Cox

[TexasTiger 14,528]

A rough first start- national TV against a solid D and not much run support. They knew he was passing and he still got 342 yards-- 13th highest ever for an AU QB-- only 7 QBs have ever gotten more yards.

On the downside, of course, are the turnovers. Not that unusual for a young QB, especially in tough circumstances. Pat Sullivan can tell you that.

The D disappointed early, but got much tougher, especially after being placed in difficult situations.

Not the game I wanted, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel on Gibbs, Cox or this team.

[RadioWryn 0]

Part of me is glad that, due to "normal" offensive gameplanning, wide receivers and running backs are displaced randomly around the field. Brandon didn't have a clue where in the hell some of those balls were going.

[Raven_tiger 5]

I have no problems with BC's play. His OL offered little protection and the RBs never showed up for the game. The WRs played well too.

[TexasTiger 14,528]

Part of me is glad that, due to "normal" offensive gameplanning, wide receivers and running backs are displaced randomly around the field.  Brandon didn't have a clue where in the hell some of those balls were going.

178210[/snapback]

If your saying some of his completions were dumb luck, I don't know what you were watching. For the most part, he was very accurate.

[Texan4Auburn 1,626]

I'm not either. This team might have gotten more out of tonights loss than if they would have won the game.

Cox was sluggish at first and improved thoughout the game, then he got a sense of urgency probably and tried to force some things, which a young QB will do. Of the 4 interceptions..... one he tried to force for a TD, bad throw. One was third and 23 with pressure coming at him and he didn't see the defender, bad vision and throw. Two of them came from pressure hiting his arm while he was throwing, thats on the line. I don't put all the blame on the officials, but I agree that the fact the officials were not protecting Cox after the plays might have had an effect on him. I saw three head shots that should have been called which were not.

Far as Gibbs, not the showing I had hoped. The D did buckle down after those first two drives but at times looked lost or out of place, but Chizik had the same problem his first game and lets not forget Fred Tally and Arkansas shredding him his first year right up the gut. That guy is still running right now.

I think my real disappointment though is the lack of a running game and the lack of Stewart and Irons in the backfield.

[autigeremt 7,260]

I agree about Irons and Stewart. Look for them to be in the game more next week v/s Miss State. We need to get rowdy for these guys and let them know that we are behind them through thick and thin!

[CalcoTiger 0]

This Auburn team is going to get better and i think Georgia Tech may be a little better than people thought.

LSU may be up against the same thing in Arizona St. Quality 1st opponent since rescheduling North Texas.

Brandon Cox is going to have to learn to throw it away instead of forcing. Still he has a good throwing motion and i think the offensive line can improve.

Hope you guys win out up to LSU game. Looking for a good hard fought game.

[AUloggerhead 2,568]

... I think my real disappointment though is the lack of a running game and the lack of Stewart and Irons in the backfield.

178213[/snapback]

Yeah, I have to agree. I was dissapointed because I thought AU would have been able to run behind the O line a little better. They did sorta, in the 2nd half -- mostly trap plays or with the fullback leading the play. One thing that really killed the offense was all the penalties at crucial times (i.e. false starts, etc.) THAT has to change if the O is going to produce like it should.

[auburn_eagle34 0]

The penalties were huge. I also thought that when we ran the ball, we were pretty effective. We were just down the whole game and Borges leans a little more to calling pass plays so the backs didn't get the touches they should.

[auburn_eagle34 0]

Also, as bad as it was, I'm not too worried about Cox. Interceptions are something that can be fixed. It's alot better than having an offense or quarterback that can't move the ball down the field and the longest completions are 5 yard dumpoffs to the backs (i.e. our offense in 03). That was also probably the best defense we will face all year with exception to LSU. Cox showed me some good things in his first start and I will try to dwell on that rather than the bad.

[Shug2003 1]

Part of Brandon's accuracy late in the game MIGHT have been another sore arm....

