AUFAMILY Forums: The Deep South's Oldest Shoving Match - AUFAMILY Forums

Physicality. I has it.

What is football if not a group of men pushing, shoving, pulling, and tackling each other. Occasionally, you'll kick a ball and catch a ball, but most everyone else on the field is pushing, shoving, pulling, or tackling on each play. I'm sure back in 1892, as Auburn was playing their first ever football game, Auburn's gameplan against AU didn't look much different than "push these guys here, and tackle those guys before they get there."

The game sure has changed since then, but the way you win in football remains the same. You must be the most physically dominating team between the lines. As Pro Football Hall of Famer Russ Grimm said, "There's no greater feeling than moving a man from Point A to Point B, against his will." Nick Fairley and the 2010 AU Defense was able to make that happen last year. I believe that the "2011 AU Defense 2.0"TM is a defense that is capable of recreating the same level of disarray as last year's defense was able to cause against UGA. Aaron Murray is a stud at QB, but UGA's margin of victory this year just hasn't made you feel like UGA has ever reached that plateau of being "stellar" on O.


On offense, UGA brings a stout rushing defense and three terrors (Commings, Rambo, and Boykin) in the defensive backfield, so AU's offense will be sledding uphill most of the day. Both defenses are up to the task of forcing their will on the other team this year.

If AU brings its A-game, I consider this game to be a slight edge to AU. Since the defenses match up so well to the opposing offenses, It's likely to come down to special teams, trick plays, and turnovers in this game. I'm holding out hope that AU has a few tricks up its sleeve with the bye week and that AU's special teams will remain strong. If AU can limit the turnovers in the passing game, look for AU to steal a win at UGA. If turnovers rear their ugly head, it could be a long game in between the hedges.

AU 27 - UGA 17