All week long we've heard what a big game this is. Auburn needs a win in the worst way against one of our biggest historical rivals. Gus Malzahn needs a win for job security. Funny things happen in this series. What will happen tonight? The game kick off at 5 on ESPN at Jordan-Hare. LSU is a 3.5 point favorite. Will our defense continue to play well? Will our offense show up? Not likely on the latter. I'll be shocked if our offense sustains any kind of momentum and rhythm. I'll be very surprised if we win this game.
FIRST QUARTER
The Tigers receive but go three and out as Tony Stevens drops a 3rd and 1 pass that would have been a first down.
After one first down LSU is punting though their big running back looks tough.
AU begins their second possession at their 40.
First play there's a loss of ten on a sack. 2nd and 20 right off the bat.
We cannot overcome the loss on first down and punt on 4th and 1 from the 49.
That's 2 straight three and outs. Kyle Davis should have had the first but he juked instead of going straight ahead and was tackled a hard short. Tony Stevens should have caught a first down pass on the first possession and Davis should have the first down on the second one.
LSU will start after the punt at their 13. We should have gone for the first down near midfield.
LSU goes three and out again.
Auburn gets the ball back at the 49 where they had 4th and 1 before.
First down pass to the 34 to Stevens.
Alas, as usual, we move to 4th down and a long FG attempt.
One of our many offensive problems is negative plays. A failed statue-of-liberty play on that series for example.
Daniel Carlson drills a 51-yd field goal. Thank goodness for our place kicker!
Auburn 3 LSU 0
LSU gets a long run all the way to our 10 with a 52 yard run and they punch it in. Their alternate running back pops thru a crease and away he goes. Their power running game is superior to our defensive front. LSU answer our score like good teams do.
Auburn 3 LSU 7
In the first quarter I see LSU winning this game easily.
Our offense needs to answer but we have not done this so far this season.
The Tigers drive to a 2nd and 7 at the LSU 35.
SECOND QUARTER
Pettway runs us down to the 13 on consecutive runs.
Pettway again to the 9 for a first and goal.
We move to third and goal at the 4.
White goes down on a sack at the 13 as he rolls to his left and holds the ball too long.
Once again Carlson is good.
First and goal at the 9 and we have to again kick the three.
We have to score touchdowns on first and goals.
Auburn 6 LSU 7
First play from the 25 Fournette runs all the way to the AU 40. That was too easy.
Their drive is sustained by an unfortunate targeting call against Tre Williams. Our announcers disagree. Bad call!
Two straight losses including a Lawson sack pushes them to a 51 yard missed field goal!
Despite the bad officiating we stop them.
From the 34 two Pettway runs leads to a first down at the 44.
First down pass to the 18 to Slayton.
We move to third 4 at the 12.
End zone pass incomplete to Stevens. He should have caught it Stan White says.
Carlson makes the 29-yd. field goal. If you can't the 6 you have to at least get the 3.
Auburn 9 LSU 7
5:14 to go in the half.
After one first down LSU is punting at their 45.
Auburn starts at their 19.
What will our offense do from their with 3:10 to go.
A long pass completion to Johnson at the LSU 41.
Johnson runs to the LSU 28.
First down behind Kerryon Johnson at the 5.
We move to third and goal at the one foot line as KJ is just short on second down.
On 4th and goal from the one Johnson is stopped short. Too bad. We should have tried the outside instead of four times between the tackles. Easy to say from here. :)
If KJ had leaped he might have made it but he lowered his head instead.
The half ends.
We dominate the second quarter and lead but it should be a bigger lead.
THIRD QUARTER
LSU receives and after one first down they punt to our 14.
The Tigers drive handsomely.
First down at the LSU 20.
A clear helmet to helmet hit on White is reviewed and not called.
Our annoucers are laughing because it was CLEARLY helmet to helmet hit. Unbelievable.
The drive ends as usual with a Daniel Carlson field goal. Too bad once again.
Auburn 12 LSU 7
LSU goes marching down the field.
Those field goals rather than touchdowns are going to kill us.
LSU is first down at the 12.
Fournette runs to the 8.
After a loss on Fournette LSU is forced to a 29 yard attempt.
The kick is good.
Auburn 12 LSU 10
5:36 to go in the quarter.
On our ensuing possession White fumbles on the 16 and LSU gets the ball.
First turnover of the game. The last thing we needed: a turnover.
LSU overs to third and 3 at the 8 and a timeout.
Our defense holds them to a short field goal.
Auburn 12 LSU 13
Once again our failures in the Red Zone are costing us big.
Can our offense answer? Not likely.
Two Pettway runs between the tackles and we move to third and 5.
We have to do something other than running between the tackles.
First down pass to the 42 to Kyle Davis.
We move to another third and 5.
The quarter ends.
FOURTH QUARTER
Check down pass to Johnson and AU is first down at the 29.
Same song, different verse.
Carlson is good again this time from 37 yards.
Auburn 15 LSU 13
That's 5 field goals and no touchdowns. I find it hard to believe we will win this game without finding the end zone before it's over.
12.36 to go in the football game.
First play and LSU runs to our 41.
FUMBLE!!! on a bad attempted handoff,
Auburn recovers at their 31.
Two incomplete passes and there's a TO third and 10 at our 31.
Alas, we have to punt.
LSU fair catches at their 30.
Well, like I've said, sooner or later we will have to find the end zone to win this game.
LSU has Fournette. I would hand it to him every play.
A chop block on the first play moves them back to the 15.
2nd and 25 as Holsey almost intercepts.
Short completion to 3rd and 18.
9:40 to go.
LSU will have to punt from their 29.
Good defense after we get the fumble and go three and out.
Auburn starts at their 37.
We are too predictable on offense.
First down to the LSU on a completion to Ryan Davis.
Competion to Ryan Davis to the 36.
Kerryon Johnson runs to the 20.
BUT again Carlson is called on again and is true from 29 yards.
Auburn 18 LSU 13
That is 6 field goals for Mr. Carlson.
LSU will have to score a touchdown to win this game.
It will be up to our defense to hold a 4 point lead.
This is scary stuff, but what do you expect from Auburn and LSU?
2;56 to go. LSU begins as usual on their 25.
First down to the 37.
First down to our 47.
2nd and 8 from the AU 45 and a timeout with 1:43 left.
3rd down and 8.
1:38 to go.
Their qb scrambles for the first down to our 28. Bad play for us.
Completion to the 18.
Third and one with 58 seconds to go.
First down to the 14. Oh, my!
44 seconds to go.
What can our defense do?
2 and 10 with 28 seconds to go.
Lawson sacks their QB at the 20.
Third down with 24 seconds to go at the 20.
LSU uses its last timeout.
WHAT AN ENDING!
With one second to go the clock expires before LSU can get their last snap off. The refs let the play go forward anyway. Their pass is complete for the touchdown called on the field BUT on review it was CLEAR that the game ended before they got the snap off. Clearly! I would have blown a gasket if the refs had let that touchdown stand.
