The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

[EngDawg]

The Good:
First and foremost, it felt great to get the W tonight. We won because Moorhead did what we wanted and adapted his scheme a bit. Tonight was much more reminiscent of what we saw last year. Much less RPOs and much more classic read options and designed runs. It’s very possitive that Moorehead was willing to do this.

The defense also really stepped up tonight and bailed us out in some tight situations. Well done to them.

The Bad:
The offense still struggled. We tried to run more of a power option, but still insisted on running it from 4 wide and 5 wide sets. I don’t understand why we do this on 3rd/4th and short. Hopefully, we will continue to improve our scheme and add more power sets as time goes by.

We also had to settle for way too many field goals. We have to do something to improve our redzone efficiency.

The Ugly:
The students chanting “We want Keyton.” We really don’t need that.

There were many people who left after we scored that last touchdown. I get wanting to beat traffic, but the game was still in doubt at that point. Besides that, the team deserved you to stick around for the end of this one.

I am a little upset we wasted our shot to win the first two conference games with the scheme we ran.

Overall:

A MUCH needed win against the No. 8 ranked team in the land is always a good night. We improved a lot offensively, but still have a lot to improve on. I feel better about the direction of the program, but the jury is still out.

 

[shotgunDawg]

I mean Auburn has an unbelievable defense.

I get we all want to see the offense put up big points, but I'm not sure, even under the best of circumstances, that that was was in the cards vs Auburn.

 

[EngDawg]

I mean Auburn has an unbelievable defense.

I get we all want to see the offense put up big points, but I'm not sure, even under the best of circumstances, that that was was in the cards vs Auburn.

Fair enough, I honestly haven’t watched much of their games

 

[Bulldogg31]

23 is the most points scored on Auburn this year.

LSU scored 22, including a 71-yard TD pass and a 52-yard FG.

We’re the first team to drive it up and down the field on Auburn and we held the ball almost 3 full quarters.

 

[MSUDC11]

I mean Auburn has an unbelievable defense.

I get we all want to see the offense put up big points, but I'm not sure, even under the best of circumstances, that that was was in the cards vs Auburn.

I second this. Thought we had a great game offensively given the circumstances. Auburn was only giving up 80 yards a game on the ground and we had almost 400. And we ran it in some pretty creative ways.

No we can’t pass but Nick is who he is. Tonight was a fantastic example of making the most out of your limitations. Makes me feel a lot better about what we have in Moorhead as a coach.

 

[Dr. Funke.sixpack]

This scheme was probably drawn up late Saturday night. I thought it was great. The set unclogged the middle most of the night. The best part is the way we used the motion will set up a deeper scheme as the season goes on.

He he may be stubborn but the yankee can scheme an offense.

 

[BossDawg78]

The ONLY thing that bothers me about tonight was the fact that had Auburn executed a couple of plays on offense as well as held on to the ball right at the goal line, they probably beat us. Knowing they kinda beat themselves is a little discouraging in a way, but I'll take it. This should get the bad taste out of everybody's mouth and in a way it feels like a fresh start. All in all it was encouraging to see us adapt and move the ball, especially considering it was Auburn.

 

[aerodawg.sixpack]

Meh I’m not really any more excited going forward than I was before the game. Still had the same exact problems of the last two games except auburn just wasn’t stopping us as well in the running game. Offensive line played somewhat better but they had several breakdowns and the auburn guy just didn’t make the play. I think this puts us at 7 wins max unless our passing game gets drastically better. I just don’t see that happening with Fitz inaccuracy.

 

[Dr. Funke.sixpack]

Wut.

 

[WutheringDawg]

Nearly at a loss for words here. We just dropped 300+ on the ground against the number 8 rush defense in the nation. Auburn had allowed 464 yards through five games. We almost doubled that tonight. Care to elaborate on the “same exact problems of the last two games” that you saw? Was how we continued to not commit to the run? Or was the issue that we continued to not get Hill the ball?

Maybe you’d rather we throw more to get nick comfortable through the air. That ought to do it.

 

[DocHolliday.sixpack]

“Same exact problems of last 2 games”? Wrong

Meh I’m not really any more excited going forward than I was before the game. Still had the same exact problems of the last two games except auburn just wasn’t stopping us as well in the running game. Offensive line played somewhat better but they had several breakdowns and the auburn guy just didn’t make the play. I think this puts us at 7 wins max unless our passing game gets drastically better. I just don’t see that happening with Fitz inaccuracy.

We had the ball for almost 42 minutes . Forty..two
We had 349 rushing yards against one of the best rushing Ds
We scored more points on them than they’ve allowed all year.

Sooooo yeah. That’s more than a “guy not making a play”. We made some progress tonight.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

Do you play a mean pinball?

 

[Seinfeld]

I agree. While it’s still both alarming and irritating that it took Moorhead this long to realize what he needed to do on offense, I am at least glad to see that he is capable of adjustments.

