Saturday, November 30, 2019

2019 The Alabama Game

I got back to the house from Atlanta as the first quarter ended and decided to watch the game without worrying about this commentary.

Halftime Score
Auburn 27
Alabama 31

Back and forth first half.  I certainly did not expect this kind of game.  We give up too many big plays.  Can our offense keep up in the second half?  I am amazed that we have scored 27 points already.

Third Quarter

Auburn 30
Alabama 31

Auburn 37
Alabama 31

Auburn 37
Alabama 38

Auburn 40
Alabama 38

Fourth Quarter

Auburn 40
Alabama 45

Auburn 48
Alabama 45
Auburn 48, Alabama 45 (8:08)
Auburn retakes the lead on Shaun Shivers' 11-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep with Wildcat quarterback JaTarvious Whitlow handing him the ball. Shivers drilled an Alabama player, whose helmet popped off into the air on the run. Bo Nix then hit Shedrick Jackson for a 2-point conversion pass to give Auburn a 3-point lead. That was a 10-play, 77-yard drive for Auburn.

I cannot believe what I am watching!

Alabama misses a potential tying field goal.  The ball hits the left upright.  Then they have 12 men on the field that gives us a first down and we end the game in victory formation.
Wow!  This is one of the all-time great wins over Alabama that will be talked about forever. Yes!

Final Score

Auburn 48
Alabama 45



Saturday, November 23, 2019

2019 The Samford Game

Auburn 52  Samford 0

Pretty much what I expected.  We did get to see Cord Sandberg.  He looked pretty good against inferior competition.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Offense

Jason Caldwell in Auburn Undercover has it right.  If the Auburn cannot run the ball downhill, then the offense must play fast in 2-minute mode.  It's that simple.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

2019 The Georgia Game

Here we go with Georgia again.  At Jordan-Hare 2:30 telecast on CBS.  The Bulldogs are a slight favorite.  Will our offense give us a chance?

FIRST QUARTER

The Tigers begin a nice looking drive to open the game but the drive bogs down, and Carlson misses a FG attempt.  We've seen this script before.

Georgia goes three and out.  Their punt is not fielded and rolls all the way to our one.

After one first down Auburn punts to the Georgia 39.  So far our offense has only run the ball twice; otherwise, short passes.

After one first down Georgia gets a completion from midfield for the touchdown.  Their receiver was behind three of our receives.  5:56 in the first.

Auburn 0 Georgia 7

The Tigers are three and out.  So far it doesn't look like our offense can answer the bell.
Georgia fair-catches around their 25.

We finally get some traction on their QB and the Bulldogs punt from their 33.  Auburn from their 16.

SECOND QUARTER

Still waiting for our offense to get in sync.  Gotta happen if we are to win this game.  Our defense can hold on for only so long.

Once again no go.  Three and out

After one first down, Georgia is punting into the end zone.
Still early in the second quarter.

The Tigers get some traction finally between the tackles as Whitlow comes in running hard.  The Tigers cross midfield.
The Tigers move to 4th and 2 at the Georgia 38.  But on 4th Whitlow gets pushed backwards to midfield.  Good stuffing defense by the Bulldogs.  But now they have the ball at midfield.  The offense has crossed midfield twice but cannot sustain a drive or have to have Carlson try a long field goal.

It's probably going to take a big turnover to turn this game around.

Georgia is three and out punting from our 47.  The punt goes OOB at the 11.

An explosive offensive play would be just as good as a turnover.  Not this time either.  Three and out.
We have no mojo at all on offense.  Good punt and a clear targeting call on Georgia.  The Georgia targeting is upheld and their player is ejected.  Georgia starts back at their 25.

Georgia goes three and out.  Any kind of offense at all and we'd be leading in this game.  Georgia's punter has been tremendous.  He has helped to maintain their field position advantage all game.

We start from around our 15.  Finally there's a long completion to our 45.
We move to third and 9 from our 46 and a timeout.
First down completion but then Nix fumbles after a gain and Georgia recovers on on their 47.  Ball security seems to be a Nix problem.  There goes a promising drive the hard way.

1:54 left and Georgia faces fourth down.
It's about time their punter shanked one.
Good return at least out to our 29.

Three straight incompletions and we are punting with 1:26 left.  Hastings dropped one pass.  A close play OOB with Williams on another.

Alas, Georgia moves the ball as the quarter draws to a close.
With 55 seconds to go they move to our 40.
There's a burst and their RB is all the way to our 14.  Georgia looks crisp on this drive and our defense looks hapless.
With 32 seconds left UGA is on our 8,
With 27 seconds left and a timeout due to an injury to a non player along the sidelines Georgia is ready to score again.
From the five on third and one the short pass around the right side for the touchdown.  Georgia has probably put this game away.
With less than two minutes to go our offense cannot maintain possession and Georgia take advantage.  Very brutal.