Thanks to Daniel Carlson. Thanks to our defense.
It was an old-fashioned type of game but we win and that is all that matters.
I am happy for our players. I am happy for Kevin Steele. He has our defense playing well. Weird things have always happened in this series. It's the nature I guess of Auburn-LSU.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Brandon Marcello Says
Malzahn needs to break this streak of seven straight losses to Power 5 teams, including six to SEC opponents, at home. He needs his offense to score more than two touchdowns for the first time during that SEC stretch and he needs to prove that he can overcome any perceived deficiencies Auburn might have on offense and show that he can out-scheme and out-coach his opponents once again.
A loss tonight would only put 2013 further in the rearview mirror, which is crazy to think. It feels like that magical season was a decade ago following nearly two years of struggles by Malzahn’s offense against SEC opponents.
What happened? Where is the old Gus Malzahn? We might get our answer tonight in what is the biggest game of his career — not because of the stakes in the standings, but because of his own future.
Motivation? Malzahn should have it. Everyone is wondering about his future and if that isn’t enough or the offensive guru to coach his tail off tonight and out-maneuver a strong LSU defense, what will?
Something tells us Malzahn will have a solid game plan in place for LSU tonight.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
LSU time
The pressure ratchets up on Gus Malzahn. He needs to beat LSU, but I wouldn't bet on it happening.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Franklin Time
After the loss to TAMU it's time to give John Franklin III a chance. The offense will not improve under Sean White. It's time to roll the dice.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
2016 Game 3 Texas A and M
Auburn is a 3.5 point favorite. We are 1 and 1 while TAMU is 2 and 0. The visiting team has a habit of winning this game. We need that streak to stop tonight at JH. The game is a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Can we outscore the Aggies? Can our defensive front dominate their offensive line? Can we contain their great defensive end? Can we get pressure on their QB? Can we defend their good receivers? We can't let receivers get loose in the secondary. Did last week's 706 total yardage output signal a return to a Malzahn offense? Let us see.
FIRST QUARTER
The Tigers are three out moving to 4th and 1 after Sean White is sacked on the first play. The punt gives TAMU possession on their 26.
After one first down we push them back on an 11 yard sack on third down. AU regains possession on the 20.
So far we getting pressure on their good quarterback.
The Tigers drive 80 yards for the touchdown mixing the run and short passes. That. Was. A. Great. Touchdown. Drive! Kamryn Pettway runs it in from the one untouched. Pettway is a running bulldozer. That was a great looking offense.
Auburn 7 TAMU 0
TAMU goes three and out from their 25 punting from their 34.
A great punt pins us on our seven with 5:58 to go in the first quarter.
After one first down Auburn is punting.
The Aggies drive to a 46-yd. field goal.
Auburn 7 TAMU 3
The quarter ends with AU having a 2nd and 8 at the Auburn 43.
SECOND QUARTER
We are punting on 4th and 8 after two incomplete passes.
The Aggies fair catch at their 8.
A long pass gets them to the AU 7.
2nd and goal from the 5.
TD pass from there. Too easy on that one.
Auburn 7 TAMU 10
After that touchdown drive our offense has become inconsistent as we have in the recent past.
Tigers end up punting from their 47 on a 4th and 11.
The punt goes into the end zone.
Our offense cannot sustain another drive.
The Aggies have the ball again.
Our defense needs to step up.
Our offense is passive again.
This game is boring so far.
Without a defensive stand or break we are in trouble.
We get a defensive stand.
Punt from the 20 and we start from our 44. Almost a blocked punt.
BUT on the first play from scrimmage Ryan David fumbles at the Aggies are at our 40.
The worst has happened after good field position.
Aggie ball on our 40.
They are quickly at our 14.
Third and 8 from the 12 and a timeout.
Pass incomplete.
4th and 8.
At least we hold them to a field goal with 5:38 to go.
Auburn 7 TAMU 13
We cannot turn the ball over again in this game.
Our offense must get going.
We have 14 yards of offense in the second quarter.
After a 12 yard run by Pettway our offense sputters again.
Luckily the punt rolls to their 9.
3:52 to go.
But a penalty forces another punt after a Phillips 49 yard punt. That is unfortunate. Huge.
The next punt goes only 23 yards. When it rains it pours. The Aggies start at their 40. Little things like get you beat.
First play to the Auburn 20. We are in a lot of trouble here in the closing minutes of the half.
Fortunately we hold them to a field goal with 1:56 to go.
Auburn 7 TAMU 16
Our defense is holding its own. Our offense looks like last year: inconsistent, cannot sustain drives. A fumble gives them good field position. Barring a big offensive turnaround we will lose this game handily.
Auburn is at the Aggie 35 with 22 seconds left and one TO remaining.
As the game clock hits zero Carlson hits a 37 yard field goal.
That's big, but our offensive still has to pick it up considerably in the second half if we have a chance.
This game situation is not promising.
Auburn 10 TAMU 16
THIRD QUARTER
The Aggies get the ball to start the second half. If they get a touchdown on their first possession we will be in big trouble. Big opening possession for them to start the half. The 3 points at the end of the first half might be big. We hope so.
At the half the coach says we have to run the football. Maybe so, but I think it's more important to complete passes. It seems like we hack and hack up the middle with limited success. We need some big plays also. We need to stay out of third and long.
It seems we aren't getting the pressure on their QB that we need. They have good receivers so we must get some pressure on their quarterback.
TAMU goes from the 25 after the touchback.
We get the three and out that we need. The Aggies are quickly punting on their first possession.
Davis fair catches at our 35.
Two running plays and we're at third and 10. We need to throw on first down.
There's a first down throw to Kyle Davis.
We move to their 44 but the offense dies again and we are punting on 4th and 10.
We had an unfortunate delay penalty and could not recover.
Our offense is so weak that we cannot over come mistakes.
TAMU will start on their 21 after a less than desirable punt.
At this point in the game I see that we will lose. Our offense cannot sustain anything. Why think it will change?
Our defense forces another three and out. That's 2 straight by our defense to start the half.
The Tigers start at their 42 after a poor punt.
Two straight three and outs. Where, or where, is our offense? We cannot keep off the scoreboard the rest of the game.
Maybe James Franklin III needs a series.
Pettway between the tackles for only a tackle.
Pettway around right end setting up a third and about 4.
Incomplete pass on third and four.
Well, here we go again as the Tigers cannot take advantage of good field position.
The Aggies take over on their 18 after the punt.
This is not good. We cannot keep their offense down the entire rest of the half.
Another three and out for the defense!
The Aggies punt from their 20.
A good punt and we start at our 23 with 7:23 to go in the third.
If our offense doesn't get going we can say clearly that the offense lost this game as the defense starts the second half with three straight three and outs.
