🏈 Barners are getting a little rediculous

['65 Cobra]

A few random points after reading most of the replies...

It is the fans beating their chests, not the players. I have a feeling focus has not been lost. Ole Miss this week, UTC and then UGA. They obviously will not overlook Ole Miss to get to UTC. UGA beat us in gut-wrenching fashion the last two years--don't think that point is lost on the seniors on this team. I believe we will head to Tuscaloosa undefeated.

That being said, Ole Miss worries me. They're anemic on offense, not much better on defense but Houston Nutt finds a way every damn year to get one game to go his way and beat someone he shouldn't. I'd feel much better if we didn't have the Right Reverend Nutt on the opposing sideline this week. By all rights we should beat Ole Miss. But then again by all rights we should've slaughtered Kentucky and if we hadn't blown opportunities against LSU and let them hang around we win going away.

Georgia seems to be hitting stride at the exact wrong time for us. We have the home-field disadvantage working against us in this game. We have more talent than they do. We've had more talent then they had in the past and found ways to drop those games too.

The end of the season is obviously a huge one for both teams, should both teams run the table to get there. Bama will no doubt scheme to take Cam away and probably better than anyone has all year. That game will be decided in the trenches. In the SECCG last year Saban had his D-lineman rushing to Tebow's level and then converging on him, forcing him to step up into the pocket, which was not his strong suit. The pass rush is not as strong this year as it was last and Cam usually makes his runs by taking it between the tackles. What I'm getting at is I have no idea what they hell will happen.

For the moment I'm glad we're #1 because the men deserve praise at this point. They've worked hard and come through a grueling three (the first of which we made so) game stretch. They've knocked off three top 12 teams and have far exceeded expectations. Are we the best team in the country? Eh, I wouldn't go that far. I think we have the talent to beat anyone, I also think we have the ability to embarrass ourselves against anyone.

Five weeks of football before any of this crap really starts to matter, six if you count conference championship week.

Excellent post and very well done. I would only add something that you missed and that even your #1 fan, Kirk, mentioned - the defense is still QUITE suspect AND all of your toughtest tests have been at Jordan-Hare. Our D seems to gel more and more each week - alot of youth still and we played ALOT of young ones against UT. It should be an Iron Bowl for the ages and in all likelihood the winner goes to Atlanta and should beat the East team, which should mean a berth in the BCSNCG.

BUT(!!!!).... there is still a good bit of football to play before that all happens.!

 

[AFF]

I'd kind of like to see them hang on to #1 til they come to Tuscaloosa - but I doubt it happens.
The barn defense is not very good; at least not national championship caliber good.
And 3 of the 4 teams left on their regular season have offenses who are capable of lighting it up.

Getting to #1 is not easy. Staying #1 will be even harder.



.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

#1 is just an ugly place to be right now, after three straight weeks of #1 getting beat. But for Auburn, I'm glad they have it to be proud of. Not just saying that. I want Alabama to be the team that gets them, but we have to figure out something to stop Six-Six, Two-Fitty (Cam Newton). No one else has done it yet. Miss State came the closest, but that was so early in the year, I don't think State could do that now. Especially after watching UAB pick them apart Saturday night. Jeezz....

I read on AL.com that Greg McElroy thinks Alabama is in a better place at this point this season than we were last year. Certainly, we aren't a team that can be overlooked. We are in a nice spot, sitting #7 in the BCS, with a TON of football to be played. Getting out of Baton Rouge with a win is obviously our season. Lose there, and nothing else will matter.

My personal take is that Alabama wins in LSU, AND beats Auburn. If we lose to LSU, then I say Bama will be 9-3, and going to a pretty nice bowl game against a top-notch opponent (my personal favorite would be someone like Michigan State or Oregon). Right now, if Auburn can find a way to win out, I think they will play TCU for the TITLE. I think TCU might have the weapons to deal with Auburn, perhaps better than anyone.