Auburn 0  Georgia 14

Georgia gets the ball coming out.  This will take another miracle at Jordan-Hare.

THIRD QUARTER

Georgia receives and goes three and out.  We get good field position on the punt from our 35.

We move to a first down at the UGA 43 but as is typical that's it.  Fortunately our punt goes OOB at the Bulldog two.  Need to take advantage of this.

Georgia is three and out, punting from their five.  AU begins on their 42.  Come on, offense!
Georgia is called for a personal foul on the punt and we actually start at their 48.
Three downs it's fourth down.  No go offense.
The punt goes OOB at the UGA 12.

After two offensive nothings we are getting to where Georgia gets the clinching score if they don't have it already.

Georgia is quickly out to their 40 running ball effectively.  They can run; we can't.
4:59 left in the third.  The Bulldogs are able to run the football and at this point our defense is wearing down.
First down UGA to our 15.
First play from there TD pass to the end zone.  Game, set, match.
The TD pass was close, so reviewed, and the pass ruled incomplete.
There is a PF call on Auburn and Georgia is first and goal from the 8.
TD pass from the five pretty as you please.
The better team is going to win this game.  No argument.
Seconds left in the third quarter.

Auburn 0  Georgia 21

FOURTH QUARTER

First down AU to the UGA 25.  Finally some movement but way too late in the game.
First down to the 14.

First and goal from the three and the Tigers get on the board with a 3 yd. pass to Eli Stove.
10:04 left.

Auburn 7  Georgia 21

Auburn recovers an onside kick!!!
The play is reviewed and AU has to kick again with some kind illegal block called on Schwartz with the ball on the ground.  So close.
Georgia is punting from their 21 with 8:25 to go.
Georgia is punting from 16 after a procedure penalty.
AU starts on their 43.
8:11 left.
Wouldn't a quick score be nice?

Two passes and the Tigers are rolling.
First and goal inside the five.
Touchdown Auburn!
Nix from the two!  Wow!
First rushing touchdown by UGA all year.
That was a quick score.
We have a ballgame.
Two touchdowns in the last 3 minutes.
57 seconds on the last drive.
7:03 left.

Auburn 14  Georgia 21

I had given up Auburn for dead, but here we are.

Georgia goes three and out throwing on every down to stop the clock.
Auburn resumes possession with exactly 6 minutes left on our 28.
First down to the AU 45.
On the Georgia 47 Nix fumbles the snap and we barely recover.
We move to fourth and five from midfield.  Oh, boy.
This is probably it.
Nix runs for the first down around left end.
First down pass to Williams on a close play at the sideline but the play is overturned on review.
Boo!
We move to fourth and two at the UGA 34.
Open receiver for the first but the pass is a little behind the receiver and he cannot come up with it.
Georgia ball with 2:24 left.
Georgia second down Auburn timeout with 2:19 left.
Georgia third down Auburn timeout with 2:16 left.
Georgia fourth and six timeout Auburn with 2:10 left.
Punt OOB at the Auburn 27.
2:03.  Auburn out of timeouts.
First pass incomplete.  Nix is not super accurate on his throws.
We move to third and 10.
We move to fourth and 10 with a drop on what would have been a first down.
1:44 left.
Nix is sacked and that's it.  Offensive line fell down.
1:39 left.
UGA will run out the clock.

The offense came back big time but not all the way back.  Nix showing nerves with less than accurate throwing it seems to me.  On the next to last possession an accurate short pass would resulted in a first down and who knows after that.  It's done.

Auburn 14 Georgia 21










Thursday, November 14, 2019

Georgia Next

Next to Alabama, the Georgia rivalry features the most memories in my mind.  I can remember the first one for me in 1968 when the Bulldogs won a close in Auburn when Vince Dooley was still a young coach in Athens.  It's hard to beat 2013 with the Miracle at Jordan-Hare.  We beat them good in 2017 at Jordan-Hare.  Can the Tigers do it again?

Saturday, November 2, 2019

2019 The Ole Miss Game

This is the essence of a "trap game."  Auburn is favored by about 19.5 points with an off-week next week before Georgia.  Lose this game and the season is shot, and Malzahn seat will get hot quickly.  Joey Gatewood is gone.  We are an injury away from QB disaster.  The Rebels are second in the SEC in rushing.  They scored 31 on Alabama.  Ole Miss could win this game if Auburn does not play well.

FIRST QUARTER

Ole Miss receives and crosses midfield but our defense gets a stop on 4th and two at the AU 42.

The Tigers quickly move to the Ole Miss 28.
Alas, as is too often the case, we move to 4th down and a 41 FG attempt missed wide left.
Not a good start.  Sporadic offense as usual.  I am really nervous about this game already.

Ole Miss at their 24.
Ole Miss punting from their 49.
Auburn from their 15 after the punt.

