What Will It Take?

Looking forward to 2013

There are many questions, and areas of concern for this Auburn team heading into the 2013 football season. Whomever is selected by the committee to turn things around as the new head coach will have a job on his hands. What will it take to put Auburn back into contention in the West division?

 First, the attitude of this team needs some "tough love" adjustments. The defensive line needs to be told they played soft this past season. The difference seemed to be that when the helmets were strapped on, their personalities never changed. 

 As a defensive lineman, once those pads and helmets are on, your inner mean streak is what should take over. You have to take on the attitude that you are willing to scratch, claw and fight your way to defend your position.

 Taking on double, and sometimes triple team blocks should be looked at as a badge of honor. That unit has got to establish that Auburn defense is the roughest toughest place to enter in the country. It's evident that hasn't been the case in quite some time. Now is the time for change!

 The rest of the defense has to play with a fierce determination to stop the ball carrier in one on one situations. Too many times we saw Auburn safeties, and defensive backs diving at feet, without their hands and arms reaching for the legs of the opposing runner. We must tackle better. That is an attitude that must be enforced by the incoming coach.

 Offensively, Auburn has to find some players to step up for two very good graduates. Phillip Lutzenkirchen, and Emory Blake are going to leave a void in the pass catching department at AU. While we have recruited very well in that area, the results have been far from convincing that we are ready to be successful at catching passes thrown our way. Sammie Coates may be the exception to that.

 A very young offensive line has been through the wars, and should be much better in 2013. Auburn has recruited the top offensive line class in the last two cycles, so, the talent is there, and we have one of the best O-line coaches in the country in Jeff Grimes. I have every confidence that this unit will be a huge plus heading into next season.

 The number of Running backs is low, compared to most top programs. The Jovon Robinson issue may have an impact on just how many RB's get recruited to The Plains. Whether or not Robinson is able to return, will determine how many RB's AU tries to recruit in this class. The returning guys are good, with Tre Mason being a returning 1,000 yard rusher. 

 The biggest challenge to any coach coming in at Auburn, is to recruit and develop quarterbacks. Realistically, we are not in the best of shape at this position. Clint Moseley has been hurt most of his career at Auburn, and his shoulder is the big area of concern. When he was forced into playing time this year, he limped into his first huddle. Unfortunately, it didn't end well for Moseley. 

 Kiehl Frazier went through the typical sophomore jinx in his development this past season, looking as though he wasn't getting what the coaches were trying to instill in his play. I blame the coaches more so than Kiehl, because we have seen what he can do, and what a great improviser he can be with the ball in his hands. 

 Kiehl looked as though he was having to count his steps, and make sure his feet were in an exact place before he could start his actual reads. He was playing constricted. Way too much emphasis was placed on how, and not enough on his actual talent, which is move around and make plays. Those are the things that made him the #1 Dual Threat QB out of high school. Not being forced into becoming a pocket passer. Round peg, meet square hole!

 Jonathan Wallace was a true bright spot in the otherwise gloomy QB play. His development may be the biggest key to how quickly this team can return to competing for the Western Division title.

 I would imagine the overall mental state of this team needs molding. It's going to take a task master, with an attitude to get the slack out of these AU players and make winners of them. They have it in them, of this I am sure. The question is, who will be chosen to bring this team into a football state of mind?

 WAR EAGLE!

Amen Corner

the heart of Amen Corner, the 12th at Augusta National - Golden Bell

 In the deep south, the name "Amen Corner" is held in reverence. The fact that it ties the states of Alabama, and Georgia forever together, increases its meaning to college football fans in our part of the world.

 Bobby Jones, that wonderful amateur golfer who has won so many titles, and the "Grand Slam" of golf, helped design Augusta National, the site of the Masters golf tournament every spring. Along the way while playing the famed course you will find yourself on the tee at the 12th hole. That is the heart of Amen Corner at the worlds most coveted championship.

 One season while the head coach at Auburn, Pat Dye met with reporters and dubbed the annual meetings against Georgia, and Alabama "Amen Corner." These two schools are the two biggest rivals of the Tigers from the Loveliest Village. 

 The ties go a little deeper, in that Pat Dye played football at the University of Georgia, and was an assistant coach under Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama. Auburn is conveniently located between the its two counterparts.

 Dye also told reporters that fateful day, that those two games can make or break your season at Auburn. While Auburn is no doubt not playing its best football right now, winning either or both of these games could sweeten the taste of a very sour campaign.

 So, what must Auburn do to snatch victory from the jaws of those dreaded Dawgs? First, and foremost they must play with a desire like they had against LSU earlier this season. 

 The defense must have a very large chip on its shoulder, and play like they are mad as heck! Take all the frustration of this not so great of a season, and make the UGA team pay for visiting our turf. Tackling must be sure, and ferocious. Pass coverage must not be played with a 10 yard cushion. Big plays should not be given up at any time in this game.

 The Tiger offense must play a ground control, mistake free game. Passes will have to be made, no doubt, but they must be limited at least at first, and allow this Auburn offense to develop a rhythm. 

 Last week, Jonathan Wallace led Auburn on the four longest scoring drive of the entire season. He must be able to do that this week, if AU is to pull out the victory. Georgia has shown a penchant for being able to come from behind in games, so the foot must stay on the peddle until the game ends, or is decisively decided late into the contest.

 I believe Auburn can win this game. I know the odds are against this happening, but I refuse to give up when faced with a challenge of this nature. You will hear the term David vs. Goliath many times this week. Since Auburn is headlong into our Amen Corner, I can think of nothing better than a Biblical battle to describe the challenge.

WAR EAGLE!

The Passion of Sammie

 Earlier this week Sammie Coates called out some of his Senior team mates, questioning their leadership and desire to win. here is an excerpt from his statement.

"We don't have leadership," said Coates. "Everybody talks about wanting to win, but nobody is showing how they want to win."

This was taken from an article on al.com by Charles Goldberg. 

 Whenever a team mate calls out the team leaders, its usually to get everyone's attention that he is tired of and frustrated about, losing. Nobody likes to lose, and especially the way Auburn has found ways to lose this season.

 Up until the Arkansas game, Auburn has led scoring average in all of the first three quarters of the games it has played this season. The fourth quarter has proven to be the Achilles heel.

 Too much has been made of the quarterback change last Saturday. Coach Chizik was looking for someone to spark an inept offense, that quite frankly has been very inconsistent all season long. That spark was not found against the defensive unit the Hogs put on the field Saturday.

 The question remains about Sammie Coates and his frustration. Is this team floundering because no one will take charge on the field on Saturdays? Tough questions deserve tough answers, so I'll try my stab at it.

 I guarantee that someone has to take charge of the Auburn offense on Saturdays, and that someone has to be a QB. Like it or not, if you are the man in the huddle calling the plays, and you are in charge of reading the defense to change some of those play calls, then by God you better be in complete charge of that team on the field.

 Frazier, Moseley, or Wallace each have to pump up their offensive line to bust someone's ass, and have everybody's attention of the snap count. All of this is on the quarterbacks. No. One. Else!

 Auburn must get better. It's a plain and simple statement, but one that has more and more urgency. Here is to hoping that comes about, before it's too late.

WAR EAGLE!