LSU exposes Auburn as a pretender

[aubiefifty 16,738]

LSU exposes Auburn as a pretender in Death Valley

Updated on October 14, 2017 at 8:52 PM Posted on October 14, 2017 at 8:51 PM

By Joseph Goodman

jgoodman@al.com

Back to the FBI investigation.

Auburn football was supposed to be the balm that soothes the mounting outrage of a university betrayed. It was supposed to be the distraction. Nope. Just another mediocre team in the SEC West.

These are unprecedented times at Auburn, and for all the wrong reasons. On the one hand, the men's basketball program has a former assistant coach who is under investigation by the federal government for using his station at Auburn to allegedly commit fraud and bribery. On the other hand, the football team will now go down in the LSU history books as the SEC team to surrender the largest home lead in the modern history of LSU football.

Auburn led 20-0 early in Saturday's game at LSU's Tiger Stadium, and lost in stunning fashion 27-23. Somehow framing this loss in an even darker gloom is this fact: two weeks ago, LSU lost to Troy 24-21 on the same field.

"We started out quick and we were real pleased with the tempo offensively, and real pleased with our defense," Malzahn said. "Really at halftime we felt good."

Instant analysis: AU blows big lead, loses 27-23 at LSU

Instant analysis of No. 10 Auburn's 27-23 loss at LSU

This was supposed to be Auburn's splashy reintroduction to the College Football Playoff conversation. This was supposed to be Auburn's first victory in Baton Rouge since 1999. This was supposed to be followed by an all-night party on Bourbon Street. Now, all is gone, and it's going to take something extraordinary to salvage this season.

That technically is still possible, as coach Gus Malzahn so quickly explained to his team after walking off the field. Yes, Auburn ends the season with home games against Georgia and Alabama, but beating both of those teams in November will take enormous improvements to a flawed team.

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"We still have all of our goals intact," said sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham, echoing his coach's words.

Hey, here's to hoping. Stidham ended the game with six straight incompletions.

Three consecutive blowout victories against inferior SEC opponents masked Auburn's shortcomings for almost a month of the season, but everything unraveled in the second half against LSU. The collapse was similar to the road loss at Clemson, but worse.

Against Clemson, Auburn built an early 6-0 lead before being manhandled in the second half. That loss was blamed on an injury to running back Kerryon Johnson (he didn't play), and Clemson's all-world defensive line. Malzahn needed different excuses to explain this latest headfirst plunge off the cliff.

This time, Johnson played, and was brilliant in the first half, but could do nothing after the break. A defensive line with far less of a reputation than Clemson's maulers battered Auburn in the second half. For the game, Auburn converted just 3 of 14 attempts on third downs. After the first quarter, it was 2 of 12. There was one third-down conversion the second half.

"I keep saying third downs," Malzahn said after the game when pressed to explain Auburn's play calling after building its sizable lead.

Johnson rushed for 123 yards in the first half. In the second half, he managed just 33. Clearly Malzahn was expecting his highly rated defense to win the game. It could not. Instead, that unit died under the oppressive heat inside Death Valley.

At kickoff, the heat index registered 95 degrees. LSU was in the shade during the entire second half, and Auburn melted in the sun. It's easy to dismiss the effect of that weather, but it was a factor in the second half.

Instant analysis: AU blows big lead, loses 27-23 at LSU

Instant analysis of No. 10 Auburn's 27-23 loss at LSU

Another bit of home-field advantage that aided LSU's historic comeback: an appearance by former LSU coach Les Miles at halftime.

LSU's 2007 national championship team was honored at midfield, and Miles was introduced last. The cheers for LSU's longtime coach came crashing down Death Valley like an avalanche. Before the second half, LSU running back Derrius Guice gave Miles a bear hug on the sidelines. He had 19 yards rushing in the first half and 51 in the second. Miles' former receiver, DJ Chark, had the biggest day. He had five receptions for 150 yards and a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Miles was fired last year after LSU's loss at Auburn. This season, it is Malzahn who is feeling intense pressure from a frustrated fan base. Nothing gets coaches fired in the SEC faster than unmet expectations. Malzahn seemed to blame his defense after the loss, calling the collapse the first of its kind he can recall as Auburn's coach.

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Fans probably can name a couple more.

Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group. He's on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.