There's a first down pass to Ryan Davis to the 30.
An interference call places the ball around midfield.
Now White gets called for grounding.
Well, we get a break but there is another negative play for the offense as we go to 2nd and long.
Another drive dies as we go backward after getting an interference call.
The offense is bad, bad, bad. Very ugly.
After the punt TAMU starts at their 26.
This is probably where their offense gets going if I had to guess.
Sure enough, the Aggies starts moving the ball across midfield.
I can't get over how bad our offense is. The offense will lose this game for us.
TAMU moves to 4th and 3. The field goal would be 50 plus.
They go for it after a timeout, getting the TO all at the last split second.
3:09 to go in the quarter.
First down pass over the middle. Easy completion. Easy pitch and catch.
This game is getting away from us.
TAMU moves to a first and goal to our 8.
Their offense is showing up; ours isn't.
Third and goal from the 7.
4th and goal from the 7.
The chip shot FG is good.
Auburn 10 TAMU 19
Now they have a 2 score lead. It's a shame our offense is so bad because our defense has played well enough so far to win this game.
This is painful to watch. We are going to lose this game.
Sean White is not good throwing the ball.
Three and out again.
Our offense is sputtering so bad. It's downright ugly and embarrassing.
Auburn surrenders the ball with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Our offense is horrible. Our defense has given great effort.
First down Aggies around midfield.
15 minutes left for a miracle.
FOURTH QUARTER
The final quarter begins with the Tigers trailing by 9 and the Aggies at midfield. As Pat Dye says, there are no miracles on the football field.
Our offense just isn't there. We cannot run between the tackles and it seems that if we can't do this we have no sustainable offense.
Once again our defense holds them to a field goal attempt. The Aggies make their 5th FG of the game. Our defense has allowed them only one touchdown.
Auburn 10 TAMU 22
John Franklin III comes in and makes a good run. Pettway breaks one up the middle. The Tigers drive to a 4th and 3 at their 13 but Franklin is stopped and we give up the ball on downs. We have a momentary spark but it amounts to nothing. On the 4th and 3 Chandler Cox doesn't block his man and Stan White doesn't understand why. The play should have worked. Oh, well.
The Aggies promptly get an 89 yard TD run and the game is blown to pieces. Still I do not blame our defense. With 6:52 to go it's over for sure.
Auburn 10 TAMU 29
How sad. So sad. How can our offense be so bad?
Our announcers point out how bad we are on first down.
Hit and miss on our offense? Mostly miss after only ONE TD drive, the first score of the game.
Franklin comes in and leads the Tigers to a consolation TD.
Kerryon Johnson runs it in from inside the 5.
Auburn 16 TAMU 29 FINAL SCORE
The onside kick fails. We get the ball back again and the game mercifully ends as our last possession ends at the 40 and the Aggies take a knee.
After that first TD drive our offense never gets back into that opening rhythm. Our offense shows no improvement from last year. Something HAS to change with our offense. I think it's the lack of an adequate quarterback.
FIRST QUARTER
The Tigers are three out moving to 4th and 1 after Sean White is sacked on the first play. The punt gives TAMU possession on their 26.
After one first down we push them back on an 11 yard sack on third down. AU regains possession on the 20.
So far we getting pressure on their good quarterback.
The Tigers drive 80 yards for the touchdown mixing the run and short passes. That. Was. A. Great. Touchdown. Drive! Kamryn Pettway runs it in from the one untouched. Pettway is a running bulldozer. That was a great looking offense.
Auburn 7 TAMU 0
TAMU goes three and out from their 25 punting from their 34.
A great punt pins us on our seven with 5:58 to go in the first quarter.
After one first down Auburn is punting.
The Aggies drive to a 46-yd. field goal.
Auburn 7 TAMU 3
The quarter ends with AU having a 2nd and 8 at the Auburn 43.
SECOND QUARTER
We are punting on 4th and 8 after two incomplete passes.
The Aggies fair catch at their 8.
A long pass gets them to the AU 7.
2nd and goal from the 5.
TD pass from there. Too easy on that one.
Auburn 7 TAMU 10
After that touchdown drive our offense has become inconsistent as we have in the recent past.
Tigers end up punting from their 47 on a 4th and 11.
The punt goes into the end zone.
Our offense cannot sustain another drive.
The Aggies have the ball again.
Our defense needs to step up.
Our offense is passive again.
This game is boring so far.
Without a defensive stand or break we are in trouble.
We get a defensive stand.
Punt from the 20 and we start from our 44. Almost a blocked punt.
BUT on the first play from scrimmage Ryan David fumbles at the Aggies are at our 40.
The worst has happened after good field position.
Aggie ball on our 40.
They are quickly at our 14.
Third and 8 from the 12 and a timeout.
Pass incomplete.
4th and 8.
At least we hold them to a field goal with 5:38 to go.
Auburn 7 TAMU 13
We cannot turn the ball over again in this game.
Our offense must get going.
We have 14 yards of offense in the second quarter.
After a 12 yard run by Pettway our offense sputters again.
Luckily the punt rolls to their 9.
3:52 to go.
But a penalty forces another punt after a Phillips 49 yard punt. That is unfortunate. Huge.
The next punt goes only 23 yards. When it rains it pours. The Aggies start at their 40. Little things like get you beat.
First play to the Auburn 20. We are in a lot of trouble here in the closing minutes of the half.
Fortunately we hold them to a field goal with 1:56 to go.
Auburn 7 TAMU 16
Our defense is holding its own. Our offense looks like last year: inconsistent, cannot sustain drives. A fumble gives them good field position. Barring a big offensive turnaround we will lose this game handily.
Auburn is at the Aggie 35 with 22 seconds left and one TO remaining.
As the game clock hits zero Carlson hits a 37 yard field goal.
That's big, but our offensive still has to pick it up considerably in the second half if we have a chance.
This game situation is not promising.
Auburn 10 TAMU 16
THIRD QUARTER
The Aggies get the ball to start the second half. If they get a touchdown on their first possession we will be in big trouble. Big opening possession for them to start the half. The 3 points at the end of the first half might be big. We hope so.
At the half the coach says we have to run the football. Maybe so, but I think it's more important to complete passes. It seems like we hack and hack up the middle with limited success. We need some big plays also. We need to stay out of third and long.
It seems we aren't getting the pressure on their QB that we need. They have good receivers so we must get some pressure on their quarterback.
TAMU goes from the 25 after the touchback.
We get the three and out that we need. The Aggies are quickly punting on their first possession.
Davis fair catches at our 35.
Two running plays and we're at third and 10. We need to throw on first down.
There's a first down throw to Kyle Davis.
We move to their 44 but the offense dies again and we are punting on 4th and 10.
We had an unfortunate delay penalty and could not recover.
Our offense is so weak that we cannot over come mistakes.
TAMU will start on their 21 after a less than desirable punt.
