Defense Wins Championships
by WarDamnZach on Sep 14, 2009 9:19 PM CDT
in Football
31 comments
While being just down right giddy about the way the 2009 Auburn Tiger offense has looked. I am almost as down trodden about the defense. Yes, they are thin at a few key positions. Yes, it is hard to stay motivated when the offense is racking up yards like never before. But, this is still
In my opinion for all the great things Gus and the boys are doing on their side of the ball. Ted Roof and his squad need to learn how to finish. Giving up the late TD to
LA Tech is not a pushover like in years past.
Another thing that can stop
On a good note, Wes Byrum seems to have things figured out. Apparently it has to do with his arm placement. Who knew? Clinton Durst is able to boom it, well if he is not getting plastered by the defense because the up men forget to block someone.
If
War Damn Eagle
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Special Teams are a real concern......
we simply cannot have that poor of a performance against the meat of our schedule. Your concerns on defense are not as founded in my opinion. The late score in the MSU game was against the mop up squad…..and unfortunately that is a necessity right now for two reasons. First we have to get our first team off the field as soon as possible and second we have to develop some depth by getting backups as many minutes as possible. This will pay dividends down the road on defense…..wait and see. So far I think the defense has done a good job and they will continue to get better.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
I agree
Special teams have got to improve, or we will lose a game because of them.
Also, the defense only gave up 17 points if count don’t count the blocked punt against them, and like Todd92 said, the last score was against the second and third team. MSU only had 1 decent drive the whole game. And if not for a blown coverage by a back up DB (I think it was Demond Washington) that jumped up and went for a pick instead of just containing his man, MSU does not get that early touchdown.
by Jumpn_JackFlash on Sep 14, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions
There is nothing out of the ordinary about AU's defense.
Look up Tulsa’s defensive rankings the year before Malzahn got there and then look them up in Malzahn’s first year. I think they dropped 30 spots in the NCAA.
It is a product of the fast paced offense.
I agree...
MSU was typically only able to move the ball when AU’s 2nd-teamers were in on D. Those 2nd-teamers were in because the starters were tired from being on the field so much. The starters were on the field so much because Mahlzahn’s offense reaches either the end zone or 4th down very quickly.
Our lack of depth on D is going to be a problem against SEC teams with better athletes on offense.
Special Teams...
Blocking and coverage lanes need some work. Berry (Miss St) muffed a kickoff deep and still got the ball out passed the 40 yard line.
Eh
It’s just now week three. I’m reminded of the coach for the Cleveland Indians in Major League 2: “Ok, guys. We’ve won two games in a row. If we win tonight, its called a winning streak. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.”
by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Sep 14, 2009 3:46 PM CDT reply actions
Trollin trollin trollin keep those bammers trollin......
Troll Tide. Just what we need an AL.com trolling idiot to grace us with his presence.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Go back
to your own sorry site. I’m pretty sure s.p.u.a.t. only has 2 wins in a row right now as well… Of course now you’ve scheduled North Texas High School for the Deaf and Blind as your next opponent…
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
Woah, woah
Just trying some humor guys. Thought it fit with the tenor of the post. No one else like the Major League movies (specifically 1 & 2) ?
by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Sep 15, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions
I would give it time
Let’s not sell our defense short. I would love for us to put up goose eggs just as much as the next auburn fan, but I think we contained a semi talented MSU team better then most thought we were. 2 td’s and a field goal is not a bad day for our defense. The truth is our defense was dead tired in the second quarter because our offense was not on the field for long at all + the blocked punt. So I give them a little slack. Yet, I know that West Va will be MUCH faster (Divine) and much a much more accurate (Jarrett Brown). Personally though, I think we will keep on keeping on against the Mountaineers. I think our offense REALLY shines. But in the mean time, I think because of how young we are on D, we will get better each game, as opposed to last year where we slowly fell off the map. War Eagle
by war damn philly on Sep 14, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions
And by the way
I glanced over at smoking musket (west va’s track em) and they are doing a good amount of trash talking for a team that struggled against Liberty. I feel like as a fan, I do an ok job of not hating oppents, but West Va is very close to being on the lsu, bama, usc, ohio state, hate list for me.