 

[Duder]

Excellent post and very well done. I would only add something that you missed and that even your #1 fan, Kirk, mentioned - the defense is still QUITE suspect AND all of your toughtest tests have been at Jordan-Hare. Our D seems to gel more and more each week - alot of youth still and we played ALOT of young ones against UT. It should be an Iron Bowl for the ages and in all likelihood the winner goes to Atlanta and should beat the East team, which should mean a berth in the BCSNCG.

BUT(!!!!).... there is still a good bit of football to play before that all happens.!

I doubt you'll find too many Auburn people that disagree with Kirk about the defense. We have a ton of work to do. Hell the LSU game, week 8, is the first time our DBs have even looked for the football! Front seven is OK, well the d-line and Bynes anyway. The secondary is bad. There is no sugar-coating that. It annoys me even more that the handful of times that we've been in position to make a play the receiver still caught the ball because our DB had no idea where the damn ball was.

As for the schedule, I point out again that a favorable home schedule is part of the formula that helped Alabama to their title last year. I also remind you that the bye week issue was not present as there were only three SEC teams that had a bye before Bama--Tennessee, Mississippi State and Auburn. Bama had played UTC before Auburn so that is pretty close to a bye.

The defensive point is well-taken. Somehow I doubt when you guys were sitting at 8-0 last year any of you mentioned the fact that all your big boys in the SEC came to your house for the games--at least not in a negative way.

 

[RollTideinGA]

I'm fortunate to be seperated from the rivalry a bit living here in ATL. I'm not sold on the "unstoppable force" because he didnt look all that unstoppable against Miss State. I'm also not sold on Bama either which has looked sloppy at times this year.

I guess we'll see when the game rolls around because there is alot of football to go. And rivialry games have had stranger things happen. Maybe Bama can block 2 punts and run them back, mabye Cam goes the "wrong way", or maybe someone fumbles a kick return giving the other team momentum. Like I said stranger things have happened.

After all lots of other teams couldnt slow down Ingram, but Auburn sure put the stop on him last year.

 

[jdpas29]

the aub/lsu game looked exactly as i thought it would. LSU was able to move the ball randomly with no continuity for the entire game, scoring her and there. they have one of the worst offenses i've seen them field since back in the Dinardo era.

the barn was limited and not quite as Cam-tastic as usual against a very formidable LSU D. in the fourth quarter LSU basically handed the game away to the barn.

it will be interesting to see who scores more points in the iron bowl as i expect a higher scoring affair than usual... maybe both teams around the 30 point mark.

 

[usn92]

AU has earned the right to thump their chest. It doesn't matter right now.

• LSU is bad offensively and still had a shot to win it. If they punt when it's 17 - 17 the whole game changes, but Les Miles is a risk taker and it cost him a chance. I think AU still wins but he panicked.
• Cam Newton had a great game, but if he doesn't have the Heisman game AU loses. AU is a one man team, that's not a slam just the facts, as Cam effects every aspect of the game. The defense only needs to make a handful of plays because they know Cam is going to score. Teams must game plan every snap with his presence in mind. You must control the ball to limit Cam's possessions or you are toast.
• When AU plays a team with a solid D (stops AU from scoring TD's every trip in the red-zone & has at least four three and outs. LSU's defense gave up huge rush yards but they kept the score down. They put LSU in position to win with virtually no offensive help.) combined with a good offense (ball control to limit Cam's possessions that scores TD's) they will lose. Who knows if they will face such a team, but when/if they do they're done.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

I think that Cam Newton is the best player in the country right now, if not, the best athlete in college football today. This guy is a physical freak, with speed, power, size. He's more deadly than any running back in this state, and probably as good of a QB as Alabama or Auburn has had in many, many years. He deserves the accolades. Of course, I also see the downside of having 1 guy be so entwined in everything you do on offense:

1- He CANNOT GET HURT. I hope he stays healthy, so Alabama can play him at 100%. No excuses.
2- It's an offense that starts with a plan, with well-designed plays and a good offensive line. Then, inevitably, the improvisation begins. Usually Cam scores or makes a big play. But not always.