At this point in the game I see that we will lose. Our offense cannot sustain anything. Why think it will change?
Our defense forces another three and out. That's 2 straight by our defense to start the half.
The Tigers start at their 42 after a poor punt.
Two straight three and outs. Where, or where, is our offense? We cannot keep off the scoreboard the rest of the game.
Maybe James Franklin III needs a series.
Pettway between the tackles for only a tackle.
Pettway around right end setting up a third and about 4.
Incomplete pass on third and four.
Well, here we go again as the Tigers cannot take advantage of good field position.
The Aggies take over on their 18 after the punt.
This is not good. We cannot keep their offense down the entire rest of the half.
Another three and out for the defense!
The Aggies punt from their 20.
A good punt and we start at our 23 with 7:23 to go in the third.
If our offense doesn't get going we can say clearly that the offense lost this game as the defense starts the second half with three straight three and outs.
There's a first down pass to Ryan Davis to the 30.
An interference call places the ball around midfield.
Now White gets called for grounding.
Well, we get a break but there is another negative play for the offense as we go to 2nd and long.
Another drive dies as we go backward after getting an interference call.
The offense is bad, bad, bad. Very ugly.
After the punt TAMU starts at their 26.
This is probably where their offense gets going if I had to guess.
Sure enough, the Aggies starts moving the ball across midfield.
I can't get over how bad our offense is. The offense will lose this game for us.
TAMU moves to 4th and 3. The field goal would be 50 plus.
They go for it after a timeout, getting the TO all at the last split second.
3:09 to go in the quarter.
First down pass over the middle. Easy completion. Easy pitch and catch.
This game is getting away from us.
TAMU moves to a first and goal to our 8.
Their offense is showing up; ours isn't.
Third and goal from the 7.
4th and goal from the 7.
The chip shot FG is good.
Auburn 10 TAMU 19
Now they have a 2 score lead. It's a shame our offense is so bad because our defense has played well enough so far to win this game.
This is painful to watch. We are going to lose this game.
Sean White is not good throwing the ball.
Three and out again.
Our offense is sputtering so bad. It's downright ugly and embarrassing.
Auburn surrenders the ball with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Our offense is horrible. Our defense has given great effort.
First down Aggies around midfield.
15 minutes left for a miracle.
FOURTH QUARTER
The final quarter begins with the Tigers trailing by 9 and the Aggies at midfield. As Pat Dye says, there are no miracles on the football field.
Our offense just isn't there. We cannot run between the tackles and it seems that if we can't do this we have no sustainable offense.
Once again our defense holds them to a field goal attempt. The Aggies make their 5th FG of the game. Our defense has allowed them only one touchdown.
Auburn 10 TAMU 22
John Franklin III comes in and makes a good run. Pettway breaks one up the middle. The Tigers drive to a 4th and 3 at their 13 but Franklin is stopped and we give up the ball on downs. We have a momentary spark but it amounts to nothing. On the 4th and 3 Chandler Cox doesn't block his man and Stan White doesn't understand why. The play should have worked. Oh, well.
The Aggies promptly get an 89 yard TD run and the game is blown to pieces. Still I do not blame our defense. With 6:52 to go it's over for sure.
Auburn 10 TAMU 29
How sad. So sad. How can our offense be so bad?
Our announcers point out how bad we are on first down.
Hit and miss on our offense? Mostly miss after only ONE TD drive, the first score of the game.
Franklin comes in and leads the Tigers to a consolation TD.
Kerryon Johnson runs it in from inside the 5.
Auburn 16 TAMU 29 FINAL SCORE
The onside kick fails. We get the ball back again and the game mercifully ends as our last possession ends at the 40 and the Aggies take a knee.
After that first TD drive our offense never gets back into that opening rhythm. Our offense shows no improvement from last year. Something HAS to change with our offense. I think it's the lack of an adequate quarterback.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
After Arkansas State
It always feels good after a win especially after a loss and a game we could have won the week before. Now comes TAMU and LSU, the letter schools. All we can do is see what happens.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
2016 Game 2 Arkansas State
After last Saturday night's 19 to 13 loss to Clemson the Tigers take on Arkansas State, which lost handily to Toledo last Saturday. The game kicks off at 6:30 on the SEC network. Auburn is a 19 point favorite. After last week's 3-quarterback messiness, Sean White is supposed to be the guy now with Franklin second. I wonder if we will see more and more of Franklin as things move along. I think Auburn will win the game, but it won't be pretty.
FIRST QUARTER
ASU receives and after one first down they punt to our 22.
We mount a drive but Kerryon Johnson fumbles unforced and they recover on their 26. We cannot have this. We start with some success but now this.
The Red Wolves drive into Auburn territory but we stop them on 4th and 2 and get the ball on our 34.
NOW can our offense sustain a drive?
On a third and 5 White flips the ball to KJ as he is going and Kerryon reverses his field and goes 47 yards for a touchdown. An electrifying run! Makes up for the fumble. Great individual effort. If Coach Malzahn looks for explosive plays he got one there.
Auburn 7 Arkansas State 0
Lo and behold they get a long 69 yard pass to a wide open receiver in the middle of the field and ASU is inside our one yard line. Next play their QB punches it in from a half yard out. We make a big play to score then give up an even bigger play and they tie the game.
Auburn 7 Arkansas State 7
Kyle Davis makes a spectacular one-handed catch at the 5 yard line IN TRAFFIC!
There is your freshman wide receiver. An amazing catch! 42 yard reception.
Kerryon Johnson wildcats it in from the one.
Auburn 14 Arkansas State 7
The Red Wolves go three and out.
The Tigers start at their 47.
Our offense seems to be in something of a rhythm now.
Auburn is driving as the quarter ends.
SECOND QUARTER
It is announced that Kerryon's 47 yard score has been ruled a lateral. Whatever.
The touchdown comes from the 24 on a pass to Tony Stevens.
Our offense is looking good at this point.
Auburn 21 Arkansas State 7
The Red Wolves go three and out.
Marcus Davis fair catches at the 28 yard line.
The Tigers drive again.
Kamryn Pettway is running hard, and Sean White is impressive running up the middle. He is not running the zone read, but he is showing running ability scrambling and quarterback drawing.
We move to a 4th and 5 from the 20 after an exchange of penalties.
There's a stunning fake FG attempt as the holder flips the ball back to Daniel Carlson and he runs it around right end and there were NO Red Wolves there! You will NEVER see a better fake FG attempt than that one.
Auburn 28 Arkansas State 7
Well, that woke everybody up! You see your field goal kicker running untouched into the end zone and it's exciting!
ASU is punting from their 44. They make a first down or two but then we stop them.
The kick goes into the end zone with 5:04 left.
The offense continues to move the football running and passing. Here we go again.
From the 29 White hits a wide open Will Hastings down the left side for the touchdown.