by war damn philly on Sep 14, 2009 6:48 PM CDT reply actions
Just a warning....
the manager has unusually thin skin he booted me for referring to the ’eers faithful as drunk couch burning inbreds or something to that effect (said it lacked creativity lol). Either way I was just trying to give as good as they were giving creative or not….he reinstated me after I apologized for stepping on the big ole nerve. But yeah they are awfully cocky for a team that beat that juggernaut Liberty so convincingly and apparently now that they lost to a conference USA team (East Carolina) they are now a quality win this season.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
wow!
I went over and took a look. They are mighty cocky….actually pretty rude. I did get a kick out of imagining the writers making fun of us with a toothless lisp and in between kissing their sisters. My mind wanders at times….sorry
I've seen good TEAMS beat teams with great individuals.
Don't get me started on 'Eers fans.
I lived in Mo’town for 3 years, finished up my graduate work at WVU, and yet there is no way in hell that I remotely feel anything for that team or fan base. There are a number of reasons. The students actually throw cups and what not onto opposing teams when they enter and while they are playing at Milan Puskar Stadium. It is incredibly rude and not even the quarter of it. They like to trash talk, but can’t handle it when you toss it back.
by Tiger on the mountain on Sep 15, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Warning noted
I also am one for always applauding any program that has success on the field. The amount of work that goes into it all can never be fully understood. Yet, it is what it is (I hate when people use that term but it does fit here.) Another note about our defense, we have played significantly better in the second half in both games. We have done a great job (expect for the late drive by miss st) making half time adjustments and coming out hungrier then the other team. We all know it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish (this is also how i think about the entire team in general this year.)
by war damn philly on Sep 14, 2009 7:30 PM CDT reply actions
While the special teams is a concern
I wouldn’t worry about the defense just yet, they’re thin in spots but they’ll come around.
I’m ok with our team scoring more points and giving up a few extra points, after all the only objective in football is to outscore the other team.
Relax and enjoy the season. It’s beating the hell out of last season!
The last time I looked
we are in the top 10 in total defense.
When's the last time you looked?
We’re #39 in total yards per game and #36 in yards per play
"You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Sep 14, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions
You are correct
Give it some time. Our defensive numbers have looked good. This is a quality defense. I do think our numbers will be higher, but they are partially due to how little time we are hogging the ball. If we had more linebacker depth, I would feel very good about this defense. We played 21 or 22 players against MSU. They are doing that to limit injuries and get the defense some rest. Hopefully it will work out.
Take a deep breathe
Look I think you have to be realistic here. I’m going to agree with 83Tiger. The D is super thin. I think our best chance is, and I never thought I’d be saying this, by leaning on our offense to outscore opponents. This year we are outmanned on defense, and the real challenge is going to be just surviving without taking many injuries. This is a thin, thin roster and as 11 weeks without a break wear on, its going to take its toll.
So try and put it in perspective. These guys on D are probably doing about the best we can expect from a defensive unit that took a huge step back talent wise. We got a solid secondary and a pretty deep line, comparatively. Linebackers? Not so much.
Frankly, if I had my druthers I’d bench most of the starters after the first half for the next two games. Save it up for conference play. Auburn doesn’t need a win over WV at the cost of the team getting banged up.
Wow, I wonder if they will do that? Sacrifice WV for the SEC play.
Somehow, I don’t see that as Chizik’s mindset..although I could be wrong if we are as super thin as you say we are. Hopefully we can just blow them away offensively? If I wasnt worried before (and I was) I certainly am now.
I disagree with this statement, “Auburn doesn’t need a win over WV at the cost of the team getting banged up”
We do need a victory over West Virginia. It is our first real test. Recruits are watching these games and waiting to see what Auburn can do. If we lose to WVU, that is much more devastating than a loss to Bama or LSU.
Also, there are too many variables to think we can control our fate by trading a loss here for a win there. We have to win every game. As the season goes on, everybody will be suffering injuries, not just Auburn.
