Catharsis, Baby!

I do feel like this was partly geared in my direction. I stopped the coordinator issues for the game. You and I will have to agree to disagree. I think Roof is gone soon anyway whether I want it to happen or not. For the record, I wasn’t happy with our offensive production or lack thereof either. It was painful and extremely hard to watch but I did watch the whole thing and it was exactly what I knew would happen. The biggest change must come from the offensive and defensive lines. It doesn’t matter about anything else right now, our line play is horrible on both sides of the ball except for Egua and Lemonier on defense, and Reese Dismukes on offense though Dismukes wasn’t anywhere close to great he was still the best lineman we had this season. I will not understand why we redshirted those three OL like we did. It killed us and we never recovered.

If you want the most powerful argument to get rid of Gus Malzahn, just look at what was done with Khiel Frazier. His redshirt was completely wasted and still I do not understand why we used it like we did. Honestly, that alone makes me put Gus on notice too. I think the offensive lack of production stems from no offensive line whatsoever and three terrible quarterbacks. That said, this offense’s production in 2011 was completely unacceptable. Therefore, I do think Malzahn should be on notice next season. If you want to bring up the championship, though, remember the offense is the main reason Auburn won the national championship. Not its defense though the unit did have some very good performances like Oregon.

Continuing, Frazier might not be that bad, but the way they played him put him in a situation where he came out looking terrible. I’m not sold he’ll be any better next year. If he or Moseley don’t DRASTICALLY improve, Auburn will only win seven games again in 2012. With the talent we’ve got coming in, that is simply not acceptable period. If this team goes anything less than 9-3 next year I think the whole staff needs an overhaul. We have incredible athletes and loads of talent. Next year, we need to make use of them.

The line play also has to be fixed. I will say that Auburn has tons of athletes on the field next year and another top recruiting class coming in next fall. The offensive line should be a major upgrade next year but you never know until they start playing again. The offensive line these last few games looked like they quit trying. I just kept hearing they were all hurt and all banged up which leads me to my next point.

I’m sick of hearing about “Yoxercise” too! How many season ending injuries did Auburn rack up this year and last year and the year before that etc. Hell, what about for the last five years? Evidently, “Yoxercise” is a recipe for terrible injuries or just about your entire team being “pretty banged up” all season long. I think more than anybody, Yox needs to go and he needs to go yesterday! I’m tired of seeing player after player go down with some sort of career altering injuries. Hell, how many season ending injuries keep happening in Fall Camp before the damned season ever gets started? Yox has to go now more so than anybody else. He’s been here for a while but it’s time for Auburn and Coach Yox to part ways. Whatever is going on, it is obvious that our players are getting seriously injured on a consistent basis. So what if they get a tenth of a second faster on their forty, it doesn’t help much when they’re on the sideline with their legs torn to shreds. I know a lot of people like him, but Auburn needs a better strength and conditioning coach most of all.

Gus, because of what he did the first two years in my mind deserves the fourth year that you want to give to Roof. I am not for the continuity train I think everybody knows that. It might surprise you though, I actually don’t think Roof is the one that needs to go the most. For my money, the first guy who needs to be relieved of his position is Phillip Lolley because he is downright awful. Why he is back on the staff is a mystery to me and others I’m sure. After all, Tubberville demoted him! How does he then get promoted back with Chizik?!? What the hell?!? Next up, it’s someone other than Red Roof yet again (I know you must be shocked right now) I honestly like the guy from everything I’ve read about him on a personal level, but Thigpen needs to get the boot almost as bad as Lolley. The secondary technique is terrible and has been for three years. Since Thigpen has gotten there, how many times have our corners and safeties been in position? I’m not even getting on my rant about not looking for the ball. When you see receivers getting the deep ball every game against Auburn for multiple seasons, it’s time for a change. The guy is a very good recruiter, but his job with the secondary is atrocious at best. Even last year, our secondary was a big weakness and everybody knew it.

Now as far as Roof goes, I actually do not think he’s a terrible coach. I have recanted my belief about his capability as a coach already. That said, I’ve always felt he doesn’t fit on this staff and his style of defense directly clashes with that of Chizik’s. Gene wants the four guys rushing and the linebackers staying at home with the receivers or coming up to stop the run with mainly the Tampa 2. Roof runs just about the exact opposite of Chizik ran during his stints as a defensive coordinator. I do not know who is to blame for the lack of good tackling skills we’ve seen for three years, but the technique needs a lot of work. Hell, the defense could be a lot better if it just got a single to coach tackling and nothing else. I think Roof will do well when he is allowed to attack the way he wants to attack. Gene just doesn’t like the constant attack mode and he will stubbornly stay Tampa 2.

Whether Auburn keeps Roof or Malzahn, I know one thing for sure. I don’t know if the rumors are true, but either way, Chizik must allow his coordinators to do their jobs. He has to get out of the way and let those guys do what they were hired to do. That goes for either Roof or Gus Malzahn. Personally, I think Roof is gone. I’m not sure that’s going to solve anything either to be honest with you. Lolley and Thigpen have had their shot and they do need to take their services elsewhere. I’m a little skiddish now of Jeff Grimes to be completely honest and I think he should be put on notice along with Trooper Taylor. Boulware, Chizik, and Curtis Luper are about the only guys I see that shouldn’t have to produce next year and keep their jobs. Lolley and Thigpen are two that I think have to go along with Yox. If Chizik let’s Roof coach his own defense next year, I say keep Roof. Doesn’t that shock all of you?

So Auburn held them below their average…

I think it’s fairly likely that teams usually exceed their average offensive numbers for Auburn on the season, so while the defense played well in this game, I’m not sure that it necessarily means that the defense is improving.