Monday, October 29, 2012
We Wait
We will wait each day for news of new developments. We are at the point where the only thing that will satisfy is news that somebody has been fired. I assume the first thing will be that Jacobs has been let go. Then a new AD has been hired and along the way that Chizik will not be back and that a search is underway for a new head football coach. The first step is a new AD. I expect Chizik to coach out the season with a new AD the search can begin right away for a new head football coach.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Possibilities
Chizik will be fired. No doubt about that.
How will it be handled?
It seems to me that Jacobs will terminated also. That has to come first.
Will nothing be said until after season is over or will it be announced Monday morning that both will not be retained. If this is the case, will we be told that though he will not be back Chizik will finish out the season or will someone else take over the team right away?
I can see Gogue continuing to say that the situationn will be evaluated at the end of the season. I can also see the announcement right away that changes will be made making Chizik an immedaite lame duck.
It could go either way.
I'm betting on some kind of announcement next week.
How will it be handled?
It seems to me that Jacobs will terminated also. That has to come first.
Will nothing be said until after season is over or will it be announced Monday morning that both will not be retained. If this is the case, will we be told that though he will not be back Chizik will finish out the season or will someone else take over the team right away?
I can see Gogue continuing to say that the situationn will be evaluated at the end of the season. I can also see the announcement right away that changes will be made making Chizik an immedaite lame duck.
It could go either way.
I'm betting on some kind of announcement next week.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Texas A & M Game
In its first SEC season the Aggies come into Jordan-Hare a 14 point favorite with a 5 and 2 record. The Tigers are struggling with their worst start since 1952 at 1 and 6. A & M runs a terrific spread offense, which Auburn struggles to defend, and our offense struggles to score. There doesn't seem to be much hope that Auburn can win this game. A & M will score easily and we will not be able to keep up. Speculation swirls about the future of Coach Chizik. My guess is that this is his last season at Auburn.
FIRST QUARTER
Most likely if TAM receives they'll march right down the field and score within 3 minutes. If Auburn receives we'll go three and out, punt, and A & M will go right down the field. This shows you how hopeless this thing seems to be before kickoff.
Auburn wins the toss and defers. The wind is gusty.
Sure enough, the Aggies drive 70 yards for the touchdown. The drive is kept alive by a careless offsides penalty on Auburn on the first series. Otherwise, it would have been three and out. Once again Auburn gives up an opening touchdown drive. The only thing I was wrong on is that it took A&M 3: 42 to score.
This is going to be embarassing just like everyone thought it would be.
Auburn 0 Aggies 7
Fulse is wide open on the first play but Mosely underthrows him.
The Tigers go 3 and out and go backwards as Mosely is sacked on 3rd and 9.
Yep, here we go as expected.
A&M could score 60 tonight.
This is as hopeless a game as I have ever seen Auburn in.
We can't stop their offense and our offense is totally inept.
Is this the worst Auburn team in 60 years? Probably so.
Here A&M goes again as we have missed tackles all over the field.
This is sad to watch. They are smashing our defense at will.
Their fast-paced offense is overwhelming our defense just as we knew it would. How pathetic.
This is A & M's only second possession but this game is already over.
Right down the field they go and there's another touchdown with a run in from the 7.
Auburn 0 Aggies 14
With 5:38 to go Mosely is out of the game with an injury.
Quentin Riggins says our defenders are not tackling but diving and missing the runner, not locking up.
This is nothing new, is it?
Kiehl Frazier is in the game. Will there be any fight from this offense.
Frazier bobbles the first shotgun snap and there is an incomplete short pass attempt.
There is a first down pass to Blake but we have 5 men in the backfield.
The Tigers are 3 and out. Frazier makes no difference except that he did throw the ball well but the penalty negates the first down.
TAM has the ball back at their 37 already leading 14 to 0.
It doesn't take them long to score again and A & M is running away with it before the end of the first quarter.
Auburn 0 Aggies 21
How many points will they score? The sky's the limit.
There's a gain of 6 but Frazier is sacked and then he is sacked again. 3 and out & we go backwards. This IS the worst Auburn team I have ever seen.
With 6 seconds to go in the quarter A & M has the ball again.
Not only do we trail by 21, our offense has negative yardage so far. A & M looks confident and Auburn looks lost. The Auburn Tigers are a dead football team.
The first quarter ends on a long pass incompletion by A & M.
Auburn 0 Aggies 21
SECOND QUARTER
This is sad and pathetic to watch.
3rd and 10 but Auburn jumps offsides again for the third time tonight already.
That makes it 3rd and 5 and their QB Manziel runs for the first down easily.
On a third and 7 there is a 34 yard TD run with the middle wide open as we dialed up an outside blitz. There was nobody in the middle of the field for Auburn.
Auburn 0 Aggies 28
How bad will the final score be? Our only hope is that A & M has some mercy.
Aand M is exploiting our defense like it isn't there. Their QB is checking to our defensive weaknesses mainly an open middle of the field as our tackles are nowhere to be found.
This is so ugly. It is almost an accomplishment for us to get lined up properly.
There is a 37 yard pass completion. At least Frazier does look good so far.
Surprisingly the Tigers drive for a touchdown with Frazier throwing and Wallace running.
Mason runs it in from the one.
Auburn 7 Aggies 28
Well, that was refreshing, but if this game is like the rest of the year so far, it won't last.
The Aggies drive again.
On a 2nd and 27 their QB runs for 36 yards. We score the TD but we simply cannot stop their offense. It's isn't going to happen tonight. Their offense is a total mismatch for our defense.
The score comes on a run from the 2 by their quarterback running around the right end and extending the ball over the goal line. Their QB Manziel is great and is better than our defense. Our defense is getting gashed as I expected.
Auburn 7 Aggies 35
They have 346 total yards already and have scored on every possession.
Our defense is getting totally manhandled. They have guys running free and we have missed assignments. This is what I expected.
Mason runs for 11.
Wallace runs for 4.
Frazier overthrows Mason on a short route. You gotta hit those.
Frazier loses 2 and looks lost under pressure.
Auburn has to punt after one first down.
Clark gets a good roll on a poor punt.
TAM gets another chance starting on their 28.
Immediately there is another LONG pass completion to the AU 23.
The score comes from a 7-yd. run with arm tackling. Stan White says he's never seen anything like this.
Quentin Riggins says the defensive effort isn't there.
Auburn 7 Aggies 42
This team is getting embarassed more than any Auburn team in my memory.
Auburn is 3 and out with about a minute left.
Frazier is inaccurate on that possession.
The punt goes to the A&M 30 with 45 seconds left. Plenty of time to score again!
The half ends with A & M missing a 48 yard FG attempt.
Auburn 7 Aggies 42
THIRD QUARTER
The Aggies amassed 464 yards of total offense in the first half.
Auburn receives to start the third quarter.
We go 3 and out and TAM goes right down the field as if our defense isn't there. No effort and no intensity. It's that simple.
Auburn 7 Aggies 49
I am not going to do the rest of the game in detail. This is so pathetic.
The only bright spot is that Jonathan Wallace plays most of the second half and looks good. He plays with more confidence and decisiveness than our other quarterbacks.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 21 TAM 63
FIRST QUARTER
Most likely if TAM receives they'll march right down the field and score within 3 minutes. If Auburn receives we'll go three and out, punt, and A & M will go right down the field. This shows you how hopeless this thing seems to be before kickoff.
Auburn wins the toss and defers. The wind is gusty.
Sure enough, the Aggies drive 70 yards for the touchdown. The drive is kept alive by a careless offsides penalty on Auburn on the first series. Otherwise, it would have been three and out. Once again Auburn gives up an opening touchdown drive. The only thing I was wrong on is that it took A&M 3: 42 to score.
This is going to be embarassing just like everyone thought it would be.
Auburn 0 Aggies 7
Fulse is wide open on the first play but Mosely underthrows him.
The Tigers go 3 and out and go backwards as Mosely is sacked on 3rd and 9.
Yep, here we go as expected.
A&M could score 60 tonight.
This is as hopeless a game as I have ever seen Auburn in.
We can't stop their offense and our offense is totally inept.
Is this the worst Auburn team in 60 years? Probably so.
Here A&M goes again as we have missed tackles all over the field.
This is sad to watch. They are smashing our defense at will.
Their fast-paced offense is overwhelming our defense just as we knew it would. How pathetic.
This is A & M's only second possession but this game is already over.
Right down the field they go and there's another touchdown with a run in from the 7.
Auburn 0 Aggies 14
With 5:38 to go Mosely is out of the game with an injury.
Quentin Riggins says our defenders are not tackling but diving and missing the runner, not locking up.
This is nothing new, is it?
Kiehl Frazier is in the game. Will there be any fight from this offense.
