 NEXT AUBURN GAMEDAY:Saturday, October 24, 2009Auburn at #9 LSU Tigers Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, Louisiana Kickoff at 6:30 pm CT TV: ESPN2 or ESPN360.com XM Radio 214 Buy Tickets   |
 Posted on September 22nd, 2009 by Kevin Strickand Due to the potential for excessive violence and simulated sacrifical slaughter, network censors mandated a 6 p.m. kickoff for Saturday’s showdown between Auburn and Ball State. Despite the late start, the game will likely carry a parental warning. Cover your eyes, kids. What the Tigers do to the Cardinals won’t be for the squeamish. Predicting the outcome of an upcoming game normally takes a bit of research, particularly early in the season. For that reason, predictions normally come on Thursday, giving a few days to digest the events of the week that just transpired. No such research is required this week. The Auburn Tigers (3-0) will annihilate the Ball State Cardinals (0-3). Little known fact: Joyce DeWitt, who played Janet on the 70s sitcom Three’s Company is a Ball State alumnus. Even if she and TV co-star Suzanne Sommers (in their prime) were prancing the sidelines Cardinal cheerleader outfits it wouldn’t help Ball State avoid a Saturday thrashing. Auburn rides buoyed confidence after surviving both a monsoon and early roundhouse kicks from West Virginia 41-30 last Saturday night. After the Mountaineers connected on a 58-yard pass on the opening series and a 71-yard run on their second possession enroute to a 14-0 first quarter lead, the Auburn defense changed tactics and denied the big play, West Virginia managed just four plays of 20-plus yards over the remaining three and a half quarters. One of those came on the last snap of the game. The Mountaineers were intent on making Auburn quarterback Chris Todd beat them with his arm. He did, throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns. While the Tigers are cresting, Ball State limps into Saturday’s meeting with more negative momentum than a Scott Baio TV pilot. The Cardinals are reeling after three losses, one to an abysmal North Texas squad. Ball State was a bowl team a year ago, but head coach Brady Hoke fled to San Diego State, where he is coincidentally the boss of former Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges. The Cardinal team that made the GMAC Bowl a year ago is also without record-setting quarterback Nate Davis, who leaped to the NFL and was drafted in the fifth round by San Francisco, as well as a handful of other significant skill players. Little known fact: Jim Davis, cartoonist and creator of the Garfield comic strip is a graduate of Ball State. Not even Davis could draw up a scenario where the Cardinals have a chance. North Texas spanked Ball State 20-10 in the opener. The Mean Green followed that with a loss to Ohio (not State) and a 53-7 thrashing at Alabama. New Hampshire shocked the Cardinals in week two 23-16. The Wildcats are 2-0 with big showdowns against Hofstra, Dartmouth and Towson coming up. That’s right, New Hampshire is 1-AA. Army punked Ball State 24-17 in the third week of the season. Army lost to Duke 35-19. In football, not basketball. Of some consolation to Cardinal fans, at least the offense is improving each week. Ten to sixteen to seventeen. Maybe against an Auburn defense that has struggled at times, Ball State can post 18 or even 19. The host Tigers will likely match that in the first quarter. It’s true you can’t do the comparative score analysis because it never works. If it did hold true, you could pencil in a pretty convincing win by LSU over USC given the results of their respective efforts at Washington. Wait, bad example. Who’s to say those Tigers wouldn’t clock the Trojans? Obviously not ESPUSCN, but you have to look past their cam-crush on Pete and the men from Troy. Back to Auburn and Ball State. Little known fact: John Schattner, founder of the Papa John’s Pizza chain, is a graduate of Ball State’s Miller School of Business. Not even Papa John himself can deliver a Cardinal win. Barring an unforeseen calamity of Biblical proportions, Auburn will win this game. Since the outcome is all but pre-determined, what should Tiger fans hope to get out of the contest? One, Auburn needs to get backup quarterback Neil Caudle some reps. Caudle fought his way to the number two slot in the signal calling pecking order and desperately needs to take significant snaps to help prepare him should he be needed in this campaign as well as to season him for his final Auburn campaign in 2010. Two, the Tigers need to establish depth at the linebacker positions. With true freshmen and walk-ons pressed into duty, it is imperative for Auburn to get them accustomed to game speed. It’s not a matter of if they will be