We'll Take It! Were the Gamecocks A Win We Weren't Supposed to Have?

At the beginning of the season I thought we would win the first five, no question. But after the poor tackling at Clemson, and then the weak showing against Florida Atlantic, I was less sure. But our guys improved, and the Ole Ball Coach ain’t what he used to be. His time management and play calling at the end were unfortunate. We stopped Lattimore, again. And the world better know! (Since we stopped him, we have a better than fair chance of stopping Bama’s running game. So “Calm the f#*k DOWN.”)

Now, I think we have a better than even chance against Arkansas. I am not happy about losing Blake. But Arky is also banged up and might be playing us without their starting defensive ends. Although that didn’t help aTm, Malzahn/Roof have a more flexible gameplan than the Aggies’ staff.

Florida is also running hot and cold, so we have a better than even chance against them as well.

LSU will be a challenge, no doubt.

Nutt is the gift that keeps on giving.

Georgia, weaker than Florida, is another attractive opportunity for success.

Thank you, Samford with-the-sprinkles-on-top. We needed that.

And the Iron Bowl is always a chance for victory. (see above)

As long as our team continues to learn and evolve, we have a chance to achieve 10 wins. And wouldn’t that be special.

Enjoyed the read, and thanks for the smiles. On behalf of those brave souls at the wedding with you, thanks for your leadership.

is the very definition of “taking one for the team.”

Good write-up. I think you’re right about still not knowing if this was a “stolen” win or not. At this point, I’d need to see more SC as well as more Auburn to make that judgement for certain.

Saturdays game unfolded the way you draw it up on the board. Win the field position battle, run, stop the run, control the TOP. Check, check, check and check. Do I think we stole one? After the prior 4 games, hell yes I think we stole one. Going into this year I felt we would be VERY fortunate to win this one, so this is a +1 in my book and makes up for the Clemson game that I expected us to win.

While the defense played much better they were aided by the Jekyll and Hyde of the lower piedmont, making very poor and ill advised throws allowing us to have great field position all day. Why I feel like we stole this one is that we did not capitalize on the turnovers and the great field position we enjoyed. Normally you lose games like that, especially on the road. We should have won this game going away but we had to hang on for dear life at the end.

What is most important is that our kids will gain confindence from the win and hopefully build on it. I wouldn’t count SC out though. They still have dangerous weapons and could easily right the ship. They got their wake up call and have winnable games the rest of the way out if they can get Garcia on the right medication.

We saw this in large portions this weekend. The adventure will continue as we go through October. Confidence is one hell of a weapon to be drawing upon as we move into the tougher part of our schedule. Two weeks ago… I was worried. Now, I think we are slightly better than 50-50. And frankly – that is all that you can ask of kids.

Listening to PF yesterday (and I know the high brows on here don’t) he said that Nutt was in B’ham on Monday and speaking to some club there. During his speach he complained about Gene Chizik and that he stole one of his players from him at the last minute (Germaine Whitehead). Did any one else listen to this drivel? It’s actually quite funny. And it goes to show you how far AU has come. The indignation of Nutt is really pathetic considering that he has been around the conference for better than 10 years. Ole Miss needs to fire this guy now.

I love the pontifications here. So to add my own, I think AU’s defensive strategy needs to be the same. But we need to improve. Attack, attack, attack! Tyler isn’t Garcia by any stretch of the imagination. He is ACCURATE. To effect that accuracy we have to put that guy on his back every chance we get. On offense we must control clock by running the ball. Not to mention score, score, score! I suspect this game to be like last years game… a game of endurance.

WDE

And I have nothing but respect for Steve Spurrier. I think the fact that he left a winning program (UF) and came back to one that was on decline (USC) and helped stabilize it – making it a force in the SEC East – speaks volumes of his character. The dude is a fighter.

He is witty. Not to mention that he is an offensive minded genius that was WAY before his time. Whether he realize it or not… he is connected to Auburn for life by his actions in the past. It’s only fitting that he is connected now in the way he is.

The circle is now complete.

WDE

Not to say that can’t, but I’m nervous about being able to outscore Petrino’s offense. If the D has the game that they did in Columbia, then yes, we will steal the shit out of this game. Stupid me invited colleagues over for dinner this Sat night, so I will have to dvr it and watch it on a delay. I’m so bummed! Would it be weird if I invited them over for dinner at 4:00?? :)

I think we matched up well against USCe, were better coached and caught a few breaks. That usually translates to W’s.

I didn’t expect a 16-13 defensive battle. I was thinking more along the lines of 35-31 or something close to that. It’s nice to see our young guys on defense grow up a bit and know that we don’t always have to score 40 to win the game.

winning time of possession this weekend against Arky should be a goal, but it won’t have the specific impact that it had against SC. Arky can move the ball through the air too efficiently… we could out possess and still get killed.

strange how i have flipped and flopped trying to figure out where this AU D’s strengths are… i still haven’t figured it out. what is promising is that there have been moments for each of the areas… secondary, LBs, & line. they have had their moments for sure… good and bad. here’s to hoping it can come together in the next couple weeks.

games like Auburn / Arky seem pretty simple to break down on the surface, but … not – so – fast. i think the worse thing we could do all week is focus too much on rushing the passer and mixing coverages… and lose that primary eye on the ball and stopping the run.

winning in the SEC always starts with stopping the run. AU’s stout start in Columbia (stopping Lattimore) had a significant impact on their play calling the rest of the game.

as many on TET folk expected, Frazier’s role has enjoyed steady expansion… the 2011 limit for Frazier is still a HUGE unknown… but somehow, it feels more and more like this team is going to go only as far as he progresses. Trotter has made some big plays early in the season, but it just feels like there is more of a dedication on the coach’s part to broaden the O … through Frazier.

Must accept Frazier becoming more a part of the offense. It’s not going to change anything. I said this before and I’ll say it again, he needs to quit worrying about that and play to the best of his ability. Frazier is Auburn’s future even if Trotter plays out the rest of his career at Auburn Frazier will still be there for two more years. I do not think Frazier is in a competition with him anymore. Malzhan is just getting him more acquainted with College and SEC football in general. You will see Frazier more again against Arkansas. I’m going ahead and calling Frazier’s first completed pass Saturday. I think it’s going to happen. I really think this is the one Gus has been waiting on to let him throw. Frazier will have more room to do things if he’s been throwing some before LSU and later Alabama. It gives UA and LSU more to think about and Frazier more options to play with while he’s out there. I wouldn’t mind seeing some triple threat option sweeps with Frazier, McCaleb, and Dyer to the same side of the field. The defenders really wouldn’t know exactly where the ball was going. Plus, he could always air it out to Blake or Benton.

i’m guessing pretty poor odds. either way, we can’t afford to wait till the 4th to get Lutz involved.