62 replies to this topic

[penguin149]

Even CGC said after game 7 or 8 last year that we can't make the "young and inexperienced" claims any more.  We MUST be more competitive than 2011.  Too many losses by too many points.  10 wins in 2012 would be GREAT but losses by 20+ points is going to cause a lot of concern.

[mcgufcm]

I know getting blown out rubs people the wrong way, but honestly, a loss really is a loss. There is some value to learning out to scratch out close wins. I just don't think there is a close correlation between close losses one year leading to better results the next year.

The goal of every season is to win a championship. That said, you can have good years without rings. If you're in the midst of a good year but not in the midst of a ringed season, who cares whether you lost by 1 or by 20? It doesn't get you any closer to a division, conference, or national title, and it has no bearing on the next season. Just look at the seasons preceeding our two best years in the last decade.

In 2003, we lost 3 games by 19+ points. Did those losses prevent us from winning all our games in 2004? Nope. In 2009, we lost 2 games by 21 points (and lost to Kentucky which is just as embarrassing). Did those blowouts prevent us from winning all our games in 2010? Nope.

Getting blown out sucks, but it really doesn't serve as any kind of indicator on the direction of a program or the quality of the next season. I hope for two things this year: win a championship and get better every week. Even if we get blown out at some point, those goals are still on the table.

[tgr4lfe]

TitanTiger, on 05 May 2012 - 08:25 AM, said:

Can someone point out to me how 70% of your team being freshmen and sophomore is "making youth and inexperience excuses?"  That number sort of speaks for itself.  It's pretty well documented that 2008 class wasn't anything to write home about.  Well, those guys would be your 5th year seniors.  Chizik's first class that he had to salvage from xCTTs departure and try to add a few others (2009) would be your seniors and redshirt juniors (if there are any).

That doesn't sound like excuses to me.  It sounds like math.

That is exactly it!  Last year Auburn was the youngest (most freshman and sophomore playing) and the least experienced of any team in the nation!!  We had a lot of not only freshman, but also 2, even 3 year guys that were starting/playing for the first time, and still won 8 games!!  I think we will see VAST improvement on both O and D, with a proven kicking game returning, that will translate to an additional win or 2 or 3.  AU will be much better than last year, imo.

[tgr4lfe]

Auburnfan91, on 07 May 2012 - 12:51 PM, said:

aucanucktiger, on 07 May 2012 - 10:02 AM, said:

Nobody wants results ASAP more than me but IMO the underlying premise to some posts on this thread (i.e. we BETTER win more games than we did in 2011 w/ as many frosh & sophs as we'll have on the 2012 roster)...is odd.

Over half of LSU's defensive starters last year were either redshirt Sophomores or true Sophomores yet they had one of the best defenses in the country.
.

That is b/c many of them started as freshman the year before, too.

[JB33]

mcgufcm, on 07 May 2012 - 03:28 PM, said:

In 2003, we lost 3 games by 19+ points. Did those losses prevent us from winning all our games in 2004? Nope. In 2009, we lost 2 games by 21 points (and lost to Kentucky which is just as embarrassing). Did those blowouts prevent us from winning all our games in 2010? Nope.

Beat me to it.  At this level, the margin is so thin, and so many things can swing a game (or a season) one way or the other (sometimes dramatically).  Everyone griped (rightly so) about how the '03 offense underachieved, with all the talent on hand.  Enter CAB, and the rest is history.  Not putting any (or at least not any disproportionate share of the) blame for last year's problems on CGM (or CTR), or saying that CSL (or CBVG) is going to instantly turn things around - especially with 4 FR/SO starters on the O-line.  (That really cannot be overemphasized.)  Just saying that sometimes a little shot in the arm can make a huge difference.  Like everyone else, I certainly expect Auburn to be more competitive in 2012 against the Big Boys in the SEC (especially vs. LSU, Arkansas, A&M and UGA at JHS), but I agree with mcgufcm that you can't rely too much on 2011 as an indicator for 2012, especially given the major changes that have taken place in the offseason.

Edited by JB33, 07 May 2012 - 08:16 PM.

[mcgufcm]

And you can't get your panties too tightly wound if we get taken to the woodshed at some point in 2012.

[barnabascollins]

as long as  we finally play boston college home and home


and i get to ride up and down the streets of boston at night on a horse with a lantern and rifle shouting the british are coming

[WarTiger]

barnabascollins, on 07 May 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

as long as  we finally play boston college home and home


and i get to ride up and down the streets of boston at night on a horse with a lantern and rifle shouting the british are coming

you're an idiot.  Please go post somewhere else. This is an example of why nobody here takes you seriously.

[ShocksMyBrain]

barnabascollins, on 07 May 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

as long as  we finally play boston college home and home


and i get to ride up and down the streets of boston at night on a horse with a lantern and rifle shouting the british are coming

This might be one of the dumbest posts I've ever read.