Wow...

[Rednilla 5,449]

Okay, so I just finished watching the game after being at work all day, and let me tell you: I'm GLAD I wasn't home for this one. I would have been tearing my hair out when we were trailing in the fourth quarter.

In light of the showing, I feel like I need to take a minute to evaluate. So first the bad, because I need to vent:

1. The rushing defense looked atrocious. Their offensive line manhandled us when they ran the ball, and poor tackling was far too abundant.

2. What's with the cornerbacks playing between 5 and 10 yards off the receiver every single down, even when they kept throwing those wide receiver screens? I mean, I hope that was by design, like we were going to play a mellow defense no matter what because it's the first game, but we never adjusted, and for the life of me I can't understand why.

3. The offensive line looked pretty bad. I knew there would be some growing pains, but we still should have been able to move the ball at will if we just ran straight ahead power football, no matter how good/experienced/whatever Utah State might have been.

4. The linebackers need to learn how to cover. There were several times when it looked like they should have closed the passing lane and swatted the ball away but it seemed like they just turned to look and see if the receiver would catch it.

5. We really needed an onside kick with 2 minutes left to pull out the win? If we play like that for the rest of the season, the ESPN guys might be right about our record.

6. Worst of all...THERE WERE FANS LEAVING BEFORE THE GAME WAS OVER?!?!?! I'm sorry, that's just shameful. Had I been there, I probably would have been escorted out in handcuffs for picking a fight. I might have been fuming about the game, but not a chance in hell do I leave. I learned long ago never to give up, no matter what.

Now for the good:

1. Barrett Trotter did an outstanding job in his first start. He scrambled well when he had to, moved in the pocket well, threw the ball well, and generally played exactly the way I expected him to play.

2. The receivers looked very good. Trevante Stallworth was an especially pleasant surprise.

3. The return game looked SO much better than we've become used to. Love Tre Mason returning kicks, and his runback was outstanding. Reed looks totally comfortable catching punts, too, and if he doesn't pick up a single yard, that's fine so long as he doesn't drop one. Amazing how the past two years have made me appreciate simply catching the punt.

4. Cody Parkey has a REALLY strong leg.

5. Dyer and McCalebb are still Dyer and McCalebb.

6. When we knew pass was coming, the pass rush was outstanding.

7. In spite of everything, we found a way to win, and we remain undefeated over the past two seasons. Told my brother that I much prefer an ugly win over a pretty loss.

At the end of the day, I still trust the coaching staff to right the ship. Pulling out the win at the last minute does, at least, provide some confidence (losing that game would have been atrocious) to build on, and if taken the right way, it might be the best thing that ever happened to us. It seemed like the players came out flat, and hopefully they'll take this as evidence that no matter who you're playing, you've gotta bring your A game...and that's a lesson that could well be the difference in preventing a stumble next year, when we'll return virtually everybody from this team.

No matter what, I am FAR more disappointed with the fans than I am with the players and coaches, and that would have been the case even if we'd lost by three touchdowns. There is simply no excuse for that.

[tc14au 0]

Okay, so I just finished watching the game after being at work all day, and let me tell you: I'm GLAD I wasn't home for this one. I would have been tearing my hair out when we were trailing in the fourth quarter.

In light of the showing, I feel like I need to take a minute to evaluate. So first the bad, because I need to vent:

1. The rushing defense looked atrocious. Their offensive line manhandled us when they ran the ball, and poor tackling was far too abundant.

2. What's with the cornerbacks playing between 5 and 10 yards off the receiver every single down, even when they kept throwing those wide receiver screens? I mean, I hope that was by design, like we were going to play a mellow defense no matter what because it's the first game, but we never adjusted, and for the life of me I can't understand why.

3. The offensive line looked pretty bad. I knew there would be some growing pains, but we still should have been able to move the ball at will if we just ran straight ahead power football, no matter how good/experienced/whatever Utah State might have been.

4. The linebackers need to learn how to cover. There were several times when it looked like they should have closed the passing lane and swatted the ball away but it seemed like they just turned to look and see if the receiver would catch it.

5. We really needed an onside kick with 2 minutes left to pull out the win? If we play like that for the rest of the season, the ESPN guys might be right about our record.

6. Worst of all...THERE WERE FANS LEAVING BEFORE THE GAME WAS OVER?!?!?! I'm sorry, that's just shameful. Had I been there, I probably would have been escorted out in handcuffs for picking a fight. I might have been fuming about the game, but not a chance in hell do I leave. I learned long ago never to give up, no matter what.

Now for the good:

1. Barrett Trotter did an outstanding job in his first start. He scrambled well when he had to, moved in the pocket well, threw the ball well, and generally played exactly the way I expected him to play.

