Link: The return of Big Cat weekend

[Saban14]

We recruited pretty well on defense as well, except for the secondary. I think the offensive recruits should help us defensively because we shouldn't have as many three and outs. Just my opinion.

Not really. Bama loaded up on defense this past year, with Auburn picking up the majority of their 'top notch' recruits on the offensive side. Say what you want, and I mean no disrespect, but the best way to improve a defense is to improve it directly.

Compete for the West? Do we even know if Chizik can win 9 games?

 

[AUTigers001]

Not really. Bama loaded up on defense this past year, with Auburn picking up the majority of their 'top notch' recruits on the offensive side. Say what you want, and I mean no disrespect, but the best way to improve a defense is to improve it directly.

Compete for the West? Do we even know if Chizik can win 9 games?

I don't see any disrespect in your reply so no harm no foul. I think that while we did get many highly rated offensive players the defense was definetly improved with this class. And we are in complete agreement that directly improving the defense is the best thing. I think we will do that. I also think thY fewer three and outs can only help.

 

[BAMA504]

I don't see any disrespect in your reply so no harm no foul. I think that while we did get many highly rated offensive players the defense was definetly improved with this class. And we are in complete agreement that directly improving the defense is the best thing. I think we will do that. I also think thY fewer three and outs can only help.

Not being a SA but exactly which recruits are you claiming that are going to step in and upgrade your defense??

For what it is worth: IMO auburns offense caught many teams off guard last year as they really had no ideal of what to expect and the pace that you were going to run being as it was your 1st year running that type of offense. You will not be as fortunate this year and teams are going to have plenty of film to evaluate and find tendancies something they did not have last year~!~

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Not being a SA but exactly which recruits are you claiming that are going to step in and upgrade your defense??

For what it is worth: IMO auburns offense caught many teams off guard last year as they really had no ideal of what to expect and the pace that you were going to run being as it was your 1st year running that type of offense. You will not be as fortunate this year and teams are going to have plenty of film to evaluate and find tendancies something they did not have last year~!~

not only do teams have film on them, but the tigers will have a 1st year starter at the helm running the offense. I don't care about his accolades coming out of H.S. or his 5 star rating as a JUCO QB, Newton has NEVER play a snap in the SEC!! heck, we don't even know if he will win the starting job come fall. Auburn is putting a lot of their eggs in one basket on this one kid.

their defense in 09' was the worse in Auburn's recent history, they can only improve!! again this will be the ultimate difference maker for them in 10'. they lose their best pass-rusher as well as some key guys on defense. unless they have some real talent stepping up, I expect the same results.

 

[jdavis3]

newtons stats were the same as the guy that just left so i dont expect nothing more than another mediocre quarterback for the barners more of a game manager than a game changer

 

[AUTigers001]

Not being a SA but exactly which recruits are you claiming that are going to step in and upgrade your defense??

For what it is worth: IMO auburns offense caught many teams off guard last year as they really had no ideal of what to expect and the pace that you were going to run being as it was your 1st year running that type of offense. You will not be as fortunate this year and teams are going to have plenty of film to evaluate and find tendancies something they did not have last year~!~

Well... it's mostly the defensive line that I think will be much better. Our LB's were pretty good, just had nobody to give them a rest, so they wore down toward the end of the 4th qtr. But, specifically, I think that the DE's (Bonomolo, Lemonier, and Sanders) will provide some depth and will probably all see at least some playing time. The DT's weren't too shabby wither (Kenneth Carter and Jeffery Whitaker) and could also work into the rotation. We signed a couple of LB's but we'll have to see how good they are. We also signed a couple of DB's but -- I don't knwo man... I wasn't real impressed with who we signed. I really wish we could've gotten someone of Millner's talent -- but we didn't.

AS far as the offense goes, I'm not too worried about it. It comes down to execution, really, and I think we'll execute better than we did last year. No matter what the play call is, you still have to block and everyone still has to do their job. I've heard lots of people call it 'trickery' on this board, but I don't really think a reverse is a trick. Maybe it used to be... but it is just another play now. Pace is another thing. When we executed the fast pace was our friend...when we didn't it was certainly our enemy. Sub two minute possessions ending in a punt aren't good for anyone, except the opposing team.

 

[AUTigers001]

newtons stats were the same as the guy that just left so i dont expect nothing more than another mediocre quarterback for the barners more of a game manager than a game changer

The big difference is that Newton has a healthy shoulder and he can run. Todd couldn't throw the ball very far (especially his junior year) because of his shoulder injury. He was also no running threat. Newton may prove to be 'mediocre'... the jury is certainly still out on that since he hasn't taken a snap at Auburn yet. I think he will be an improvement over Todd.

