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How will Auburn cover bama receivers?


gravejd

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Unfortunately I haven't been able to see many replays of Auburn games because I switched to U-verse when I moved to Atlanta. So I had a question for some of you guys who like to break down Auburn games.

How do you see Auburn covering Maze and Julio based on past teams we've played? I think we've already faced the best receivers in the SEC in Green and Jeffrey(sp?). But the combination of WRs and TEs that bama has are a pretty good group. The only team comparable would be Arky in my opinion. So what type of coverage did we go mostly against Arky? Mostly zone, man, man w/ safety help deep, or a fairly even mix of everything? Did we go heads up against the better receivers or was their always a safety there for help?

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I believe we use the same overall game plan that we have all season.  Stop the run, get pressure on the qb (hopefully with the front 4), and prevent the deep ball/big play.  We know our "O" can keep up.  We just have to keep their "O" under 25 pts.  The D-line has to show up big time!  It may be the D-line's biggest game of the season!

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Pressure. Pressure. Pressure. That is our best defense against their WRs. The Arky reference is pretty accurate i think. Julio will get his numbers although I think we limit him enough and are able to stop them when it counts. We have gone man up quite a bit to mixed results this year. I see zone a good bit but there will undoubtably be some occasions when we will have to go man on Julio. Just gotta man up and not let McElroy sit back and wait for Maze and Julio to get open. WDE.

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I would like to see us bust'em in the mouth at the line of scrimmage to disrupt the timing and give Big Nick and Crew a second or two longer to get to GingerMac.  

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Yes, we have faced Jefferys and AJ, as well as Greg Childs.  They all had great numbers against us, but we won the games.  Just accept that JJ and Maze will put up big numbers, and trust the game plan will unfold just like the others.  It is not reasonable, IMO, to think we can stop their passing game.  We must, however, control the ground game, and get heat on McGinger.  Not saying we're not going to win, but, folks, it's gonna be a great game. (Yes, grammar Nazi's, that IS a double negative)

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Put a few good licks on Ginger.  He knows how to lose now, so hopefully he'll prove it again.  I like our chances in a shootout.  Ginger is good at not losing games.  If we take care of the ball, I like it.

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I would like to see us bust'em in the mouth at the line of scrimmage to disrupt the timing and give Big Nick and Crew a second or two longer to get to GingerMac.  

That's what I've wanted to see all year--a little bump and run coverage.

Problem with that is that it makes the DB more likely to give up the pass play over the top.

Julio may not be the best WR in the land (I say Alshon is), but he certainly is the most physical in my opinion.  If we try to press him at the line, even if we are generally successful, he'll get away once or twice for a big over the top gain.  Our D this year has been built on not giving up the big play, so that'd go against our gameplan.

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I have a feeling we will used some things on defense that we haven't used much up to this point in the season.  I would like to see something early to really put pressure on McElroy.  We don't want to get down early in this game on the road.  We have to know that bama has been making changes to their O recently due to their inability to run the ball like they want to, passing to backs, reverses to Julio etc....They are going to have some things cooked up for us early in the game to try to get a lead and hand on for dear life.  Getting too aggressive may play right into their hands.  Best thing we can do defensively is play sound assignment football and tackle!  

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Defend the run, watch for the screens and bracket julio.  When they get in third and medium-long, McElroy WILL go to julio.  Double him up and he has to check down...that gives Sweet Nick a chance to collar him and then clean and jerk him in half.  Best way to stop bammer.

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I know we've faced some of the best WR's in the country and they all did very well against us. Here is the difference to me this weekend. McElroy isn't nearly the QB that these other teams have had! He's better than Mallet/Arky back-up? Murray? Garcia? Parker? I don't think so. His tendency to hold on to the ball a little too long will bite him this weekend. Our d-line will make you forget the 11 sacks against Brody and you will be buying a new bumper sticker that says honk if you sacked McElroy.....

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I know we've faced some of the best WR's in the country and they all did very well against us. Here is the difference to me this weekend. McElroy isn't nearly the QB that these other teams have had! He's better than Mallet/Arky back-up? Murray? Garcia? Parker? I don't think so. His tendency to hold on to the ball a little too long will bite him this weekend. Our d-line will make you forget the 11 sacks against Brody and you will be buying a new bumper sticker that says honk if you sacked McElroy.....

^^^This

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Unfortunately I haven't been able to see many replays of Auburn games because I switched to U-verse when I moved to Atlanta. So I had a question for some of you guys who like to break down Auburn games.