Auburn 35 Arkansas State 7
We have around 400 yards of total offense so far.
We are under 2 minutes in the half.
Auburn forces a punt with 33 seconds to go and a final timeout called.
The Tigers regain possession on our and 34 and Kamryn Pettway runs like he's shot out of a canon down to their 2 yard line. Wow! Pettway run straight up the middle and he was in their backfield in 2 seconds and he was off to the races.
After an offsides we are their one yard line with 7 seconds left and no timeouts.
White misses a wide open Slayton in the back of the end zone.
4 seconds left.
We go for the field goal and extend the lead on the last play of the half.
But what an explosive burst by Kamryn Pettway. Wow!
At the half Auburn has 452 yards of total offense.
Auburn 38 Arkansas State 7
Auburn receives and on the first play from scrimmage Pettway runs for 29 yards to the 49. Kamryn Pettway looks impressive.
The drive ends with a 37-yd. Carlson field goal.
Auburn 41 Arkansas State 7
We seem to have this game in control. I hope we don't get sloppy now.
The Red Wolves are three and out and the Tigers start on their 29.
9:47 to go in the quarter. As best I can recall, we have not punted in this game.
In only our second offensive failure of the night we miss on a 4th and short and ASU takes the ball on their 47.
A complete pass and the Red Wolves are on our 40.
The defense gets sloppy as they get a 4th down pass to our 5 and their QB runs in on the next play
Auburn 41 Arkansas State 14
From our 18 the offense moves the ball.
Pettway continues to look good. He's a power runner but he has a great burst once he hits the hole.
The Tigers are first and 10 at the 20 after a great third down completion to Slayton.
First and goal at the 8.
TD pass to Stevens in the right corner of the end zone on first down. Great pitch and catch!
Auburn 48 Arkansas State 14
Less than a minute to go in the third. 603 total yards so far.
The quarter ends with AU in control.
FOURTH QUARTER
They drive to our 16, but Carl Lawson gets a big sack on third down and they miss the field goal. Auburn continues to lead 48 to 14 early in the 4th quarter.
The Tigers send in John Franklin III and he electrifies the crowd. When he keeps the ball and heads upfield he is hard to stop.
The drive stops at the 25 but Carlson does it again hitting a 42-yarder.
Auburn 51 Arkansas State 14
That drive was with mostly freshmen on the field.
7:07 left.
ASU drives inside our 30 but the 4th down pass is incomplete.
Auburn is at our 26 with 5:02 remaining.
Down the field we running ball with Franklin at quarterback.
We drive close to the 10. Franklin takes a knee. Auburn comes back from last week racking up 706 yards of offense.
I know it's Arkansas State but I am pleased. An overall great performance, a dominating performance and a total team effort. We have some momentum heading into TAMU next week.
All right!
FIRST QUARTER
ASU receives and after one first down they punt to our 22.
We mount a drive but Kerryon Johnson fumbles unforced and they recover on their 26. We cannot have this. We start with some success but now this.
The Red Wolves drive into Auburn territory but we stop them on 4th and 2 and get the ball on our 34.
NOW can our offense sustain a drive?
On a third and 5 White flips the ball to KJ as he is going and Kerryon reverses his field and goes 47 yards for a touchdown. An electrifying run! Makes up for the fumble. Great individual effort. If Coach Malzahn looks for explosive plays he got one there.
Auburn 7 Arkansas State 0
Lo and behold they get a long 69 yard pass to a wide open receiver in the middle of the field and ASU is inside our one yard line. Next play their QB punches it in from a half yard out. We make a big play to score then give up an even bigger play and they tie the game.
Auburn 7 Arkansas State 7
Kyle Davis makes a spectacular one-handed catch at the 5 yard line IN TRAFFIC!
There is your freshman wide receiver. An amazing catch! 42 yard reception.
Kerryon Johnson wildcats it in from the one.
Auburn 14 Arkansas State 7
The Red Wolves go three and out.
The Tigers start at their 47.
Our offense seems to be in something of a rhythm now.
Auburn is driving as the quarter ends.
SECOND QUARTER
It is announced that Kerryon's 47 yard score has been ruled a lateral. Whatever.
The touchdown comes from the 24 on a pass to Tony Stevens.
Our offense is looking good at this point.
Auburn 21 Arkansas State 7
The Red Wolves go three and out.
Marcus Davis fair catches at the 28 yard line.
The Tigers drive again.
Kamryn Pettway is running hard, and Sean White is impressive running up the middle. He is not running the zone read, but he is showing running ability scrambling and quarterback drawing.
We move to a 4th and 5 from the 20 after an exchange of penalties.
There's a stunning fake FG attempt as the holder flips the ball back to Daniel Carlson and he runs it around right end and there were NO Red Wolves there! You will NEVER see a better fake FG attempt than that one.
Auburn 28 Arkansas State 7
Well, that woke everybody up! You see your field goal kicker running untouched into the end zone and it's exciting!
ASU is punting from their 44. They make a first down or two but then we stop them.
The kick goes into the end zone with 5:04 left.
The offense continues to move the football running and passing. Here we go again.
From the 29 White hits a wide open Will Hastings down the left side for the touchdown.
Auburn 35 Arkansas State 7
We have around 400 yards of total offense so far.
We are under 2 minutes in the half.
Auburn forces a punt with 33 seconds to go and a final timeout called.
The Tigers regain possession on our and 34 and Kamryn Pettway runs like he's shot out of a canon down to their 2 yard line. Wow! Pettway run straight up the middle and he was in their backfield in 2 seconds and he was off to the races.
After an offsides we are their one yard line with 7 seconds left and no timeouts.
White misses a wide open Slayton in the back of the end zone.
4 seconds left.
We go for the field goal and extend the lead on the last play of the half.
But what an explosive burst by Kamryn Pettway. Wow!
At the half Auburn has 452 yards of total offense.
Auburn 38 Arkansas State 7
Auburn receives and on the first play from scrimmage Pettway runs for 29 yards to the 49. Kamryn Pettway looks impressive.
The drive ends with a 37-yd. Carlson field goal.
Auburn 41 Arkansas State 7
We seem to have this game in control. I hope we don't get sloppy now.
The Red Wolves are three and out and the Tigers start on their 29.
9:47 to go in the quarter. As best I can recall, we have not punted in this game.
In only our second offensive failure of the night we miss on a 4th and short and ASU takes the ball on their 47.
A complete pass and the Red Wolves are on our 40.
The defense gets sloppy as they get a 4th down pass to our 5 and their QB runs in on the next play
Auburn 41 Arkansas State 14
From our 18 the offense moves the ball.
Pettway continues to look good. He's a power runner but he has a great burst once he hits the hole.
The Tigers are first and 10 at the 20 after a great third down completion to Slayton.
First and goal at the 8.
TD pass to Stevens in the right corner of the end zone on first down. Great pitch and catch!