My suggestion to Coach Saban and Coach Smart (since my suggestions are so important ) is to contain this guy. Yeah, it seems obvious. But I'd be willing to bet that a pass rushing attack by Alabama will NOT be successful, because we haven't been strong in that all year, and it isn't going to start now. We're not gonna sack Newton 5 times. On the other hand, Fairly is probably going to get to McElroy at least a handful of times...So, no pass rush except in obvious, 3rd and long situations.

Next, form a bubble around Newton. Like a second defensive wave he has to get through. You've got the 4 defensive lineman up front, then perhaps a second front of 3 LB's playing a sort of mix of cover 3/Spy. This makes any scrambling out of the backfield that Newton does, limited in it's success. No 20-40 yard runs that break your back on 3rd down. Or any other down.

The remaing 4 defenders will obviously have to step up in their man coverage. It's the only way. I believe that bubble/Cover 3 strategy for the linebackers will control what damage we see from Auburn's running game. If the guy then beats us with his arm, or STILL beats us running, then we've done all we can do.

 

[Duder]

I think that Cam Newton is the best player in the country right now, if not, the best athlete in college football today. This guy is a physical freak, with speed, power, size. He's more deadly than any running back in this state, and probably as good of a QB as Alabama or Auburn has had in many, many years. He deserves the accolades. Of course, I also see the downside of having 1 guy be so entwined in everything you do on offense:

1- He CANNOT GET HURT. I hope he stays healthy, so Alabama can play him at 100%. No excuses.
2- It's an offense that starts with a plan, with well-designed plays and a good offensive line. Then, inevitably, the improvisation begins. Usually Cam scores or makes a big play. But not always.

My suggestion to Coach Saban and Coach Smart (since my suggestions are so important ) is to contain this guy. Yeah, it seems obvious. But I'd be willing to bet that a pass rushing attack by Alabama will NOT be successful, because we haven't been strong in that all year, and it isn't going to start now. We're not gonna sack Newton 5 times. On the other hand, Fairly is probably going to get to McElroy at least a handful of times...So, no pass rush except in obvious, 3rd and long situations.

Next, form a bubble around Newton. Like a second defensive wave he has to get through. You've got the 4 defensive lineman up front, then perhaps a second front of 3 LB's playing a sort of mix of cover 3/Spy. This makes any scrambling out of the backfield that Newton does, limited in it's success. No 20-40 yard runs that break your back on 3rd down. Or any other down.

The remaing 4 defenders will obviously have to step up in their man coverage. It's the only way. I believe that bubble/Cover 3 strategy for the linebackers will control what damage we see from Auburn's running game. If the guy then beats us with his arm, or STILL beats us running, then we've done all we can do.

Seems sound in theory. I doubt that Smart and Saban will remove the pass rush however. Malzahn is good enough to see that strategy and will play-action the hell out of a scheme like that.

Where Cam has been beating people is once he gets to the second level. The rush usually comes and he steps through. He's too quick for most LBs and obviously too big for most DBs. If our offensive line/downfield blocking is compromised he'll be done. LSU did well early but they eventually lost control. He has enough patience to let a play develop and not force anything. He scares the hell out of me but I'll use the drives that started at the one--the call was clearly a QB draw. We all knew it was coming, LSU included, and Cam stands in the backfield (in this case the endzone) waiting on a seam to open. You have to be able to maintain gap integrity as an ENTIRE defense. He isn't unstoppable but we have yet to run into a defense that plays with the discipline to actually do what is necessary. It isn't the designed runs that have been nailing people as much as the broken plays, poor reads on his part, etc. that force him to feel it necessary to tuck the ball and run. It is is patience as a runner and downfield vision that makes him difficult to catch. Dyer is also averaging 5.5 ypc and is sitting at 554 yards after playing 7-ish games (he barely played during the Arkansas game), and McCalebb is sitting at an 8.3 average. Cam's presence opens running lanes for our other backs, keying on Cam exclusively can bite you as well. Take a look at that last score we had against LSU.