 

[Saban14]

No gimmick offense will work for long. What I mean by that is eventually, the defense catches up and things go back to having superior talent/coaching/experience/execution and the gimmicky portion doesn't work as well. As Bear Bryant said, "The same things win that always win, we just have a different bunch of excuses if we lose." Next year, defenses will be on to Malzahn's offense and things will probably be a lot different. Dominating lines, a strong running game, solid QB play, a strong defensive backfield, and minimizing turnovers will always be the key to winning. We have the talent all over for it, Auburn is still trying to rely on a gimmicky offense.

Again AU, you have to expect that kind of honesty on a Bama board

 

[AUTigers001]

No gimmick offense will work for long. What I mean by that is eventually, the defense catches up and things go back to having superior talent/coaching/experience/execution and the gimmicky portion doesn't work as well. As Bear Bryant said, "The same things win that always win, we just have a different bunch of excuses if we lose." Next year, defenses will be on to Malzahn's offense and things will probably be a lot different. Dominating lines, a strong running game, solid QB play, a strong defensive backfield, and minimizing turnovers will always be the key to winning. We have the talent all over for it, Auburn is still trying to rely on a gimmicky offense.

Again AU, you have to expect that kind of honesty on a Bama board

Haha... yeah -- honesty or opinion?

If you call a no-huddle a gimmick then I'll agree with you.

We used a gimmick against you on the on-side kick... I think that was kind of gimmicky -- but that was special teams - not offense.

I'm not arguing that we have talent to match you -- we aren't there yet.

 

[Saban14]

Haha... yeah -- honesty or opinion?

If you call a no-huddle a gimmick then I'll agree with you.

We used a gimmick against you on the on-side kick... I think that was kind of gimmicky -- but that was special teams - not offense.

I'm not arguing that we have talent to match you -- we aren't there yet.

Both. Im not calling a no-huddle a gimmick, I'm calling the trickeration that you guys pull ever play a gimmick. Eventually, DC's catch on to that trash, and you have to play big boy football.

 

[BamaInBham]

Yeah, I've discussed this with you before but that would probably be main concern for Auburn going into the 2010 season. I see your point about not as many 3 and outs. But if I was an AU fan I would definitely hope to see some improvement from last years defensive numbers. If they can shore that up some, I think they'll be able to compete for the West this year.

IMO, AU has NO shot at the West. They lost 5 of their last 6 SEC games. They will be starting a new QB and their D is soft. Dyer may be a difference maker. They got a couple of good D recruits in Lemonier and Whitaker, but they will be Tr Fr on the DL, not a place to be young. They have no shot at Bama and little chance against LSU and probably UGA. Ark would be favored at this time and So Car is probably a toss up. Even MSU, UK and OM are not gimmes.

I have never seen a team get as much credit for a loss as AU against Bama (it was a fluke) except maybe ND against USC in Weiss' first year. With everything in their favor, they still lost the game - Bama just jerked it away from them when they wanted it.

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

Haha... yeah -- honesty or opinion?

If you call a no-huddle a gimmick then I'll agree with you.

We used a gimmick against you on the on-side kick... I think that was kind of gimmicky -- but that was special teams - not offense.

I'm not arguing that we have talent to match you -- we aren't there yet.

I don't think a fast pace, no-huddle type, offense will ever consistently beat physical, ball-control offenses, coupled with stingy defense.

 

[AUTigers001]

Both. Im not calling a no-huddle a gimmick, I'm calling the trickeration that you guys pull ever play a gimmick. Eventually, DC's catch on to that trash, and you have to play big boy football.

Well, I guess we will just see how it works out this year. I think we will be better on both sides of the ball. I'm not saying we run the table, but we should be better.

 

[Saban14]

Well, I guess we will just see how it works out this year. I think we will be better on both sides of the ball. I'm not saying we run the table, but we should be better.

Fair enough... as long as we beat you in November and win the West, I couldn't care less . As far as recruiting last year, I think Cam Newton was EXTREMELY over-rated and Dyer was under-rated. Heck, I feel that Phillip Sims may already be better than Cam Newton and he has 4 years (5 with a redshirt) instead of 2. I do think that Dyer is legit though.

Also, I'm always amazed at Auburn's schedule. 3 patty cakes OOC and a bye week before us.

 

[BAMA504]

Well... it's mostly the defensive line that I think will be much better. Our LB's were pretty good, just had nobody to give them a rest, so they wore down toward the end of the 4th qtr. But, specifically, I think that the DE's (Bonomolo, Lemonier, and Sanders) will provide some depth and will probably all see at least some playing time. The DT's weren't too shabby wither (Kenneth Carter and Jeffery Whitaker) and could also work into the rotation. We signed a couple of LB's but we'll have to see how good they are. We also signed a couple of DB's but -- I don't knwo man... I wasn't real impressed with who we signed. I really wish we could've gotten someone of Millner's talent -- but we didn't.

