Open It Up
by Jay Coulter on Oct 8, 2008 4:00 AM CDT
in Football
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By War Damn Zach
Well Auburn Fans, it is officially time to see what we have when it comes to our position players. The season is not a failure... it is a speed bump to say the least but not a failure. The offense looks like a team that is confused, and has no confidence. Remember when Jason, Carnell and Ronnie would take the field and you knew we would score? That was awesome, but that was only in 2004. Remember 2003, things were not so great to put it nicely. The team had to grow into their positions. We were fortunate that Al Borges came in and things just clicked. We all expected this season, with a new coordinator, to be the same and things have not clicked, which again is putting in nicely. The coaches could at least let the seniors go out with a bang.
Let's open it up. If Franklin is going to be around, let the players and the fans see what his offense is capable of. Put in the players that have the most potential, and get them some experience. If Kodi is our man in the spread, then let him play fulltime, if it is Chris Todd, same deal. I know who I would choose but... I am not a Coach. I am not convinced that the spread cannot be a great tool at Auburn. Florida runs it very well; Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon have a pretty good spread system too. They are all a bit different depending on the personnel on the team I would like to see us going after bigger WRs though; the little guys cannot hold up to a full SEC season. They tend to get injured and/or worn down.
This system is good, we just need to let Coach Franklin either sink or swim with it. My personal feeling is that he is not going anywhere. It will take a year or so to get into it. Michigan is going through the same thing. Michigan is in a better position than Auburn solely because all the coaches believe in the spread. I am not sold on all the staff wanting the spread. As long as Tuberville is willing to allow Franklin total control, I think we will be fine. The question is just how long it will take to make that happen, and what coaches have to go in the process. It appears that things are at least looking up in practice. The players are talking about how things are turning around. Coaches and players getting excited, Franklin is out running routes and coaching up the receivers. Can that translate into production on the field? We shall see.
I hate to say this but we are down to a two game season now. Everything between today and November 15 is just a warm up. Georgia and Alabama is all that matters at this point. Depending on what state you live in is the difference in the game you want to win the most? Most of us would rather lose to UGA and keep the streak alive against Bama. I live in Georgia and with a UGA Grad for a wife, it is a very close race for me but beating Bama is still the greatest feeling in the world.
War Eagle, and don't give up hope yet... Tuberville is a smart man and a great coach.
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Very Good Article
Very well written. On campus I get tired of hearing the same things all the time: “Fire Franklin,” and “Put Kodi in the game.” Most of these same people don’t know a Go route from an Out route. (On a side note, on of these same people swears up and down that Glen Dorsey still plays at LSU) There are reasons Kodi hasn’t played an entire game yet. Whether it be just his inconsistencies in the passing game, inability to read a defense(which I have only heard from people that actually know what they are talking about), or whatever else the problem might be. We aren’t with the team Sunday through Friday, so we don’t know the entire story.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the comparison of us and Michigan. Their coaching staff knows and believes in the spread, as do most, if not all, of their players. The ones that didn’t sure don’t speak out in the media like the ones here do. If they do, we don’t hear about it down here. This is just my opinion, but I think Tuberville should do two things. Number one, sit down with Franklin at the end of the season and discuss the position coaches on offense. If changes need to be made at certain positions (yes, we all know which one I’m talking about), find a coach, or coaches, that both feel will be assets to the program and to getting the offense running. Number two is to shut the players up that are bashing the offense and the coaching decisions to the media. This sheds a bad light on the program.
Once again, those were just my opinions. We all have our own. Having said all this, I think the offense will have a chance to start clicking this weekend against Arkansas. Their defense is basically nonexistent. They have given up 130 points in their last three games while only yielding 31.
I am more nervous than optimistic this weekend...
Yes Arkansas is horrible, but what if it is another 14-13 game? Or worse what if AU loses? Then what?
I echo your concerns.....
While Arkansas struggled early, they are begining to play better. Not only that but they have our number too.