needed as with Caudle, but when. Three, Auburn must see how it handles success. The win over West Virginia was emotionally draining, physically demanding and mentally challenging. Can the Tigers psych themselves up for an opponent that really offers little challenge? Sandwiched between the revenge-motivated battle with West Virginia and a looming visit to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers, the Ball State game has all the hallmarks of a trap game. In the past, Auburn has come out flat in similar circumstances. A week after one of the most physical, emotional games in Auburn history, a 7-3 win over LSU in 2006, the Tigers were listless against Buffalo. Auburn eventually prevailed 38-7, but the starters were unable to get the much-needed rest anticipated. It is imperative for the Tigers to take Ball State by the throat, dominate early and let the second and third line players gain experience. Four, Auburn must show it can handle looking ahead. Next week’s visit to Tennessee is one of four linchpins to Auburn’s season. The Rocky Top showdown grew significantly more interesting after the Volunteers tugged on Superman’s cape in the Swamp and effectively thwarted the Gator offense. Tennessee didn’t have enough offensive firepower to engineer a legitimate threat to the Florida dynasty– let’s face it, a wet firecracker has more pop — but the Vol defense sent a message. The chess match between white-hot Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and wizened Tennessee defensive guru Monte Kiffin will be well worth watching. On Saturday, none of that anticipation can be in the minds or eyes of the Tigers. Take care of the business at hand first before looking to the next challenge. Five, Auburn must develop additional weapons. Darvin Adams (three touchdown catches against West Virginia) has established himself as Auburn’s go-to receiver. Ben Tate and Onterrio McCalebb have turned the rushing game on its ear. For the Tigers to have continued success, DeAngelo Benton and Emory Blake must integrate themselves into the offense. Electric Mario Fannin needs more touches. Ball State provides an opportunity to work on bringing more of the game to those potential game breakers. And six, the Tiger defense must work on fundamentals. Poor tackling allowed West Virginia to gain positive yards when they should have been stopped for a loss. Auburn can’t seem to get off the field on third down regardless of the distance. A team can’t surrender third and ten-plus yards and be successful on a consistent basis. Little known fact: David Letterman, long time host of Late Night with David Letterman on CBS is an alumnus of Ball State. Not even Letterman can find the Top Ten reasons Ball State has a chance against the Tigers. The last time Auburn and Ball State squared off, the result was a 63-3 Tiger win in 2006. That Auburn team, under Borges, averaged 32 points per game — one of only two Auburn offenses to average more than 30 points per game in the last decade. The conservative approach once favored by the Tigers is out the window under Malzahn. Auburn’s new offensive coordinator thrives on a fast pace. His goal is to find creative ways to neutralize the defense. Malzahn’s offense probes for chinks in the defensive armor and then hammers relentlessly at those cracks until the armor crumbles under the pressure. Forget field position, Malzahn believes every offensive possession should result in points. That’s bad news for the Cardinals. Little known fact: Current Ball State coach Stan Parrish has already led his Cardinals against a Malzahn-coached offense. When Hoke abandoned Muncie for sunny California, Parrish stepped in and directed the Ball State effort in the GMAC Bowl against Tulsa, where Malzahn directed the offense. With less talent at Tulsa than he has at his disposal at Auburn, Malzahn’s Golden Hurricane offense rolled up 45 points in a 45-13 win. On Saturday, 45 would be merciful. Posted on September 9th, 2009 by Admin To the casual observer, there was very little difference between Auburn’s 2008 season opener and the 2009 debut. In both season openers, the Tigers subdued an inferior opponent from the state of Louisiana with a strong second half showing. In 2008, Auburn clubbed Louisiana Monroe 34-0. Last Saturday night, the Tigers devoured Louisiana Tech 37-13. In both games, Auburn scored in low double figures in the first half. Against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks, Auburn posted 17 first half points. The Tigers managed 13 against the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech last week. In both cases Auburn put up impressive offensive totals. Auburn racked up 406 yards against the Warhawks and piled on 556 against the Bulldogs.
