Open Thread: #22 Auburn vs. Arkansas

   As I see it, no one's stopped McFadden and Jones, this year. They lost to Bama and Kentucky because their defense failed utterly, and allowed tons of 4th quarter yards. Can Auburn exploit that defense? Probably some. Enough to counter 300+ rushing yards by the dynamic duo? Uhhh... not so sure.

   We've had some of the worst Tuberville games against Arkansas, too. We did go up there in '03 and '05, and get it done, though.

   I think Auburn has to start fast, and build a lead. If we can make the 4th quarter about Casey Dick throwing it and playing catch-up, we're in good shape. If we let the Hogs drive down the field and gut-punch in a 1st quarter TD or two, it will be a long evening...

Is thi the kiss of death? Herbstreit picked Auburn  this morning - the same guy that picked Vandy last week. Hold out hope though, Corso picked Arkansas.

Jay

.....That there is SOME PIG! Ole Miss can't win for losing, though. Seth Adams looked like "Evil Brandon" on the end of the last drive, then Ole Miss misses a chip-shot field-goal that would have taken the lead. Both teams have some problems...

That's big... Now the Rebels have to stop them...

.....Ole Miss is trying to crank out a few first downs, and hold Alabama off, but... Boy, you don't want the Tide within 7 in the 4th quarter. They should be trying to score. Otherwise, it won't be enough!

.....I figure Joe Pendry is too good a coach to keep allowing unblocked defensive ends off the edge. The Ole Miss defense will be running on fumes, Wilson will have time to throw, and they will gash out huge chunks of yardage with that late-game-Applewhite spread.

.....It's been a fun game to watch, however it turns out!

.....Bama seems to be taking control. Will the Rebs be able to throw up some junk on Bama's suspect secondary, in the 4th quarter, or will they get bit again, in OT?

Nearly a pick-six.

.....The pick-six on second down? No, out on the one.

.....Ole Miss will go behind, toss up some more junk, and lose by double digits.

.....and Pendry hasn't figured it out, yet. Still, Ole Miss is now trailing, and it's up to their O to win. You don't want Alabama close in the 4th quarter. That was a really quick ten points Ole Miss gave up!

.....Time's running out, you're trailing by three, and you start with an off-tackle, and a slant into double coverage?

.....Here come the double digits.

They don't believe they can win. That's the story of that program since the late 1970's.  What a shame.

.....A touchdown would win the game, but Bama doesn't need to be stopping the clock, now.

.....They have to hit down the field, now. Bama should be in 3-deep cover, though.

.....Dumb. 6 points would have stood up.

.....I think I'd punt.

.....I didn't realize that they were out of timeouts. Gotta go for it, especially since Arenas has been killing them on punt returns. Still, they might have a better chance of causing a fumble on a punt, than with a play.

.....A draw, under two minutes, with no timeouts?

.....Gotta work on those corners.

.....I figured Bama had to heat him up, now. Can't let him stand back there. A sack will take 'em out of FG range, too.

....Big Ben left.

.....Wow.

.....Was he forced out? He can come back in. Went out on his own? Ineligible. Tough call, either way.

.....I hope they have a better camera angle than we do.

.....I don't think the receiver got a foot back in before the catch. Hard to tell, though.

.....I'm sick of the cup-throwing thing. Some of the Auburn fans did this to USF, too. However, I have to say, though, that most of the cups were actually coming from drunk/ecstatic/crazed USF fans. The exit is right under the visitors section.

.....Bama did what they had to do, again.

.....I am looking forward to us playing Ole Miss in two weeks. I have tickets on the 40, Lower East. War Eagle!

.....Got a little fired up, there. I'll lay off during this LSU/KY tilt. I have okra to wash, slice and fry; potatoes to chop, season and roast; Steak to marinate, charcoal to lay, and we have to be finished chowing down by 6:30.

Kentucky has impressed me. They are no fluke. LSU may walk away with the win (it's tied at 27 now), but they are going to feel it in the morning.  Kentucky is hurting those boys.

Jay

.....So close.

.....It's 4th and 2

.....KY with the STOP! #1 LSU GOES DOWN!

.....a 3rd and 7 for a first

.....with a really poor kick. Come on, D!

I think we have have a chance if we can stop mcfadden!!! WAR EAGLE!!!

.....And we lead, 3-0. Great!

.....We've sorta kinda answered the running call, and now we're getting play-actioned to death. Gut-check time. We need a play, Auburn D!

It looks like we are going to have some competition tonight!!! At least Kentucky beat LSU!!!

That helped a lot for Ark. to miss it

.....A nice drive by the Hogs! They were trapping, and letting a linebacker through, and the runners were making them miss. They let Blackmon through the last two plays, and THAT was a mistake! War Eagle, on the narrow FG miss!