AS far as the offense goes, I'm not too worried about it. It comes down to execution, really, and I think we'll execute better than we did last year. No matter what the play call is, you still have to block and everyone still has to do their job. I've heard lots of people call it 'trickery' on this board, but I don't really think a reverse is a trick. Maybe it used to be... but it is just another play now. Pace is another thing. When we executed the fast pace was our friend...when we didn't it was certainly our enemy. Sub two minute possessions ending in a punt aren't good for anyone, except the opposing team.

Well listening to that goof ball during the SECCG it would be called stealing a TD if we did anything other than run the ball. That perfect oh crap screen was even called a trick by them ding dongs.
I for one do not see what all the hoopla surrounding the auburn offense is about?? It is about as basic as it comes and I run the same type of movement offense at a 9-10 yr old level. Only my QB runs all the time but has the option to throw on any play if the CB or safety lets the WR loose.
The only thing tricky about the auburn offense is which back or WR will be getting the hand off because at the end of the pre-snap crap it all came down to your qb handing the ball off and no one had to worry about the qb going anywhere so to me it was not a very effective spread option when the qb is not part of the equation IMO...

 

[AUTigers001]

The only thing tricky about the auburn offense is which back or WR will be getting the hand off because at the end of the pre-snap crap it all came down to your qb handing the ball off and no one had to worry about the qb going anywhere so to me it was not a very effective spread option when the qb is not part of the equation IMO...

I agree completely... the plays that we ran were all pretty simple plays and Todd was NOT going to run unless he absolutely had to -- which would result in a loss or no gain. The plays that were successful were successful because of good execution. The plays that were not successful were because of poor execution.

I think the QB will be much more of a threat this season...

 

[WILDCARD]

Don't put to much stock in a JUCO QB. He will be limited in the amount of prep. time to pick up the entire system. I don't believe one spring and fall camp can get a QB ready for the SEC defences he will face e.g. Kentucky, Vandy ect. the university of auburn really won't have a chance to be succsessful at the SEC level until they can recruit a 4-5 star type of guy. Then you give him a RS one or two years of sideline/clipboard holder work and let him listen to the HC scream at the starter e.g. JPW/Greg to know what not to do. I think if Newton wins the job he won't be effective until his second year by then he is long gone. They better have that 4-5 star kid developed by then or the towel waving, chest bumpping and couch jumpping crew will be out of a JOB!!!!!:biggrin2:

 

[HITIDE]

Don't put to much stock in a JUCO QB. He will be limited in the amount of prep. time to pick up the entire system. I don't believe one spring and fall camp can get a QB ready for the SEC defences he will face e.g. Kentucky, Vandy ect. the university of auburn really won't have a chance to be succsessful at the SEC level until they can recruit a 4-5 star type of guy. Then you give him a RS one or two years of sideline/clipboard holder work and let him listen to the HC scream at the starter e.g. JPW/Greg to know what not to do. I think if Newton wins the job he won't be effective until his second year by then he is long gone. They better have that 4-5 star kid developed by then or the towel waving, chest bumpping and couch jumpping crew will be out of a JOB!!!!!:biggrin2:

Doesn't albarn already have a couple of players that were originally 5 star QB's that they brought in a JUCO laptop chunker to start over?

 

[WILDCARD]

Doesn't albarn already have a couple of players that were originally 5 star QB's that they brought in a JUCO laptop chunker to start over?

Yes, your right on one account. It was ture but that 4-5 star guy moved back to Texas!!!!! The only young gun they have is mr 2A football of Alabama that has the footwork of a guard!!!!! JMO but they don't have a young QB in the ranks mooooooooo I mean maybeeee they will grab one in the up coming Phat Cat weekend; Why don't they rename the weekend "Weekend at Barnies"!!!!:biggrin:

 

[HITIDE]

Yes, your right on one account. It was ture but that 4-5 star guy moved back to Texas!!!!! The only young gun they have is mr 2A football of Alabama that has the footwork of a guard!!!!! JMO but they don't have a young QB in the ranks mooooooooo I mean maybeeee they will grab one in the up coming Phat Cat weekend; Why don't they rename the weekend "Weekend at Barnies"!!!!:biggrin:

The jest was that they don't seem to be very successful developing the high rated QB's they already have yet they are putting all their eggs in the basket of a guy with only 2 yrs eligibility, limited SEC experience (2 years ago) and first year with the sand lot offense.:smile: