Comments on: They know. We know.

By: WarBlogEagle

WarBlogEagle — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:52:21 +0000

We can agree to disagree, Pete. But very well prepared and very well coached Auburn may be, they don’t have anything like the Tide’s talent level and again, to me, the business of getting ready to play and having the players ready to match Auburn’s effort level falls on the coaches. I mean, it’s a simple question: who got the most out of their players? Whose players were playing closest to their maximum potential? No way that’s Alabama. No way.

By: PeterPumpkinhead

PeterPumpkinhead — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:07:04 +0000

They did coach the team on the correct alignment, that was my point. Someone missed Rolando’s signal and didn’t end up where they were supposed to be… that’s an execution issue.

I’m sure you haven’t watched every Bama game from beginning to end, but if you had, you’d have seen that Ingram had very little first quarter yardage all season. It has been McElwain’s M.O. the entire season to run him into the line in the first half to wear down the defensive line. He is usually much more successful in the second half. When Ingram didn’t get traction in the third quarter, he adjusted and started throwing the ball.

I’m not claiming that Malzahn and Roof didn’t have a very good plan, or that they didn’t have Auburn very well prepared… but to claim they “vastly outcoached and outprepared” Saban’s crew is just silly. I mean, they coached them well enough to beat a very well prepared and well coached team, didn’t they?

By: WarBlogEagle

WarBlogEagle — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:09:24 +0000

Well, Peter, it depends on how much you assign or don’t assign to coaching. If Saban and Smart couldn’t figure out how to get their guy aligned properly with two weeks to prepare for Auburn’s reverse–which as I noted in today’s post, wasn’t some new trick but a staple play of Malzahn’s offense since the spring game–why is that not on them? Auburn’s been using double-moves on the outside since game 1–if Saban and Smart couldn’t convince Barron to stay deep and not bite, that’s not poor coaching? Auburn sold out to stop Ingram from the jump, but it took the whole game for McElwain to quit throwing plays away running him into the line–that’s not a victory for Roof? And it baffles how every Tide fan I’ve read admits that ‘Bama came out sloppy and unfocused and didn’t match Auburn’s effort or emotion … isn’t job No. 1 for the head coach to make sure his players are ready to play for a game with this much on the line?

Add all that up with the fact that not a coach in America would take Auburn’s collection of athletes over the Tide’s, and yes, it’s pretty obvious to me which team got the better of the coaching matchup.

As for the “after the first quarter” thing, well, before the fourth quarter Auburn outscored Alabama 21-20. We win! Points at the beginning count for just as much as the ones at the end.

By: PeterPumpkinhead

PeterPumpkinhead — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:49:11 +0000

I’m not sure just how “outcoached” Saban’s crew was (as evidenced by the bootleg play call to win the game, and Auburn’s lack of preparation for it… if it weren’t for a AU linebacker hanging on Upchurch’s facemask he’d have been open by miles). Yes, the Bama kick team should have been more prepared for the onside kick possibility (esp since Saban has used that trick himself a time or two), but if you look at the overall gameplan, what would Saban really change? The problems for Bama in the first half came from execution (like the misalignment on the reverse), not planning.

After the first quarter, Auburn was outscored 26-7, which is much more like what most people thought the final score would turn out to be. When given the opportunity to ice the game mid-way through the 4th quarter, Bama’s D dominated the AU offensive line.

At the end of the day, the close score was a product of Auburn players giving a hell of a lot more effort for most of the game. And THAT should concern Bama fans.

The fact that giving that much more effort didn’t win the game is what should worry Auburn fans.

I hope you guys go beat whatever pathetic opponent from a mid-tier conference (i.e. not the SEC or Pac-10) is sent your way for the holidays.

By: The Blueprint: what went right, what went wrong | The War Eagle Reader

The Blueprint: what went right, what went wrong | The War Eagle Reader — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:38:37 +0000

[...] Auburn relied on Friday. But the bottom line from the analytical perspective is the same as from the emotional one: that gulf that separated these teams at the end of 2008? It’s already [...]

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:07:35 +0000

Bryant Denny and BamaBacker: Thanks for your posts. I get so tired of the trolls. To YOU too I say, good luck.

By: Post Iron Bowl randomness « Joe Auburn, walkabout

Post Iron Bowl randomness « Joe Auburn, walkabout — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:59:03 +0000

[...] So what did we walk out of Jordan-Hare with Friday afternoon? The certainty that at least as long as Coach Gene Chizik can hold on to, or maintain the level of intensity he and his assistant coaches have, there will not be another 36-0 lashing like 2008. And even though they’ll never admit it, ‘Bama learned that on Friday as well. [...]

By: Jonesy

Jonesy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:54:25 +0000

I love how they hate “trick plays”. It’s legal. There’s no such thing as a trick play. Your team should have stopped it. If it’s so wonderful, why don’t you run it yourself?

By: BamaBacker

BamaBacker — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:47:19 +0000

Here’s a question for y’all: When Malzhan (not sure on spelling) moves on this year or next, who would you guys want for your new OC? Don’t know if he’ll leave after this year, but if he don’t and has another productive year next year, then somebody will come get him for a HC position. If I was Marshall, I would consider coming after him right now.

By: WokDontRun

WokDontRun — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:44:05 +0000

Todd’s turnovers cost us that game…Specifically the fumble, because that rattled him…The exact same thing happened against LSU…I glad he is leaving…He is an average at best QB, and cost us the last 2 games…But if Gus can set the AU passing TD record wih Todd, just imagine what he can do with a real QB.

As for the game…I got there an hr and half before kickoff and still got stuck under the scoreoard in the student section…So i didnt really see mcuh of the game…Couldnt see the scoreboard either…And could hear the announcers…I was basically there to make noise.

The D played lighs out…Good enough to win that game…Given they where put on short feild most of the game…Im very proud of them boys…Goggans said “He aint going to win the Heisman on us” and they made that come true

Cannot wait until we have a real QB next year, not Franklin’s version of JPW. I dont want to hear anything about him sticking out the injury because he cost us our 2 biggest rivarly games.

Can we AU fans not have a place where the bammer trash comes to run their toothless mouths?