Another week and another win….barely. But a win is a win and what we will most likely find is that Clemson is a formidable out-of-conference opponent. If you saw the broadcast on tv you are aware that this was a physical game as that was said at least 1 gazillion times. Even from my perch, high in the north endzone, I could feel some of the hits in this game.
I really like the way this team responded to adversity. They looked just plain bad in the first half, yet came out in the 2nd half and responded with 24 unanswered points. It would have been just as easy to continue playing flat in the 2nd half, especially given how physical Clemson was. However, they stood up to the challenge and showed that they can’t be counted out. We have a lot of things to address on both sides of the ball, although there seem to now be more problems with the offense, however any time a team responds like that and comes back to win you have to give them credit. That kind of attitude can take you from “good-to-great”.
This team, as hard as they played and as bad as they looked at times, has been lucky. Two weeks in a row good QBs can’t hit open receivers. Sometimes you have luck on your side and this team has for the first 3 games. I’m afraid that won’t last the rest of the season. At some point we are going to need to flat out beat somebody, however all great teams have some luck during the season (don’t believe me? See Alabama 2009 National Championship team and watch the Tennessee game, see the entire 1993 Auburn season, and see 2004 AU vs. LSU). I think this team knows that, but also understands that as you go from “good to great” you will need luck on your side at times and also be able to respond positively to that bad luck when it occurs.
I was told to be short so here are 5 observations from this week:
1. Cam Newton occasionally forgets his Superman cape. He is human, although a very talented human. He made mistakes Saturday night and it cost the team. He misread several plays (If he hits TZac on 3rd down in OT we could watch TZac crawl in the endzone untouched). If we really want to see the QB and the leader he is as well as whether he can go from “good to great” we will see how he responds and how he learns from his mistakes.
2. Defense – A lot has been said about this Defense and a lot has been negative. I am torn on what this defense can do this year. Let me break it down. DLine – Best player on this team resides here. Nick Fairley is a beast and maybe the best Dlinemen at Auburn since his position coach, Tracy Rocker, played 25 years ago (it may be too early to call this, however I will throw it out there). At times he has another motor and another gear that just allows him to run over opposing teams. That being said, the rest of the line is good but not up to his level. If he had a supporting cast, he would be just nasty. LBs – Josh Bynes is a leader and it shows on the field. This guy is a huge asset for this team, both through his athletic ability and his leadership. Just watch any given play and how he directs the defense. The other linebackers have not impressed me yet and Craig Stevens is obviously rusty at this point. Secondary – Ouch!! I’m going to just say we need to work on some things and continue to develop a consistent pass rush to help them out.
3. I heard a rumor at the game. This is super-secret! I heard we have a tight end on this team!! I know at this point that is purely speculative but it is what I have been told. Now can anyone find this very-talented guy with incredible hands who has not seen a ball thrown his way this year? Maybe we don’t throw it to him b/c the media relations folks don’t want to have to spell out his name in the box score every Sunday.
4. Clemson fans travel well and were very loud at times. That being said, I love the “blue out” and I thought our fans were loud for most of the game and showed why Jordan-Hare can be a tough place to play. The students brought it for this game and in OT the noise was deafening! I appreciate Coach Chizik and his efforts to get fans and specifically students ready for the game.
5. Penalties. They just have to stop. Stupid penalties lose games; just ask the Clemson long snapper.
This week is South Carolina and it will be tough. More on that later.
I really like the way this team responded to adversity. They looked just plain bad in the first half, yet came out in the 2nd half and responded with 24 unanswered points. It would have been just as easy to continue playing flat in the 2nd half, especially given how physical Clemson was. However, they stood up to the challenge and showed that they can’t be counted out. We have a lot of things to address on both sides of the ball, although there seem to now be more problems with the offense, however any time a team responds like that and comes back to win you have to give them credit. That kind of attitude can take you from “good-to-great”.
This team, as hard as they played and as bad as they looked at times, has been lucky. Two weeks in a row good QBs can’t hit open receivers. Sometimes you have luck on your side and this team has for the first 3 games. I’m afraid that won’t last the rest of the season. At some point we are going to need to flat out beat somebody, however all great teams have some luck during the season (don’t believe me? See Alabama 2009 National Championship team and watch the Tennessee game, see the entire 1993 Auburn season, and see 2004 AU vs. LSU). I think this team knows that, but also understands that as you go from “good to great” you will need luck on your side at times and also be able to respond positively to that bad luck when it occurs.
I was told to be short so here are 5 observations from this week:
1. Cam Newton occasionally forgets his Superman cape. He is human, although a very talented human. He made mistakes Saturday night and it cost the team. He misread several plays (If he hits TZac on 3rd down in OT we could watch TZac crawl in the endzone untouched). If we really want to see the QB and the leader he is as well as whether he can go from “good to great” we will see how he responds and how he learns from his mistakes.
2. Defense – A lot has been said about this Defense and a lot has been negative. I am torn on what this defense can do this year. Let me break it down. DLine – Best player on this team resides here. Nick Fairley is a beast and maybe the best Dlinemen at Auburn since his position coach, Tracy Rocker, played 25 years ago (it may be too early to call this, however I will throw it out there). At times he has another motor and another gear that just allows him to run over opposing teams. That being said, the rest of the line is good but not up to his level. If he had a supporting cast, he would be just nasty. LBs – Josh Bynes is a leader and it shows on the field. This guy is a huge asset for this team, both through his athletic ability and his leadership. Just watch any given play and how he directs the defense. The other linebackers have not impressed me yet and Craig Stevens is obviously rusty at this point. Secondary – Ouch!! I’m going to just say we need to work on some things and continue to develop a consistent pass rush to help them out.
3. I heard a rumor at the game. This is super-secret! I heard we have a tight end on this team!! I know at this point that is purely speculative but it is what I have been told. Now can anyone find this very-talented guy with incredible hands who has not seen a ball thrown his way this year? Maybe we don’t throw it to him b/c the media relations folks don’t want to have to spell out his name in the box score every Sunday.
4. Clemson fans travel well and were very loud at times. That being said, I love the “blue out” and I thought our fans were loud for most of the game and showed why Jordan-Hare can be a tough place to play. The students brought it for this game and in OT the noise was deafening! I appreciate Coach Chizik and his efforts to get fans and specifically students ready for the game.
5. Penalties. They just have to stop. Stupid penalties lose games; just ask the Clemson long snapper.
This week is South Carolina and it will be tough. More on that later.
Brad, I enjoy you post game comments and so far agree with pretty much every thing you have said.
ReplyDeleteLeeann, I love watching Paige grow up! Thanks for sharing.
War Eagle!!