 Auburn Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn Both offenses were paced by a punishing rushing attack. Auburn chewed up 321 yards on the ground against Louisiana Monroe while churning for 301 against Louisiana Tech. Ben Tate topped the 100-yard mark against both the Warhawks and Bulldogs, gaining 115 yards in 2008 and 117 last Saturday. That’s where the similarities ended. Despite last year’s score and the grind-it-out ground game that provided the final margin, even the most ardent Auburn fan had reservations about the ability of the offense to execute. Regardless of the final score, it was readily apparent that Tony Franklin’s offensive system was rife with flaws. It was a disaster in the making. Auburn didn’t score an offensive touchdown against Louisiana Monroe until the third quarter. First half scores came on a punt return and a fumble recovery. Four of Auburn’s first half drives in 2008 consisted of four or fewer plays. Only one seven possessions gained more than 24 yards. Compare that to Saturday’s first half against Louisiana Tech: Five first half possessions, only one of which covered fewer than 26 yards. There were no three-and-out possessions. Two possessions gained more than 60 yards each covered 10-plus plays and both resulted in points. Franklin refused to name a starter in 2008 and eventually flip-flopped between Chris Todd and Kodi Burns in last year’s opener, a situation which did neither potential signal caller any favors. Both were ineffective. New Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn turned the reins over to Todd and the results were obvious. A year ago, Todd was a woeful 9 of 18 for 70 yards. He threw one interception and one TD pass. On Saturday, Todd was 17 of 26. He didn’t throw a pick. He threw two touchdown passes. One to Terrell Zachery covered 93 yards and was the longest in school history. An 87-yard strike from Jason Campbell to Silas Daniels in 2004 was the previous longest. It came against Louisiana Tech in a 52-7 Tiger win. Todd’s rehabilitated shoulder allowed him to make throws that proved problematic a season ago, but the greater improvement came in him not having to look over his shoulder and worry about making a mistake. When a quarterback understands that a single errant throw is not going to bring out the hook, it allows him to settle into the game. There’s no question Todd’s confidence grew over the course of the win. He was a better quarterback at the end of the game than he was at the opening kick. His best throw of the night wasn’t the 93-yarder, but a 17 yard touch pass in the fourth to Darvin Adams that gave Auburn a 30-13 lead and sealed the win. The third-and-sixteen lob showed his confidence as well as confirmed the positive results of his shoulder rehab. It was a throw that Todd likely would not have been able to execute a year ago. The coaching staff did not neglect Burns. The former starting quarterback was given ample opportunity to shine in his new role as a situational receiver and ball carrier in the ballyhooed Wildcat formation. Burns came through, converting several critical possessions with elusive runs and scoring the Tigers’ first touchdown. In addition to Tate’s 100-plus yard rushing night, freshman Onterio McCalebb broke the 100-yard plateau, gaining 148 yards. He is only the second freshman in Auburn history to gain more than 100 yards in a season opener.
The last to do so? Bo Jackson, who rolled up 123 against Wake Forest in 1982. McCalebb’s quickness is an excellent contrast to Tate’s more direct, bruising style and gives Auburn a potent offensive weapon. Auburn also seemed to have added spark from the receiving corps, a weak spot for the Tigers in 2008. While heralded freshman DeAngelo Benton was shut out, Todd did spread the wealth among Mario Fannin, Adams, Zachery and Tate. Auburn also exhibited a willingness to take calculated risks that harkened back to former coach Tommy Tuberville’s early riverboat gambler persona. Auburn took possession at its own 39 with just 23 seconds remaining in the first half. Tech had just kicked a field goal to tie the game at 10-all. Instead of standing pat, Auburn attacked. McCalebb rumbled for nine yards on first down. Todd rifled a pass for 20 yards across the middle to Fannin on second down. On the last play of the half, Wes Byrum nailed a 49-yard field goal. Instead of a 10-10 tie and questions, Auburn carried a 13-10 lead and momentum to the locker room. The series was perfectly executed and showed moxy on the part of the coaching staff. At the conclusion of the 2008 season opener, the general feeling was one of unease and concern. The win over Louisiana Monroe was so loaded with warning signs and red flags that only the most oblivious could have missed them. There is no such unease after Saturday’s debut. New head coach Gene Chizik and his staff put together a solid game plan that maximized the team’s strengths, allowed its quarterback to grow into his role, and provided a solid win that sets the tone. All wasn’t sunshine and roses, however. The Tigers had a handful of defensive breakdowns, particularly in costly penalties that must be avoided as the season progresses. A series of facemask penalties extended a Louisiana Tech drive and helped lead to its only touchdown of the night. Two fumbles also prevented potential scoring opportunities. One, a Tate fumble inside the Bulldog ten in the first half almost certainly took points off the board. The second, on Auburn’s first drive of the third, gave momentum to Louisiana Tech and had the Bulldogs knocking at the door. Freshman Darren Bates quelled that threat with an interception at the Tiger two yard line. Two plays later Todd hit Zachery on an out-and-up and Auburn was in control. That’s the difference a year makes. A year ago, the fumble would likely have eroded Auburn’s confidence and led to a mental breakdown. This year, in this game at least, a moment of adversity didn’t become a tsunami. Posted