.....And the second bad Shoemaker punt. But I DID get the AFLAC question!

.....Do we go on 4th and 1?

.....With a lame center, a small QB, and we make it!

.....And of course, it's Dunn.

.....Dmac drops one! ANOTHER STOP! WDE!

.....Looks like 2003. Muschamp's guys have done WELL! If not for drops by Hawthorne, Rod Smith, and Robert Dunn, the lead could be bigger! War Eagle!

The defense looks great.  Man, that Muschamp can put together a game plan. We've got to block better. The line is getting beat in places. And the drop passes... Oh my...

   Well, this might as well be a 0-0 ballgame. Both sides have fought hard. Both sides have had drops. I think Auburn's run it a little better, at times, but Arky's not had the negative plays we have. The bad punts by us have been a surprise, and allowed the Hogs to keep it on our end most of the game.

   What scares me the most opening the third quarter? Kicking off to the best return team in the conference, with our worst unit. PLEASE, Wes, kick it out of the endzone? Please?

   If we catch better, we can win this thing! War Eagle!

Can Will Muschamp get his guys ready or what? He has shut McFadden and Jones down.

We've got to get some better blocking up front. Our punting is hurting us. Overall, I'll take it. The second half will be interesting.

How about those Wildcats? Now if only Bama and the Dawgs had lost.

I wonder why they haven't used Kodi in there to run a few times. The way the Ark defense is playing, I  think that draw could work in a few situations. Maybe we'll see it in the second half.

.....Arky is running basically a 3-man front. Yes, I know, sometimes it looks like 5. But, those "ends" are dropping back, and flowing. It's tailor-made to stop those "cruise and look for a hole" plays, whether via the standard stretch play, or via options. Smart move by Herring. The short stuff and screens should be there, but we've not making those plays. Our offensive success has come mostly via the shifty running of Brad Lester, who has made a LOT out of nothing.

.....Brandon Cox had a good half, as well, with 3 drops and a 3-yard Rod Smith juggle that should have gone for a first down. He shows up with 30-something yards, but it should be closer to 90. No turnovers, yet, either. Arky's been close to a few! Hope this trend continues!

   Dunn again. You DO NOT field that thing inside the 10! Arrrrg! We're pinned again.

   War Eagle, but I'm not sure about that call.

   Boy, our D is STILL gold! They stone Hillis outside, stifle Dmac, then force Dick to throw it to the stands! WAR EAGLE!

Is Muschamp pumped? This defense is scary good. This group is absolutely unbelievable. It looks like Groves might go in. I wish he'd wait. No need to rush.

It's make or break time for King Dunlap. Let's hope Bosley stays healthy. We are getting thin.

   We seem to have an ace freshman lineman down. That's my B'ham Jeffco Hoover guy, Ryan Pugh. This is NOT good!

  Time for King Dunlap to cement his NFL status!

   OH! Chris Evans drops a pick. BUT, STONED again!

.....It's crappy 100.5, out of freakin' Tuscaloosa county.

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   Byrum! Nooooooo!

I don't like the way this thing is playing out... Too many blown chances...

.....Despite the mind-blowing boot on 3rd down, we pinnned 'em, three-and-outted 'em, got a bad punt, and the field-position is flipped. They look kinda tired on D. More Tate, I sez!

   We should have gotten six, but we'll take this. Arky won't beat us with a kicker, now!

I know Lester fumbled earlier, but we probably could have picked up a first down with his speed down there.

.....A Lester carry on 2nd and short could end this.

.....We should have iced it with Etheridge, again!

The offensive line is starting to wear them down.  This is a big possession.

.....That Ryan Pugh has no broken bones! War Eagle!

.....Zack Etheridge. Mmm. 15 yards only, at least.

That interference call was iffy.  The defense is going to have to win it.

It's not over... But can we make the kick if we get in range?

.....And now it's time for Cox and Co. to win it. Jay, you might be right. We may have blown too many opportunities. Byrum may go from hero to goat, with two misses in this one.

.....Sweet redemption, making a key catch and run on a square-in against a heavy blitz! We are WELL within Byrum's range, now. Gotta play this smart, and so far, good use of the time-out. We need to win it here, but not run ourselves out of time. 3 more downs.

I want to throw up...

.....No choice. This is an extra point. That's 95+ percent shot to win. Of course, there's the Dmac-Jones kick return thing...

War Eagle Hey!

.....Byrum thacks it in for the lead! Hold on Tigers!

   Picked! We WIN!

What a night... What a win... Acid, I enjoyed it... Awesome Night... War Eagle!

.....Sweet! Even on a night of miscues, we overcome the Hogs!

We pulled it through!!! Now we have got to go to Baton Rouge. I think we have a chance!!! WAR EAGLE!!!