By Shane from Centerpoint
In the preseason pundits pontificated profusely about new Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, claiming that his chances for a successful first season would clearly fall at the feet of Tiger offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. So far, Gus looks like a genius. However, considering the competition Auburn’s faced to date, I’ll hold-off awarding him a trophy until after they play a real team, or two.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s second-year offensive guru Jim McElwain seems to have a clear understanding of how crucial the running game is to being successful in the SEC. In the two opening games his offense has produced 543 yards on the ground! However, the true test will come when Alabama must run the ball effectively against some of the tougher defenses they’ll face – like when they play Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and LSU consecutively.
The first thing we notice about this 2009 edition of the Auburn Tigers is that they bear no resemblance whatsoever to last year’s squad. Quarterback Chris Todd’s arm is sound once again, and he’s 55% (27 of 49 / 2 td’s / 0 int’s.) thru game-two. Unlike the 2008 version, this year the players seem to execute with continuity and consistency. With some obvious quality at the skill positions, the War Eagles have ample firepower to produce plenty of points this year.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Alabama coach Nick Saban’s first priority on offense this year is to run the football – actually, it’s been his main trait for years. A quick look at his stable of runners and one can see why: Mark Ingram, an Emmitt Smith clone (both about 5’10†215 #’s), has NFL-prototype written all over him. True freshman Trent Richardson, at 5’11†and 220+, appears to be as talented as he was billed coming out of high school. He looked like the nation’s number-one tailback Saturday night with 118 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries. Power–back Roy Upchurch and speed–back Terry Grant round out Alabama’s formidable ground attack.
So far, one player that has been a complete surprise for the Auburn team is former starting quarterback Kodi Burns. He accepted the coach’s decision to move him to wide receiver and has been very efficient when used in the Tiger’s “wild eagle†attack. Burns is becoming a true team player – leading by example.
On the other side of the state, Alabama wide-out Mike McCoy stepped into all-world receiver Julio Jones’ shoes (due to Jones getting injured), producing 100 yards and a touchdown on 5 receptions. McCoy told me in an interview after the spring game that he was prepared to make a major contribution this year – Saturday night he backed it up.
From a defensive standpoint, it appears that Auburn’s starters are SEC caliber and Chizik has them playing his style, which is fast, swarming and attacking. The defense is small, but quick to the ball. After a couple of years learning under Chizik, Tiger defenses will be hard to penetrate. Still, the jury remains out on this War Eagle stop-unit for the remainder of the 2009 season, mainly because of depth issues.
The Crimson Tide defense today is just like the LSU defenses under Nick Saban in the past – extremely big, strong, quick and fast. He somehow has a talent for stacking future NFL players (in layers along the front-seven) within his defense. Admittedly, there have been too many mental breakdowns by this year’s squad early, but this unit can make up the difference quickly. Having allowed only 65 yards rushing in the first two games says a great deal about the probable fortune for any team that can’t run on Alabama – they’ll probably lose.
To summarize the quality of these two SEC western division foes after only two games apiece is impossible, but some elements of their performances are solid enough indicators that both Alabama and Auburn are fielding good football teams.
Coach Chizik has two more games in the safety of Jordan-Hare stadium; then he’ll be tested for sure by back-to-back road trips to Knoxville and Fayetteville. If he is 6-0 after these contests he and his Tigers will be in the hunt.
On the other hand, Saban has already proven his troops are worthy once with an opening win over a top-ten opponent. Now, he must keep his players aware of the target on their backs, while hitting the road for two in a row against Kentucky and Ole Miss after playing the next two at home in Bryant-Denny.
Now to the million-dollar question: Will Alabama and Auburn continue to progress and continue to win? No one really knows. Truthfully, all we can do is wait for them to line up and play the games.
Football fans in the state of Alabama would be ecstatic to see two undefeated teams meet on Friday of Thanksgiving weekend to decide the western division championship. Most unlikely but, for now, anything is possible???
—Shane writes a weekly column for the Call News and the Capstone Report.
YO! AUROX, your problem (as well as many more barnies) is that your focus is solely on 1983-Today! Although I’m a BAMMER through & through, I do retain SOME KNOWLEDGE of Auburn’s past. Most will agree (even some BAMMERS) that Shug Jordan was a good coach. He’s the ONLY AU head coach that coached an NC team for y’all and AU won some SEC Titles under his watch. I know what he called his 1972 team: “THE AMAZINS.” Why? Because they snatched victory from the “jaws of defeat” more than once that season. DOUG BARFIELD coached a couple of teams that were COMPETITIVE in 1978 & 1979. That ’79 team gave ‘Bama a scare but we prevailed by winning 25-18. Your school produced 2 Heisman Winners. Everyone remembers Bo Jackson and for good reasons, but how about Pat Sullivan? The FACT that he won the Heisman seems to be overlooked because he now serves as HC of Samford. While we’re speaking of the Heisman, YES, JOHN HEISMAN was the HC at Auburn way back yonder in the ’30s if I’m correct. Y’all have a proud tradition but it seems that ANYTHING before 1983 except the 1957 NC, the 1972 17-16 win over ‘Bama and the 1982 23-22 victory over the Tide that snapped the 9-game losing streak to ‘Bama are the only things that y’all talk about in terms of history.
You rarely hear me talk about that stuff. That was before my time, and has very little relevance to today. I just speak of things I have first hand experience with. A 1931 National championship, or 1957 for that matter, doesn’t do a darn thing for me today!
Right or wrong, haven’t we all gotten that way? What have you done for me lately? Isn’t that the “expect no less than excellence every year” mentality Carl always talks about???????