[Farmer Brown 2,391]

He didn't ascribe any blame to his arrogant self.

[aujeff11 6,243]

Just read that Gus is 2-4 against unranked teams as a top ten team.  That’s Tuberville level. At least those losses under Tuberville usually followed big wins. 

Another damning stat:

Under Gus, we are 0-7 on the road in Baton Rouge, Athens, and Tuscaloosa. That number will probably swell to 9 this year..

 

[keesler 5,924]

2 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

LSU exposes Auburn as a pretender in Death Valley

Updated on October 14, 2017 at 8:52 PM Posted on October 14, 2017 at 8:51 PM

By Joseph Goodman

jgoodman@al.com

Back to the FBI investigation.

Auburn football was supposed to be the balm that soothes the mounting outrage of a university betrayed. It was supposed to be the distraction. Nope. Just another mediocre team in the SEC West.

These are unprecedented times at Auburn, and for all the wrong reasons. On the one hand, the men's basketball program has a former assistant coach who is under investigation by the federal government for using his station at Auburn to allegedly commit fraud and bribery. On the other hand, the football team will now go down in the LSU history books as the SEC team to surrender the largest home lead in the modern history of LSU football.

Auburn led 20-0 early in Saturday's game at LSU's Tiger Stadium, and lost in stunning fashion 27-23. Somehow framing this loss in an even darker gloom is this fact: two weeks ago, LSU lost to Troy 24-21 on the same field.

"We started out quick and we were real pleased with the tempo offensively, and real pleased with our defense," Malzahn said. "Really at halftime we felt good."

Instant analysis: AU blows big lead, loses 27-23 at LSU

Instant analysis of No. 10 Auburn's 27-23 loss at LSU

This was supposed to be Auburn's splashy reintroduction to the College Football Playoff conversation. This was supposed to be Auburn's first victory in Baton Rouge since 1999. This was supposed to be followed by an all-night party on Bourbon Street. Now, all is gone, and it's going to take something extraordinary to salvage this season.

That technically is still possible, as coach Gus Malzahn so quickly explained to his team after walking off the field. Yes, Auburn ends the season with home games against Georgia and Alabama, but beating both of those teams in November will take enormous improvements to a flawed team.

ADVERTISING

"We still have all of our goals intact," said sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham, echoing his coach's words.

Hey, here's to hoping. Stidham ended the game with six straight incompletions.

Three consecutive blowout victories against inferior SEC opponents masked Auburn's shortcomings for almost a month of the season, but everything unraveled in the second half against LSU. The collapse was similar to the road loss at Clemson, but worse.

Against Clemson, Auburn built an early 6-0 lead before being manhandled in the second half. That loss was blamed on an injury to running back Kerryon Johnson (he didn't play), and Clemson's all-world defensive line. Malzahn needed different excuses to explain this latest headfirst plunge off the cliff.

This time, Johnson played, and was brilliant in the first half, but could do nothing after the break. A defensive line with far less of a reputation than Clemson's maulers battered Auburn in the second half. For the game, Auburn converted just 3 of 14 attempts on third downs. After the first quarter, it was 2 of 12. There was one third-down conversion the second half.

"I keep saying third downs," Malzahn said after the game when pressed to explain Auburn's play calling after building its sizable lead.

Johnson rushed for 123 yards in the first half. In the second half, he managed just 33. Clearly Malzahn was expecting his highly rated defense to win the game. It could not. Instead, that unit died under the oppressive heat inside Death Valley.

At kickoff, the heat index registered 95 degrees. LSU was in the shade during the entire second half, and Auburn melted in the sun. It's easy to dismiss the effect of that weather, but it was a factor in the second half.

Instant analysis: AU blows big lead, loses 27-23 at LSU

Instant analysis of No. 10 Auburn's 27-23 loss at LSU

Another bit of home-field advantage that aided LSU's historic comeback: an appearance by former LSU coach Les Miles at halftime.

LSU's 2007 national championship team was honored at midfield, and Miles was introduced last. The cheers for LSU's longtime coach came crashing down Death Valley like an avalanche. Before the second half, LSU running back Derrius Guice gave Miles a bear hug on the sidelines. He had 19 yards rushing in the first half and 51 in the second. Miles' former receiver, DJ Chark, had the biggest day. He had five receptions for 150 yards and a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Miles was fired last year after LSU's loss at Auburn. This season, it is Malzahn who is feeling intense pressure from a frustrated fan base. Nothing gets coaches fired in the SEC faster than unmet expectations. Malzahn seemed to blame his defense after the loss, calling the collapse the first of its kind he can recall as Auburn's coach.

