Ughhh...

 No other expression is needed. No other phrase to be uttered. Just the total disgust, and exhausted feeling that this nightmare may never end.

 This should just about sum up how I feel about the fantastic job Auburn has done on offense this season. Powered by the brain trust that is Scot Loeffler, Auburn has sunk to new lows in conference play. 

 Let's start with a look at scoring.
  Points scored per game 17.3 
  Points allowed per game 28.4

 Don't like those numbers? How about offensive production?
  First Downs total 156, Out of 584 plays that Auburn has had the   ball, only 156 first downs.
  Rushing per attempt 3.74
  Third down conversion Out of 122 third down plays that Auburn had thus far this season, they have  only made a first down 35 times. That is a 28.69% rate. 4th down is just as bad at 28.57%.
  Red Zone rates are really good, until you see how seldom AU actually gets into the red zone. Only 23 times this season. 23! Converting 18 of those trips into points.

 Let's look at these numbers from a SEC perspective, shall we?  Next to last in scoring offense, 12th in rushing offense, next to last in passing offense, dead last in first downs, dead last in tackle for loss allowed, and last but not least, dead last in 3rd down conversions.

 Any questions as to why we looked so bad against our cousins from UGA?

 Normally, I am as positive an outlook as you could hope to find when it comes to my Tigers. Right now, I just don't see anything to be positive about. That saddens me. Because after the way this team played in the second half against New Mexico State, I thought that they would prepare much better for Georgia, and really fight them tooth and nail. It doesn't look to be getting any better either.

WAR EAGLE!

A Win Is A Win

Listening to Jonathan Wallace one get the feeling that this young man is well on his way to being something very special at Auburn. We will look at his stats after this post game interview.


 Jonathan Wallace performed much like a nervous true Freshman in getting his first start. Then it looked like he started to settle down. In the second half, the play calling made things much easier for Wallace. A steady diet of running plays, paved the way for a more relaxed, and confident Auburn offense. 

 The line on Wallace reads 9 completions on 17 attempts with an interception and a touchdown. His yardage per pass attempt is a very respectable 9.6 yards.  Not Heisman worthy numbers, but a much better performance than one would have suspected for the first career start. Time of possession in the game went to Auburn.

 The biggest difference in this performance and what we have seen previously this season, is that with the ball in the hands of Wallace, the total number of yards he lost was 1. That's it, one yard. I'll take that all day every day.

Highlights from the Homecoming game are below.



   Guiding Auburn to it's first victory in the last six tries, is something to be proud of. That it was against New Mexico State, a team Auburn should handle easily every time they play, is of no matter. Winning the game may be the best cure for what has been ailing this Auburn team.  

 There are plenty of positives to take away from this game, even while tempering those positives with the knowledge of the game was against an over matched opponent.  Auburn looked, and played in the second half, like an Auburn football team. Which is something we as fans have been sorely missing. 

 Now it's time to entertain the Georgia Bulldogs. I say lets treat them rudely on the field, and upset their dreams. Lets take it to them. Keep this momentum, hold it close, and treat it dearly, all the while taking a bite out of the 'Dawgs season.

WAR EAGLE!

The Case For Jonathan Wallace

Cam Newton the last winning quarterback at Auburn

The popular ESPN College Game Day segment has inspired this old man to make a case for Jonathan Wallace to be the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers throughout the rest of the season. I am not a lawyer, and have only served on one jury, so my actual legal experience is basically squadoosh!

 Evidence exhibit A
 Wallace is the only Auburn quarterback not nursing any injuries. If the coaches are to be believed, Frazier has a bum shoulder, and Moseley has a tired shoulder. When Moseley was brought into his very first action of the season, he limped in from the sideline. He had yet to play a down in 2012, and he limped into the game! 

 Evidence exhibit B
 Jonathan has taken snaps at "key times", a Gene Chizik trademarked phrase, in games on the road, and at home.

 Evidence exhibit C 
 The only two drives that resulted in a touchdown in the same quarter of play for Auburn this entire season, came with Jonathan Wallace at quarterback. 

 Evidence exhibit D 
 Have you listened to this young man in an interview? He has maturity well beyond Freshman status.
Listen as Wallace runs through the questions. 
 


 Summary 
 It's no secret, every year somewhere there is a quarterback that the fans want to see play. Somehow when things aren't going really well, the answer always seems to be "play the backup QB" from the fans. The fans think that the backup will somehow be able to perform better than the guy that won the starting job.

 In this case, the fans are correct, and the coaching staff needs to listen to them. One reason to listen is this seems to be the only topic with the fans that doesn't involve someone packing suitcases. The other reason, is that it took most of these same coaches 5 games into the 2010 season to realize what a special talent Auburn had with Cam Newton. Chizik openly admits that he had to be persuaded by the offensive coaches to even grant Newton a scholarship.

 Finally, Jonathan Wallace performed head and shoulders above what either of the two QB's have. Sure, it was mostly against the backups of the Texas A&M  defense, and The Aggie defensive coordinator may have "called off the dogs", but nonetheless, Wallace did something with this offense, that the other two could not. He put together two scoring drives that resulted in touchdowns,and had ZERO interceptions on the day.

 I rest my case.

WAR EAGLE!

Media Darlings: Amen Corner

 In the first part of this series we looked at the opening month of September and the 2012 campaign for the Auburn Tigers. Then we promptly followed that up with a look at the schedule for October.

  

With a great amount of luck, and very few injured contributors this squad has a chance to enter November, and “Amen Corner” undefeated. Unfortunately, this writer doesn’t see Auburn leaving November without a loss. Neither does HULK.

 By the way, if you are not reading The War Eagle Reader, you are missing out. No, we do not get props, or pay from TWER, they are just that good. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

 Realistically, two of the teams in November should be wins for our Tigers. New Mexico State, and Alabama AandM should not pose a problem for Auburn in 2012. We won’t bother with breaking either team down, just state that a victory for Auburn in these games, is all but virtually assured. That leaves us with the two biggest rivalries in the SEC.

GEORGIA - The South’s oldest football rivalry…

 The Bulldogs return the most talented team in the conference this season. Don’t let the off season news lead you into thinking that UGA won’t come to play every week.

  

Although they could lose the opener in the first week in Missouri, look for Georgia to win the East, and secure a spot in Atlanta. Georgia will have the advantage of experience, and will need this victory to do that.

 As tough as this is to call, I see an Auburn loss to UGA, leaving Auburn with a 9-1 record in the season to this point.

ALABAMA – The Iron Bowl

 If this game were in Auburn, I wouldn’t hesitate to give Auburn the advantage. It’s not, I can’t, and it leaves a feeling in my stomach like I have been kicked by a mule.

 Sure, Alabama has to have some defensive backs mature and quickly, but by this late in the season, they should know their assignments, and be able to execute without having to think about it.

 Earlier in the year they may lose a game, maybe two, but after 2010 they won’t be allowed to let Auburn come to their place, and pull off some last minute miracle.

MY TAKE…

 The media of course will talk of the collapse at the end of the season, and some will question Gene Chizik and his ability to lead Auburn to another SEC Championship.

 That talk will be smothered and covered by the best Auburn defense seen in decades in 2013. A second year of Scot Loeffler’s tutelage, will lead to Auburn being an offensive juggernaut as well.  Auburn will become the favorite to win the SEC, and a national title contender once again.

 In the meantime, let us know what you think Auburn's 2012 record might be. You can do so in the comments section. Thanks.

 

WAR EAGLE!