Second play long completion to Schwartz to the Rebel 35.
As usual all we get is another missed FG attempt, this one about 49 yards.
Two catchable passes dropped are the culprits.
5:09 to go in the first.
This game is giving me a bad vibe.

From their 31 Ole Miss goes three and out.
Auburn starts on their 27.

The Tigers march sharply mostly on short passes to the Ole Miss 34 whereupon Nix fumbles the ball away.  Ole Miss on their 38.  This is not going well.  Our offense finds some way to botch a drive.

Ole Miss punts from the AU 47.  The Tigers take the ball back at their 18.

The quarter ends with Auburn on the move again crossing midfield.

SECOND QUARTER

The drive ends at midfield with a punt to the Ole Miss 10.

Ole Miss punts.  Auburn at their 25.
This is a lackluster game so far with Auburn having a yardage advantage but no points.

The Tigers drive to a first and goal at the Ole Miss 8 mostly on an efficient short passing game.
Second and goal from the five with a Rebel timeout.
Harold Joiner in the wildcat looks like he will score but fumbles at the one and fortunately Driscoll recovers at the two.
Incomplete pass.
Auburn has driven the ball up and down the field but as usual we have to settle for the FG attempt again, fortunately good.
So frustrating but we've become used to it.  How Joiner could have dropped that ball is amazing to me.  If it's not one thing it's something else.

Auburn 3  Ole Miss 0

Ole Miss punts from their 48 into the end zone.
If our offense doesn't pick it up Ole Miss will remain in this game to the end.

There is a 79 yard completion to the Ole Miss one to Joiner down the left sideline wide open on the catch.  We need to see more of Harold Joiner.
First and goal from the one and on the first play Williams punches it in.
That is more like it.
80 yard drive in three plays.

Auburn 10 Ole Miss 0

Three and out for Ole Miss and Auburn gets the ball back on their 28 with 1:38 left.

We can move only to the our 34 after trying a long pass completion rather than going for the first down, and we're punting with 1:24 left and Ole Miss will get the ball back.  A long percentage play will give Ole Miss a momentum swing.
Ole Miss gets a huge punt return all the way to the Auburn 23 with still over a minute left.  A bad turn of events.

An Ole Miss run to the Auburn 14.
Ole Miss run to the four.  Yikes!
Ole Miss touchdown on a 4-yrd. run.
What a late reversal.  Oh, my, my.

Auburn had the ball with under 2 minutes left and two timeouts but after a 55 yard punt return we have a ballgame.

Auburn 10 Ole Miss 7

A disgusting end to the first half.
This could get hairy before it's over.
Two missed field goals.  One turnover.  Giving up a 55 yard punt return.  Going three and out late to give Ole Miss the punt return opportunity.  Our offense is the same old inconsistent bunch.

THIRD QUARTER

Auburn gets the ball coming out.

Good KO return to almost midfield.
The Tigers march smartly for the touchdown.
Bo Nix fakes the middle and runs untouched around right end into the end zone.
That drive was mainly power running between the tackles.

Auburn 17  Ole Miss 7

Ole Miss quickly goes three and out.
Auburn on their 27 after the punt.

Auburn benefits on an unsportsmanlike to get a first down avoiding a fourth down.
The Tigers move inside the Ole Miss 40.
The drive ends at the Ole Miss 20.
Carlson is true.  Okay, but I so sick of field goals.

Auburn 20  Ole Miss 7

Ole Miss drives just across midfield before punting inside the Auburn give.

The quarter ends with Auburn driving near midfield.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers end up punting to inside the Rebel 10.

First play Derrick Brown gets called for a late hit out of bounds.  A senior should know better than that.
Ole Miss is out to our 47 quickly.
This game is far from over.
Ole Miss moves to third and three.
Stuffed on third down!
They go for it and make the first down on 4th and five the QB scampering up the middle.
Another major distance penalty on Auburn and Ole Miss is at the Auburn 13.
We move to 4th and two.
First down to the one.
5:56 left.  This is too, too scary.
Nick Coe is tended to on the field after the last play.
Next play touchdown.

Auburn 20 Ole Miss 14

5:45 left.

The Tigers drive to a missed 49 yard FG attempt.  I would have punted.  Carlson doesn't yet have the moxie to make such a kick.

It's a heart-stopper.
Ole Miss drives from their 32 to a fourth and two with 17 seconds left around our 40 but we get pressure on their QB and Christian Tutt intercepts and gets to run out the remaining seconds.  Whew!

AUBURN 20  OLE MISS 15








Friday, November 1, 2019

Joey Gatewood

We learned Wednesday that he is leaving the Auburn team.  Good luck to him.  He will likely do well somewhere else with a better opportunity.  I blame Malzahn for his leaving before the end of the season.  Gatewood was likely led to believe that would get "special package" opportunities that were not forthcoming.  That's my guess anyway.  Malzahn is under the gun again.