Frazier bobbles the first shotgun snap and there is an incomplete short pass attempt.
There is a first down pass to Blake but we have 5 men in the backfield.
The Tigers are 3 and out. Frazier makes no difference except that he did throw the ball well but the penalty negates the first down.
TAM has the ball back at their 37 already leading 14 to 0.
It doesn't take them long to score again and A & M is running away with it before the end of the first quarter.
Auburn 0 Aggies 21
How many points will they score? The sky's the limit.
There's a gain of 6 but Frazier is sacked and then he is sacked again. 3 and out & we go backwards. This IS the worst Auburn team I have ever seen.
With 6 seconds to go in the quarter A & M has the ball again.
Not only do we trail by 21, our offense has negative yardage so far. A & M looks confident and Auburn looks lost. The Auburn Tigers are a dead football team.
The first quarter ends on a long pass incompletion by A & M.
Auburn 0 Aggies 21
SECOND QUARTER
This is sad and pathetic to watch.
3rd and 10 but Auburn jumps offsides again for the third time tonight already.
That makes it 3rd and 5 and their QB Manziel runs for the first down easily.
On a third and 7 there is a 34 yard TD run with the middle wide open as we dialed up an outside blitz. There was nobody in the middle of the field for Auburn.
Auburn 0 Aggies 28
How bad will the final score be? Our only hope is that A & M has some mercy.
Aand M is exploiting our defense like it isn't there. Their QB is checking to our defensive weaknesses mainly an open middle of the field as our tackles are nowhere to be found.
This is so ugly. It is almost an accomplishment for us to get lined up properly.
There is a 37 yard pass completion. At least Frazier does look good so far.
Surprisingly the Tigers drive for a touchdown with Frazier throwing and Wallace running.
Mason runs it in from the one.
Auburn 7 Aggies 28
Well, that was refreshing, but if this game is like the rest of the year so far, it won't last.
The Aggies drive again.
On a 2nd and 27 their QB runs for 36 yards. We score the TD but we simply cannot stop their offense. It's isn't going to happen tonight. Their offense is a total mismatch for our defense.
The score comes on a run from the 2 by their quarterback running around the right end and extending the ball over the goal line. Their QB Manziel is great and is better than our defense. Our defense is getting gashed as I expected.
Auburn 7 Aggies 35
They have 346 total yards already and have scored on every possession.
Our defense is getting totally manhandled. They have guys running free and we have missed assignments. This is what I expected.
Mason runs for 11.
Wallace runs for 4.
Frazier overthrows Mason on a short route. You gotta hit those.
Frazier loses 2 and looks lost under pressure.
Auburn has to punt after one first down.
Clark gets a good roll on a poor punt.
TAM gets another chance starting on their 28.
Immediately there is another LONG pass completion to the AU 23.
The score comes from a 7-yd. run with arm tackling. Stan White says he's never seen anything like this.
Quentin Riggins says the defensive effort isn't there.
Auburn 7 Aggies 42
This team is getting embarassed more than any Auburn team in my memory.
Auburn is 3 and out with about a minute left.
Frazier is inaccurate on that possession.
The punt goes to the A&M 30 with 45 seconds left. Plenty of time to score again!
The half ends with A & M missing a 48 yard FG attempt.
Auburn 7 Aggies 42
THIRD QUARTER
The Aggies amassed 464 yards of total offense in the first half.
Auburn receives to start the third quarter.
We go 3 and out and TAM goes right down the field as if our defense isn't there. No effort and no intensity. It's that simple.
Auburn 7 Aggies 49
I am not going to do the rest of the game in detail. This is so pathetic.
The only bright spot is that Jonathan Wallace plays most of the second half and looks good. He plays with more confidence and decisiveness than our other quarterbacks.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 21 TAM 63
Friday, October 26, 2012
Texas A & M
I've always liked Texas A & M mainly because I've always rooted against Texas. Otherwise, I have no feelings one way or the other about A & M.
At 1 and 6 Auburn faces tomorrow the inevitability of a losing season. I see no way we can win this game. Students rallied yesterday to the team at the behest of President Gogue. That is noble but it won't change anything. A & M runs a spiffy spread offense which Auburn cannot defend. We would have to score lots of points to beat the Aggies and that will not happen. The line is at least plus 14 for A & M.
I keep reading about how Auburn is not "physical." If so, this is disturbing. Historically Auburn has always been considered a physical team. Why is this if true?
At this point I see no way Chizik can and should survive. The future all depends on hiring the right HC going forward.
At 1 and 6 Auburn faces tomorrow the inevitability of a losing season. I see no way we can win this game. Students rallied yesterday to the team at the behest of President Gogue. That is noble but it won't change anything. A & M runs a spiffy spread offense which Auburn cannot defend. We would have to score lots of points to beat the Aggies and that will not happen. The line is at least plus 14 for A & M.
I keep reading about how Auburn is not "physical." If so, this is disturbing. Historically Auburn has always been considered a physical team. Why is this if true?
At this point I see no way Chizik can and should survive. The future all depends on hiring the right HC going forward.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Auburn's Gene Chizik Must go in Part Because Alabama's so far Gone
According to this, there is a movement towards Petrino as the next coach. PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF AUBURN, DO NOT HIRE PETRINO! I don't know how true this is or how much interest there is, but any Auburn person trying to get Petrino is insane. I may move to Canada and become a Toronto Maple Leafs fan if Petrino is our next coach.
That being said, my only point of disagreement is that Alabama should not be a factor in what we do. Maybe it matters, but I do not care three shakes of a rabbit's tale about Alabama football. It should have no bearing on Auburn. We should not compare ourselves to those low lifes. We are better than that.
BY Kevin Scarbinksky
20 October 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee - You change coaches when you start losing to teams you’re not supposed to lose to, historically speaking, and you do it in consecutive games.
You change coaches when you’re off to your worst start in 60 years, and you’ve passed the season’s midpoint and you still can’t be sure you’ve hit bottom.
You change coaches when you’ve fallen so far behind your biggest rival that you have to trade in your binoculars for a telescope to watch him pull farther and farther away.
That’s where Auburn and Alabama found themselves Saturday. They were in the exact same state in polar opposite states.
Alabama has a head coach in search of a challenge. Auburn has a program in need of a head coaching change.
It looks like Nick Saban can’t be stopped, which is just part of the reason Gene Chizik’s got to go.
The evidence has been building toward that conclusion, and Vanderbilt 17, Auburn 13 made what should be the closing statement in that argument.
As improved as Vandy may be in its second season under James Franklin, the Commodores have beaten only three teams this season: Presbyterian, Missouri and Auburn. What do those three have in common? None of them has won an SEC game. Ever, in the case of Presbyterian and Missouri, and it may be awhile for Auburn.
As much hope as Franklin has given his fan base, the precedent has been established at Auburn. Lose to Vanderbilt during a losing season, and lose your job.
It happened to Tommy Tuberville in 2008. It’ll be an upset - not to mention a mistake - if it doesn’t happen to Chizik in 2012. Tuberville, by the way, is 6-1 at Texas Tech after a 56-53 triple-overtime win at TCU. Chizik is 1-6.
You can’t always play connect the dots in college football, but if Auburn couldn’t take the lead in the fourth quarter at Vanderbilt, a week after not being able to stay close for four quarters at Ole Miss, how ugly will things get a month from now in Tuscaloosa?
As ugly as Saban wants them to be.
The Alabama coach took no pity on one of his less-gifted students here Saturday in a 44-13 romp.
Everyone knew Derek Dooley had no chance to stand up to Saban long before the Tennessee coach decided to work on crutches on the sideline because of his surgically repaired hip.
The original plan was for Dooley to coach from a stool on the sideline, but why drag an actual hot seat into the picture? Especially when you’re winless in the SEC.
Not sure what Tennessee is going to do, but if Auburn cares about its football program, it has to change coaches at season’s end. And not just a coordinator or two, even if one of them seems all in so far over his head he needs scuba lessons.
Change staff members, and all you’re doing is rearranging deck chairs on a boat that’s become a submarine. The only way to stop a spiral that began last year with five lopsided losses is to start over. At the top.
All the good work Chizik and his staff did in 2010, in running the table and winning the national championship, has come undone. On and off the field. The fan base he rallied so skillfully that season has turned against him, to the point that one Auburn booster said a quiet movement has begun behind the scenes to gauge and enlist support for Bobby Petrino as the next coach.
The discussion of the next coach can wait. The machinery to create the opening can’t, not with actual or potential job searches at Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky as well. Someone at Auburn has to realize that being a good man isn’t good enough for an SEC head coach. Especially when the best coach in college football lives and works in the same state.
At best, Auburn will finish this year 4-8, and that’s likely only if Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Football quits in the next week to play baseball. At worst, the Tigers will be 3-9, and that’s certain only if the players and coaches haven’t completely splintered before a quality Alabama A&M team comes to town.
