Auburn Tigers

[gule]

you play in the SEC east? who knew?

[Professor Tiger]

What gave you that idea?

[Professor Tiger]

I see yet another UGA football player got arrested. Players get arrested at every SEC school, including Auburn. But UGA players seem to get arrested every weekend. The Clarke county lockup needs a whole cell block just for Richt's players (with its own weight room. Can't let these guys start losing muscle mass while awaiting bail.)

BTW, is the latest Bulldog arrestee any good? If so, is he interested in transferring to another school?

[Professor Tiger]

Nice win in our season and SEC opener.

Jeremy Johnson is a phenomenal passer, giving a good view of our future at QB. But nobody runs the read option like Nick Marshal. When he came in with the run threat, the offense went into overdrive.

The defense looked like it had been coached by Ted Roof in the first half, but got their act together and dominated in the second half.

Barring injuries, this team can compete against anybody.

[Jungle Rat]

I see 2 losses and a missed playoff berth.

[Professor Tiger]

I see 2 losses and a missed playoff berth.

I said "compete against anybody" not "beat everybody." Your prediction sounds about right.

[Professor Tiger]

We play Georgia, Bama and #20 K State, all on the road. That's two likely losses right there. Other than UGA, the best team in the East appears to be SCar, and we play them too.

Gentlemen, Auburn is in trouble.

[AlabamAlum]

In the East, I'm curious about Tennessee. They we're impressive vs Utah State. Also, I think if Florida can avoid another season chock-full of injuries like they had last year, they'll be good.

[AlabamAlum]

SoCar isn't as bad as they showed this week. Will they give up after being prison-raped is the question with them...

[Professor Tiger]

In the East, I'm curious about Tennessee. They we're impressive vs Utah State. Also, I think if Florida can avoid another season chock-full of injuries like they had last year, they'll be good.

I agree with you WRT Florida. They and UGA were devastated by injuries last year. WRT Tennessee, when you sign 30+ players on national signing day like they inexplicably do, you can't help but get better. It is indeed a weird time in the East when both Florida and Tennessee are non-factors. Tennessee in particular has sucked for what seems like a decade.

[KeviNole]

Tennessee will struggle against teams with good OL and DL (read: SEC teams). Utah State doesn't have a 300 pounder starting either line. They should get 6-8 wins (if the ball bounces their way this year) and be even better next year.

It was a good win against an underrated opponent.

[Jungle Rat]

What are you curious about Tennessee? They still suck.

[Professor Tiger]

I watched the first half of the Seattle-Green Bay game last night. Seattle used a LOT of Gus Malzahn plays. That zone read-turned-short-pass to the WR that led to a long TD run after catch was right out of the AU playbook.

[Professor Tiger]

The Big Ten is ....bad....

[dave_rickart]

but RUTS-gers and Murlan are coming to the rescue!

[Professor Tiger]

Texas should be part of the Big Ten.

[Professor Tiger]

Good news:
1.) We won, even though KSU played better overall.
2.) Marshall proved that he is a solid passer. That will be important in games when the run game is malfunctioning.
3.) That was the best performance by our defense in a long time.

Bad news:
1.) Our offense didn't click all night. Our O-line didn't open holes to run through like they usually do, and the receivers were dropping good passes right and left.
2.) The only reason we won is KSU missed 3 field goals and turned the ball over at critical times. That's not a good way to win.
3.) It just gets harder from here.

[The Gray Ghost]

3.) It just gets harder from here after LaTech next week.

TFTFY

[Professor Tiger]

Fair.

[Professor Tiger]

LA Tech was supposed to be an easy win and a tune up for the big showdown against LSU. Instead, we couldn't run consistently against LA Tech any more than we could against K St. Auburn's unstoppable run machine from last year is gone. It's anybody's guess when or if it will return. If we can't run the ball against the 2 and 3 stars on defense, God help us against the solid wall of 4 and 5 star defenders of LSU (and UGA and Bama).

To make matters worse, we only have 2 starting linebackers and both of them got hurt last Saturday. When Frost and Cass came out, it is no accident that the Bulldogs immediately started ripping long runs. And of all the positions where we are thin it is LB, mainly because we can't seem to recruit the great ones from Auburn High school.

Gentlemen, Auburn is in trouble.