Some thoughts on Mizzou......

[JMR 2,118]

After watching most of their game last week vs Purdue .... some thoughts.....

• QB Drew Lock, talented and experienced as he is, seems to be a little out of sync with his receivers. I understand they had some critical drops in their first two games, and that may well have thrown off the rhythm of their passing game. Lock is experienced enough that he doesn't take many sacks, throwing the ball away when appropriate. Like all big-arm quarterbacks, though, he sometimes tries to force the ball into a window too small to fit. Can you spell I-N-T?
   
• Their top running back has struggled in the early season with an injury. Although he's played, he hasn't been nearly as effective as expected. Not sure when he's supposed to be fully healthy, but I can't think of any injury that "just gets better" when you're grinding on it every week.
   
• With the notable exception of DT Terry Beckner, Jr. (whom AU recruited hard out of high school), the DL has been disappointing to date. The Mizzou version of Tigers has been running a good bit of 3-3-5 defense, and that seems to have been the most effective alignment for them. They've also gone to a nickel and a dime alignment fairly often, but they've been most successful when they have three linebackers on the field.
   
• There has been quite a bit of searching in the secondary, both safeties and corners, for "the right combination."  So far, the result has been inconsistency, as a half-dozen players are still contending for "starting" positions on the back end.
   
• The Mizzou punter is as good as I've seen in quite a while. I think he's averaging around 49 yards, but he has hit a 65-yarder and a 70-yarder in the last two games. A genuine field-flipper.
   
• I get the "sense" that a big part of Mizzou's struggles with their thought-to-be high-powered passing game can be attributed to their inability to establish a run game. If the AU defense continues their stellar play vs the run, those struggles should continue.
   
• Beckner lined up a few times as a zero-technique last week. In the event Darius James does not play, and Austin Golson is at right tackle, the matchup between Beckner and backup center Casey Dunn may be one to watch. From the little I've seen of Dunn, I believe he is up to the task.
   
• The "book" on Mizzou this year says the most effective place to run on their defense is outside the tackles. "If you can get 'em going sideways, you can make big plays". It will be interesting to see if Auburn's plan is to take the ball outside this week and work the perimeter run game, or if Malzahn insists on running the IZ over and over against a 3-3 box. Purdue averaged 4.1 yards on runs between the tackles, and 5.3 on runs outside.
   
• Not relative to the Mizzou game, but if AU can get the offense untracked this week, next week's Miss State game could be a great opportunity for AU to cash some chips. Mullen and Co. will have played consecutive games against LSU and UGA (on the road at that), and should have shown virtually all of their "best stuff". AU just needs to focus on continuing to improve this week, and good things can happen.

[JFDTiger80 790]

Enjoyed the read Coach. Thanks

[ertrader 197]

50 minutes ago, JMR said:

Their top running back has struggled in the early season with an injury. Although he's played, he hasn't been nearly as effective as expected. Not sure when he's supposed to be fully healthy, but I can't think of any injury that "just gets better" when you're grinding on it every week.

Are you sure you didn't get confused and start talking about AU here? 

[JMR 2,118]

5 minutes ago, ertrader said:

Are you sure you didn't get confused and start talking about AU here? 

That's gonna leave a mark!

[ALTiger 16]

1 hour ago, JMR said:

Tigers has been running a good bit of 3-3-5 defense

Is this what Mercer was running on D, that gave us some trouble?

[JMR 2,118]

24 minutes ago, ALTiger said:

Is this what Mercer was running on D, that gave us some trouble?

Some, not a lot. The 3-3 box is tough on the inside zone with 6 defenders vs 5 OL, unless there is a lead blocker. But it is beatable outside. I am looking forward to seeing what our plan is. 

[RunInRed 16,370]

We need to turn the corner on offense this game ... a big showing could set us up nicely for a season-defining game with Miss. State.

[djg0017 726]

Thanks Coach, enjoyed the analysis. I think KMartin and DBarrett could have lots of success against Mizzou — if they play. Also Iggy looked good running to the outside last week. I think this is a game our playmakers on both sides of the ball could dominate so I’m intrigued as to how we plan to use those guys.

[gravejd 3,269]

The more i've learned about Mizzou the more worried i've gotten. Just looking at the blowouts by USCe and Purdue will get your guard down. But they're strong points match up well with our week points. They've got some guys that can get after the QB which we have struggled with and they have a QB that knows how to avoid the sacks. Should or running game continue to struggle and their QB and WR get on the same page this could be a game we could easily lose. I'm expecting we'll be able to handle them but its not as sure a thing as i was thinking earlier in the week. 

[ALTiger 16]

Thanks Coach!  I look forward to seeing what our strategy will be as well.

[Eagle-1 3,821]

3 hours ago, JMR said:

Some, not a lot. The 3-3 box is tough on the inside zone with 6 defenders vs 5 OL, unless there is a lead blocker. But it is beatable outside. I am looking forward to seeing what our plan is. 

Me too. If I were a betting man, I would still bet on many inside zone runs. 

[JMR 2,118]

7 minutes ago, Eagle-1 said:

Me too. If I were a betting man, I would still bet on many inside zone runs. 

As would I. 

[WarTim 3,456]

Thanks as always Coach!! WDE!!

[IronMan70 3,277]

Thanks Coach, good stuff. This is the game our OL needs to start gelling. If they can do that the rest of it will fall into place on that side of the ball much easier. Mizzou is wounded but that is just the type of team that can get their back up.

[AU64 10,122]

4 hours ago, JMR said:

As would I. 

So guess we are back to that old argument....do you run the offense you want to run....or do you take what the defense gives you...

[doverstutts 1,643]

apparently, tre williams and tray mathews are injured and out for the game

[SaltyTiger 7,774]

6 minutes ago, AU64 said:

So guess we are back to that old argument....do you run the offense you want to run....or do you take what the defense gives you...

the game dictates Brother 64

[OnthePlains 2,014]

3 minutes ago, doverstutts said:

apparently, tre williams and tray mathews are injured and out for the game

Are you serious Clark? 

[doverstutts 1,643]

8 minutes ago, OnthePlains said:

Are you serious Clark? 

yep....mathews may be healthy enough to go...game time decision

[OnthePlains 2,014]

Just now, doverstutts said:

yep....mathews may be healthy enough to go...game time decision

Anyone else at the point where you just hold your breath right before every game to see who is injured or suspended? 

[AU64 10,122]

13 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

the game dictates Brother 64

Oh I agree with that but recall quite a few complaints that we were not imposing our will on teams and stuff like that..  As for me...hoping we know what their weaknesses are and that we exploit the dickens out of them.

[doverstutts 1,643]

Just now, OnthePlains said:

Anyone else at the point where you just hold your breath right before every game to see who is injured or suspended? 

me....i expect something every week....i really do feel hopeless concerning football

[SaltyTiger 7,774]

25 minutes ago, AU64 said:

Oh I agree with that but recall quite a few complaints that we were not imposing our will on teams and stuff like that..  As for me...hoping we know what their weaknesses are and that we exploit the dickens out of them.

Hopefully the injury bug will not get us this year. Memory serving me, we were playing as well or better than anyone in the nation  by mid season last year..

[SaltyTiger 7,774]

37 minutes ago, OnthePlains said:

Anyone else at the point where you just hold your breath right before every game to see who is injured or suspended? 

Does Gus or any coach owe you a report of that nature prior to any game? Quit fooling the bookies young man......................

[OnthePlains 2,014]

1 minute ago, SaltyTiger said:

Does Gus or any coach owe you a report of that nature prior to any game? Quit fooling the bookies young man......................

What?  Go to bed Salty its late.