I don't have time to watch anything other than Auburn, so I haven't seen Alabama play this year.
Anyone have opinions yet on matchups that will be critical?
Does this guy have an editor?
Kidding aside, Alabama is a very very good FB team. They have loads of talent. They are well coached and look good right now. Even with their redzone offense being suspect the latter half of the year, they are still one of the best 3 teams in the country. This should tell you how good they are. We will have to, HAVE TO, bring our best game of the year. Yes, the cliche "110%". Our guys will HAVE to play over their ability. They will have to overachieve. The crowd needs to be loud from the opening kickoff. Do all of this + If they can get McElroy a little rattled, and Auburn has a chance. If we could only score 17 offensive points on Ga's terrible defense, I wouldn't say on paper our chances look too good to put more than 17 or 20 points total on Bama's D. Anything can happen, and that's why they play the games. It doesn't look like a good match up 12 days out, but I acknowledge there is a chance. Which is more than I think we had last year in T Town.
__________________ "A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
Our guys will have to stay focused for 4 quarters to pull this one out. Something we haven't done all year. Basically, we will have to play mistake free football (no turnovers and minimal penalties). Bama is not that good on offense, but they don't make mistakes. Their defense has a lot of depth and gives up very few if any big plays (they can stay on the field the entire game without getting tired). I would look for them to do the same as uga did in the second half on Saturday. Run, run, run, run, ....long bomb, run some more. It's not all doom and gloom...ut out-played bama, but made too many mistakes at the end. We have a shot.
I hate to say it, but Ingram will run all over this defense. The play that Auburn has the most trouble with is his specialty. He's killed some of the best defenses in the SEC with his ability to run through people and their offensive line creates huge gaps for him to hit.
There are some weaknesses in their offense, but their defense is as solid as I've seen in a long time. They make offenses make mistakes and if you commit many penalties, you're dead meat. Auburn's offense has GOT to get its act together in the penalty department or it's going to be another runaway early. Todd cannot afford to get sacked or throw the wrong way. The OL has to step up and make plays, period. Our receivers can't afford to bobble the ball or not secure it. Bammer's DB's will steal the ball right out of their hands ala Ole Miss if they don't. We've got to do all of this just to be competitive, let alone win.
Quite frankly, I don't believe that Auburn has the chances of an ice-cube in hell with what I've seen this year. Bammer's just got too many weapons.(God help me, it hurt to say that!!!) and we make too many mistakes.
Regardless, WDE!!!!!
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I wasn't born in AL, and I didn't know Auburn was such a great place until I went there for a visit. That's all it took. I was hooked. WAR EAGLE!!!
Last edited by sec38row34; 11-16-2009 at 01:37 PM.
Reason: added thought
Anyone have opinions yet on matchups that will be critical?
This game will be tough, in factoring talent, depth, and coaching Bama probably has the best of us at every position. It isn't that we don't have great players (I would take Tate over Ingram any day) but they are coached in a way that their strengths are emphasized and weaknesses protected - we are more exposed to out talent's shortcomings I think.
I dislike Saban as much as anyone but the man can coach college ball and he knows defense, especially nickel defense. For AU to have a chance we will have to control Ingram and simultaneous not let play action burn us deep. That is the problem with their boring offense, it is very hard to match even that simply attack.
On offense we will have to be consistent, something we have not been verse a team that doesn't suck yet, against what is probably the single best equipped and coached team in the NCAA to shut down out style of offense. No gain plays and plays for losses will need to be avoided even as they are commonplace for our offense even when doing well - mistakes against this Bama defense will be drive killers. We will have to get big plays, on the ground and in the air be it a deep pass, short pass that breaks for more, or runs out of the backfield. Most of all, we will have to take those shots smartly as Bama will make us pay if we miss and each miss will make the next play that much harder.
Auburn can win, but it will take a near perfect game, few to no penalties, and a few good breaks. Players play the game but for Aurburn to win this one the coaches will have to be on their game putting our players in just the right places and situations all day long.
Man what a win it would be - after that UGA loss, which we should have won, AU really needs a win here to have a good feeling about the season and solidify some progress heading out of year one under Coach Chizik. I am not saying a loss means Chizik starts out on a bad note, but without having won that UGA game to compliment the 'Ole Miss win and distance the 3 game slide the Bama game is the chance to change the season from a toss up with as many questions as answers to a solid good rebuilding year that is the start of what is to come.
__________________ "I thought Auburn was good, but certainly not great on offense. Next season [2010], the Tigers need to be better on short yardage and they need to be able to run the ball and take time off the clock when it's called for." - Phillip Marshall, AuburnUndercover.com
Hrm, maybe I am not crazy after all.
I heard someone say that Alabama has struggled with Kickoff coverage this year. Maybe Washington gives us a threat there.
And traditionally I know that Saban likes to cheat everyone up on the LOS to stuff the run on 1st down. I hope CGM takes advantage of that and hoists up the deep ball on 1st and 10 A LOT in this game.