Never in a million years would I have expected a 3 to 1 run/pass ratio in this game, but something does seem to have clicked for him

 

[WhiteShepherd07]

Looked a lot more reminiscent of the 2012 team with Chris Relf at qb. Can’t throw worth a damn but we will dare you to stop our run.

 

[Coledawg]

Meh I’m not really any more excited going forward than I was before the game. Still had the same exact problems of the last two games except auburn just wasn’t stopping us as well in the running game. Offensive line played somewhat better but they had several breakdowns and the auburn guy just didn’t make the play. I think this puts us at 7 wins max unless our passing game gets drastically better. I just don’t see that happening with Fitz inaccuracy.

Looks like it takes a lot to get you and all the other football experts excited. When ya’ll achieve that state in the future, don’t piss yourselves - so many “knowledgeable fans” on this board.

 

[Shamoan]

Post game presser: "I remembered to take my coaching pills after missing two weeks straight"-Moorhead

 

[Captain Ron]

And what was up with all the freaking penalties? We should have fixed that by now*****

 

[patdog]

Yes. Glad Moorhead realizes now what he has. Great game plan last night both offensively and defensively. Took advantage of our strengths and didn't expose our weaknesses.

 

[tcdog70]

Meh I’m not really any more excited going forward than I was before the game. Still had the same exact problems of the last two games except auburn just wasn’t stopping us as well in the running game. Offensive line played somewhat better but they had several breakdowns and the auburn guy just didn’t make the play. I think this puts us at 7 wins max unless our passing game gets drastically better. I just don’t see that happening with Fitz inaccuracy.

Auburn just wasn't stopping us as well----no **** Sherlock. Yep Ol was "somewhat better". I'll say we stuffed it down their all world defense's throat. Jenkins made Brown look like Casper the ghost. Our defense will give us a chance from here on out. So my advice is try and get excited.

 

[dawgstudent]

I hate to say it and I wish I was opposite but I agree with you. I should be more excited than I am. I already got yelled at in a group message.

 

[fishwater99]

Meh I’m not really any more excited going forward than I was before the game. Still had the same exact problems of the last two games except auburn just wasn’t stopping us as well in the running game. Offensive line played somewhat better but they had several breakdowns and the auburn guy just didn’t make the play. I think this puts us at 7 wins max unless our passing game gets drastically better. I just don’t see that happening with Fitz inaccuracy.

We win 8 or 9

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I hate to say it and I wish I was opposite but I agree with you. I should be more excited than I am. I already got yelled at in a group message.

View attachment 11527

I can understand that because of the previous two games. But you really should cheer up. There is only one game down this stretch we don't have at least a 50-50 chance of winning... Even LSU. That was one of the best defenses in the country last night and OUR DEFENSE did a pretty damned good job.

Cheer up dude. A couple of more wins will help turn that frown upside down.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

We win 8 or 9

Yep and that ain't bad in the SEC, especially after those two road games.

 

[tired]

The ONLY thing that bothers me about tonight was the fact that had Auburn executed a couple of plays on offense as well as held on to the ball right at the goal line, they probably beat us. Knowing they kinda beat themselves is a little discouraging in a way, but I'll take it. This should get the bad taste out of everybody's mouth and in a way it feels like a fresh start. All in all it was encouraging to see us adapt and move the ball, especially considering it was Auburn.

I've been as hard on Moorehead as any1, but had we lost, it wouldn't have been on him. Our defense had a lot to say as to why AU "beat themselves". The guy didn't just drop the ball at the goal line, Smitherman made a play. AU's D is legit and Fitz & co ran all over them.

 

[KingCharlesSpaniel]

Moorhead screwed up by not making the adjustments after the UK game, but the Auburn game plan was genius. If you had tried to tell me beforehand that it would be possible to rip off 350 yards on the ground against a great defense without having a credible passing threat to keep them honest, I would have laughed in your face. I would probably have still been laughing right up until half-time last night. I am still amazed. If opposing DCs cannot use the film to shut down this new wrinkle in our running game, we win 9 games this year. And it will be amazing to watch. Here's hoping.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Post game presser: "I remembered to take my coaching pills after missing two weeks straight"-Moorhead

To be fair to Coach Joe, he had to figure out that not only is Nick NOT a pocket passer, but our receivers still have stone hands this deep into the season... he didn't have a choice really.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Moorhead screwed up by not making the adjustments after the UK game, but the Auburn game plan was genius. If you had tried to tell me beforehand that it would be possible to rip off 350 yards on the ground against a great defense without having a credible passing threat to keep them honest, I would have laughed in your face. I would probably have still been laughing right up until half-time last night. I am still amazed. If opposing DCs cannot use the film to shut down this new wrinkle in our running game, we win 9 games this year. And it will be amazing to watch. Here's hoping.

You have to remember there are exactly THREE real practices between games. There’s only so much “fixing” you can do in the few hours you get with the players between games.

I’d imagine it went like this...