Do not lose heart. We have a very successful strategy. Granted, it is quite different from the old defensive strategy. But this Malzahn offense is designed to keep scoring over time. Even if we give up a little more on defense, we are gaining a lot more on offense to off set the defensive deficit.
by KungFuPanda9 on Sep 15, 2009 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions
All of a sudden
Auburn is in the Big 12, lol. But hey, I’m not going to complain as long as it wins us ball games. I don’t mind winning games by scores like 40-35 or something instead of 10-9 or 7-3. But yeah, I’m DEFINITELY not willing to sacrifice a win over west virginia. It’s the 2nd most important game of the season as far as I’m concerned (after the Iron Bowl), just because I had to deal with their HORRIBLE fans in morgantown last year. I mean, when will we ever play them again? We’ll probably never get another chance at revenge. THIS IS IT. WAR EAGLE!!!
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
Every game is important.....
and I don’t want to AU to lay down for anyone (we did enough of that last season). And if you don’t think that the returning players that suffered through the loss in Morgantown don’t want to prove something to WVU and the country you’re deluded. BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THE ’EERS! WAR DAMN EAGLE!
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Every conference game is important
I can see why there’s not many agreeing with my sentiments about WV. No one likes to lose, I get that. But if we get banged up, lose a starter like Bynes, Etheridge, or Coleman for a few games, those string of road games – Tenn, Ark, LSU, get a lot tougher.
But yeah I’d love to see Auburn go 11 wins this season, fact is, its not realistic. Every team in the SEC gets banged up, problem is most of them have solid backups.
And as for WV being the second most important game of the season? Get a grip.
More devastating than losing to LSU? Really? Cause we actually have to play LSU for a shot at the West. We play WV for kicks.
Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss. You want recruits? you got to get them from your back yard. We aren’t competing with WV for recruits. We’re competing with the deep south. And we get those kids’ attention by taking back the West.
You get more banged up by laying back than getting after it.....
and I would hope that an AU team would never layback against a quality opponent regardless of whether they are in the SEC or not your argument doesnt hold water. Recruits want to play quality opponents on nationally televised games and they damn sure don’t want to play for a team that holds back saving themselves for conference play. Your argument is very flawed.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
flemico
You’re an Auburn fan, and I appreciate that you want what’s best for our team. We just might have different goals and therefore a different approach to achieve those goals.
Perhaps my aspirations are not as lofty as yours. For this season, my goal is a bowl game. To get there we have to beat WVU. If we beat the Ears, then we can beat Tennessee. I know we can beat Kentucky and Furman and Ball State.
So that would be
La Tech
Miss St
WVU
Ball St
Tennessee
Kentucky
Furman
That’s seven wins, more than enough to get a bowl game. But we have to beat WVU if we’re gonna be able to beat Tennessee. That’s just how I see it. Anything beyond that is gravy.
We are better than WVU, and favored by the odds makers in Vegas by a touchdown, which is encouraging because those guys earn their living at that sort of thing.
We are both Auburn fans, and I don’t want to argue with another fan because at heart we both want what is best for our team. We just don’t agree on how to get there. But as long as we win, it’s all good.
I sort of agree
I don’t think our goals are all that different. Realistically, I think the most we should demand of this team is to make it to bowl game. I’d just like to see us make a push for the West, too, but I guess a guy can dream. I guess I’m just not as fired up as you guys about the WVU game. I’ll adjust my attitude for Saturday. WDE
WVU plays a 3-3-5 defense
Andy Bitter has linked to an article over at War Eagle Extra:
“To play for WVU, though, one must fit a certain skill set for which speed is a very big component, particularly on defense.
“When you can run on defense, it’s a different game,” Stewart said. "You’ve got to be able to move. That’s why we get in the (3-3-5). It’s very difficult for us to go recruit four big John Brownings and Canute Curtises (former Mountaineers). It’s hard to find those guys.
“What we find is three of them and then three, four, five linebackers and three, four five safeties who are interchangeable. It’s what we have to do. Now they have to adapt to it and block it.”
for the entire article
http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/WVUFootball/200909160034?page=2&build=cache
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