I hate to be pessimistic but you are right……there is more reason to be nervous than optimistic.
Wow
I guess if that happens the wheels have offically fallin off. Arkansas is bad, but in case you have not noticed so is the Tigers O. So anything can happen. We could click and look good, or we can get more of the same, and look horrible.
If you are a War Damn Eagle, you can War Damn anything.
Well Said......Thank You!!!
You took the words right out of my mouth.
I agree and that is what I have been saying all season and especially all week. We are a work in progress. Things WILL come around. You can’t make such radical changes in three months with only your own defense to go against in practice. Look at the others around the nation who have gone to spread formations. You mentioned Penn State, in the last two years they were 9-4 each season while they made the transition. Mizzu, while I am not sure when they chose to go to the spread, were 37-35 since Gary Pinkel arrived in 2001 before going 12-2 last year. We all know about Michigan. What about West Virgina before Rich Rod got it going there in 2005? They were 28-21 between his arrival in 2001 and 2004. 2005-2007 they were 33-5. And if Pat White doesn’t get injured last year against Pittsburg they play OSU for the MNC. My point is we all have to be patient and understand that this year is more about learning and building confidence than about winning. We were all overly optimistic before the season started and have since been humbled. But as you said the season is not a loss or failure, rather just growing pains. Just remember these three quotes….
“I never failed; I just found a lot of ways that didn’t work.” Thomas Edison
“For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice – no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.” John Burroughs
“Good things come to those who wait.”
Good post....
you have reiterated many of the same things I have been saying as well. We need more level headed Tiger fans to share their thoughts on here, and I agree the players need to be muzzled to a degree (but I also share some of their opinions about the game plan last week). I have watched the game for a third and fourth times and the O-line was our achilles heel in the spread formation, they excelled in the Ace formation (two tight end set) while running the ball, but as soon as the spread formation was installed it was bedlam…….Ziemba got beat consistantly, Pugh and Bosley stood and looked for a defender to block while the defense ran past and add to that numerous missed blitzes by the running backs (tunnel vision). The whole offense looked bad but the O-line caused a lot of plays to be bust before they had time to develop. Just remember last season, before the UF game and the 3 freshman gelling into a solid line for the west coast Cox looked lost and out of place (forced into a quick decision to a reciever that was usually not looking for the ball). The point is I don’t know whether that is Nalls lack of ability to coach the line for the spread or the O-lines inability to run it. No way of knowing at this point. Right now all any of us can do is not hit the panic button and scream for heads to roll and support our team loud and proud. War Damn Eagle.
Todd.....
Sorry, I had to take an hiatus from this site for a couple of days. I couldn’t take the classless comments from eveyone. (“How embarassing it is to lose to Vandy”, “Fire CTF”, “Fire CTT”, etc.) Vandy is a good football team these days and any true CFB fan could see this coming. They have beat UGA and UT in the past three years (and was a FG away from beating both again last year) and damn near beat UF the last two years (which includes the MNC year). They play hard for 60 mins. Bobby Johnson has done an amazing job and they are 5-0 for a reason. They deserve the credit for the win and not excuses from us degrading their win!!! With that, I say congrats Vandy. I hope that your season continues with the same success.
Besides a strong Vandy team means a stronger conference and thus stronger strength of schedule!!!
Back to your point…..you are right we do need the level headed positive fans here. Thanks for your support!!!