After Kentucky: “I think the offense is ok, but with 180 yards in penalties it’s kinda hard to tell.”

After Florida: “Crap! It’s the offense! Better get that worked out”

 

[aerodawg.sixpack]

I don’t mean it as a hater, just a realist. We have no passing game whatsoever. I am glad we had a good game running the ball but there were several misplays by their guys who blew through our offensive line at key times.

I want our team to do great things and was very hopeful before the Kentucky game about our season. Seeing that ineptitude drained me. Then the exact same thing the next week against Florida. I’m happy we beat and were able to run on Auburn but I just don’t see sustained success with that against the rest of the schedule.

I will very happily eat crow if they prove me wrong and absolutely hope that I do.

 

[MSUCE99]

I don’t mean it as a hater, just a realist. We have no passing game whatsoever. I am glad we had a good game running the ball but there were several misplays by their guys who blew through our offensive line at key times.

I want our team to do great things and was very hopeful before the Kentucky game about our season. Seeing that ineptitude drained me. Then the exact same thing the next week against Florida. I’m happy we beat and were able to run on Auburn but I just don’t see sustained success with that against the rest of the schedule.

I will very happily eat crow if they prove me wrong and absolutely hope that I do.

Please explain the part in bold. I thought we had pretty good success last year doing exactly that, with the same personnel. We got 9 wins last year and were in no way anything other than a one-dimensional running team.

 

[tcdog70]

I don’t mean it as a hater, just a realist. We have no passing game whatsoever. I am glad we had a good game running the ball but there were several misplays by their guys who blew through our offensive line at key times.

I want our team to do great things and was very hopeful before the Kentucky game about our season. Seeing that ineptitude drained me. Then the exact same thing the next week against Florida. I’m happy we beat and were able to run on Auburn but I just don’t see sustained success with that against the rest of the schedule.

I will very happily eat crow if they prove me wrong and absolutely hope that I do.

Dude , we just played 3 of the best defenses in the SEC (thus the Nation). We will be able to run the Ball. Our OL are motor-graders, not so much on Pass Pro---so Run the ball and let our defense eat.. we will be OK.

 

[aerodawg.sixpack]

It’s pretty simple and only requires a little common sense. There are two sides to the equation on a good running performance. The offense playing well and the defense not playing well. I believe there was a little more of their defense having a bad performance involved that I don’t expect to be able to exploit in every game going forward. I don’t understand why this is an outlandish thought.

 

[SLUdog]

Agreed. Our O did well.

The early INT that led to a Aub FG and a few missed passes/drops were only problems. O put us in position to put the game away but a FG was blocked, then did put the game away with a TD.

 

[MSUCE99]

It’s pretty simple and only requires a little common sense. There are two sides to the equation on a good running performance. The offense playing well and the defense not playing well. I believe there was a little more of their defense having a bad performance involved that I don’t expect to be able to exploit in every game going forward. I don’t understand why this is an outlandish thought.

So did everybody we beat have a bad defensive performance against us last year then?

Sometimes, you're just better at running the ball than the other team is at stopping you.

 

[Moe Cabelle]

This is true. KY was not our night, primarily due to all the penalties. Even so, I think it was a late game collaspe both mentally and physically that did us in.

Florida - despite it all, catch a pass and a pick 6 and we stand a good chance to win that game.

Hate that we lost both because I think we're better than them... but we might not have fully appreciated the need to emphasize run if we had'nt lost to Fl. So there's that.

 

[Moe Cabelle]

So true. That was a legit fumble caused by defensive hustle. I do get pissed at this attitude by some of our own. When we do it, it's ineptitude, but if they do it... "we got lucky."

Yeah, the QB missed the open reciever on the trick play but we did have somone bearing down on him to force him to chuck it early. But hey - if we should have lost cause Auburn broke down and didn't make plays, I guess we can chalk Florida up as a win cause we damn sure gave that one away. Auburn didn't beat themselves. Geez.

 

[aerodawg.sixpack]

Nope. You are right. Sometimes we are just better at running the ball. Sometimes we are not. Two sides of the same coin. I’m just looking from the perspective of everything I’ve seen so far. I’m not sure why that bothers anyone. I’m not saying this is wrong or this is right. I’m saying it’s going to take more than one game to get me as excited as I was before the game in the stands at Kentucky.

If we run all over LSU again, that would be an acceptable sample size for me to get excited about the rest of the schedule minus Alabama. I really hope we do but realistically I don’t expect that to happen.

 

[Shamoan]

Many of those penalties are play design penalties. False starts from a tackle trying to get a jump on a de whipping his *** all night on predictable passing down followed by the subsequent holding due to said *** whippings in pass pro.

 

[lanceharbor7]

This is a good confidence boost for the team. As defenses scheme against the run heavy offense, that "should" open up passing opportunities and trick play opportunities. Whether the plays are executed is another story. I'm bullish on this offense going forward. My only gripe would be Fitz running too much. I wish he would defer to the RB more often, especially on the short yardage plays.