🏈 I smell an upset coming...

[BigAl]

I'm of the opinion that the miss st bulldogs will beat the illustrious cow college on Saturday. I think the bulldogs can take'em. What do you think?

 

[planomateo]

considering they let arkansas state rack up some yards/points you could be right, but then again, arkansas state almost took down Texas and A&M in two consecutive years if I remember correctly...

 

[BamaCore]

They have a shot, that's for sure.

 

[Bama Los]

Right now they are the barn yard is favored by 3 points, I like Mississippi State to win this one straight up on Thursday night.

 

[BamaHeat]

I feel AU will adjust enough to win but there's always hope.

 

[usn92]

AU will need to play well offensively because their defense will struggle to stop MSU.

 

[jdpas29]

MSU by a touchdown. AU is playing backyard football against arky state?!?!?! MSU will come out orderly and businesslike.

 

[bama29fan]

i i was a bettin man my money would be on misipi state

 

[Duder]

An upset is feasible. Our defense looked poor and I've tried to come up with an explanation for it but I can't. Yes, Arkansas State beat A&M and almost beat Texas and Iowa in recent memory but I see no reason to give up 26 points to Arkansas State.

As for the "backyard ball" against Arkansas State--that is in no way indicative of how the offense will function as the season progresses. We threw zero screens and hardly any motion plays. We were playing a horribly simplified version of our playbook due in part to the efforts to get Dyer on the field early and often.

The offense isn't where the problem will be this year. If the defense doesn't come together things could go south in a hurry.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Good observation duder. I'm impressed with the offensive playmakers for AU, and the play calling isn't drawing plays in the dirt or telling everyone to "go out". Cam Newton will be a problem that defenses will have to account for. MSU played a poor, poor Memphis team, that might not be as good as their second stringers. Hard to get a gauge on them, but my word to describe MSU is "improved". Read into that whatever you will. AU needs this game to get that defense tightened up, but it's not panic time yet.

 

[planomateo]

dang I was thinking TAMU won a few years ago...I remembered wrong, I remember Texas almost losing in austin the year prior.

 

[Duder]

Good observation duder. I'm impressed with the offensive playmakers for AU, and the play calling isn't drawing plays in the dirt or telling everyone to "go out". Cam Newton will be a problem that defenses will have to account for. MSU played a poor, poor Memphis team, that might not be as good as their second stringers. Hard to get a gauge on them, but my word to describe MSU is "improved". Read into that whatever you will. AU needs this game to get that defense tightened up, but it's not panic time yet.

No doubt the defense has to improve or MSU will score on us. They have certainly improved. I know Memphis isn't a great team but Dan Mullen is a hell of a coach and Relf can be a playmaker in this league. I don't want to get in a shootout with MSU in Starkville. We ran a somewhat vanilla defense but still...by vanilla I mean we didn't disguise or blitz or coverage packages at all. ASU knew exactly where we were coming from and exactly where we would be. Parts of that game Saturday reminded me of the last drive of the Iron Bowl last year. We knew you were going to throw 7-8 yard in/slant routes to Julio, we just wouldn't or couldn't stop it. Saturday night it irritated me beyond belief to know what plays they were going to run and watch our secondary get beat. Granted three of our four safeties in the two deep are returning from missing some significant playing time or a horrific injury but still no excuse. Demond Washington and Neiko Thorpe looked very solid last year and like hell Saturday night. Our front seven played better but could still improve. I'd love to see Craig Stevens return from suspension before Thursday night but that doesn't seem likely.

I'd love to look at this season through my orange and blue glasses and talk about how much we've improved as a team. The fact of the matter is the offense has improved. Even now that D-Adams will draw double coverage we will be able to move the ball. To be frank, the defense absolutely scares the hell out of me.

 

[psychojoe]

I could be wrong, but I think depth on defense will continue to be a problem for Auburn. With the no huddle attack, the offensive posessions are going to be shorter than say Alabama, which last year mastered the technique of squeezing the clock dry with time consuming drives. Auburn needs extra defenders just because they are going to be going back on the filed quicker than most. While Chizik's first full class was a good one, depth especially among their front seven will be an issue.

 

[UAgrad93]

Chizik has made strides in his recruiting but I think he is stockpiling his talent to strictly the offensive side. I agree with Joe that there will continue to be depth issues on the defensive side. I know he has signed defensive guys but most have been kids that need an extra year in the weightroom before getting on the field.

 

[bama29fan]

I could be wrong, but I think depth on defense will continue to be a problem for Auburn. With the no huddle attack, the offensive posessions are going to be shorter than say Alabama, which last year mastered the technique of squeezing the clock dry with time consuming drives. Auburn needs extra defenders just because they are going to be going back on the filed quicker than most. While Chizik's first full class was a good one, depth especially among their front seven will be an issue.

case in point...heres the TOP for that game.

<TABLE class="shsTable shsBorderTable" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR class=shsRow1Row><TD class=shsTotD>ASU 34:23</TD><TD class=shsTotD> AU 25:37</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Duder]

Chizik has made strides in his recruiting but I think he is stockpiling his talent to strictly the offensive side. I agree with Joe that there will continue to be depth issues on the defensive side. I know he has signed defensive guys but most have been kids that need an extra year in the weightroom before getting on the field.

First part of your argument I agree with--most of the recruiting last season was focused on the offensive side of the ball. As for the kids needing an extra year in the weightroom before they see the field--that is not at all evident even just by looking at the defensive stats from Saturday night. MANY of our frosh saw the field on Saturday night. I'm not saying there is not work to be done, but most of the frosh on the defense are game-ready now.

 

[bama29fan]

First part of your argument I agree with--most of the recruiting last season was focused on the offensive side of the ball. As for the kids needing an extra year in the weightroom before they see the field--that is not at all evident even just by looking at the defensive stats from Saturday night. MANY of our frosh saw the field on Saturday night. I'm not saying there is not work to be done, but most of the frosh on the defense are game-ready now.

game ready or game ready by default? not picking on yall...just asking

 

[UAgrad93]

I saw some of your freshmen on the field for special teams and late in the game. Both sides of the ball kept their 1s on the field until about the 7:30 mark of the fourth quarter. No one can say that they got significant time on the field because they are SEC ready. The D side of the ball is lacking in SEC READY depth.

 

[rtauburnsucks]

Although an upset would be nice............lets focus on Penn State. One game at a time.

 

[BamaDelta]

I hate Cam Newton already. :lance: Dang Auburn for getting an all-world QB. The D will grow up but will it be fast enough and have enough bodies by year end? They have Stephens and a few other playmakers. They recruited some great defensive players last year (Ladarius Owens being one of them). I see improvement on their D this year unless injuries take its toll.

No way State beats Auburn. There is no way they can keep up with Auburn scoring. By the time State adjusts to what hits them it will be too late. I really see AU winning this easily. Ugh!