Instant Analysis

[rexbo 104]

Instant Analysis from College Football News

The folks in Los Angeles and Norman might protest in vain, but there’s no other way to say it: Auburn played like a national champion on Saturday in its demolition of Georgia. At every turn, a team that had become a juggernaut over the previous several weeks only sustained its superiority against a highly-heralded name opponent loaded with battle-tested seniors. One by one, the snapshots kept coming, providing in the process the telling glimpses of a team that’s playing at a supremely elevated level:

* Snapshot number one was Jason Campbell having the stones to make an option pitch to Cadillac Williams while going down at the Bulldog 3. The quick heads-up decision—a sound and safe choice because of the fact that Campbell had good, stable body balance, in addition to the fact that Williams, as the pitch man, was unguarded in open space—is precisely why the Tigers were able to get a touchdown. After Georgia kicker Andy Bailey shanked an early field goal attempt, Auburn’s ability to immediately respond with seven points only cemented the Tigers’ momentum, which snowballed over the Dawgs as the game continued. Great teams establish and maximize momentum, and Auburn’s first touchdown did both of those things. That dramatic option play also showed the poise and maturity that have defined Jason Campbell’s sensational breakout season.

*  Snapshot number two was Al Borges’ brilliant play call on a halfback option pass that went for Auburn’s second touchdown. After relentlessly pounding Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown into the teeth of the Georgia defense, Borges had the Cadillac throw a pass. The Dawgs’ secondary got suckered, and Auburn—instead of having to operate with limited space in the Georgia red zone—got a quick-strike touchdown for a 14-0 lead. Borges’ ability to keep the Dawgs’ defense guessing—and as sound as UGA’s defense is, coached by Brian VanGorder, you have to do a damn fine job of play calling to get that unit guessing—was the biggest reason why Auburn won the coaching battle in this contest.

*  Snapshots three and four were the end zone interception of David Greene by Auburn’s Carlos Rogers, and the Junior Rosegreen hit that temporarily left Georgia receiver Reggie Brown frozen on the Jordan-Hare Stadium turf. Both of these clutch plays showed how tenaciously Auburn defended its territory, revealing the depth of the Tigers’ hunger: to win this game, to gain bragging rights over Georgia—the state where 31 Auburn players were born—and make a statement for all the pollsters who, if they had any smarts, would put Auburn not just in the top two, but as the number one team in the country.

The way the Tigers rendered Greene—the winningest quarterback in Division I-A history—so manifestly impotent, and in which Auburn imposed its will on a senior-laden Georgia team that—while perhaps overrated—was still experienced and more accustomed to playing big spotlight games, represents much more than a modest statement. Auburn—when given its moment on the big stage—maxed out. And in a big-game sport, when gameday is the only day that matters and best-of-seven series are not an option, maxing out has to mean something. If Auburn wins the Iron Bowl and the SEC title game, the Tigers should be in Miami on Jan. 4, no questions asked.

[AU4Ever 0]

How come every time we beat a team, everyone comes back and says they were over rated. Except for LSU, AU has not been challenged. They have made it look easy, and I feel that is the problem. They make it look too easy, so everyone says that AU can't be that good so the other team must be over rated. Herbstreet is the typical doubter. He said that Auburn is good, but they still have something to prove.

[AuNuma1 1]

This isn't anything new though...the media said the same things about LSU last year. I don't understand it but that's how it is. Ask any LSU fan. They were bellyaching just about as much as we are over the same things. If Auburn wins out, it will all work out.

[Raven_tiger 5]

Who cares? Just win baby!!! That will get us into the NC game.

[cadillacattack 0]

Both of these clutch plays showed how tenaciously Auburn defended its territory, revealing the depth of the Tigers’ hunger: to win this game, to gain bragging rights over Georgia—the state where 31 Auburn players were born—and make a statement for all the pollsters who, if they had any smarts, would put Auburn not just in the top two, but as the number one team in the country.

There it is....amen, brother.