How do you see Auburn covering Maze and Julio based on past teams we've played? I think we've already faced the best receivers in the SEC in Green and Jeffrey(sp?). But the combination of WRs and TEs that bama has are a pretty good group. The only team comparable would be Arky in my opinion. So what type of coverage did we go mostly against Arky? Mostly zone, man, man w/ safety help deep, or a fairly even mix of everything? Did we go heads up against the better receivers or was their always a safety there for help?

I think Auburn will cover the Alabama receivers by covering up Greg McElroy.

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I know we've faced some of the best WR's in the country and they all did very well against us. Here is the difference to me this weekend. McElroy isn't nearly the QB that these other teams have had! He's better than Mallet/Arky back-up? Murray? Garcia? Parker? I don't think so. His tendency to hold on to the ball a little too long will bite him this weekend. Our d-line will make you forget the 11 sacks against Brody and you will be buying a new bumper sticker that says honk if you sacked McElroy.....

Really hope you're right! And maybe all of those sacks come on 3rd and 4 so they are in punting situations all day.

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Really hope you're right! And maybe all of those sacks come on 3rd and 4 so they are in punting situations all day.

^^^^^^This is exactly what I'm talking about. Alabama likes to throw the screens and run the football on early downs. They usually like to throw a little deeper only on 3rd and medium to long. (Obviously) this will probably work in Auburn's favor and get us a few key stops. I think that is all that it will take for us to get the W.

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I think it will be another sack party.  but dont be surprised to see some screens and draws to try to slow down the rush.  #1 thing on defense is to stop the run.  Julio and Maze aer going to make plays, they are going to score points.  Lets not get away from waht got us here.  Dont give up the long ball, keep eveything in front of you.  Let them make the mistakes.  As far as makign McElroy check down, that is all he did last year.  Look to see their tight ends make some catches in the flats.  That is LB coverage given what we have been running.  I think you will see those check downs to the tight ends go for 6 or 7, eventually someone may jump a route.  The thing is we want Bama to go down field.  We want to get them out of their game plan and we want them to take some shots downfield.  I look for Bama to try to utilize the short passing game in addition to the run game to try to put together some long drives and keep the ball out of our hands.

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whitaker will have to step up. We will be short on depth in the Dline for the first half. Fairley and Clayton have to step up, they will be getting less breaks than normal. Pass rush will be key in this game

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whitaker will have to step up. We will be short on depth in the Dline for the first half. Fairley and Clayton have to step up, they will be getting less breaks than normal. Pass rush will be key in this game

It'll be okay. Even if we only rotate three for the first half, they'll be alright, and then Blanc will be back for the second half.

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Same philosophy we've used all year: 

1) Take away the deep threat with D-line pressure.  reason: Our D-line is our strength.  We must make their offense realize that the deep ball is a high risk/low percentage pass.  Alabama's pass protection is their weakness, so they will be willing to take the short passes.

2) Be willing to give up underneath passes through 3 quarters.  reason: Although it is frustrating as an Auburn fan to watch, this is an effective defensive game plan.  The offense cannot pick up big chunks of yardage like they want to.  Chipping away down the field takes a lot of time, which is OK in the first 3 quarters, but not if you are behind in the 4th.

3) Put pressure on them by getting a 4th qtr lead with our offense.  reason: If we have let them have short passes all game, they will realize it will take them too long to score to catch up.  They will have to try some long passes, which as said above, is high risk and will lead to some sacks and turnovers.

This is exactly how we've won those close games against passing teams.  Go back and watch.  Just be prepared to be a little aggravated for 3 qtrs as we give up the short passes.  But it will pay off in the end.

WDE!!!

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Same philosophy we've used all year: 

1) Take away the deep threat with D-line pressure.  reason: Our D-line is our strength.  We must make their offense realize that the deep ball is a high risk/low percentage pass.  Alabama's pass protection is their weakness, so they will be willing to take the short passes.

2) Be willing to give up underneath passes through 3 quarters.  reason: Although it is frustrating as an Auburn fan to watch, this is an effective defensive game plan.  The offense cannot pick up big chunks of yardage like they want to.  Chipping away down the field takes a lot of time, which is OK in the first 3 quarters, but not if you are behind in the 4th.

3) Put pressure on them by getting a 4th qtr lead with our offense.  reason: If we have let them have short passes all game, they will realize it will take them too long to score to catch up.  They will have to try some long passes, which as said above, is high risk and will lead to some sacks and turnovers.

This is exactly how we've won those close games against passing teams.  Go back and watch.  Just be prepared to be a little aggravated for 3 qtrs as we give up the short passes.  But it will pay off in the end.

WDE!!!

Very nice post.  I wholeheartedly agree.

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