There’s no excuse for 3-9 or 4-8 at Auburn. No excuse for 9-11 since the BCS title. No excuse for ugly losses to old rivals and uglier defeats against old doormats.
That’s the state of our state, for better or worse. Alabama’s grinding its way toward a third national title in four years. Auburn’s grinding its gears en route to a second coaching change in that same span.
Both outcomes seem inevitable.
That being said, my only point of disagreement is that Alabama should not be a factor in what we do. Maybe it matters, but I do not care three shakes of a rabbit's tale about Alabama football. It should have no bearing on Auburn. We should not compare ourselves to those low lifes. We are better than that.
BY Kevin Scarbinksky
20 October 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee - You change coaches when you start losing to teams you’re not supposed to lose to, historically speaking, and you do it in consecutive games.
You change coaches when you’re off to your worst start in 60 years, and you’ve passed the season’s midpoint and you still can’t be sure you’ve hit bottom.
You change coaches when you’ve fallen so far behind your biggest rival that you have to trade in your binoculars for a telescope to watch him pull farther and farther away.
That’s where Auburn and Alabama found themselves Saturday. They were in the exact same state in polar opposite states.
Alabama has a head coach in search of a challenge. Auburn has a program in need of a head coaching change.
It looks like Nick Saban can’t be stopped, which is just part of the reason Gene Chizik’s got to go.
The evidence has been building toward that conclusion, and Vanderbilt 17, Auburn 13 made what should be the closing statement in that argument.
As improved as Vandy may be in its second season under James Franklin, the Commodores have beaten only three teams this season: Presbyterian, Missouri and Auburn. What do those three have in common? None of them has won an SEC game. Ever, in the case of Presbyterian and Missouri, and it may be awhile for Auburn.
As much hope as Franklin has given his fan base, the precedent has been established at Auburn. Lose to Vanderbilt during a losing season, and lose your job.
It happened to Tommy Tuberville in 2008. It’ll be an upset - not to mention a mistake - if it doesn’t happen to Chizik in 2012. Tuberville, by the way, is 6-1 at Texas Tech after a 56-53 triple-overtime win at TCU. Chizik is 1-6.
You can’t always play connect the dots in college football, but if Auburn couldn’t take the lead in the fourth quarter at Vanderbilt, a week after not being able to stay close for four quarters at Ole Miss, how ugly will things get a month from now in Tuscaloosa?
As ugly as Saban wants them to be.
The Alabama coach took no pity on one of his less-gifted students here Saturday in a 44-13 romp.
Everyone knew Derek Dooley had no chance to stand up to Saban long before the Tennessee coach decided to work on crutches on the sideline because of his surgically repaired hip.
The original plan was for Dooley to coach from a stool on the sideline, but why drag an actual hot seat into the picture? Especially when you’re winless in the SEC.
Not sure what Tennessee is going to do, but if Auburn cares about its football program, it has to change coaches at season’s end. And not just a coordinator or two, even if one of them seems all in so far over his head he needs scuba lessons.
Change staff members, and all you’re doing is rearranging deck chairs on a boat that’s become a submarine. The only way to stop a spiral that began last year with five lopsided losses is to start over. At the top.
All the good work Chizik and his staff did in 2010, in running the table and winning the national championship, has come undone. On and off the field. The fan base he rallied so skillfully that season has turned against him, to the point that one Auburn booster said a quiet movement has begun behind the scenes to gauge and enlist support for Bobby Petrino as the next coach.
The discussion of the next coach can wait. The machinery to create the opening can’t, not with actual or potential job searches at Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky as well. Someone at Auburn has to realize that being a good man isn’t good enough for an SEC head coach. Especially when the best coach in college football lives and works in the same state.
At best, Auburn will finish this year 4-8, and that’s likely only if Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Football quits in the next week to play baseball. At worst, the Tigers will be 3-9, and that’s certain only if the players and coaches haven’t completely splintered before a quality Alabama A&M team comes to town.
There’s no excuse for 3-9 or 4-8 at Auburn. No excuse for 9-11 since the BCS title. No excuse for ugly losses to old rivals and uglier defeats against old doormats.
That’s the state of our state, for better or worse. Alabama’s grinding its way toward a third national title in four years. Auburn’s grinding its gears en route to a second coaching change in that same span.
Both outcomes seem inevitable.
Gene Chizik's Former Auburn Coordinators Getting it Done at New Jobs
BY Kevin Scarbinsky
22 October 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Remember when Gus Malzahn and Ted Roof were supposedly part of the problem at Auburn?
Remember when the thinking was that the SEC had figured out Malzahn's offense and Roof's defense was full of holes?
Look at Gene Chizik’s former coordinators now.
They're both getting the job done in their first years at new schools.
I
n Malzahn’s first year as the Arkansas State head coach, the Red Wolves are 4-3, with two of the three losses to Oregon and Nebraska, and they’re one game out of first place in the Sun Belt.
Malzahn’s offense isn’t the best he’s ever run, but it’s not bad.
Arkansas State is No. 24 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense, No. 57 in passing offense, No. 35 in total offense and No. 48 in scoring offense. The Red Wolves scored more points than anyone else against Oregon in their 57-34 loss to the Ducks.
In contrast, Auburn is No. 97 in rushing offense and No. 113 in passing offense. If you think that’s bad, the Tigers are No. 119, or next to last, in total offense, and is tied at No. 118, or tied for next to last, in scoring offense.
Thank goodness for Tulane, or anecdotally and statistically, Auburn would have the worst offense in college football.
Roof is a key part of one of the best stories of the season at Penn State. After starting 0-2, the Nittany Lions have won five straight games, and Roof’s defense is a big part of that turnaround. And it is his defense because head coach Bill O’Brien’s area of expertise is on offense.
Penn State is No. 21 in the nation in rushing defense, No. 36 in pass defense, No. 22 in total defense and No. 13 in scoring defense. Roof’s defense is putting up those strong numbers despite playing alongside O’Brien’s hurry-up no-huddle NASCAR offense.
In another contrast, Auburn is No. 95 in rushing defense, No. 90 in pass defense, No. 75 in total defense and No. 55 in scoring defense.
Roof and Chizik never really worked at Auburn as a defensive coordinator-head coach combination. Malzahn and Chizik had philosophical differences last season.
That didn’t mean that Roof and Malzahn were bad football coaches.
They’re not. This season just reinforces that point.
22 October 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Remember when Gus Malzahn and Ted Roof were supposedly part of the problem at Auburn?
Remember when the thinking was that the SEC had figured out Malzahn's offense and Roof's defense was full of holes?
Look at Gene Chizik’s former coordinators now.
They're both getting the job done in their first years at new schools.
I
n Malzahn’s first year as the Arkansas State head coach, the Red Wolves are 4-3, with two of the three losses to Oregon and Nebraska, and they’re one game out of first place in the Sun Belt.
Malzahn’s offense isn’t the best he’s ever run, but it’s not bad.
Arkansas State is No. 24 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense, No. 57 in passing offense, No. 35 in total offense and No. 48 in scoring offense. The Red Wolves scored more points than anyone else against Oregon in their 57-34 loss to the Ducks.
In contrast, Auburn is No. 97 in rushing offense and No. 113 in passing offense. If you think that’s bad, the Tigers are No. 119, or next to last, in total offense, and is tied at No. 118, or tied for next to last, in scoring offense.
Thank goodness for Tulane, or anecdotally and statistically, Auburn would have the worst offense in college football.
Roof is a key part of one of the best stories of the season at Penn State. After starting 0-2, the Nittany Lions have won five straight games, and Roof’s defense is a big part of that turnaround. And it is his defense because head coach Bill O’Brien’s area of expertise is on offense.
Penn State is No. 21 in the nation in rushing defense, No. 36 in pass defense, No. 22 in total defense and No. 13 in scoring defense. Roof’s defense is putting up those strong numbers despite playing alongside O’Brien’s hurry-up no-huddle NASCAR offense.
In another contrast, Auburn is No. 95 in rushing defense, No. 90 in pass defense, No. 75 in total defense and No. 55 in scoring defense.
Roof and Chizik never really worked at Auburn as a defensive coordinator-head coach combination. Malzahn and Chizik had philosophical differences last season.
That didn’t mean that Roof and Malzahn were bad football coaches.
They’re not. This season just reinforces that point.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
The Vanderbilt Game
Here we go again. The Tigers play Vanderbilt in the Music City as a 7-point underdog. Things have changed dramatically since the 2010 National Championship year. At 1 and 5 the Tigers try to avoid their worst start since 1951. It doesn't feel good as concerns swirl around whether Gene Chizik will return next year. The game is the morning SEC game. It looks cold on TV in Nashville.
