I was brought back down to earth last night after watching the AU/NW game.

[au03cobrafan 0]

I saw a lot of things that made me happy and a lot of things of concern.

I realized that Chris Todd was quite amazing that game making some big 3rd down plays and that Cam or the QB that eventually starts will have some big shoes to fill.  I also realized as good as Malzahns offense is at times it's not unstoppable.

As far as the defense goes I'm concerned because of how easily it gets picked apart as times and how badly our CBs got beat on deep corner routes.  At other times I was impressed as to how well the defensive line pressured the Northwestern QB and then other times they did nothing.

Overall I see lots of hope for the defense and I see an offense that's explosive yet very stoppable at times.  I'm hoping both will overcome my expectations this year and be world beaters!

WDE!

[bigbird 60,963]

just keep in mind that secondary was mostly 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string players.

[walker77 0]

New year = a lot of new faces...new depth...and probably most importantly, new team personality & chemistry...

It is unreasonable to expect this team (or any team for that matter) will be the same as the prior year...

We will be bigger, stronger, quicker, & faster @ every position in the 2-deep with this year's team...

We'll just have to wait and see how the intangibles & breaks fall to really know how this will play out...

But, I am encouraged personally by seeing the direction & mo of the program 

[alexava 6,976]

i know our defense was awful but it seems like they were good for 2 1/2 qtrs then a couple big plays then the wheels fell off.

[AUFan1 0]

I saw a lot of things that made me happy and a lot of things concerned.

I realized that Chris Todd was quite amazing that game making some big 3rd down plays and that Cam or the QB that eventually starts will have some big shoes to fill.  I also realized as good as Malzahns offense is at times it's not unstoppable.

As far as the defense goes I'm concerned because of how easily it gets picked apart as times and how badly our CBs got beat on deep corner routes.  At other times I was impressed as to how well the defensive line pressured the Northwestern QB and then other times they did nothing.

Overall I see lots of hope for the defense and I see an offense that's explosive yet very stoppable at times.  I'm hoping both will overcome my expectations this year and be world beaters!

WDE!

If anything, that game should give you hope. We had 3 chances to win that game. When it came down to 4th and goal inside our 5, our battered, depleted defense finally was able to reach down and stop a team with all of the momentum...I think that experience will pay off big time this year. After all the blown leads and tough losses last year, I think the defense finally made it over the hump on that last stop.

[guerra aguila 0]

just keep in mind that secondary was mostly 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string players.

exactly bird... With Etheridge, Savage and McNiel returning to the line up to help out the younger guys... Thorpe and Washington are poised for big seasons.

No concern there for me. Just my two cents.

[PapaWill 0]

Develop the depth and let's see where fresh legs take us in the later stages of games and the season......these guys were getting beat on like yard dogs most of the season and it catches up to you eventually.  Coach C is right on the money........hopefully the players don't get over confident too soon!  MSU, S. Carolina and Clemson are all formidable foes.

Am excited and very positive........

[RockyMtnTiger 0]

No cause for concern in my mind. What I saw was the beginning of a team coming together under adverse conditions. Some players playing the whole game without a rest, etc. Our defense was not able to employ any type of aggression or blitzes which allows a qb too much time to pick a part a D backfield (we have some needed depth in the LB corp and some talented freshman who will provide much needed relief, thus enabling Roof to blitz and rush heavily into the backfield). However, our boys showed strength and courage when it counted and it was our DB who stopped the TD on the last play for NW.

I believe that game provided a jumping point for those returning this year and infused confidence amongst the leaders of the team which is now benefitting the 2010 team. You only need to read or listen to the comments being made by our seniors and other returning players to feel the cohesion and high expectations they have for this coming year.

Our D will be much improved and will definitely be present in the 3rd and 4th quarters of the game. Our O will be more consistent throughout the game which will decrease the time our D is spending on the field. No I am not concerned at all what we saw last year was a team rebuilding under new coaches, system with limited depth and some injuries. I am stoked for the games to begin and feel confident about what kind of team we will be fielding in 2010. War Eagle!!!!

[bmsims8point 0]

dont forget it was in the rain so our speed was not a factor :wareagle: :wareagle: :zapbama:

[bootskii 264]

I am concerned also but when you have players that never come out on defense the entire game that can take its toll after awhile. As far as the offense goes it was the first year. Trying to learn an offense as complicated as Gus's is going to take awhile. Auburn was the only SEC school to get all their coaches back this year so that should say something to how committed these coaches are to this team. With the added freshmen that can have an immediate impact and the players becoming more comfortable with the offense this has given me hope that we will have a better outing this year.

