Chaotic_zx

I like BMatt. I really do but he can kiss my butt on this one. I didn't go to the games and shout at Bo. I didn't boo him although I did refer to him as a coach killer. I absolutely think still to this day he is not a great QB. He improved from awful to a game manager in my opinion(I bolded this part for emphasis). I will wear the dislikes like a badge of honor. There is no doubt that Harsin and Malzahn didn't surround Bo with the best talent. Bo isn't responsible for that. He is responsible for his poor play though. He didn't make it better and didn't make it worse. Good Qbs make the players around them better. If you think I'm wrong, I'm fine with that. I think the fact he is a legacy for Auburn clouds some of the judgement around Auburn places. So I guess we will be even on that and we can agree to disagree.

With Jerry Kill and and NM Sate QB at Vandy, I'm not taking Vandy for granted as some are.

QB, WR, and DB. Until progress is shown on the field, it is still a deficiency. Feeling good about the new players is great. Just don't count on them until they produce. QB- My personal biggest want. The position has held Auburn football back for so long. WR- Drops and half-assed blocking need to disappear. For the record, drops have been an issue since Trooper Taylor was coaching them. DL- The Defensive line should not be giving up 4-7 yards on first down. It was no wonder that Auburn had issues with 3rd downs last season. It was always third and short.

https://x.com/Hayesfawcett3/status/1781727925156339896

Because he is transferring to bama.

At the writer of the article.

Nothing stopping Barkley from doing it now. He could absolutely go out and pay players to enroll at Auburn. As a matter of fact, Jerry Jones has stated the he is willing to pay double that of Kentucky for freshmen. I see no reason Barkley couldn't be more involved if he chose to.

While I was young, I didn't get to see Pat Dye's successes and failures. I watched some of the teams play but didn't think too far into it. Now that I am older, I see the reverence that Auburn fans show him. I cannot understand those that hold him in such high regard yet miss out on his second most important message. I feel his most important message was that Auburn is different. Auburn is family. Auburn is a special place and should be loved/cherished. For what it's worth, Auburn fans know this. His second most important message is one that I feel is lost on the Auburn fans. The message is that Auburn should expect to excel and demand respect. Take the respect if necessary. Had he felt the same as some in the Auburn fandom, Bama would have never played a football game in Auburn. You know, because Auburn and Bama had always played at Legion Field. If he felt as some do, Auburn should never expect to beat Bama/Georgia in football. You know, because they always have gotten the better of Auburn. He didn't accept what Auburn was competitively at the time. He made Auburn his vision of what Auburn should be. It is ok for Auburn fans/Alumni to both love Auburn University and hold it to a higher standard athletically. Outside of Swimming/Diving, Equestrian, and Aubie, Auburn hasn't had sustained success. It is ok to hold the decision maker's feet to the fire. It's ok to demand more from a University that we all have given time, effort, and some money to. It is ok to tell an AD, coach, or player that they aren't good enough to get the team where it needs to be. You know, I believe football and basketball coaches when they say Auburn fans are some of the best. I believe the announcers when they say Jordan Hare Stadium and Neville Arena are some of the toughest places to play in the nation. You know what isn't ok? It isn't ok for the Auburn University decision makers to take Auburn fans for granted. I feel that they are and the product on the playing surfaces show it. Isn't it time for the product on the playing surface to match the words of the Creed that they proclaim?

I'm not weighing in one way or another. I feel those critical are doing so in jest. I would like to point out however, Ronnie Brown pronounces Auburn just like that on the broadcasts. I haven't taken issue with that.

IMO, Thorne holds the ball too long and the pocket collapses around him. It doesn't show up on a completion percentage because he doesn't throw it. The line did no QB a favor today but in my opinion Thorne still looks shell shocked to me. It looks like the game comes at him too fast and he freezes up.

Just my opinion: Hank Brown is absolutely the best QB on roster. I am starting to get frustrated that he won't be the starter. Holden Geriner throws a good ball but follows it up with a poorly placed one. I think he is likely the third best QB on roster. It could be that he diagnosing the plays slowly. He seems to lock onto one WR. Maybe just a one read type of QB. Peyton still holds on to the ball too long. He is likely tied for third best QB on roster. He has been shell shocked and doesn't seem to be able to recover from it. Maybe he always held on to the ball too long. Walker White does have talent. He threw to multiple WRs. When the game slows down for him, he will be good.

This sums up my thoughts. It never happens if Auburn beats Yale like they were predicted to do. That Yale team wasn't. Auburn's guard play was just worse.

You can back your player without taking the shot at fans.