FIRST QUARTER
Vanderbilt has the first possession and from the 25 the Dores drive right down the field with our defense soft as it has been all year. This is a Vanderbilt team that is supposed to have struggled all year on offense and yet they dominate our defense on this first drive. They run the same plays they've run all year with their offensive line dominating our defensive line while converting two 4th and shorts on the way. Nothing fancy: just straightforward running between the tackles and a couple of short passes. The score comes on a 7-yard run over left tackle. The drive takes up over half of the first quarter. It looks bad quickly. No wonder Vandy chose to receive.
Auburn 0 Vanderbilt 7
AU starts on the 26.
After a 17 yard run by Mason on the first play, the offense, like it has all year, disintegrates.
Auburn is punting from their 47. Two straight negative plays lead to a 3rd and 12 and that leads to the punt.
After the punt into the end zone Vanderbilt starts again.
Vandy goes to the AU 45 on a long run on 3rd and short as we miss tackles like we have all year.
Quentin Riggins says AU is struggling to get lined up on defense as Cassanova McKinzey struggles to get the defense lined up.
The Commodores fumble and AU recovers on the 33. That's a big turnover early. Can we take advantage?
The quarter ends with Auburn facing 2nd and 9 from the 34. Stan White says that if you stop Auburn on first down you stop our offense. This tells you how limited our offense is.
Auburn 0 Vanderbilt 7
SECOND QUARTER
The Tigers are 3 and out after forcing the turnover. This is so sad. On second down McCalebb would have had a first down on a short swing pass but he slips down. How many times have we seen McCalebb stumble and fall down on his own? Too many times to count.
Vanderbilt starts on their 43 after McCalebb interferes with the punt receiver.
Finally a 3 and out by the defense.
Vandy fakes the punt with a 4th and 9 but the plays blows up and Auburn starts on the Vandy 37.
First down at the 22.
First down at the 9.
3rd down at the 10 after a gain of 1 and a loss of 2.
3rd and goal from the 10 and we have to call a timeout to get lined up correctly.
When things are not going well it is so easy to be critical of every little thing.
We have a wide open receiver in the end zone and Mosely throws it behind the receiver. How amazing. We have to settle for the short field goal. Mosely costs us an easy touchdown. You can't win with this kind of QB play. If we can say nothing else, we can clearly say that we do not have an SEC quarterback. Mosely is terrible. If it were me I'd play Jonathan Wallace and forget the other QBs.
Auburn 3 Vanderbilt 7
Vandy on their 25 after the kickoff into the end zone. Parkey may be the best thing going for this team.
Vandy is 3 and out again.
After a long punt Auburn starts on the 17.
Auburn is 3 and out. Our offensive struggles continue. We'll say this the rest of the game.
After a short punt Vandy is on their 43.
On third down.we have 2 defenders in the backfield but their QB escapes. So sad.
On 4th and inches the Dores go for it & we stop them!
AU on their 48.
There is a first down completion to Blake.
First down at the Vandy 30.
There is a strike to Blake to the 7.
McCalebb is just short of the goal line.
Mason for the touchdown from the one.
Now THAT was a crisp and efficient drive.
Great execution, balance, and rhythm.
The play action worked there.
Establish the run and mix it up.
Both of our scoring drives come after Vandy botches it on 4th down.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 7
We have momentum. This is where our letups have occurred. What will happen today?
Vandy starts at their 22 with a minute fifteen left in the half.
Auburn has only one interception all year. This will be a good time for one.
We show soft coverage to allow Vandy to move into field goal range.
The Commodores are all the way down to the Auburn 22.
Our pass coverage is way too soft.
20 seconds left and Vandy has 2 timeouts.
3rd and 10 from the 22.
I do not understand why our defense plays so soft allowing Vanderbilt to move down the field on short passes.
With 3 seconds left the Commodores kick the 30 yard field goal.
Just like last week the Dores go right down the field to tie the game with just over a minute left. Just like last week. I don't understand it. I really don't. We give up putting pressure on their quarterback and let them short pass right down the field. I don't understand it. Ole Miss did the same thing last week. I mean exactly like last week.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 10
THIRD QUARTER
At the half Chizik says the team has to finish. No joke. It will be a field position game. Auburn has missed opportunties in the first half. On that last score Auburn was in offensive rhythm for the first time. Auburn has to will itself to win. This is a game for Auburn to win. Will it happen or will the Tigers collapse in the 4th quarter like they have in the past?
AU starts on the 19.
First down run by Mason.
9 yard run by McCalebb.
Prosch for the first down.
An 11 yard run by McCalebb.
Wallace fumbles, Prosch recovers, but it's a big loss.
Here we go again. A big negative play.
We move to 3rd and 14. A big loss puts us behind the 8-ball again.
Mosely is sacked on a 3-man rush. Here we go again. A promising drive gets stonewalled by a huge negative play as Wallace fumbles and Prosch has to recover for a double digit loss.
After the punt Vandy starts around their 15.
This is a bad omen.
You've got two not very good teams here and only one will be standing at the end.
Vandy to the 31.
Vandy to the 40.
Our defense is folding.
Vandy to the AU 32.
The Dores are cutting our defense to pieces.
Vandy runs 30 yards to the Auburn 2.
There is the touchdown. Vanderbilt manhandles our defense. This is sad, so sad.
That was ugly. What can you say? This team is like night and day. Our defense has quit and our offense kills itself. It was like we didn't have enough defensive players on the field. This game is history. We are going to get blown out by Vanderbilt.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 17
Auburn starts on their 15.
Mason is stacked up.
This is a confused offense says Stan White. So sad.
The Tigers are 3 and out. It's like our offense doesn't have a clue.
We have another interference call on the punt and Vandy has great field position on the Auburn 45.
Our announcers say these are junior high penalities. We keep making the same mistakes over and over.
We have absolutely no pass rush. Thank goodness our pass defense is good at times. It's good down the field but we still give yardage on the short passes.
The Auburn 45 is as far as they can go.
The punt goes into the end zone.
We trail only by a touchdown but our defense is comatose.
There is a long run by Mason.
AU on the Vandy 40.
There is a procedure penalty. As always we make a mistake to bring up first and 15.
After a short pass completion to McCalebb there is ANOTHER procedure penalty. Our offense again and again shoots itself in the foot. It is amazing.
There is a no gain completion to Bray. It is amazing how this offense self-destructs.
Now Mosely is sacked. After the big gain. Auburn goes BACKWARD 20 yards. This is utterly amazing how poor our offense is. This is a poor, poor offense. There is no other way to put it.
We don't get to the line of scrimmage until 8 or 9 seconds are left on the clock which leads to complete discombobulation as Mosely looks to the sideline for an update to the play call. The offense is slow, slow, and slower.
Vandy regains possession as the 4th quarter ends.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 17
FOURTH QUARTER
Here we are in another fourth quarter. This is where Auburn fades. Of course, it looks like we've already faded in the third quarter.
The Commodores go three and out.
The Tigers start at their 49.
Can the Tigers finally win the fourth quarter? I doubt it.
The Tigers move to the Commodore 24.
McCalebb to the 20.
Mason loses a yard.
Incomplete pass. Poor decision by Mosely.
Thanks goodness for our placekicker as Parkey makes the 39 yard FG.
Auburn 13 Vanderbilt 17
The field goal is all fine and dandy but it will take at least another touchdown to win this game.
This is an ugly game by two below average teams. Vanderbilt is still Vanderbilt but this is not the Auburn football we expect.
Vandy starts on their 25 after the touchback.
There is a long pass completion to a wide-open receiver to the Auburn 38 which Stan White calls "pitiful."
If we give up a touchdown here it's all over. It's probably over anyway.
The Dores go for it on 4th and 3 from around the AU 31.
We stuff the attempted halfback pass.
The Tigers start on their 38.
Auburn has not scored a single touchdown in the 4th quarter all year.
The Tigers are 3 and out after having a 2nd and 2.
McCalebb runs sideways on third down. That play is easy to read. McCalebb is a great East and West runner but he can't turn it North and South. Why would you run McCalebbb laterally on third and short?
That is a baffling play call on third and short.
Outside of opening drives in both halves our defense has played pretty well.
We need a 3 and out here and a miracle by our offense.
Vandy starts on their 19 and very quickly there is a 27 yard run by their wildcat QB.
Well, that is that.
There is a five yard gain. Auburn will lose the fourth quarter once again.
Our offense is incredibly inept and our defense tries to hang on but gets worn down, this time to lowly Vanderbilt. Make no mistake about it---this is still Vanderbilt and Auburn has no busines losing to Vanderbilt, but it is going to happen today.
There's a run up the middle for a first down. Barring a turnover, AU will lose again.