2. The receivers looked very good. Trevante Stallworth was an especially pleasant surprise.

3. The return game looked SO much better than we've become used to. Love Tre Mason returning kicks, and his runback was outstanding. Reed looks totally comfortable catching punts, too, and if he doesn't pick up a single yard, that's fine so long as he doesn't drop one. Amazing how the past two years have made me appreciate simply catching the punt.

4. Cody Parkey has a REALLY strong leg.

5. Dyer and McCalebb are still Dyer and McCalebb.

6. When we knew pass was coming, the pass rush was outstanding.

7. In spite of everything, we found a way to win, and we remain undefeated over the past two seasons. Told my brother that I much prefer an ugly win over a pretty loss.

At the end of the day, I still trust the coaching staff to right the ship. Pulling out the win at the last minute does, at least, provide some confidence (losing that game would have been atrocious) to build on, and if taken the right way, it might be the best thing that ever happened to us. It seemed like the players came out flat, and hopefully they'll take this as evidence that no matter who you're playing, you've gotta bring your A game...and that's a lesson that could well be the difference in preventing a stumble next year, when we'll return virtually everybody from this team.

No matter what, I am FAR more disappointed with the fans than I am with the players and coaches, and that would have been the case even if we'd lost by three touchdowns. There is simply no excuse for that.

[Auburn Spirit 0]

Okay, so I just finished watching the game after being at work all day, and let me tell you: I'm GLAD I wasn't home for this one. I would have been tearing my hair out when we were trailing in the fourth quarter.

In light of the showing, I feel like I need to take a minute to evaluate. So first the bad, because I need to vent:

1. The rushing defense looked atrocious. Their offensive line manhandled us when they ran the ball, and poor tackling was far too abundant.

2. What's with the cornerbacks playing between 5 and 10 yards off the receiver every single down, even when they kept throwing those wide receiver screens? I mean, I hope that was by design, like we were going to play a mellow defense no matter what because it's the first game, but we never adjusted, and for the life of me I can't    understand why.               

3. The offensive line looked pretty bad. I knew there would be some growing pains, but we still should have been able to move the ball at will if we just ran straight ahead power football, no matter how good/experienced/whatever Utah State might have been.

4. The linebackers need to learn how to cover. There were several times when it looked like they should have closed the passing lane and swatted the ball away but it seemed like they just turned to look and see if the receiver would catch it.

5. We really needed an onside kick with 2 minutes left to pull out the win? If we play like that for the rest of the season, the ESPN guys might be right about our record.

6. Worst of all...THERE WERE FANS LEAVING BEFORE THE GAME WAS OVER?!?!?! I'm sorry, that's just shameful. Had I been there, I probably would have been escorted out in handcuffs for picking a fight. I might have been fuming about the game, but not a chance in hell do I leave. I learned long ago never to give up, no matter what.

Now for the good:

1. Barrett Trotter did an outstanding job in his first start. He scrambled well when he had to, moved in the pocket well, threw the ball well, and generally played exactly the way I expected him to play.

2. The receivers looked very good. Trevante Stallworth was an especially pleasant surprise.

3. The return game looked SO much better than we've become used to. Love Tre Mason returning kicks, and his runback was outstanding. Reed looks totally comfortable catching punts, too, and if he doesn't pick up a single yard, that's fine so long as he doesn't drop one. Amazing how the past two years have made me appreciate simply catching the punt.

4. Cody Parkey has a REALLY strong leg.

5. Dyer and McCalebb are still Dyer and McCalebb.

6. When we knew pass was coming, the pass rush was outstanding.

7. In spite of everything, we found a way to win, and we remain undefeated over the past two seasons. Told my brother that I much prefer an ugly win over a pretty loss.

At the end of the day, I still trust the coaching staff to right the ship. Pulling out the win at the last minute does, at least, provide some confidence (losing that game would have been atrocious) to build on, and if taken the right way, it might be the best thing that ever happened to us. It seemed like the players came out flat, and hopefully they'll take this as evidence that no matter who you're playing, you've gotta bring your A game...and that's a lesson that could well be the difference in preventing a stumble next year, when we'll return virtually everybody from this team.

No matter what, I am FAR more disappointed with the fans than I am with the players and coaches, and that would have been the case even if we'd lost by three touchdowns. There is simply no excuse for that.

              I agree with everything you said nilla ans 

[87aubie 0]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

[bigbird 60,941]

2. What's with the cornerbacks playing between 5 and 10 yards off the receiver every single down, even when they kept throwing those wide receiver screens? I mean, I hope that was by design, like we were going to play a mellow defense no matter what because it's the first game, but we never adjusted, and for the life of me I can't understand why.

Our base defense, the one we ran most of the day, is a cover 2 zone coverage.  In that scheme, the corners play 5-7 yards off the ball.  We did run some man coverage, and looked good doing it.  However in our base d the corners alignment will always be 5-7 yards off the ball.  

