, but here's hoping our guys are explosive in all aspects if the game, don't put the ball on the ground, and catch Clemson in a few lapses the way Bama did. If the Auburn O can control the ball, putting together actual drives, thus keeping it out of the hands of Watson, and finish drives with TDs rather than FGs, that would be an effective defensive strategy too. Possible? Yes, of course it is. It's the first game of the season, at night, in Jordan-Hare.

I want him to be smiling AFTER the game!

Okay, so JJ hurt his throwing hand in practice earlier in the week. He was held out today. Was it the injury, or was it because CGM and CRL have already decided he's going to be the starter and they wanted to see the other two in action without risking further injury to JJ ??? I don't know the answer to that. I'm asking. Kerryon Johnson also doesn't play much (did he play at all?). Mostly Pettway bulldozing. Is this because KJ has been decided on as the starter and they don't want to risk him getting injured? Or is it because they wanted to test the defensive front with some power running? Or are they wanting to get some experience for his backup? Or are they looking at Pettway as the starter with KJ in a different role? I don't know the answer. I'm asking. SW throws 2 picks. Franklin throws a pick and fumbles. The offensive play calling looks like last year retread. Is that what I'm reading here in this thread? This is all we got? Somehow, I'm hoping that CGM and CRL are going to step up and give us a wide open offense with some real dynamic and innovative play calling this year. I haven't given up yet ...... but I'm crossing my fingers and clutching my rabbits foot.

Glad to know he's on campus and getting a head start on academics and the playbook. Hodgkin's is very beatable if they caught it early. And as always, I'm proud that Auburn stands by these recruits who develop serious illnesses.

According to 247, he had 19 offers, including Bama, Louisville and a smattering of bottom dwellers in Big 5 conferences like Illinois and Kentucky. The thing is, I don't remember seeing his name on any of the visitor lists for recruiting weekends like Big Cat. Maybe he did some camps to get those offers. The young man has real potential.