Rox,
By your on admission of football history, or lack thereof in your case astounds me. You come on here screaming about aubs importance, when it just plain doesn’t exist.
My mentality is anything but “what have you done for me lately.” YOU step boy are the one with that mind set. While I do agree that the only way to excellence is to expect it every year, I certainly don’t hold to the thought of one year only.
You just stated that nothing prior to ’83 is relevant to you because it was before your time. Well just because you are still green behind the ears doesn’t mean the rest of us are.
As Bamaman has stated Auburn has many things in their history prior to and after your short life, but it just don’t measure up to Bama’s storied history.
One thing I’m glad of though is that you made it clear why your knowledge is so limited. The old saying that those that refuse to learn from the past or sure to repeat it, is exemplified in your narrow mindless behavior. Wallow in it IDIOT!
That was St. Clair that pointed those things out, quite nicely along with Bamaman. My Bad, but good job guys.
“I’ll say this, right now Saban is riding high, but after 2-3 more years and another nc hasn’t found its way to the Mecca, he’ll be on his way as well.” Remember saying that??
That certainly sounds like “what have you done for me lately!” Carl, you can’t even remember what you wrote yesterday. This is too easy. Your way out of your league when you try and match wits with me.
Yeah right kid,
Accept your red headed step-child status and find someone more to your pea-brain mentality to try and convince of YOUR wisdom. You are such an idiot. You have NO understanding of the English language, I’m beginning to wonder if you even finished grade school, BOY!
Explain your quote. You know Carl, you seem just like an old friend of mine. He wasn’t the brightest guy, but a friend nonetheless. He would always try and come off smarter than everybody else by saying stuff like, “Oh, you wouldn’t understand” or “It’s a little more complicated than that….” When you tried to press him for more of his “superior knowledge,” he would change the subject.
I assume you’re referring to the quote about “in another 2-3 years…”
Simply stated at that time Saban will have had 5 years to produce at the level expected at Alabama, and I’ll say again if he hasn’t he’ll be gone. At last count 5 years isn’t ONE.
Taken out of context, which you are pretty good at doing, that was said in conjunction with aubs being happy with 8 or 9 wins a year as long as a few Bama victories are included, which would never be acceptable at Bama, which I now know you have no knowledge of because maybe it occurred more than 25 years ago.
You can enjoy this explanation Rox, because I rarely if ever explain myself to anyone, let alone a red headed step child. But in an effort of good will towards young people I felt you were due the courteousness. So again enjoy it little man cause it wont happen again.
Get it?
Has anyone heard anything out of our old friend, indiana vol, lately? Just wondering if he is ready for the beat down his mighty vols are going to take tomorrow at the hands of the Gators? I’ll say 67-6 Gators!
Thanks, dad. Carl…..just how many wins do you think even super elite, puss conference programs average over time?? 8 or 9 wins/year is super, it will even get you in the top 10 all time!! Do the math. But I know what you mean.
After the below the belt attack you unleashed on Indyvol (which was great), I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s killed himself.
Come on now rox, my attack on indy below the belt? He was just an excitable child and I took advantage of it. When you identify yourself as a toilet inspector that graduated from ut, you had better be prepared to take what is coming.
Agree. TN won’t win more than 5 maybe 6 games this year. I know another excitable child that will get bent over Papa Meyer’s knee tomorrow. I can’t wait.
YO! AUROX, you as an “Auburn Man” should be PROUD of what your program has accomplished in the past! THERE IS RELEVANCE THERE FOR THOSE WHO LOOK FOR IT. The attitude should be “if those guys could do it, we can too.” TRADITION IS IMPORTANT, and the memories of “gridiron glory” should be cherished but what can be learned from the people who accomplished such feats is WHAT IT TOOK TO GET IT DONE. Take time to remember the past but KEEP LOOKING FORWARD for the NEXT GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. Yes, that’s what most BAMMERS do. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT GLORIUS ACCOMPLISHMENT and WE CAN SEE IT ON THE HORIZON! Its a hard journey at times but the RESULTS ARE WORTH IT.
Saint, You know I have mad respect for you and Carl I like you also. May I try and help with this? YOU talk about us only thinking about 83 on or not living your past But SIRS we DO! You (NOT SAINT)
CONSTANTLY call us Little brothers, or red headed step children, or any number of ANTIQUATED names. In reality we are saying YOu have these names for us but if YOU look since 83 WHAT HAS BAMMA DONE TO US LATELY? Since 83 its AU 15 UAT 11….. AU has a 4 game streak and a 7 game streak….. UAT has one 3 game streak… WE ARE NO LONGER REDHEADED STEP CHILDREN…..If the ignorant bammers here didnt have a CRAB IN THE BUCKET MENTALILTY we wouldnt have most of these discussions. AS I have said I own 4 books on BEAR and I appreciate you guys NOSTALGIA let us get on with ours
IF anyone is STEP CHILDREN IN MY CHILDHOOD ITS uat…..
WAR POLYTECH BABY ITS GAME DAY!!!
St Clair…..I appreciate your words and way of thinking. I agree. I didn’t mean to come off like I’m unaware and don’t care what Auburn (or bama) did in the past.
OMNI has said what I clumsily was trying to say.
Anywho, we are 3-0, but need to improve quickly. Despite all the turnovers, our tackling was atrocious. That’s not gonna cut it with the new high octane offenses in the SEC this year. When’s the last time nearly every team in the SEC could score 40, 50 and 60 points a game???????? Crazy.
Beware SEC Beware!!!!
Alabama is scary talented and with a little experience with be scary scary scary!!!!