[Chaotic_zx 1,070]

On a 4th and 8 yards the CBs lined up 8 yards off. The thought I'm assuming is that they can come up and stop them before the 1st down marker. Which could be the case if the team tackled well.

[AgentOrange 36]

Very accurate post Red. You summed it up very well.

[AgentOrange 36]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

Sorry, but "fans" that leave early are not true fans.

[A.U.ScholarDad 0]

My daughter was at the game. I asked her if she thought about leaving early. She replied, "Definitely not. I NEVER gave up hope." I told her I was proud of her for thinking that way.

I just read a quote from the Utah St. coach. He said he felt they were both stronger and faster than Auburn. This is more than a little alarming. Mistakes can be solved, but being weaker and slower than a team like Utah St. team can't be fixed during the season.

[87aubie 0]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

Sorry, but "fans" that leave early are not true fans.

So if it was 35-0, should they still be there with three minutes left?

[Chaotic_zx 1,070]

The slowness could be that there were new starters. Knowledge makes people play faster. The stronger part can be attributed to the fact that they were playing more upper classmen than Auburn.

[AgentOrange 36]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

Sorry, but "fans" that leave early are not true fans.

So if it was 35-0, should they still be there with three minutes left?

Yep

I go to the game to show my support to Auburn for the entire 60 minutes, win, lose or draw.

[87aubie 0]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

Sorry, but "fans" that leave early are not true fans.

So if it was 35-0, should they still be there with three minutes left?

Yep

I go to the game to show my support to Auburn for the entire 60 minutes, win, lose or draw.

OK. fair enough.

[bigbird 60,941]

The slowness could be that there were new starters. Knowledge makes people play faster. The stronger part can be attributed to the fact that they were playing more upper classmen than Auburn.

and 17 of 22 returning starters.

[autan 811]

Can't disagree with anything you said Red.  I don't think OL was all that bad when you consider 4 of the 5 have only played a handful of plays collectively.  Offensively I just think we have to get Lutz involved sooner.  It opens up everything run and pass.  I hate to keep harping on that.  I need to shut up and Congratulate everyone on a great comeback and a great win  

                                         

[3rdgen 2]

Can't disagree with anything you said Red.  I don't think OL was all that bad when you consider 4 of the 5 have only played a handful of plays collectively.  Offensively I just think we have to get Lutz involved sooner.  It opens up everything run and pass.  I hate to keep harping on that.  I need to shut up and Congratulate everyone on a great comeback and a great win  

                                         

Agree he should be targeted 5-8 times per game minimum.

[TexasTiger 14,363]

My daughter was at the game. I asked her if she thought about leaving early. She replied, "Definitely not. I NEVER gave up hope." I told her I was proud of her for thinking that way.

I just read a quote from the Utah St. coach. He said he felt they were both stronger and faster than Auburn. This is more than a little alarming. Mistakes can be solved, but being weaker and slower than a team like Utah St. team can't be fixed during the season.

I think a player said that.  The coach talked about our speed and athleticism.

[AUoutsider 0]

Great post Red.  I can't believe we are getting to talk about a win, but we are and we should be grateful to our players for not quitting.

My thoughts:

Ted Roof has yet to show he can put an elite D on the field, and he has had an excuse every year for that.  He has one this year too with all the young inexperience.  Next year he needs to shut down good offenses or he will never do it.

It doesn't feel like Chizik's linebacker recruiting has been very good to date.  Linebackers seem to be a liability and I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel, aside from some can't miss 2012 recruits.

It appears to me that we're going to have to throw a lot this year for our offense to be potent.  I hope we don't see Malzhan stubbornly fire out running backs into a brick wall just to make a point.  It's fine in a game like this when you try to figure your O-line out, but real games start next week and we need real production.  If we have to be a throw first team then so be it.  That may necessitate giving stronger consideration to Mosley since he seems to be more of a gunslinger (stronger arm, taller).  Just a thought.

For the record, I wouldn't trade a clutch Chizik team for Tuberville's best defense.  

Onside kick every time... seriously.

This game was sort of a best case scenario for our young team.  We may shock Miss St next week because we know who we are, and they really don't.  They still may be playing better football than us, but our boys know what it is to get punched in the mouth, and they have no idea.  I hope that gives us a more meaningful week of practice and ultimately an edge on the field.

[Rednilla 5,449]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

I suppose you think it's okay to just not show up if the team starts to struggle down the stretch, too?

Guys, if we want to be taken seriously, we should take ourselves seriously. That means supporting the team no matter what. I've said several times that I firmly believe the home crowd's chants of "It's Great to be an Auburn Tiger" drowning out bammer's rammer jammer in 09 made a HUGE impact on the players by showing them that we have their backs no matter what; what do you think the reaction today said to them?