on September 8th, 2009 by Admin Week one is in the books. There were some great games, some near surprises, and some intriguing storylines. In Auburn, there is now renewed hope and optimism. Hope that last year was truly a one season problem. It’s great to have college football back. Here’s my thoughts on Auburn’s opening win against Louisiana Tech: 1. The defense can be good. Very good. Louisiana Tech had an explosive running game last year. They struggled to establish any sort of a running game outside of a couple quarterback scrambles. After a terrible pass interference call kept La Tech’s opening drive alive, two facemask penalties aided their only touchdown. All they got after that were two field goals – one of which was from distance. The defense looked solid. They worked together. They gang tackled extremely well. There was a decent pass rush, and the secondary played very well. Barring injuries, the defense should be just as good as last year’s, which ranked in the top 20 in the nation. 2. Gus Malzahn knows what he’s doing. As a football fan, it was fun to watch Gus Malzahn set up the opposing defense repeatedly. In this offense, there’s always a big play being set up by the smaller plays. He backed up his claim that his first goal is to run the football. Anytime you can rush for around 300 yards and pass for over 250 yards, you’ve had a good day. He used Ben Tate’s power and Onterio McCalebb’s speed to set up great opportunities for Chris Todd down the field. And how about Chris Todd. He didn’t make the big mistakes, and made two big time throws for touchdowns. He ran the offense with pace. He ran it making the correct reads most of the time. The offensive line looks big and physical. The receivers showed signs of having some confidence. It will be fun to watch how this offense does as the defenses improve. 3. Wes Byrum is back. He went 3 for 3, and made a HUGE 50-yarder going into halftime to steal some momentum back after Louisiana Tech had tied it up. In the SEC, you have to take advantage of your scoring opportunities. Wes looks like he is back to the form of his freshman year, a welcome sight to an offense that moved the ball consistently in the opener. 4. There are some talented freshmen. It was exciting to see so many new players play and have success last night. On offense, Onterio McCalebb stole the show, gaining more yards than any freshman in Auburn history has in his first game. Newcomers DeAngelo Benton, Emory Blake, and Anthony Gulley found their way on the field either as recievers or in special teams. Dee Ford, Nick Fairley, and Daren Bates made their presence felt. Bates started at safety, came away with an interception, and looked totally comfortable against the run and pass. Eltoro Freeman didn’t play, but will bolster the linebacking core when he returns in the next couple weeks from injury. All of these new players will be counted on to provide depth and quality play as the season rolls on. Most of them had a great start to their careers on Saturday night. 5. Confidence. Even when the score didn’t show how well they were playing, Auburn didn’t look nervous or tentative. The offense moved the ball on nearly every drive. The defense settled down incredibly well after three penalties on the first drive. They played loose, pumping up the crowd and each other with each good play. It’s crucial that they believe not only in themselves, but in the systems they are running. And it’s important that they truly believe that this program is still talented and has great potential. They took a big step towards that end on Saturday. Thoughts from Around the Country: 1. BYU beats OU – I had a feeling about this game, but obviously wasn’t expecting Bradford to go down so early in the season. But give BYU credit, they were still down until late in the fourth quarter. They had to go take the game and win it. Oklahoma obviously still has a chance to have a big season. They can win the Big 12, and in all likelihood a one-loss team will make it to the title game. But it’s a crushing blow to take so early. Sam Bradford needs to be ready by the time they meet Texas; if not, their season will end in a disappointing fashion. 2. Surprisingly close games – Northern Iowa had a field goal attempt to beat Iowa, Navy had a two point attempt to tie Ohio State, and Washington hung with LSU for quite a while. Those games are what makes college football fun. There’s so much parity around the country; every game has the potential to be like that. 3. Shaking hands before football games is a bad idea. I’m all for sportsmanship. I appreciate the programs that emphasize character and run a tight ship. But shaking hands before a big college football game is dumb. The players have had all week to get pumped up about being physical with the other team…is it really a good idea to put them together right before kickoff? We’ve seen issues throughout the years with pregame altercations when they’re not brought together, so why is this idea on the table? I totally disagree with it. 4. Outside of Georgia, the SEC looked good. Alabama played well late to beat Virginia Tech. The lower teams of the SEC looked impressive, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Mississippi State scoring big wins. Georgia went up against a very good Oklahoma State team and was a bit outmatched by Dez Bryant. But then again who can guard him? Looks like it will be another wild ride in the SEC. 5. Notre Dame impresses. I wasn’t on the Notre Dame bandwagon, but a 35-0 showing against the potent offense of Nevada is impressive. The schedule leaves nothing to fear outside of USC. As much as it pains me to say it, they might end up in the BCS. All they have to do is probably win 10 games, which means they can even lose a game they’re not supposed to and still get in. Comment if you want! I’ll have a week two preview up sometime on Thursday. Thanks for reading. War Eagle! |
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