I still think a lot of what Cam does is a result of him not making the correct reads. I don't believe that every time we run the zone-read Malzahn tells him to keep it. I also don't believe that through 8 games of Cam averaging 134 yards/game that the DE still crashes in to stop Dyer. We have the same playmakers at receiver that made the offense formidable last year. Things like this are we I'm not sold on Cam bailing after this year. I don't think we've seen everything this kid has to offer to actually running an offense.

Exiled, if we find a way to win-out and play TCU for the title it will be the highest scoring game of the year. They throw the ball around so much that it will absolutely destroy our defense unless the pass rush can get their first. I don't think they've seen an offense with the weapons we have so I don't think they'd have much luck in stopping us either. It would be an interesting match-up, and may well end up being a bowl game even if it isn't the BCS Championship.

I have no idea whether we will win out or not. I'm not happy about having Ole Miss and UGA left on our schedule before a bye week. Nutt finds a way to save his job annually and UGA is a very different team than the one that lost to Colorado. They've rallied around Richt who is still one of the best coaches in the league. It will be a tough road and quite frankly, I'm not very concerned with it right now. If we get there, great. If not, oh well--we've had a hell of a year and will build on it next year.

 

[bamabear323]

the aub/lsu game looked exactly as i thought it would. LSU was able to move the ball randomly with no continuity for the entire game, scoring her and there. they have one of the worst offenses i've seen them field since back in the Dinardo era.

the barn was limited and not quite as Cam-tastic as usual against a very formidable LSU D. in the fourth quarter LSU basically handed the game away to the barn.

What game did you watch?

 

[RollTideinGA]

Auburn grad in my office just told me he's booking his trip to the BCSNCG today. I asked why, Did he want to watch Oregon and BSU play? :rofl:

He asked who's gonna beat them. I said you never know. You still have three SEC games to go. Kind of like the Bama people looking at BCS tickets after the Florida game. :lance:

 

[AFF]

Kind of like the Bama people looking at BCS tickets after the Florida game. :lance:

Kind of, but that's a little different. Bama fans would at least have had a little more reason for such optimism having won 19 consecutive games and coming off an undefeated 14-0 national championship season. The barn beat Les Miles and LSU at just past the halfway mark of the season. They're giddy. Let 'em enjoy it. God love 'em, they haven't had much to be giddy about lately.

"Wait a moment and you'll see them come tumbling back." - Hancock to Gibbon at Gettysburg, upon seeing Sickles foolishly advancing into the Peach Orchard, thus exposing the Union left flank in the presence of a superior Confederate force

 

[joeman546]

Pretty mmuch we are going to do to Cam Newton what they did to Mark Ingram last year. To be honest, their talent level team-wise doesn't measure up yet. Id say they couldnt win unless cam has a big day, and even then, their deffense might lose this game.

Whereas, our team has yet to play it's best game. They will be a highly ranked opponent on the road, and we aint coming out flat this year in the ironbowl. I think our most difficult challenge comes in the form of a road game against LSU in 2 weeks. Im not that worried about the barn.

EDIT :Oh and, if we win out, we are so going to the BCSNC. We started at #1 and lost one relatively early, but are still 7th right now. LSU is ranked, Auburn is highly ranked, and then you have the effect of the SECCG that noone factors in. Boise State isnt going to beat that out.