[PChamp119 96]

****Brandon **** and it's that simple****

He was very accurate - it just sucks he's accurate to everyone else on the field. Apparently everyone was wearing the same color jersey

Mod Edit

Try to refrain from personal attacks...

Try "our QB Play...."

[auskull 242]

I don't think we can put this entirely on BC. Not a very good start but the supporting cast did not look much better than when Jason got his first start. GT did to us what we did to UT in the first game last year. Young QB and lots of pressure. We did not win our share of the line play. Well need to improve there and the running backs have got to break some tackles. Trey is just not big enough to carry the load. I look for us to improve and Cox will be okay with time. He's the best we have and I think will be good enough as the team improves.

[Tigermike 3,840]

A rough first start- 

Not the game I wanted, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel on Gibbs, Cox or this team.

178208[/snapback]

Ditto's

I don't think we can put this entirely on BC.

I look for us to improve and Cox will be okay with time. He's the best we have and I think will be good enough as the team improves.

178257[/snapback]

Ditto's, again.

[quietfan 233]

If you had told me before the game that Brandon was going to be 22 of 44 for 342 yards, I would have been sure we were going to have a very impressive win. If you had told me Brandon was going to throw 4 interceptions and lose a fumble, I would have been sure we were going to lose. He showed me enough to feel good about his future success, but I'm glad we have a few softer opponents coming up in the next three weeks.

Then there are a couple of things he couldn't help:

I can't believe we only rushed for 50 yards! Blame Borges for calling the plays, the O-line for not opening holes, or our running backs for not breaking tackles nor falling forward, but that kind of rushing game is not going to win games regardless of the QB performance. Cox would have done much better with a little help from a running game to take some pressure off of him.

Brandon also never got the protection I thought he would have. I didn't think our O-line would be so porous protecting thehim, and Tre just doesn't have the size to block a rushing defensive end the way the meater Ronnie Brown or Carnell Williams could.

[And a message to Brandon and the rest of the team: I'm still in your corner, don't let the naysayers get you down. I'm sure you're being just as hard on yourself as some of the bitter fans are, but put it behind you. Just do what you know you need to do, fix the problems, and move forward--I'm sure you will.]

[autigeremt 7,260]

WAR DAMN EAGLE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

A long season ahead and a lot to prove. We ALL knew that another 13-0 season was highly unlikely. And I can still see us as a 9-2 or 8-3 with a chance at a nice bowl game. It's early, and the season is 1 game old!!! Take away two costly turnovers and we come out with a close, hard fought win. Take away five turnovers, and everyone in the nation see's us at 1-0 and still on a roll from last year.

Take nothing away from GT! They seem to start out strong every year. And fizzle at the end. It would be nice to have another shot at them later in the year.

WAR EAGLE!

[tiger88 934]

I knew techs d. was good and that had me a little worried.

Cox looked like you would expect a new starter to look against a good d like that. If he can improve his reads and decision making a little we will be in fine shape with him.

[HomanAU 0]

Do you guys remember when JC was always scared to throw the ball down feild and could never get rid of the ball? Then CAB came and preached dont be afraid to make a mistake throwing difficult pass. Well i thought BC looked pretty good besides 1 or 2 passes but the problem was he threw 44 times. The problem was Tre and the O-line couldnt give any help and penalties. I dont think you can expect a Auburn Football team to win a game with a Qbs 1st start against a good D and throw 44 times.

Oh ya and the D didnt tackle well and our D was on the feild the whole game.

Lets start of the SEC good with win over

[aubigblue 21]

I wasn't dissappointed in BC.

I thought he should have taken

a deeper drop back.

I didn't like all the home run

balls that were thrown.

[jumbo 0]

Cox has a rocket for an arm there is no doubt about that but to throw 4 interceptions and fumble once, he put the defense in a bad position. That along with a running game that was poor at best was hard to watch at times!!!! Auburn has to find a running game to take off some of the pressure that is placed on Cox.