As close and scary as the game was, consider this...it was almost a dominant performance by ALABAMA.
Auburn used trickeration to score 2 quick touchdowns in the first quarter. A no-call on a holding allowed Auburn to spring the reverse.
An unexpected and well executed onside kick, and a double-reverse halfback pass, combined with a stupid unsportsmanlike penalty, gave them their second score. You don't see too many unsportsmanlike calls on interception runbacks from plays that really didn't happen because it was whistled dead before the snap. That was a weak call.
From the start of the second quarter, until the end of the game against the prevent defense, AU had 2 drives that lasted longer than 4 plays, a 6 play drive in the second, and a 5 play drive in the 4th - both resulted in punts.
One legit TD pass when the corner fell down, leaving the receiver one on one with a safety gave them their third score.
HALF of AU's total offense came on two plays. 144 yards came in the 1st quarter. One play 72 yards in the third...216 of AU's total offense came through trick plays and a busted coverage.
Second quarter:
13:26 3 & out
9:08 3 & out
5:31 3 & fumble
1:52 5 & punt
3rd quarter
15:00 3 & out
11:52 2 play 72 yard TD
8:41 3 & out
5:32 2 & interception
4th quarter
14:28 5 & punt
10:37 3 & out
1:24 against prevent defense
I gotta hand it to AU, their defense played lights out. MUCH better than I thought they would...they obviously scouted us well and used the off week to their advantage...and we had 4 days to prepare, with thanksgiving in the middle, but the smoke and mirror attack was just that. You can scare people, and blowout weaker teams, but it is not a winning offense. I thought AU would score 10-14 through trick plays, and you can't really control a DB slipping down...but AU did not control the game.
To be honest, after the first quarter, I was not worried at all. I knew we would win. Malzahn's offense is not a nascar offense, it is more like a pro-alcohol drag racing offense. It can score quickly from anywhere, but it can blow up.
Now bring on the gators.
Auburn used trickeration to score 2 quick touchdowns in the first quarter. A no-call on a holding allowed Auburn to spring the reverse.
An unexpected and well executed onside kick, and a double-reverse halfback pass, combined with a stupid unsportsmanlike penalty, gave them their second score. You don't see too many unsportsmanlike calls on interception runbacks from plays that really didn't happen because it was whistled dead before the snap. That was a weak call.
From the start of the second quarter, until the end of the game against the prevent defense, AU had 2 drives that lasted longer than 4 plays, a 6 play drive in the second, and a 5 play drive in the 4th - both resulted in punts.
One legit TD pass when the corner fell down, leaving the receiver one on one with a safety gave them their third score.
HALF of AU's total offense came on two plays. 144 yards came in the 1st quarter. One play 72 yards in the third...216 of AU's total offense came through trick plays and a busted coverage.
Second quarter:
13:26 3 & out
9:08 3 & out
5:31 3 & fumble
1:52 5 & punt
3rd quarter
15:00 3 & out
11:52 2 play 72 yard TD
8:41 3 & out
5:32 2 & interception
4th quarter
14:28 5 & punt
10:37 3 & out
1:24 against prevent defense
I gotta hand it to AU, their defense played lights out. MUCH better than I thought they would...they obviously scouted us well and used the off week to their advantage...and we had 4 days to prepare, with thanksgiving in the middle, but the smoke and mirror attack was just that. You can scare people, and blowout weaker teams, but it is not a winning offense. I thought AU would score 10-14 through trick plays, and you can't really control a DB slipping down...but AU did not control the game.
To be honest, after the first quarter, I was not worried at all. I knew we would win. Malzahn's offense is not a nascar offense, it is more like a pro-alcohol drag racing offense. It can score quickly from anywhere, but it can blow up.
Now bring on the gators.