Auburn 48 Arkansas State 14
Less than a minute to go in the third. 603 total yards so far.
The quarter ends with AU in control.
FOURTH QUARTER
They drive to our 16, but Carl Lawson gets a big sack on third down and they miss the field goal. Auburn continues to lead 48 to 14 early in the 4th quarter.
The Tigers send in John Franklin III and he electrifies the crowd. When he keeps the ball and heads upfield he is hard to stop.
The drive stops at the 25 but Carlson does it again hitting a 42-yarder.
Auburn 51 Arkansas State 14
That drive was with mostly freshmen on the field.
7:07 left.
ASU drives inside our 30 but the 4th down pass is incomplete.
Auburn is at our 26 with 5:02 remaining.
Down the field we running ball with Franklin at quarterback.
We drive close to the 10. Franklin takes a knee. Auburn comes back from last week racking up 706 yards of offense.
I know it's Arkansas State but I am pleased. An overall great performance, a dominating performance and a total team effort. We have some momentum heading into TAMU next week.
All right!
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
From Here
I have learned over the years that you can never predict what is going to happen in a football season. Last Saturday night proved this once again. Where will this team go from here? I do not know and therefore I cannot predict and therefore won't predict. All we can do is wait and see.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
How bad was the offense?
Auburn vs. Mississippi State, 2008
315 total yards of offense
(Auburn won 3-2)
Auburn vs. Clemson, 2016
262 total yards of offense
315 total yards of offense
(Auburn won 3-2)
Auburn vs. Clemson, 2016
262 total yards of offense
Saturday, September 3, 2016
2016 Game 1 Clemson
Here we go again. The 2016 football season begins on a Saturday night at Jordan Hare as the Tigers take on the Clemson Tigers. The game is on ESPN so we have to wait till 8 for kickoff. Clemson starts the season ranked #2 and they are a 7.5 favorite. Auburn is not ranked. They have the great QB Deshaun Watson, the favorite for the Heisman. We will have our hands full. A lot of things need to go right for us to win this game. We always hear talk of the mystique of night games at Jordan Hare, but I don't put too much faith in that.
Before our game I enjoy seeing South Alabama beat Mississippi State 21 to 20. I enjoy seeing Houston beat OU. Wisconsin beats LSU 16 to 14. I had mixed feelings about this one. Arkansas survives a scare with La. Tech. I was rooting for those Bulldogs from Louisiana all the way on that one. TAMU beats UCLA 31 to 24 in overtime. Georgia beats North Carolina. This is the biggest opening weekend of intersectional games that I can remember.
FIRST QUARTER
Clemson wins the toss and elects to receive. Why not with DeShaun Watson?
Clemson drives to the Auburn 32 and our defense holds on 4th and 5.
Big stop by the defense! Almost a pick 6 by Ford. Should have been.
The Tigers backwards and punt on 4th and 12. There was a procedure penalty that hurt.
Not the start that we desired with our offense. Got to do better on offense.
After the punt Clemson starts at their 33.
After one first down Clemson punts from their 48.
Marcus Davis fair catches at the AU 14.
We need some offense.
John Franklin is in at quarterback.
White is back in on third down.
The Tigers go three and out.
So far we have no offense. Two possessions. No first downs.
We get a big roll on the punt---68 yards---and Clemson starts on their 18.
Our defense is playing well, but if our offense doesn't get going this is going to be a long game.
We have no running game and haven't attempted a throw downfield.
One first down and Clemson punts from their 41.
Punt goes into the end zone.
Will we get a first down starting from our 20? This is once again not the Gus Malzahn offense we expect.
Two possessions so far we have 3 total yards.
We can't keep sending our defense back out there without some help from the offense.
Jeremy Johnson is the QB on this possession.
All three quarterbacks have played. Now I see why the coaches had to wait so long to name a quarterback. None of the three look effective.
We cannot run the ball and still no throws down the field. I hope Johnson doesn't throw an interception. You can't help but think this.
On third down JJ throws a first down pass to Will Hastings just across the 30.
The quarter ends with Auburn facing 3rd and 10 from just across the 30.
We've had too many negative plays and 5-yd. penalties.
Auburn 0 Clemson 0
SECOND QUARTER
There's a first down pass to Hastings to the 41 on third and 10.
There's a pass to Marcus Davis to the Clemson 40.
JJ is looking good at the moment.
We move to a third and 6 at the Clemson 36.
Clemson is clogging the middle daring us to pass.
Pass incomplete on 3rd down to Stevens.
Daniel Carlton kicks a 53 yard field goal! What a weapon Carlson is.
We get points. JJ has been the most effective QB so far.
Auburn 3 Clemson 0
Clemson starts on their 16.
Clemson mounts an effective drive.
They are so effective with the throw and catch. Very slick.
Clemson is first and 10 at the 13 with 10:09 to go in the half.
Carlton Davis gets his bell rung but is hopefully okay.
On third and 11 from the 14 they call a hold on Ford. Wow! We hold them and a penalty puts the ball at the 7 first and goal. Bad break. Sad. Had them stopped and we get a holding call in the end zone on a pass that couldn't be caught. Hard luck I suppose.
We move to 4th and goal from just inside the one yard line.
Nick Ruffin goes down. Carlton Davis has yet to return.
Clemson will go for it. Why not?
The rush from 1 is easy for the touchdown.
Auburn 3 Clemson 7
We get the benefit of a kickoff out of bounds, but we go sharply backwards and after JJ gets sacked twice we are punting from the 15. That was a bad, bad, offensive set. Jeremy Johnson is still ready for prime time.
I do not understand how our offense can be so bad. How can a Gus Malzahn offense be this bad? Clemson brings big pressure and Johnson cannot handle it.
With 5:44 the visiting Tigers start at their 49 after the punt.
Clemson has execution with their offense and we don't.
On third down after a complete pass for the first the receive fumbles and we recover on our 34.
The play is reviewed but the fumble recovery is upheld.
Sean White comes in but we go three and out. Their defense is whipping our offense at the line of scrimmage. Their defense is showing greater effort than our offense.
3:25 to go. After the punt Clemson starts at their 22.
We are lucky to be trailing by only 4 points given how poorly our offense is playing.
Clemson drives for a 30 yard field goal. They were aided with a questionable pass interference call on Auburn giving them a first down on a third and seven. This is an ACC crew.
Auburn 3 Clemson 10
We have exactly 38 total yards in the first half. This is amazing.
We 37 yards in penalties. I think they have 10. Penalties kept both of their scoring drives going.
After their kickoff we are at the half. Auburn gets the ball coming out in the second half. It hurts to see the defense holding a high scoring team to 10 points at the half and our offense so bad.