[kevon67 2,368]

just keep in mind that secondary was mostly 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string players.

^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^

Todd did have a nice arm, I had almost forgot how effective his pump fake could be.

[AUBiker77 9]

I have re-watched the Northwestern game, and then yesterday morning re-watched the Ole Miss game. In the Ole Miss game, I saw the type of defensive effort overall that I believe we will see this year with the added depth. I also saw effort and heart in the bowl game facing a very good Northwestern quarterback.

I believe both defensively and offensively the effort this year will be more consistent due to more familiarity with the system, the talent level across the board is higher, and these players seem hungry.  It will be fun to watch this team grow and compete!  Can't wait for September 4th!

[1TexasTiger 55]

The cornerback play is directly related to the safety play in our 4-3 defense. We played a lot of man zone with the safeties over the top. Many times our Safeties were out of place leaving our corners on an island which is a win for the offense in most cases. Bates although a good player was out of position many times at safety and this I believe was a primary reason for him being moved because although he would have developed into an outstanding safety he more than likely would not have beat out the veterans that were returning. If our vets can return to form then watch the turnovers mount.   

[Bimmer05 0]

I think defensively anything after halftime last year should be disregarded if it's pertaining to this year. Whether it's good or bad, we should take cognizance of the fact our defense was depleted. I know we didn't just go out and annihilate everyone until our defense dissipated. But for a majority of last year I saw a fatigued defense late in games, because it was the only choice. I know I'm optimistic, but I know 3 games that some fresh legs might have changed the outcome. As of right now, I can honestly say Chizik hasn't done one thing that worried me. I don't see why the team shouldn't exceed expectations again.  

[kbrak59 0]

The cornerback play is directly related to the safety play in our 4-3 defense. We played a lot of man zone with the safeties over the top. Many times our Safeties were out of place leaving our corners on an island which is a win for the offense in most cases. Bates although a good player was out of position many times at safety and this I believe was a primary reason for him being moved because although he would have developed into an outstanding safety he more than likely would not have beat out the veterans that were returning. If our vets can return to form then watch the turnovers mount.   

Well put Sir!! Very well put!! this is 100% correct!  Our guys coming off injury's will step up and play very physical and smart football!  We played a northwestern that beat Wisconsin! They might have been one of the best passing teams that we will face in the upcoming season!  I am proud that our guys stoped them! that tells me that if we can just get our run deffense going then we will be just fine!

[TerritorialTigers 0]

Chizik and the coordinators have previously stated the team have not arrived but are making progress.  One thing they have all agreed upon and iterated is being CONSISTENT!!!  The coaches knew the team were inconsistent in 2009 and they are trying to correct the problem. If you read any articles from Saturday's practice take notice on how Chizik recognized the team's intensity and energy was down from previous practices.  He mentions he wants the team to have the same level of play as the previous practices.  I trust Chizik will make the appropriate decisions to get AU back to being consistent.  War Eagle Fam we are going to be in for a thrill this year!!!  

[1TexasTiger 55]

The cornerback play is directly related to the safety play in our 4-3 defense. We played a lot of man zone with the safeties over the top. Many times our Safeties were out of place leaving our corners on an island which is a win for the offense in most cases. Bates although a good player was out of position many times at safety and this I believe was a primary reason for him being moved because although he would have developed into an outstanding safety he more than likely would not have beat out the veterans that were returning. If our vets can return to form then watch the turnovers mount.   

Well put Sir!! Very well put!! this is 100% correct!  Our guys coming off injury's will step up and play very physical and smart football!  We played a northwestern that beat Wisconsin! They might have been one of the best passing teams that we will face in the upcoming season!  I am proud that our guys stoped them! that tells me that if we can just get our run deffense going then we will be just fine!

Thanks, this, I believe is the part of our team with the biggest question marks. Injuries heal but the mind remembers. I tore my ACL and menicus my senior season of high school and could never play the game the same. My leg healed and with the constant rehab became stronger then the other; however, it was the mental block that helded me back. I hope our group can move past this portion where I didn't and return to greatness. This will help our LB and DB depth tremendously.  

[dke 0]

I've got to stand up for the defense. They had a bad hand, and they played it extremely well, and despite the terrible depth problems, they got better as the year went on. If they'd had one backup linebacker who could sub 1/3 for each of the starters, one more defensive back, and one more interior defensive lineman, they would have been an amazing iron man team.  They were one of the toughest bunch of guys we ever had there, God bless them.