War Damn Eagle!!!
by WDE on Oct 8, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions
If Coach Dye Had Franklin
If Coach Dye had Franklin for his OC he could have called a pitch sweep to the short side of the field fron 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage instead of this tired old play…………….www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDeAWbxgTfE
Tony Franklin’s Auburn Football
Clemson with a defense……………………….Good enough for the ACC
Absolutely
Both Todd92 and WDE are right. As painful as it is to watch right now, i do feel that it will begin to turn around. To bad it will probably be later than sooner but it will get better eventually. I watched the game too and it did seem like the offensive line just completely fell apart when trying to block out of a spread formation. I know that i’m pretty ignorant about the differences in blocking schemes between the spread and power running but how much different can it possibly be? I understand about the leverage of a blocker in the 3 point stance Vs a blocker in the upright position when trying to power a defender off the line to open holes for the run game. But why all the confusion on what defender should be blocked. In pass block situations, why are the blockers (Ziemba) getting blown by when they are already in the upright stance needed to block the defender. Like i said, I know i’m pretty ignorant about these details but it doesn’t seem like it would be that hard to teach this blocking style to the line. However its obvious that it is harder than i think. And perhaps a change in some of the personel will be needed at the end of the year. That will suck if its Nall’s name that gets the axe. He’s been a very good O-line coach.
The Petrino factor
Let’s not forget who coaches this team. Tubs will step in faster in this game than any other if it starts going south. With the whole Jetgate/Petrino thing you know Tubs wants to put a hurtin on this team. The way the season has gone it could go either way, but I think Tubs will have those boys fired up to put the smack down on Petrino.
You guys all mean well and we need optimism
I certainly appreciate that. I looked at my savings/retirement today so I’m not feeling optimistic today….sorry.
BUT Arkansas hung us at home in 2006. It was one of the most depressing AU games I have ever been to. We were good. FF to 2008 Yes they are bad, yes Petrino is now at Arkansas and Jetgate may be in the back of Tubbs mind, yes they are having an equally bad season. BUT did you watch the MSU game? The Tennessee game? The Vandy game? None of you guys thought we would loose to Vandy even with this 2008 offense. I mean come on it has been 50 years since a loss to Vandy! Tennessee should have beat us (and we should have beat LSU). Tennessee is bad in 2008, did you go to that game?
Optimism in fans will not beat Arkansas. Good coaching WILL. That is why I’m worried.
At what point in the season do you who remain optimistic decide that some serious changes must happen? We are 4-2 now.
4-3?
4-4?
5-4? (realistic)
5-5?
6-6?
7-5?
5-7?
NEVER?
Let’s have a poll….lol
Do you change your investment strategies when you loose money every day?
We have a perfect storm in the economic world brewing, Vandy was one sign of the storm. Just sharing what keeps me up at night.
War Eagle!
Your investment strategies don't translate.....
into a valid analogy for football and the hiring and firing of coaches. For 1 you dont perform your investing during a season. 2nd you dont invest in one stock to increase value in another. If you change offensive philosophy in football you are not likely to see an immediate return on the field. If you change investment strategies in the market you are likely to see an immediate return or at least an immediate reaction. And my wife “loosens” money from my wallet at which time I “lose” it. :-)..
Like it or not Tuberville is committed to installing the spread offense at AU and I believe that will include Tony Franklin as OC next season. But I also believe that Franklin will be given lattitude to bring in assistants that will suit this offense. I don’t wish for any coaches to lose their jobs at AU however the ugly truth is that it may be necessary.
let me translate for you..
you dont invest in one stock to increase value in another.
If you bought Lucent at $150 did you ride it down to $2.51 (and still own it?) I hope not. At some point you recognize it is not the right pick and you “cut bait”. Follow that?
“If you change offensive philosophy in football you are not likely to see an immediate return on the field.”
Did you watch the 1st Quarter of the Vandy game? I rest my case.
“Like it or not Tuberville is committed to installing the spread offense at AU and I believe that will include Tony Franklin as OC next season.”
FRANKLIN FIRED… I rest my case.
Now I have a reason to be optimistic again.
Oh, you didn’t answer the poll? At what point in the season do you who remain optimistic decide that some serious changes must happen?
I think he mean
Be optimistic because thats all we can do. Another Booo at a game isnt going to change things.
I once asked the question why are there so many Alabama fans that never graduated from the university? I was told its because their parents were fans and it was passed down.........(my response after a pause).....similar to racism.....?
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