THIRD QUARTER
If our offense doesn't show up, this game will end up being a runaway. Because of sacks we had 1 yard rushing in the half. How can this be happening? How can our offense be this bad? What has happened to Gus Malzahn? We had 3 first downs in the half. We have no offensive rhythm and GM offense is all about rhythm. The only thing I can think of is that we do not have a good quarterback and cannot pass the football so their defense gangs up to stop the run and Clemson is doing a good job of that to say the least.
Right off the bat we have runback out close to midfield BUT there is block in the back call and we start on the 5. So sad.
Kerryon Johnson is dropped for a loss at the two.
Clemson is killing our offensive line.
Now we are back to the one yard line.
Two straight negative plays to start the series from the give.
We get back to the original line at the five and we are punting. The penalty on the great kickoff return takes a toll. This game is already going downhill.
How could you predict such a terrible offense?
Clemson starts on the AU side of the field.
They drive to a 40 yard field goal.
Auburn 3 Clemson 13
Last kickoff we had a runback close to midfield but a block in the back made us start at the 5. What will happen this time?
10:36 to go in the third.
Still 38 total yards. Our announcers are dumbfounded.
Finally Kerryon Johnson makes some runs into Clemson territory but Jeremy Johnson floats in interception at the Clemson 8. I hope we never see him again.
We get the ball back on an interception at the Clemson 34.
Kerryon Johnson gets a catch down the one but a review negates the reception. It was a close play as to whether it was a catch.
We move to 4th and one at the Clemson 15.
Chandler Cox runs for the first down at the 13.
We move to another 4th and 1.
Jeremy Johnson is stopped short and Clemson holds inside the 5.
We are not going to win this game. That clinched it.
I don't think it mattered that it was JJ carrying the ball but still I wouldn't have him in there.
Our offense just cannot get it done. We finally show some life but cannot score from inside the 5.
Our defense will have to win this game but I don't think they can score 10 points on their own.
Clemson is three and out.
As the third quarter ends Auburn is on the Clemson 15 with a 2nd and 7. The offense is finally showing some life, but can we score in the red zone. Clemson leads 13 to 3.
FOURTH QUARTER
We have been shuffling quarterbacks. I did not expect this.
Here we go in the fourth quarter. We can still win this game.
We settle for the field goal early in the fourth. We got down to the 11 but got pushed back to the 15 for the FG attempt. Our offense still can't score a touchdown but at least we are in the this game. We surely wanted to be in the game in the 4th with a chance to win.
Auburn 6 Clemson 13
Clemson answers with a drive and a 17 yard TD pass. On third and goal from the 17 we come with an all-out blitz but their good QB hits a receiver in the left corner of the end zone. That was a big gamble on the blitz and we get burned by it. 10 plays 75 yards. Why did we blitz? The PAT is no good.
Auburn 6 Clemson 19
White hits Kyle Davis on a pass down to the Clemson 34.
First down on the 24.
We continue to rotate quarterbacks.
First down pass to Hastings to the 7.
We move to 4th and goal at the 8 with Sean White at QB.
White throws an interception at the goal line and Clemson has the ball at their two.
Same story, different verse. We are finally moving the ball in the second half but simply cannot find the end zone. Wasn't this the story last year all year?
First and goal at the 7 and we can't get the end zone.
The offense lost his game pure and simple. This is the same offense we saw last year. No improvement.
Clemson is three and out and we get the ball at their 36.
4:44 left.
Kerryon Johnson runs to the 18 on the first play.
A late hit against White moves the ball to the 9.
From the 9 Kerryon wild cats the ball into the end zone.
With 3:22 to go it's a 6 point game.
Auburn 13 Clemson 19
No onside kick. Clemson starts at their 25 Alas, our defense cannot hold them.
Our announcers point out that every time Auburn scores Clemson answers.
Still our defense has played a great game.
Watson competes pass after pass to their best receiver Mike Williams, mostly back shoulder catches.
Clemson drives into the red zone but we get the ball back on our 15 with 40 seconds left as they show poor clock management.
We move to the 39.
With 6 seconds left we have one chance left into the end zone.
The ball is tipped up but one of their players knocks it down.
We have a chance at the end but the Hail Mary as is the case most of the time is incomplete.
We had a chance at the end. At least that.
We had red zone chances like last year but were not successful enough.
The offense finally got it doing but it was too little too late.
But boy, you gotta say the defense played winning football.
If the defense continues to improve and the offense comes along we could still a good time before it's over.
Auburn 13 Clemson 19
Before our game I enjoy seeing South Alabama beat Mississippi State 21 to 20. I enjoy seeing Houston beat OU. Wisconsin beats LSU 16 to 14. I had mixed feelings about this one. Arkansas survives a scare with La. Tech. I was rooting for those Bulldogs from Louisiana all the way on that one. TAMU beats UCLA 31 to 24 in overtime. Georgia beats North Carolina. This is the biggest opening weekend of intersectional games that I can remember.
FIRST QUARTER
Clemson wins the toss and elects to receive. Why not with DeShaun Watson?
Clemson drives to the Auburn 32 and our defense holds on 4th and 5.
Big stop by the defense! Almost a pick 6 by Ford. Should have been.
The Tigers backwards and punt on 4th and 12. There was a procedure penalty that hurt.
Not the start that we desired with our offense. Got to do better on offense.
After the punt Clemson starts at their 33.
After one first down Clemson punts from their 48.
Marcus Davis fair catches at the AU 14.
We need some offense.
John Franklin is in at quarterback.
White is back in on third down.
The Tigers go three and out.
So far we have no offense. Two possessions. No first downs.
We get a big roll on the punt---68 yards---and Clemson starts on their 18.
Our defense is playing well, but if our offense doesn't get going this is going to be a long game.
We have no running game and haven't attempted a throw downfield.
One first down and Clemson punts from their 41.
Punt goes into the end zone.
Will we get a first down starting from our 20? This is once again not the Gus Malzahn offense we expect.
Two possessions so far we have 3 total yards.
We can't keep sending our defense back out there without some help from the offense.
Jeremy Johnson is the QB on this possession.
All three quarterbacks have played. Now I see why the coaches had to wait so long to name a quarterback. None of the three look effective.
We cannot run the ball and still no throws down the field. I hope Johnson doesn't throw an interception. You can't help but think this.
On third down JJ throws a first down pass to Will Hastings just across the 30.
The quarter ends with Auburn facing 3rd and 10 from just across the 30.
We've had too many negative plays and 5-yd. penalties.
Auburn 0 Clemson 0
SECOND QUARTER
There's a first down pass to Hastings to the 41 on third and 10.
There's a pass to Marcus Davis to the Clemson 40.
JJ is looking good at the moment.
We move to a third and 6 at the Clemson 36.
Clemson is clogging the middle daring us to pass.
Pass incomplete on 3rd down to Stevens.
Daniel Carlton kicks a 53 yard field goal! What a weapon Carlson is.
We get points. JJ has been the most effective QB so far.
Auburn 3 Clemson 0
Clemson starts on their 16.