Also, I know that on 3rd down and medium to long Saban has traditionally run a lot of Cover 1 Robber while blitzing or stunting up front to get a lot of pressure on the QB - this is the same defense USC was running just about everytime Oregon gashed them for a big play a couple of weeks ago. I hope CGM has a copy of that tape as well.
With the correct play call - which has to be adjusted at the LOS - there is potential to bust this defense for 15+ yard gains regularly. Oregon found the proper play and keys - it's was obvious what they were doing just watching the game...but USC tried to cover it up after the fact and say it was just broken plays.
I don't really know anything about Alabama's offense this year - though just looking at the stats / results - it looks like opponents that did well slowing down their run and putting the game on the QB did much better than teams trying to stop it all.
Auburn's problem is - they need AT LEAST 3 Linebackers to run their defense.
Can Quinton Riggins suit up from the sideline crew to pitch in?
Unfortunately, Alabama is just so deep and Auburn is so thin that I feel Alabama should win the game. We just make too many mistakes in crucial situations, like Ziemba false starts in just about every game. With that said, if Auburn can play like we did against Ole Miss, then we have a shot. But, the offense has got to have sustained drives to keep the defense off the field. I have never seen an Auburn defense give up this many yards and all the points they have given up. They are young and thin. I beleive Chizek is building something special though!
Well, Im a bit of an optimist and I say that Auburn wins this game against bama. Maybe the stars do have to line up with unusually large solar flares but I say we win this game. I do understand and agree with what some of you have said. Auburn has to bring their A+ game, no doubt but again I say we win this game. Yes turnovers and penalties are key but even more important than that is putting enormous amounts of pressure on McElroy, as jon has already stated. If there is a glaring weakness in this bama team it is at QB, as is ours though. The same kind of game plan as we had against Ole Miss would fit very very well in this game. Also, why not study last years bama vs Utah St game. I would think we could learn a lot from a team that destroyed bama last year in the Sugar Bowl.
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Darkness cannot resist the Light.
Y'all know it's all about the defense guys.
UA's defense has allowed +/- 10 ppg to be scored on them thru 10 games.
AU's defense has allowed +/- 27 ppg to be scored on them thru 11 games.
Of our common opponents:
Arkansas - UA allowed 7 pts - AU allowed 44 pts
Kentucky - UA allowed 20 pts - AU allowed 21 pts
Ole Miss - UA allowed 3 pts - AU allowed 20 pts
Tennessee- UA allowed 10 pts - AU allowed 22 pts
LSU - UA allowed 15 pts - AU allowed 31 pts
Miss State - UA allowed 3 pts - AU allowed 24 pts
We just don't have the horses on defense this year. I don't think I can remember seeing an AU defense this bad in my adult life.
Well, Im a bit of an optimist and I say that Auburn wins this game against bama. Could happen. We all know the intangibles created by great rivalry games sometimes result in underdog victories.
Maybe the stars do have to line up with unusually large solar flares but I say we win this game. I do understand and agree with what some of you have said. Auburn has to bring their A+ game, no doubt but again I say we win this game. Yes turnovers and penalties are key but even more important than that is putting enormous amounts of pressure on McElroy, as jon has already stated. McElroy hasn't done as well statistically this year when facing an excellent defense. But sometimes the numbers are deceiving. He very seldom makes a big mistake. We can live with that. TBD whether Auburn can bring an excellent pass-rushing defense to the table. And if you do, does that leave lanes for the running game to exploit.
If I'm scheming against Bama, I sell out to stop the run and require Bama to beat me through the air. However, I think Bama is up to that challenge.
If there is a glaring weakness in this bama team it is at QB, as is ours though. Perhaps I'm wearing crimson glasses, but I just don't reguard our QB as a weakness. He's very good. His job is to manage the game, let the RBs do their thing, hit a few open receivers to keep the defense honest, and not make errors.
Bama's glaring weaknesses: kickoff coverage and redzone TDs. Your kickoff return guys oughta' be fighting amongst each other to determine who gets to take a shot at making the highlight reel with a great KO return against Bama. 'Course, except for one KO, any other Bama KOs mean something bad has happened, from an Auburn perspective.
We've been stopped far too often in the redzone and had to settle for FGs.
The same kind of game plan as we had against Ole Miss would fit very very well in this game. Also, why not study last years bama vs Utah St game. I would think we could learn a lot from a team that destroyed bama last year in the Sugar Bowl. Waste of time. Auburn cannot count on (a) Bama losing their best O-lineman just prior to the game due to his signing with an agent; and (b) Bama losing their 2nd-best O-lineman to an injury on the first play of the game. Furthermore, Bama's secondary and depth in the interior line are lightyears better this year than last year. (BTW, no excuses; Utah whipped us last year.)
Better to study the Tenn, So. Carolina, and LSU games to see how their defenses schemed us.
I think Auburn's best chance is to make the game a track meet. Hope for a score something like 42-35. But no one's been able to do that yet...
Auburn v. Alabama
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