Our offense is inept and can't get anything done leaving our defense to hang on.
Vandy fumbles on 3rd and 6 and Auburn recovers on the Vandy 32.
The clock says 2:24. Auburn has a long way to go and there is no confidence that we can drive for a touchdown.
Auburn moves to the Vandy 40 on a pass completion on 3rd and one.
On 4th down we overthrow Coates who was wide-open BUT, there was a penalty that would have negated the play anyway.
Auburn will lose to Vanderbilt.
Stan White says there is no excuse for our offense. None whatsover.
How embarassing.
"It's ugly," Stan White says.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 13 Vanderbilt 17
I think I've said all that needs to be said. This is a terrible Auburn football team. In particular, the offense is ridiculously bad.
Like I said to start with, here we go again.
FIRST QUARTER
Vanderbilt has the first possession and from the 25 the Dores drive right down the field with our defense soft as it has been all year. This is a Vanderbilt team that is supposed to have struggled all year on offense and yet they dominate our defense on this first drive. They run the same plays they've run all year with their offensive line dominating our defensive line while converting two 4th and shorts on the way. Nothing fancy: just straightforward running between the tackles and a couple of short passes. The score comes on a 7-yard run over left tackle. The drive takes up over half of the first quarter. It looks bad quickly. No wonder Vandy chose to receive.
Auburn 0 Vanderbilt 7
AU starts on the 26.
After a 17 yard run by Mason on the first play, the offense, like it has all year, disintegrates.
Auburn is punting from their 47. Two straight negative plays lead to a 3rd and 12 and that leads to the punt.
After the punt into the end zone Vanderbilt starts again.
Vandy goes to the AU 45 on a long run on 3rd and short as we miss tackles like we have all year.
Quentin Riggins says AU is struggling to get lined up on defense as Cassanova McKinzey struggles to get the defense lined up.
The Commodores fumble and AU recovers on the 33. That's a big turnover early. Can we take advantage?
The quarter ends with Auburn facing 2nd and 9 from the 34. Stan White says that if you stop Auburn on first down you stop our offense. This tells you how limited our offense is.
Auburn 0 Vanderbilt 7
SECOND QUARTER
The Tigers are 3 and out after forcing the turnover. This is so sad. On second down McCalebb would have had a first down on a short swing pass but he slips down. How many times have we seen McCalebb stumble and fall down on his own? Too many times to count.
Vanderbilt starts on their 43 after McCalebb interferes with the punt receiver.
Finally a 3 and out by the defense.
Vandy fakes the punt with a 4th and 9 but the plays blows up and Auburn starts on the Vandy 37.
First down at the 22.
First down at the 9.
3rd down at the 10 after a gain of 1 and a loss of 2.
3rd and goal from the 10 and we have to call a timeout to get lined up correctly.
When things are not going well it is so easy to be critical of every little thing.
We have a wide open receiver in the end zone and Mosely throws it behind the receiver. How amazing. We have to settle for the short field goal. Mosely costs us an easy touchdown. You can't win with this kind of QB play. If we can say nothing else, we can clearly say that we do not have an SEC quarterback. Mosely is terrible. If it were me I'd play Jonathan Wallace and forget the other QBs.
Auburn 3 Vanderbilt 7
Vandy on their 25 after the kickoff into the end zone. Parkey may be the best thing going for this team.
Vandy is 3 and out again.
After a long punt Auburn starts on the 17.
Auburn is 3 and out. Our offensive struggles continue. We'll say this the rest of the game.
After a short punt Vandy is on their 43.
On third down.we have 2 defenders in the backfield but their QB escapes. So sad.
On 4th and inches the Dores go for it & we stop them!
AU on their 48.
There is a first down completion to Blake.
First down at the Vandy 30.
There is a strike to Blake to the 7.
McCalebb is just short of the goal line.
Mason for the touchdown from the one.
Now THAT was a crisp and efficient drive.
Great execution, balance, and rhythm.
The play action worked there.
Establish the run and mix it up.
Both of our scoring drives come after Vandy botches it on 4th down.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 7
We have momentum. This is where our letups have occurred. What will happen today?
Vandy starts at their 22 with a minute fifteen left in the half.
Auburn has only one interception all year. This will be a good time for one.
We show soft coverage to allow Vandy to move into field goal range.
The Commodores are all the way down to the Auburn 22.
Our pass coverage is way too soft.
20 seconds left and Vandy has 2 timeouts.
3rd and 10 from the 22.
I do not understand why our defense plays so soft allowing Vanderbilt to move down the field on short passes.
With 3 seconds left the Commodores kick the 30 yard field goal.
Just like last week the Dores go right down the field to tie the game with just over a minute left. Just like last week. I don't understand it. I really don't. We give up putting pressure on their quarterback and let them short pass right down the field. I don't understand it. Ole Miss did the same thing last week. I mean exactly like last week.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 10
THIRD QUARTER
At the half Chizik says the team has to finish. No joke. It will be a field position game. Auburn has missed opportunties in the first half. On that last score Auburn was in offensive rhythm for the first time. Auburn has to will itself to win. This is a game for Auburn to win. Will it happen or will the Tigers collapse in the 4th quarter like they have in the past?
AU starts on the 19.
First down run by Mason.
9 yard run by McCalebb.
Prosch for the first down.
An 11 yard run by McCalebb.
Wallace fumbles, Prosch recovers, but it's a big loss.
Here we go again. A big negative play.
We move to 3rd and 14. A big loss puts us behind the 8-ball again.
Mosely is sacked on a 3-man rush. Here we go again. A promising drive gets stonewalled by a huge negative play as Wallace fumbles and Prosch has to recover for a double digit loss.
After the punt Vandy starts around their 15.
This is a bad omen.
You've got two not very good teams here and only one will be standing at the end.
Vandy to the 31.
Vandy to the 40.
Our defense is folding.
Vandy to the AU 32.
The Dores are cutting our defense to pieces.
Vandy runs 30 yards to the Auburn 2.
There is the touchdown. Vanderbilt manhandles our defense. This is sad, so sad.
That was ugly. What can you say? This team is like night and day. Our defense has quit and our offense kills itself. It was like we didn't have enough defensive players on the field. This game is history. We are going to get blown out by Vanderbilt.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 17
Auburn starts on their 15.
Mason is stacked up.
This is a confused offense says Stan White. So sad.
The Tigers are 3 and out. It's like our offense doesn't have a clue.
We have another interference call on the punt and Vandy has great field position on the Auburn 45.
Our announcers say these are junior high penalities. We keep making the same mistakes over and over.
We have absolutely no pass rush. Thank goodness our pass defense is good at times. It's good down the field but we still give yardage on the short passes.
The Auburn 45 is as far as they can go.
The punt goes into the end zone.
We trail only by a touchdown but our defense is comatose.
There is a long run by Mason.
AU on the Vandy 40.
There is a procedure penalty. As always we make a mistake to bring up first and 15.
After a short pass completion to McCalebb there is ANOTHER procedure penalty. Our offense again and again shoots itself in the foot. It is amazing.
There is a no gain completion to Bray. It is amazing how this offense self-destructs.
Now Mosely is sacked. After the big gain. Auburn goes BACKWARD 20 yards. This is utterly amazing how poor our offense is. This is a poor, poor offense. There is no other way to put it.
We don't get to the line of scrimmage until 8 or 9 seconds are left on the clock which leads to complete discombobulation as Mosely looks to the sideline for an update to the play call. The offense is slow, slow, and slower.
Vandy regains possession as the 4th quarter ends.
Auburn 10 Vanderbilt 17
FOURTH QUARTER
Here we are in another fourth quarter. This is where Auburn fades. Of course, it looks like we've already faded in the third quarter.
The Commodores go three and out.
The Tigers start at their 49.
Can the Tigers finally win the fourth quarter? I doubt it.
The Tigers move to the Commodore 24.
McCalebb to the 20.
Mason loses a yard.
Incomplete pass. Poor decision by Mosely.
Thanks goodness for our placekicker as Parkey makes the 39 yard FG.
Auburn 13 Vanderbilt 17
The field goal is all fine and dandy but it will take at least another touchdown to win this game.
This is an ugly game by two below average teams. Vanderbilt is still Vanderbilt but this is not the Auburn football we expect.
Vandy starts on their 25 after the touchback.
There is a long pass completion to a wide-open receiver to the Auburn 38 which Stan White calls "pitiful."
If we give up a touchdown here it's all over. It's probably over anyway.
The Dores go for it on 4th and 3 from around the AU 31.
We stuff the attempted halfback pass.
The Tigers start on their 38.
Auburn has not scored a single touchdown in the 4th quarter all year.
The Tigers are 3 and out after having a 2nd and 2.
McCalebb runs sideways on third down. That play is easy to read. McCalebb is a great East and West runner but he can't turn it North and South. Why would you run McCalebbb laterally on third and short?
That is a baffling play call on third and short.
Outside of opening drives in both halves our defense has played pretty well.
We need a 3 and out here and a miracle by our offense.
Vandy starts on their 19 and very quickly there is a 27 yard run by their wildcat QB.
Well, that is that.
There is a five yard gain. Auburn will lose the fourth quarter once again.
Our offense is incredibly inept and our defense tries to hang on but gets worn down, this time to lowly Vanderbilt. Make no mistake about it---this is still Vanderbilt and Auburn has no busines losing to Vanderbilt, but it is going to happen today.
There's a run up the middle for a first down. Barring a turnover, AU will lose again.
Our offense is inept and can't get anything done leaving our defense to hang on.
Vandy fumbles on 3rd and 6 and Auburn recovers on the Vandy 32.
The clock says 2:24. Auburn has a long way to go and there is no confidence that we can drive for a touchdown.
Auburn moves to the Vandy 40 on a pass completion on 3rd and one.
On 4th down we overthrow Coates who was wide-open BUT, there was a penalty that would have negated the play anyway.
Auburn will lose to Vanderbilt.
Stan White says there is no excuse for our offense. None whatsover.
How embarassing.
"It's ugly," Stan White says.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 13 Vanderbilt 17
I think I've said all that needs to be said. This is a terrible Auburn football team. In particular, the offense is ridiculously bad.
Like I said to start with, here we go again.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Pat Dye Says One of Auburn QBs Must "stand up and become a man"
BY Matt Scalici
15 October 2012
"It is what it is and I don't see it getting any better."
That was former Auburn coach Pat Dye's assessment of Auburn's disappointing 1-5 start to the 2012 season when he spoke on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network on Monday afternoon. Dye said he doesn't see Auburn winning an SEC game this season, including Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.
'I don't see us winning one Paul. It will be a big upset if we win Saturday against Vanderbilt. Everybody knows that that's not acceptable."
In assessing the fundamental problems with Auburn's 2012 squad, Dye said the Tigers' problems are numerous but that the quarterback position was the single-biggest obstacle to Auburn's success.
"We've got problems that are not solvable on offense," Dye said. "You've got to have a quarterback to win in this league. Every team that we've played, their quarterback has been better than ours."
Dye said that Auburn's struggles up front have likely made it more difficult for the quarterbacks to have success.
"In fairness to them (the quarterbacks), we've got a young offensive line starting, two sophomores and two freshmen and a senior that's not playing very well. They're getting more pressure than they should get and they're not handling it well."
Dye said the development of Auburn quarterbacks Kiehl Frazier and Clint Moseley is the key to turning around the program.
"In the 4th quarter, it's just total collapse. If you're gonna be a man, you want to stand up and be a man in the 4th quarter. If you're a good football team and you're a good football team, it's going to come down to the 4th quarter. I think in the 4th quarter we've had 9 turnovers and our opponents have had 2, and that comes down to the quarterbacks."
"Unless one of them stands up and becomes a man, and I haven't seen it yet, I don't think we stand a chance. Not against a good football team."
Despite Auburn's struggles, Dye reiterated his support for current Tigers head coach Gene Chizik.
"My confidence in Gene and that coaching staff has not changed. I still believe in them. I believe in them because of the kind of men they are and where they came from and what their history is. You can't have any better background. It's not what we're doing offensively and it's not the playcalling."
"The fact remains that we have gotten sub-par play at linebacker, which creates problems stopping the running game, and the secondary is young and growing. They played as hard as any football team I've ever seen at Auburn against LSU. If they'd done anything offensively they'd have had a chance to win it."
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel but it's tough walking through the darknesss. You've got to persevere."
Dye said two other SEC schools, Ole Miss and Alabama, provide perfect examples of what could be solutions to Auburn's quarterback issues.
"Mississippi did a smart thing when they went and got a junior college quarterback. He ain't no great quarterback but he's mature. He's man enough to take the criticism that comes with the position. If you can't take it, it makes a coward out of you. To me, that's the problem we've got right now.
"Coach Saban makes A.J. McCarron's job as easy as he can make it and he's doing a great job. He could probably expand what McCarron's doing and score 60 points a game but he's being smart and playing young players and managing the game."
15 October 2012
"It is what it is and I don't see it getting any better."
That was former Auburn coach Pat Dye's assessment of Auburn's disappointing 1-5 start to the 2012 season when he spoke on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network on Monday afternoon. Dye said he doesn't see Auburn winning an SEC game this season, including Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.
'I don't see us winning one Paul. It will be a big upset if we win Saturday against Vanderbilt. Everybody knows that that's not acceptable."
In assessing the fundamental problems with Auburn's 2012 squad, Dye said the Tigers' problems are numerous but that the quarterback position was the single-biggest obstacle to Auburn's success.
"We've got problems that are not solvable on offense," Dye said. "You've got to have a quarterback to win in this league. Every team that we've played, their quarterback has been better than ours."
Dye said that Auburn's struggles up front have likely made it more difficult for the quarterbacks to have success.
"In fairness to them (the quarterbacks), we've got a young offensive line starting, two sophomores and two freshmen and a senior that's not playing very well. They're getting more pressure than they should get and they're not handling it well."
Dye said the development of Auburn quarterbacks Kiehl Frazier and Clint Moseley is the key to turning around the program.
"In the 4th quarter, it's just total collapse. If you're gonna be a man, you want to stand up and be a man in the 4th quarter. If you're a good football team and you're a good football team, it's going to come down to the 4th quarter. I think in the 4th quarter we've had 9 turnovers and our opponents have had 2, and that comes down to the quarterbacks."
"Unless one of them stands up and becomes a man, and I haven't seen it yet, I don't think we stand a chance. Not against a good football team."
Despite Auburn's struggles, Dye reiterated his support for current Tigers head coach Gene Chizik.
"My confidence in Gene and that coaching staff has not changed. I still believe in them. I believe in them because of the kind of men they are and where they came from and what their history is. You can't have any better background. It's not what we're doing offensively and it's not the playcalling."
"The fact remains that we have gotten sub-par play at linebacker, which creates problems stopping the running game, and the secondary is young and growing. They played as hard as any football team I've ever seen at Auburn against LSU. If they'd done anything offensively they'd have had a chance to win it."
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel but it's tough walking through the darknesss. You've got to persevere."
Dye said two other SEC schools, Ole Miss and Alabama, provide perfect examples of what could be solutions to Auburn's quarterback issues.
"Mississippi did a smart thing when they went and got a junior college quarterback. He ain't no great quarterback but he's mature. He's man enough to take the criticism that comes with the position. If you can't take it, it makes a coward out of you. To me, that's the problem we've got right now.
"Coach Saban makes A.J. McCarron's job as easy as he can make it and he's doing a great job. He could probably expand what McCarron's doing and score 60 points a game but he's being smart and playing young players and managing the game."
Sunday, October 14, 2012
The Ole Miss Game
It's going to be a tough rest of the season. After losing to the Rebels yesterday and with a record of 1 & 5 everyone knows that Chizik is on his way out. He will be terminated at the end of the season. I see no way he will get another season. The slide has gone too far. The situation cannot be redeemed. Who will be the next head football coach at Auburn University?
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Arkansas Game
The understatement of Chizik's Auburn tenure would be to say that Auburn needs to win this game today. At 1 & 3 playing a 1 & 4 Arkansas team that has given up points in bunches this year the Tigers desperately need to win this football game if they have any hopes of a winning season and a bowl game. The offense needs to shine today as it hasn't all year. We need to eliminate any turnovers. Arkansas can score; it's just that their defense has been terrible. The game is an 11 o'clock kickoff on ESPN 2.
FIRST QUARTER
Arkansas receives and from their 25 move the ball right down the field starting with a 40 yard pass completion. The Hogs move into the red zone before our defense stiffens and they miss a short FG as the ball hits the right upright.
The Tigers drive across midfield but then get pushed back to the 50 where Steven Clark punts into the end zone. Arkansas is getting pressure on Frazier. Stan White says Frazier is looking at the rush and is not looking downfield. This is not a good start for our offense. Our offensive line is letting the rush in and Frazier looks lost. Our offense definitely does not look better.
Their QB Wilson is getting plenty of time to throw the ball. This is a big differnce so far in the two team's first possessions. The Hogs move the ball again. Their QB has time and their receivers are open. This is not going well. Their offense is making our defense look helpless. We continue to have busted pass coverages. The touchdown comes after another picture perfect drive on a straight run into the end zone from the two. This is bad.
Auburn 0 Arkansas 7
A different day but the same story for Auburn. Another slow start for the Tigers. Their QB is picking our defense apart. We are getting zero pressure on their quarterback. Our offense is looking like it has all year, which is to say, terrible. We are certainly not as physical as we were against LSU. Something is wrong. Arkansas is doing what they've been doing all year on offense.
McCalebb mishandles the ball in the end zone and can't make it back to the 10. Jay Prosch carries for the first time from the 7 to the 10. There's a first down pass to Blake as the quarter ends.
Auburn 0 Arkansas 7
SECOND QUARTER
Going into the second quarter it appears that we are going to lose this game. Our offense will not win a shootout against Arkansas if that is what this game turns out to be. With our offense, of course, a shootout is unlikely. More likely lots of points for Arkansas and much fewer for us.
We start moving the ball but then Frazier loses 12. That's 3 sacks so far by the Hogs. Frazier has to learn to get rid of the ball. Our offense has some good plays but we have so many negative plays. We were moving the ball but then Frazier allows himself to get sacked for a 12-yard loss.
Arkansas, leading by 7, starts on their 19. We are going to lose this game barring a miraculous turnaround.
This is sad. One thing: Frazier is not an SEC quarterback. He doesn't know how to look downfield. He doesn't know how to get rid of the ball. Our offensive line is allowing penetration on every play against a defense that has given up over 50 points twice this year.
We get a 3 and out as they come up a yard short of the first down.
The punt rolls dead on the AU 19.
Here we go again. There is no reason to think we will move the ball any better than we have in our first 2 possessions.
Blake catches a pass but the ball comes out and Arkansas on the AU 29. This is big trouble. Blake fumbles and it's all on him.
There is a pass to a wide-open tight end. Their TE has been open all game. Our linebackers seem to be lost at times. It's about assignment football Stan White says. We cannot cover the TE. This is not a well-coached defense. Our hopes after LSU have been dashed that this team would be more physical and improve. This team has regressed. Our linebackers are struggling. Jake Holland is awful. Our linebackers are missing their QB bootlegs.
At least we hold them to a field goal .
Auburn 0 Arkansas 10
I suppose that is something of a minor victory for our defense, but still, we look terrible on both sides of the ball. The Blake fumble leads to 3 for Arkansas.
We start on the 25.
There is a 22-yd. pass to Stallworth.
There is great pass and catch to Coates.
Frazier looks good on this drive.
But then the drive stalls and on third down Frazier holds the ball and goes down on a big sack. Frazier continues to do this. We move the ball but once again we have a huge negarive play as Frazier doesn't throw the ball away. He stands back there, runs around, and ends up taking a big sack.
Parkey misses the long FG attempt. Frazier's big sack probably costs us 3.
Arkansas moves the ball as the quarter winds down. You can tell they have a very good senior QB.
They are winning the battle of the trenches as their lines on both sides of the ball are dominating our lines.
The Hogs miss a 50-yrd. FG attempt.
As the clock winds down Frazier completes a pass to Blake to the Hog 49.
But then there is an interception as Blake doesn't look around on a high throw.
The first half mercifully ends. It looks bad at the half. Very bad.
Auburn 0 Arkansas 10
THIRD QUARTER
Despite the week off, Auburn has shown no improvement. Arkansas is winning the line of scrimmage. This is an Arkansas team that is ranked 116th in the country on defense and we are shut out so far. Our offense is ranked 113th and we are showing it. If we lose this game it cannot be explained away. The improved team we showed against LSU is nowhere to be seen.
Big change! Clint Mosely starts the second half at quarterback. We must run the football better.
No change. We are pushed back from the 25. It doesn't matter who the QB is when your offensive line cannot block.
Three and out. No difference. Our offense is ugly. There is no spark whatsoever.
Our special teams are getting in on the act. The punt gives Arkansas possession on our 42. This is team is coming apart right before our eyes. This could be Chizik's Waterloo.
Arkansas had 7 sacks in 5 games coming into today's game. They have 5 already today.
We have a 3 and out as our defense gets a big sack, the first of the game, on Tyler Wilson.
Trovon fair-catches on the AU 10.
We move out to our 41 before a 5 yd. penalty creates a first and 15.
On third down Mosely goes down back at the 19. Just when you get a little excited reality sets in.
But then Arkansas muffs the punt and AU has the ball on the Hog 39. Here is a big break and our offense must take advantage.
Mosely misses a WIDE-OPEN Blake who has his man beat by 5 yards with an overthrow. That would have been a touchdown easy.
Back we go past midfield after a big sack AGAIN on third down.
Auburn punts to the Arky 13. My, my. This is painful to watch. This offense makes a play or two and then goes backwards. We cannot block their blitz. Our QB is easy pickings in the pocket.
That's about 6 sacks so far. That last one was on the line.
I am more confortable with Mosely throwing the ball but he has to be given a chance.
So many, many negative plays for the offense.
Arkansas goes 3 and out.
Our defense looked animated on that series.
The Tigers start at midfield.
The Tigers are 3 and out.
Arkansas fair-catches on their 10.
I would say this game is slipping away. Nothing is going right for our offense. The only way we win is if our defense scores.
Once again Arkansas is 3 and out. Arkansas has yet to make a first down in this half.
Auburn startts at their 32 with 2:46 left in thei third.
What can the offense do? We are not winning the line of scrimmage. Open receivers need to be hit with catchable passes.
There is a 22-yd. pass completion to Mason.
The drive culminates in a 21-yrd TD pass to a wide-open Blake!
Being able to run the ball on that drive led to the touchdown pass.
If we can run the ball and control the line of scrimmage this offense can throw the ball successfully.
The play by Mason turned a 4 yard gain to a 22 yd. gain. Mason sparked the drive.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 10
The quarter ends with Arkansas 2nd and 5 on their 30.
FOURTH QUARTER
Well, at least that last score has made it a game. The 4th quarter will likely be a wild one.
The problem now is that our momentum goes away as Arkansas moves the ball.
There's a poor holding call on Holsey. Unbelievable!
There's a 26-yrd. TD pass.
Just like that Arkansas takes our score back and retakes a 10-point lead.
The Hogs gut-punch our defense. They go right down the field as if our defense wasn't there.
We finally score, have the momentum, and Arkansas, to their credit, takes it right back, moving right down the field virtually unimpeded.
It's hard to understand this football team. It really is. After being aggressive in the third quarter, our defense goes passive.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 17
Mosely is sacked on 2nd and 4 when he cannot get rid of the ball.
A ruffing penalty allows us to keep the ball.
Blakely fumbles and Arkansas recovers on the AU 40.
That should do it. It's ugly, very ugly.
The talk will heat up about Chizik.
This is a poorly performing football team for whatever reasons.
With 9:18 to go Arkansas is at the AU 18 driving for an icing on the cake score.
The Razorbacks run it in from the 2. After having the momentum on an exciting touchdown, AU has been outscored 14 to 0 in the fourth quarter. What is left to say? This is a poorly performing football team with seeming no character.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 24
Arksansas has struggled all year in the 4th quarter, but not today. This is a team that has yielded boatloads of points all year, and all we can manage so far in this game is 7 points. Arkansas has risen to the occasion in the 4th quarter, and Auburn has given up. This team has played horribly.
Stan White says, "Auburn's offense is bad." No joke.
Arkansas has won in every phase of the game today.
We move the ball crisply but Mosely gets hit as he releases the ball, the ball floats, and the ball is intercepted in the end zone. Stan White says Slade got beat which allowed Mosely to get hit.
Not that it matters. This has been a hard game to watch. In a game we desperately needed to win, the Tigers go down ugly. The sad thing is that I don't see any upside the rest of the season. We are dominated by a 1 & 4 team that has given up big points all year.
With 3:36 to go Auburn gets a fumble.
Arkansas's defense is not very good Stan White says, which tells you how bad our offense is, and we've had good field position all game long to start drives.
We have averaged less than 2 yards rushing per attempt.
If we cannot rush the ball against this team, we cannot rush the ball effectively against any SEC team.
After a good pass completion to Trovon Reed, there is an interception in the end zone when Lutzenchirchen lets a smaller man in front of them catch the ball.
No need to run down the rest of the game.
This is one of the toughest losses in Auburn football history.
Let it go at that. The sun will come out again one day in Auburn football, but not this year. This will be one of those years. We've had them before. There will be better years.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 7 Arkansas 24
FIRST QUARTER
Arkansas receives and from their 25 move the ball right down the field starting with a 40 yard pass completion. The Hogs move into the red zone before our defense stiffens and they miss a short FG as the ball hits the right upright.
The Tigers drive across midfield but then get pushed back to the 50 where Steven Clark punts into the end zone. Arkansas is getting pressure on Frazier. Stan White says Frazier is looking at the rush and is not looking downfield. This is not a good start for our offense. Our offensive line is letting the rush in and Frazier looks lost. Our offense definitely does not look better.