[BirdofPrey76 0]

We never leave early whether AU's leading by a hundred or trailing by a hundred.

[tdburger 37]

My daughter was at the game. I asked her if she thought about leaving early. She replied, "Definitely not. I NEVER gave up hope." I told her I was proud of her for thinking that way.

I just read a quote from the Utah St. coach. He said he felt they were both stronger and faster than Auburn. This is more than a little alarming. Mistakes can be solved, but being weaker and slower than a team like Utah St. team can't be fixed during the season.

I think a player said that.  The coach talked about our speed and athleticism.

I think our guys were befuddled out there today, but I really doubt that our guys were weaker and slower.

[Junebug 0]

2. What's with the cornerbacks playing between 5 and 10 yards off the receiver every single down, even when they kept throwing those wide receiver screens? I mean, I hope that was by design, like we were going to play a mellow defense no matter what because it's the first game, but we never adjusted, and for the life of me I can't understand why.

Our base defense, the one we ran most of the day, is a cover 2 zone coverage.  In that scheme, the corners play 5-7 yards off the ball.  We did run some man coverage, and looked good doing it.  However in our base d the corners alignment will always be 5-7 yards off the ball.  

That makes no sense to play off in a cover two. The corners are responsible for flats and should be walked up forcing the receivers inside to help the safeties that have halfs. We did play some cover two but a good portion of the game we were showing cover two and rolling into cover three.

[Rednilla 5,449]

BTW, I said that I learned a long time ago never to give up; I learned that against LSU in 94. Anybody remember that game? The offense looked as bad as I've ever seen it look, and we were down by double digits in the fourth quarter with no real hope on the horizon. I was a crying 10 year old, begging my father to take me home so I didn't have to see my beloved Tigers get thrashed by the Bayou Bengals. Man, am I glad he didn't let me.

After three interceptions returned for touchdowns, I'd learned my lesson. Never, never, never give up. Even if there is no hope, even if there's no chance, you don't give up, not if you're truly an Auburn Tiger.

[AUBSC76 0]

We were pretty much embarrassed on the field for most of the game and had shown nothing that would indicate what happened in the final two minutes was going to happen, and you're upset with the fans for heading for the exits??  I don't personally leave games early, mainly because I'm cheap and feel like if I paid for a ticket I should get my money's worth.  But I certainly am not going to jump on the fans who did start heading for the exits after the last USU TD.

I agree with Rednilla.... Auburn fans like to believe we are different... better than that.  I wish that really was the case.

[FoleyLion 0]

I made it a point to watch the sidelines after drives and Trotter was always being vocal on the sidelines. I knew sooner or latter he was going to take over the game and he did it just took him till 2 min left.

The defense's main problem was alignment I mean there was multiple times we lined up a Corner and a Saftey to cover a trips and the OLB either blitzing or playing a zone in the middle of the feild.

When we played man-2-man Defense and our DE's woke up we dominated them both passing and running for that play, then we would switch back to a cover 2 defense  

Sitting in the stands I just got a major hunch that we were running nothing but base D and O untill the 4th Qtr when roof/malzahn opened the playbook up a little.

I swear we must have ran the SAME defense play 90% of the time.

I dont like to question coaches at all because I hate when people question my calls but I sat there and was calling the play USU's offense was going to run and was right 90% of the time and we seemed shocked they ran a bubble screen from a trips formation with only 2 guys to cover it every time, and that when we sprea our LB's out they ran the power play.

USU's gameplan was a perfect one, they figured our base D early and they attacked the weak spots (bubble screens, slants and the power play with a pulling gaurd.)

USU got alot of success out of the power play from a multitude of formations because it blocked the DT's at a angle and the pullling gaurd hits the MLB and with inexperiance at those postions it spelled disaster. Instead of holding their ground the DT's were trying to shot the gab and make a play which plays into this certain play's hand. The DT's job on those type plays is to stand there ground and try to draw 2 blockers freeing up the MLB for the hit but with them tryin to rush through the gap they took them selves out of the play. Sometimes the best thing to do is not try to blow up a play but to make a solid wall for the LB's to move around.

If we get the middle of the D shored up it'll allow for Roof to go man to man more often which is what this D's talent is geared to. With no middle "wall" the D is forced to play zone to have all 11 defenders looking in the backfeild to help the run. When that "wall" is found the DB's can focus on the WR's, improving our pass D.

In my opinion Roof is handcuffed to play conservative like we saw today until we find us a space-clogging, blocker-eating DT. When he finds 1 or 2 to step their game up then Roof can be aggressive which is when his D is at its best.

As for the tackling and pursuit angles, thats on all defensive coaches not just Roof but Roof does need to make the only point this week tackling and alignment. You cant pursue if your out of position.