Clemson mounts an effective drive.
They are so effective with the throw and catch. Very slick.
Clemson is first and 10 at the 13 with 10:09 to go in the half.
Carlton Davis gets his bell rung but is hopefully okay.
On third and 11 from the 14 they call a hold on Ford. Wow! We hold them and a penalty puts the ball at the 7 first and goal. Bad break. Sad. Had them stopped and we get a holding call in the end zone on a pass that couldn't be caught. Hard luck I suppose.
We move to 4th and goal from just inside the one yard line.
Nick Ruffin goes down. Carlton Davis has yet to return.
Clemson will go for it. Why not?
The rush from 1 is easy for the touchdown.
Auburn 3 Clemson 7
We get the benefit of a kickoff out of bounds, but we go sharply backwards and after JJ gets sacked twice we are punting from the 15. That was a bad, bad, offensive set. Jeremy Johnson is still ready for prime time.
I do not understand how our offense can be so bad. How can a Gus Malzahn offense be this bad? Clemson brings big pressure and Johnson cannot handle it.
With 5:44 the visiting Tigers start at their 49 after the punt.
Clemson has execution with their offense and we don't.
On third down after a complete pass for the first the receive fumbles and we recover on our 34.
The play is reviewed but the fumble recovery is upheld.
Sean White comes in but we go three and out. Their defense is whipping our offense at the line of scrimmage. Their defense is showing greater effort than our offense.
3:25 to go. After the punt Clemson starts at their 22.
We are lucky to be trailing by only 4 points given how poorly our offense is playing.
Clemson drives for a 30 yard field goal. They were aided with a questionable pass interference call on Auburn giving them a first down on a third and seven. This is an ACC crew.
Auburn 3 Clemson 10
We have exactly 38 total yards in the first half. This is amazing.
We 37 yards in penalties. I think they have 10. Penalties kept both of their scoring drives going.
After their kickoff we are at the half. Auburn gets the ball coming out in the second half. It hurts to see the defense holding a high scoring team to 10 points at the half and our offense so bad.
THIRD QUARTER
If our offense doesn't show up, this game will end up being a runaway. Because of sacks we had 1 yard rushing in the half. How can this be happening? How can our offense be this bad? What has happened to Gus Malzahn? We had 3 first downs in the half. We have no offensive rhythm and GM offense is all about rhythm. The only thing I can think of is that we do not have a good quarterback and cannot pass the football so their defense gangs up to stop the run and Clemson is doing a good job of that to say the least.
Right off the bat we have runback out close to midfield BUT there is block in the back call and we start on the 5. So sad.
Kerryon Johnson is dropped for a loss at the two.
Clemson is killing our offensive line.
Now we are back to the one yard line.
Two straight negative plays to start the series from the give.
We get back to the original line at the five and we are punting. The penalty on the great kickoff return takes a toll. This game is already going downhill.
How could you predict such a terrible offense?
Clemson starts on the AU side of the field.
They drive to a 40 yard field goal.
Auburn 3 Clemson 13
Last kickoff we had a runback close to midfield but a block in the back made us start at the 5. What will happen this time?
10:36 to go in the third.
Still 38 total yards. Our announcers are dumbfounded.
Finally Kerryon Johnson makes some runs into Clemson territory but Jeremy Johnson floats in interception at the Clemson 8. I hope we never see him again.
We get the ball back on an interception at the Clemson 34.
Kerryon Johnson gets a catch down the one but a review negates the reception. It was a close play as to whether it was a catch.
We move to 4th and one at the Clemson 15.
Chandler Cox runs for the first down at the 13.
We move to another 4th and 1.
Jeremy Johnson is stopped short and Clemson holds inside the 5.
We are not going to win this game. That clinched it.
I don't think it mattered that it was JJ carrying the ball but still I wouldn't have him in there.
Our offense just cannot get it done. We finally show some life but cannot score from inside the 5.
Our defense will have to win this game but I don't think they can score 10 points on their own.
Clemson is three and out.
As the third quarter ends Auburn is on the Clemson 15 with a 2nd and 7. The offense is finally showing some life, but can we score in the red zone. Clemson leads 13 to 3.
FOURTH QUARTER
We have been shuffling quarterbacks. I did not expect this.
Here we go in the fourth quarter. We can still win this game.
We settle for the field goal early in the fourth. We got down to the 11 but got pushed back to the 15 for the FG attempt. Our offense still can't score a touchdown but at least we are in the this game. We surely wanted to be in the game in the 4th with a chance to win.
Auburn 6 Clemson 13
Clemson answers with a drive and a 17 yard TD pass. On third and goal from the 17 we come with an all-out blitz but their good QB hits a receiver in the left corner of the end zone. That was a big gamble on the blitz and we get burned by it. 10 plays 75 yards. Why did we blitz? The PAT is no good.
Auburn 6 Clemson 19
White hits Kyle Davis on a pass down to the Clemson 34.
First down on the 24.
We continue to rotate quarterbacks.
First down pass to Hastings to the 7.
We move to 4th and goal at the 8 with Sean White at QB.
White throws an interception at the goal line and Clemson has the ball at their two.
Same story, different verse. We are finally moving the ball in the second half but simply cannot find the end zone. Wasn't this the story last year all year?
First and goal at the 7 and we can't get the end zone.
The offense lost his game pure and simple. This is the same offense we saw last year. No improvement.
Clemson is three and out and we get the ball at their 36.
4:44 left.
Kerryon Johnson runs to the 18 on the first play.
A late hit against White moves the ball to the 9.
From the 9 Kerryon wild cats the ball into the end zone.
With 3:22 to go it's a 6 point game.
Auburn 13 Clemson 19
No onside kick. Clemson starts at their 25 Alas, our defense cannot hold them.
Our announcers point out that every time Auburn scores Clemson answers.
Still our defense has played a great game.
Watson competes pass after pass to their best receiver Mike Williams, mostly back shoulder catches.
Clemson drives into the red zone but we get the ball back on our 15 with 40 seconds left as they show poor clock management.
We move to the 39.
With 6 seconds left we have one chance left into the end zone.
The ball is tipped up but one of their players knocks it down.
We have a chance at the end but the Hail Mary as is the case most of the time is incomplete.
We had a chance at the end. At least that.
We had red zone chances like last year but were not successful enough.
The offense finally got it doing but it was too little too late.
But boy, you gotta say the defense played winning football.
If the defense continues to improve and the offense comes along we could still a good time before it's over.
Auburn 13 Clemson 19
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Cole Cubelic's Thoughts on the Clemson Game
Cole Cubelic has a nice video on al.com. He shows how Auburn can get the running game going against Clemson and basically it's based on their aggressive defense and how they fly to the ball. Put a hat on a hat and one cut by the running back can result in big games. Just break the line of scrimmage and the running game can go. We just need the receivers to have a good game, not necessarily a great game, and help out their QB.
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