Their QB Wilson is getting plenty of time to throw the ball. This is a big differnce so far in the two team's first possessions. The Hogs move the ball again. Their QB has time and their receivers are open. This is not going well. Their offense is making our defense look helpless. We continue to have busted pass coverages. The touchdown comes after another picture perfect drive on a straight run into the end zone from the two. This is bad.
Auburn 0 Arkansas 7
A different day but the same story for Auburn. Another slow start for the Tigers. Their QB is picking our defense apart. We are getting zero pressure on their quarterback. Our offense is looking like it has all year, which is to say, terrible. We are certainly not as physical as we were against LSU. Something is wrong. Arkansas is doing what they've been doing all year on offense.
McCalebb mishandles the ball in the end zone and can't make it back to the 10. Jay Prosch carries for the first time from the 7 to the 10. There's a first down pass to Blake as the quarter ends.
Auburn 0 Arkansas 7
SECOND QUARTER
Going into the second quarter it appears that we are going to lose this game. Our offense will not win a shootout against Arkansas if that is what this game turns out to be. With our offense, of course, a shootout is unlikely. More likely lots of points for Arkansas and much fewer for us.
We start moving the ball but then Frazier loses 12. That's 3 sacks so far by the Hogs. Frazier has to learn to get rid of the ball. Our offense has some good plays but we have so many negative plays. We were moving the ball but then Frazier allows himself to get sacked for a 12-yard loss.
Arkansas, leading by 7, starts on their 19. We are going to lose this game barring a miraculous turnaround.
This is sad. One thing: Frazier is not an SEC quarterback. He doesn't know how to look downfield. He doesn't know how to get rid of the ball. Our offensive line is allowing penetration on every play against a defense that has given up over 50 points twice this year.
We get a 3 and out as they come up a yard short of the first down.
The punt rolls dead on the AU 19.
Here we go again. There is no reason to think we will move the ball any better than we have in our first 2 possessions.
Blake catches a pass but the ball comes out and Arkansas on the AU 29. This is big trouble. Blake fumbles and it's all on him.
There is a pass to a wide-open tight end. Their TE has been open all game. Our linebackers seem to be lost at times. It's about assignment football Stan White says. We cannot cover the TE. This is not a well-coached defense. Our hopes after LSU have been dashed that this team would be more physical and improve. This team has regressed. Our linebackers are struggling. Jake Holland is awful. Our linebackers are missing their QB bootlegs.
At least we hold them to a field goal .
Auburn 0 Arkansas 10
I suppose that is something of a minor victory for our defense, but still, we look terrible on both sides of the ball. The Blake fumble leads to 3 for Arkansas.
We start on the 25.
There is a 22-yd. pass to Stallworth.
There is great pass and catch to Coates.
Frazier looks good on this drive.
But then the drive stalls and on third down Frazier holds the ball and goes down on a big sack. Frazier continues to do this. We move the ball but once again we have a huge negarive play as Frazier doesn't throw the ball away. He stands back there, runs around, and ends up taking a big sack.
Parkey misses the long FG attempt. Frazier's big sack probably costs us 3.
Arkansas moves the ball as the quarter winds down. You can tell they have a very good senior QB.
They are winning the battle of the trenches as their lines on both sides of the ball are dominating our lines.
The Hogs miss a 50-yrd. FG attempt.
As the clock winds down Frazier completes a pass to Blake to the Hog 49.
But then there is an interception as Blake doesn't look around on a high throw.
The first half mercifully ends. It looks bad at the half. Very bad.
Auburn 0 Arkansas 10
THIRD QUARTER
Despite the week off, Auburn has shown no improvement. Arkansas is winning the line of scrimmage. This is an Arkansas team that is ranked 116th in the country on defense and we are shut out so far. Our offense is ranked 113th and we are showing it. If we lose this game it cannot be explained away. The improved team we showed against LSU is nowhere to be seen.
Big change! Clint Mosely starts the second half at quarterback. We must run the football better.
No change. We are pushed back from the 25. It doesn't matter who the QB is when your offensive line cannot block.
Three and out. No difference. Our offense is ugly. There is no spark whatsoever.
Our special teams are getting in on the act. The punt gives Arkansas possession on our 42. This is team is coming apart right before our eyes. This could be Chizik's Waterloo.
Arkansas had 7 sacks in 5 games coming into today's game. They have 5 already today.
We have a 3 and out as our defense gets a big sack, the first of the game, on Tyler Wilson.
Trovon fair-catches on the AU 10.
We move out to our 41 before a 5 yd. penalty creates a first and 15.
On third down Mosely goes down back at the 19. Just when you get a little excited reality sets in.
But then Arkansas muffs the punt and AU has the ball on the Hog 39. Here is a big break and our offense must take advantage.
Mosely misses a WIDE-OPEN Blake who has his man beat by 5 yards with an overthrow. That would have been a touchdown easy.
Back we go past midfield after a big sack AGAIN on third down.
Auburn punts to the Arky 13. My, my. This is painful to watch. This offense makes a play or two and then goes backwards. We cannot block their blitz. Our QB is easy pickings in the pocket.
That's about 6 sacks so far. That last one was on the line.
I am more confortable with Mosely throwing the ball but he has to be given a chance.
So many, many negative plays for the offense.
Arkansas goes 3 and out.
Our defense looked animated on that series.
The Tigers start at midfield.
The Tigers are 3 and out.
Arkansas fair-catches on their 10.
I would say this game is slipping away. Nothing is going right for our offense. The only way we win is if our defense scores.
Once again Arkansas is 3 and out. Arkansas has yet to make a first down in this half.
Auburn startts at their 32 with 2:46 left in thei third.
What can the offense do? We are not winning the line of scrimmage. Open receivers need to be hit with catchable passes.
There is a 22-yd. pass completion to Mason.
The drive culminates in a 21-yrd TD pass to a wide-open Blake!
Being able to run the ball on that drive led to the touchdown pass.
If we can run the ball and control the line of scrimmage this offense can throw the ball successfully.
The play by Mason turned a 4 yard gain to a 22 yd. gain. Mason sparked the drive.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 10
The quarter ends with Arkansas 2nd and 5 on their 30.
FOURTH QUARTER
Well, at least that last score has made it a game. The 4th quarter will likely be a wild one.
The problem now is that our momentum goes away as Arkansas moves the ball.
There's a poor holding call on Holsey. Unbelievable!
There's a 26-yrd. TD pass.
Just like that Arkansas takes our score back and retakes a 10-point lead.
The Hogs gut-punch our defense. They go right down the field as if our defense wasn't there.
We finally score, have the momentum, and Arkansas, to their credit, takes it right back, moving right down the field virtually unimpeded.
It's hard to understand this football team. It really is. After being aggressive in the third quarter, our defense goes passive.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 17
Mosely is sacked on 2nd and 4 when he cannot get rid of the ball.
A ruffing penalty allows us to keep the ball.
Blakely fumbles and Arkansas recovers on the AU 40.
That should do it. It's ugly, very ugly.
The talk will heat up about Chizik.
This is a poorly performing football team for whatever reasons.
With 9:18 to go Arkansas is at the AU 18 driving for an icing on the cake score.
The Razorbacks run it in from the 2. After having the momentum on an exciting touchdown, AU has been outscored 14 to 0 in the fourth quarter. What is left to say? This is a poorly performing football team with seeming no character.
Auburn 7 Arkansas 24
Arksansas has struggled all year in the 4th quarter, but not today. This is a team that has yielded boatloads of points all year, and all we can manage so far in this game is 7 points. Arkansas has risen to the occasion in the 4th quarter, and Auburn has given up. This team has played horribly.
Stan White says, "Auburn's offense is bad." No joke.
Arkansas has won in every phase of the game today.
We move the ball crisply but Mosely gets hit as he releases the ball, the ball floats, and the ball is intercepted in the end zone. Stan White says Slade got beat which allowed Mosely to get hit.
Not that it matters. This has been a hard game to watch. In a game we desperately needed to win, the Tigers go down ugly. The sad thing is that I don't see any upside the rest of the season. We are dominated by a 1 & 4 team that has given up big points all year.
With 3:36 to go Auburn gets a fumble.
Arkansas's defense is not very good Stan White says, which tells you how bad our offense is, and we've had good field position all game long to start drives.
We have averaged less than 2 yards rushing per attempt.
If we cannot rush the ball against this team, we cannot rush the ball effectively against any SEC team.
After a good pass completion to Trovon Reed, there is an interception in the end zone when Lutzenchirchen lets a smaller man in front of them catch the ball.
No need to run down the rest of the game.
This is one of the toughest losses in Auburn football history.
Let it go at that. The sun will come out again one day in Auburn football, but not this year. This will be one of those years. We've had them before. There will be better years.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 7 Arkansas 24
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