ADVERTISING

Fans probably can name a couple more.

Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group. He's on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.

He seemed to blame the defense after the loss, calling the collapse the first of its kind he can recall as Auburn’s coach?

WTH?  Blame the defense?  Way to piss off staffers that have worked their asses off, shown drastic improvement over the past 2yrs.  :banghead:

[milehighfan 1,240]

Obviously, Gus the Great does not believe in the saying, "the buck stops here, " unless he's talking about his paycheck.

[jared52 4,354]

8 hours ago, aujeff11 said:

Just read that Gus is 2-4 against unranked teams as a top ten team.  That’s Tuberville level. At least those losses under Tuberville usually followed big wins. 

Another damning stat:

Under Gus, we are 0-7 on the road in Baton Rouge, Athens, and Tuscaloosa. That number will probably swell to 9 this year..

 

JHS is in Auburn 

[AURandy56 148]

It didn't expose AU's team as a pretender, but it did expose Malzahn as a fraud. There's a difference. 

[aujeff11 6,243]

1 hour ago, jared52 said:

JHS is in Auburn 

Thanks for the unnecessary sarcasm, man. 

I forgot we were home for Amen Corner this year. 

[jared52 4,354]

1 hour ago, aujeff11 said:

Thanks for the unnecessary sarcasm, man. 

I forgot we were home for Amen Corner this year. 

It wasn't sarcasm, man.

[TAYLORKEETON 789]

1 hour ago, AURandy56 said:

It didn't expose AU's team as a pretender, but it did expose Malzahn as a fraud. There's a difference. 

Exactly what I was going to say. LSU didn't "expose" Auburn...but Gus did. I can accept losing to a better team...but Gus literally beat ourselves. I'm still pissed. I've never stayed this mad after a game. 

[auburn4ever 1,266]

LSU did a great job in exposes Auburn as a pretender

[AURealist 2,185]

Actually, it sounded to me as though Gus blamed the defense and special teams.  

It seems Gus' plan to squat on his lead hadn't allowed for the defense giving up any points in the second half. And, apparently, returns for touchdowns are unheard on Planet MalZone....  

[auskull 239]

We are a one trick phony (pony). We should have seen this coming. We are just too eager to believe that a few wins over middle of the road teams equals improvement and ultimately success. We saw this last year. We have no plan B (or for that matter any plan at all) when our simple strategy of deep passes and runs between the tackles don't work. We can't adapt to a QB who is not a dynamic runner. Our Offensive plan is not complex and our passing game is not sophisticated, as LSU showed.  It was very hot Saturday and we simply smothered our defense in the second half without any offensive production. We have developed an alarming trend in our loses, no offensive production in the second half. This goes back to the 2013 BCS championship. I am skeptical of the resume of many of our offensive coaches. I simply do not see any thoroughbreds in this group (maybe Horton and Hand). Our ability to adjust to our players strengths along with play designs and play calling are liking and inferior to our opponents. I have never coached in any capacity period so this is just my uninformed opinion.

[AUIH1 1,515]

7 minutes ago, auskull said:

We are a one trick phony (pony). We should have seen this coming. We are just too eager to believe that a few wins over middle of the road teams equals improvement and ultimately success. We saw this last year. We have no plan B (or for that matter any plan at all) when our simple strategy of deep passes and runs between the tackles don't work. We can't adapt to a QB who is not a dynamic runner. Our Offensive plan is not complex and our passing game is not sophisticated, as LSU showed.  It was very hot Saturday and we simply smothered our defense in the second half without any offensive production. We have developed an alarming trend in our loses, no offensive production in the second half. This goes back to the 2013 BCS championship. I am skeptical of the resume of many of our offensive coaches. I simply do not see any thoroughbreds in this group (maybe Horton and Hand). Our ability to adjust to our players strengths along with play designs and play calling are liking and inferior to our opponents. I have never coached in any capacity period so this is just my uninformed opinion.

Hand is another Gus yes man like Kodi and Chip.  Horton is probably the only quality O assistant on the O staff (this includes Gus).

wde