[AU Counsel 64]

Want to be encouraged? Watch the video of the Bama game and check out our defense there....

That being said, Thorpe got abused all year.  Burned repeatedly.  He is a big tall and fast corner, but had much to learn last year.  Bates was a problem in coverage.  I think he is overvalued on these boards as a safety.  Fans love him because he can tackle, and boy can he hit. Sort of reminds me of Junior Rosegreen.  He could become a great safety...again, he was playing as a freshman.  Demond played well.  And he will have to be a lights out cover guy for us this year. Thorpe has the physical tools to be dominant.  We'll see how much he has learned this year.  Our D-line will have a full extra layer of depth this year, and the same goes for the linebackers. The pass rush should be much more effective. 

Overall, I'm encouraged.  The potential of our offense to improve rests in large part on how our defense improves.  But I'm feeling like this year may be special...

[The Duke 0]

One more thing to think about is that we had a real hard time getting pressure on the QB last season. We rarely had them running for their lives if ya know what I mean. I think that will change this year. Just a gut feeling.

[1TexasTiger 55]

Another thing is we barely did more than the base 4-3. Being the second year under Roof we should see a lot more comfort in the scheme he runs which me a heck of a lot more blitzes and some multiple defensive looks. We will confuse QB's when they think they are looking at a 4-3 and realize it was a 4-2-5 after the pick six.

[cmccullough 0]

One of the things that I haven't seen mentioned here is the play of the special teams and the effect that this will have on field position and overall team play.  Last year was disastrous.  According to many of our coaches, we played an awful lot of walk-ons.  Don't get me wrong, I love what walk-ons mean to this team.  But the talent level was significantly below the talent level of the special teams of our opponents.

I believe we will be much improved this year and that can do nothing but have a very positive impact on the team.

[au03cobrafan 0]

Chizik and the coordinators have previously stated the team have not arrived but are making progress.  One thing they have all agreed upon and iterated is being CONSISTENT!!!  The coaches knew the team were inconsistent in 2009 and they are trying to correct the problem. If you read any articles from Saturday's practice take notice on how Chizik recognized the team's intensity and energy was down from previous practices.  He mentions he wants the team to have the same level of play as the previous practices.  I trust Chizik will make the appropriate decisions to get AU back to being consistent.  War Eagle Fam we are going to be in for a thrill this year!!!  

Yes I believe consistency is going to be a key on both sides of the ball this year especially if the defense can improve a lot and stay consistent.  I think the offense is going to be amazing but not unstoppable of course and that's when the defense is going to need to step it up.

[LakeBum 187]

I've got to stand up for the defense. They had a bad hand, and they played it extremely well, and despite the terrible depth problems, they got better as the year went on. If they'd had one backup linebacker who could sub 1/3 for each of the starters, one more defensive back, and one more interior defensive lineman, they would have been an amazing iron man team.  They were one of the toughest bunch of guys we ever had there, God bless them.

I agree with you completely!

WDE!

[Rednilla 5,449]

I saw a lot of things that made me happy and a lot of things of concern.

I realized that Chris Todd was quite amazing that game making some big 3rd down plays and that Cam or the QB that eventually starts will have some big shoes to fill.  I also realized as good as Malzahns offense is at times it's not unstoppable.

As far as the defense goes I'm concerned because of how easily it gets picked apart as times and how badly our CBs got beat on deep corner routes.  At other times I was impressed as to how well the defensive line pressured the Northwestern QB and then other times they did nothing.

Overall I see lots of hope for the defense and I see an offense that's explosive yet very stoppable at times.  I'm hoping both will overcome my expectations this year and be world beaters!

WDE!

Todd did a great job, all things considered, yeah, but I suspect there will be less third and longs for the offense this year, because Newton has the ability to pull it and run if the pass isn't there, not to mention that he's harder to sack both because of his speed and his size.

Defensively, having more than 4 scholarship linebackers will be HUGE for Roof, because he loves to blitz, but you can't blitz too much when there's no depth because it tires the starters. The DL can't be expected to get pressure every down, and without pressure, it's hard to really blame the corners for getting beat. It is extremely hard to stay on a receiver when called to do so for more than six seconds.

I think we'll be fine. Will we be perfect? No.

But I still see the West coming down to the Iron Bowl...and if that's the case, anything can happen!