 

[UAgrad93]

I would look for a similar defensive scheme against the Barn like we employed against Tebow and the gators last year. Get a good push but don't get past him where we would open up running lanes.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

From a media standpoint, having Bama win out and jump over Boise is a nightmare. Really. I can tell the voters want to love on BSU some, feeling as though they got jilted last year and deserve to be there. But the computers feel differently. I wish a simulation could be run, with the remaining games played, showing Alabama playing a 10-2 South Carolina (and by default, Bama would have to have won out). Where does Alabama sit?

Last year, we knew that the winner of the SECCG would be going to the BCSNCG. We knew that they year before as well. Probably in 2007 too, as LSU SOMEHOW won that game and got in. Thank you Tennessee, who fell into the SEC title game. If Bama wins out, and then beats SC (at 10-2), Missouri loses at Neb this week, Mich State loses at Iowa, and the rest of the teams do what they are expected to do, here's how I see the BCS heading into the bowls:

1- TCU (undefeated, and having beaten ranked UTAH)
2- Bama (a virtual computer tie with TCU)
3- Ohio State (assuming a win out)
4- Boise State (schedule just kills them)
5- Auburn (only loss being to Bama)
6- Oklahoma (assuming a Big 12 title and 12-1 record)
7- Oregon (by virtue of a loss to USC or Oregon State. If they win out, they take over #1 instead of TCU, and Alabama moves down to 3)
8- Wisconsin ( winning out, but no Big 10 title game)
9- LSU (losing only 2, AUB and ALA)
10- Iowa (needs to win out)

 

[ExiledTidefan]

I would look for a similar defensive scheme against the Barn like we employed against Tebow and the gators last year. Get a good push but don't get past him where we would open up running lanes.

And this is sort of the scheme I'm talking about. For me, as a Def Coord, I've got to make sure I don't leave a big gap between my DB's in man coverage and my defensive front trying to make a QB rush play. I cannot send all my LB's and tie up my defensive line too, except in obvious 3rd and longs, perhaps. I've got to spy more than one man, perhaps have a 5 down defensive front, giving the appearance of heavy rush, then have one of them spy Newton. I've got to have 2 guys spying, or at least playing VERY shallow zone. Nowhere to run Cam. If he beats us with the arm, then he's just better. Nuff said.

 

[psychojoe]

Regarding our shot at the championship game: Michigan State has Iowa on the road this week. If they win that one they should run the table. It would be hard to justify putting us in over an undefeated Big 10 school, so we need to have Iowa win this Saturday

Missouri has several land mines in their path, the biggest one being at Nebraska this week, and if they succeed there is a likely rematch with Oklahoma in the Big 12 CG. If they run the table they would be in ahead of us IMO, but they have it tough from here on in.

Oregon has three respectable squads left, USCw, Arizona and Oregon State, but they will be substantial favorites in all three. Basically they'll have to have an off game and one oof those three will have to be really hot to win. I think the Ducks are in great shape for one side of the CG.

If we run the table and something happens to
Missouri and Spartie we have a golden shot even if TCU and BSU win out.

 

[Strick]

Tell me about it...I work for John Watson..you know how many little piss ant awebarn alumni/fans that tag his coat tail...and i tell you these days the alums' is worse than the sidewalks'

 

[Duder]

I would look for a similar defensive scheme against the Barn like we employed against Tebow and the gators last year. Get a good push but don't get past him where we would open up running lanes.

You think your pass rush is as good as last year's?

I'm not going to guarantee Bama's defense can't stop Auburn but I sincerely doubt their pass rush will be the difference. Take into account the scheme that Auburn runs is very different than what Florida did. Florida tried to throw against you guys and left Tebow in the pocket to fend for himself against that pass rush with undersize backs, or no backs at all, to block for him. Again, not saying Bama's defense won't stop us but the same scheme that stopped Florida last year would not work for 60 minutes.

 

[4th-and-1]

i think our pass rush is fine..we haven't generated many sacks, but most of our sacks were off the corner last year.. we have not blitzed much because of an inexperienced secondary, but we win most of our battles up front.. our problems with the run (not that we have major problems) have been with gap assignment..