This is the second time he has taken a shot at Auburn fans. The first when he called some of us ridiculous for criticism that they deserved. This criticism was warranted as well. Just because someone feels bad and apologizes doesn't absolve them from the act that got them in that situation. CBM is my favorite player on this years team but come on. Now I can strongly say that I hope Steven Pearl doesn't get the Auburn job if and when Bruce steps away.

FWIW, Jay G Tate stated on the last Drain that Auburn has about 16 months left with Under Armour and will sign with Nike. Stated they are keeping it from the public due to respect for Under Armor.

Posted in another thread. My point of view is that the guard play isn't nearly good enough to make a run. Yes CBM 's decision was stupid but he's been doing that all year. It was bound to catch up to him. This guard issue is more than just the Yale game. See below. In the auburn losses this past year. Top scoring opposing player: Baylor - J. Walker Guard 28 points, R. Dennis Guard 15 points App State - M. Tate Guard 18 points, T. Harcum Guard 12 points Alabama - M. Sears Guard 22 points, R. Griffen Guard 17 points Miss State - J. Hubbard Guard 17 points Florida - R. Kugel Guard 22 points, W. Clayton Jr. Guard 20 points, Z. Pullin Guard 19 points Kentucky - A. Reeves Guard 22 points, A. Thiero Guard 14 points Tennessee - D Knecht Guard 39 points, Z. Zeigler Guard 17 points Yale - J. Poulakidas Guard 28 points, A. Mahoney Guard 14 points.

I am not so sure. It is a philosophical choice made by Bruce. He likes having smaller guards. The thought has been that they were smaller but were better 3 point shooters. Well shoe brand doesn't cause that. Auburn's guards are almost always no taller than 6'1". It just so happens recently that they aren't consistent 3 point shooters either. The best 3 point shooters on the this past team was Jaylin Williams, CBM, and recently Denver Jones. Notice none of them are PGs. Edited for proof that the guard's defensive play must be better. These opposing players are not all PGs. In the auburn losses this past year. Top scoring opposing player: Baylor - J. Walker Guard 28 points, R. Dennis Guard 15 points App State - M. Tate Guard 18 points, T. Harcum Guard 12 points Alabama - M. Sears Guard 22 points, R. Griffen Guard 17 points Miss State - J. Hubbard Guard 17 points Florida - R. Kugel Guard 22 points, W. Clayton Jr. Guard 20 points, Z. Pullin Guard 19 points Kentucky - A. Reeves Guard 22 points, A. Thiero Guard 14 points Tennessee - D Knecht Guard 39 points, Z. Zeigler Guard 17 points Yale - J. Poulakidas Guard 28 points, A. Mahoney Guard 14 points.

I am in full belief that a team that wins in rebounding, plays tough defense, limits turnovers, and takes good shots wins more often than not. Guards are directly responsible for 2(limits TO/takes good shots) of those things. Bruce still has my full support and I find it silly that anyone would think differently. That being said, he must get better guard play out of his players. It has been the limiting factor. The staff should get bigger guards that can cover better. You cannot tell me that they would be any worse on the offensive side of the floor. If any of the coaches(glances at Steven Pearl) thinks that criticism is ridiculous, they need to put of their big girl panties.

The biggest thing in my opinion will be upgrading the guard play. Jay G Tate stated on the Drain that he believes Tre Donaldson will leave but there will be turnover regardless. There was talk during the year that Auburn plays good defense. I don't think they do. Especially the guard positions. Any team that Auburn played with good guards seems to have that guard have great games. Year end and out, opposing guards have no problem scoring. At some point Bruce Pearl has to reevaluate his system and see the flaws. The caveat has always been that the Auburn guards were good scorers but smaller. They haven't been good scorers in a couple of years now.

Your avatar matches the quoted statement. I like that.

I look at like this. If Auburn was to win the National Championship they'd have to play multiple tough teams. Respect isn't given. It is earned/taken. Beat Yale, Beat UAB/SDS, and then beat UCONN. Then the respect will come. If Auburn is good enough, they will have to take it. Just like the Auburn team did to make the Final Four.

Stultz on the Drain stated that the coaching staff was mad(paraphrasing).

I hope Auburn plays UAB round two. It will be a good game. I also hope Samford beats Kansas.

I watched some of Yale's game today. They do not look athletic. Their big passed the ball well today but he's slow and doesn't look for his shot. They were really fortunate to win today. Had to make two shots in the final minutes to beat an 11-19 team in Brown. The game looked like it was two 5A Alabama high school teams playing. My cold take: An Auburn win by 10+. The second round is where it will be interesting.

I don't think Auburn goes back to that type of team. I fully believe that Kessler changed Pearl's mindset. Further, Pearl has mention that with the new lack of charging rules that he would need to change his team's dynamic(paraphrasing) into a more drive type of team like the NBA. I'd also assume he goes for bigger guards moving forward(after this year).