WHO IS THE MAN AT THE QB POSITION IS WEEKEND?

does either team really have an edge...
McCarron thrives in big games
Murray has the bigger arm

       Some people like Chevys and others like Fords. Sometimes picking what or who is best is just a matter of preference.  I think the Aaron Murray vs. A.J. McCarron match-up falls that way for the big SEC Championship game. You ask Georgia fans who the top Dawg is and they'll say Murray. Ask Crimson fans who is the 5,000 lb. Elephant in the Geogia Dome and you'll always hear McCarron. I don't know if it is even possible for an Alabama fan such as myself can honestly make a comparison. With that caveat being stated upfront I'll give it a shot.  First, both are great quarterbacks. Physical ability might fall slightly to Murray. Making the best decisions falls to McCarron.

 

      Murray is a make or break sort of guy. In his biggest 10 games of his career he has won only twice. In McCarron's biggest 10 games of his career he has lost only twice. Of course, we can't put all the winning or losing just on the quarterback. Support cast gets a significant part of what happens. That is where I'm a little confused about Georgia. They continue to have these killer recruiting classes. So does Alabama, but it seems to me that the Tide develops players to a higher level. McCarron is less likely to take big risks or make overt mistakes. He's not perfect, but he is perfect for his offense. Both have big arms. Murray's arm is so strong he will occasionally throw into some places he shouldn't McCarron tends to overthrow some long balls. 

 

        Neither is going to be confused with being a dual threat quarterback. Running on the part of each is never designed (it seems) and is out of necessity. McCarron will rarely hang on to the ball too long, and will throw one in row 20 if need be. Murray is more high risk high reward in his approach. A.J. is more like a surgeon in his approach. He picks his moments and rarely uses bad judgment. I'm not saying that Murray has bad judgement but he does have a high opinion of his ability to make the hard throws. McCarron can also make the hard throws when he has to do so. He rarely has to do so. In the LSU game he pulled himself together and made three great throws to Kevin Norwood. The screen pass to Yeldon killed the Tigers, but the three proceeding throws set the stage. I watched a re-run of the Georgia-Florida game. Murray was horrid in the first half, but he pulled himself together and had a great second half. So both quarterbacks are capable of bringing a team back.

 

        In all honesty, I don't see much that separates the pair. The real question is what happens if both teams find out they can't

run the ball. I think Bama will be able to run effectively but for the sake of argument let's say neither will be able to do so. How can pass the ball the ball to win?  Both can. Which one will tend to make stand up under pressure? I think that's McCarron. I think Murray is a slightly better overall quarterback. So the real question is not who is the best quarterback from a physical standpoint, but rather who is the man who will bring home the win. In my book that is McCarron by a small margin. Call them even, but the supporting cast for McCarron might be better. Murray can seal himself off from the media, but I have to wonder that if you can't stand the pressure of the big stage, can anyone get a standing ovation when the show is over? We'll see on Saturday. I've already made my pick.

So how did Georgia get that lucky?

Schedule for the Dogs is strange...

     I have no idea how the SEC decides who plays who in the SEC. From all appearances they take a bunch of idiots and load them up on cheap liquor before they draw up the games. Whatever happens needs some serious revision. Once again Georgia dodged Alabama and LSU. The Dawgs also didn't have to play Mississippi State or Texas A&M. In other words the Dawgs missed the best four teams in the SEC West. They did play Ole Miss who was pretty good for a .500 team, and Auburn who was worse than their 3-9 record indicates. If Georgia had to play in the SEC West my bet is they lose a minimum of three games. I think Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M will probably have beaten the Dawgs. They Dawgs may not have beaten Mississippi State in Starkville.

Two sets of rules in play here...

      My point is that all divisions champions are not created equal. I am not suggesting that the Georgia Bulldogs road to their division championship was easier. I'm just point blank saying it was so easy it was embarrassing. Georgia had three "tough" games to win their division. They beat a sorry Florida team that may be the worst ten win team in college football history if you don't count Notre Dame. They got sent packing back to Athens by a pretty good South Carolina team by four touchdowns. The beat Vandy 48-3. I'm more impressed with their win over Vandy than Florida. Florida had more miraculous escapes from defeat than an oiled up Harry Houdini. I'm not saying that Georgia has no chance to beat Alabama. They might be able to do so. I just don't think Georgia played the strength of schedule that Alabama or LSU played. Whether that makes a difference may not matter. I bet it will. I'm betting that Georgia hasn't played a team like Alabama. Georgia has the reputation of folding in the big games. Aaron Murray has won one out of nine games against ranked teams. Anything came happen on a given night. Mostly that doesn't happen.

      My main question here is how can the SEC allow Georgia to skip Bama and LSU every season. I know they were supposed to play Alabama this season, but when Missouri and TAM got into the SEC things changed. Instead, the Bulldogs got Ole Miss at home. I understand the importance of the Auburn-Georgia game. No need to touch that historic rivalry. Ole Miss for LSU or Alabama?  Who's minding the store in the SEC headquarters?  Certainly, no one who has a brain or a sense of fairness. So here's what we have. We have one team from the West who played teams that won 41 games. Georgia, but comparison played teams that won 41 games as well.  That seems fair. But Georgia played two teams that didn't win an SEC game (Auburn and Kentucky). They played one team team that won only one SEC game (Tennessee). Missouri won 2 SEC games. That's not a schedule, those are practice games that count were as SEC games.
    

          Ending up the blog today I want to add that three of the coaches that coached teams against Georgia are no longer employed today. Chizik, Dooley, and Joker Phillips. All great guys, but their failure on the field got them axed. Two of them, Chizik and Dooley coached at schools were winning was expected. Those schools had won national championships in football.  So the Dawgs, through the luck of the draw, played the bottom of barrel this season. That may not be the fault of the Georgia Bulldogs. In fairness to them they also played and whipped a decent Vandy team. Talk about a world turned upside down. The reason I think Alabama will beat Georgia is that Alabama has had a much harder schedule.


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Bama pulls redshirt off of Chris Black?

Nick Saban considers the status of Chris Black...

Does Bama need Chris to better the odds of beating the 'Dawgs?

     In the wake of Kenny Bell breaking his leg in the Auburn game the discussion of what to do in his absence has been constant. Most of the talk has been whether Chris Black will play the last two games or whether he stays redshirted. Saban added to the fervor of the discussion by saying that Black had been cleared medically to play if needed. I'd like to stress the "if needed" part of his statement. On Monday Chris was taking snaps with the first group and his black no touch jersey was absent. Hmm... That sure sounds like he will play. The  question in my mind is why? There are three schools of thought.

1. Bama wants to make sure their best players are on the field against Georgia and hopefully Notre Dame. Black was on a head on collision for first team status before he injured his shoulder before the first game. This included another freshman, Amari Cooper. If Black is better than Cooper I have to see it first hand. It seems hard to believe that a freshman who has been hurt and hasn't seen any game time could come into the lineup and have a real impact.

2. The second school of thought is that Bama can make it without Black. We all remember how Kevin Norwood stepped up in the National Championship game. The Tide has a lot of talented receivers. They have now lost three good ones. So how deep is the recieiving corp  in reality. It would be a shame to waste a player for essentially one and hopefully two games. If Georgia beats Alabama with Black on the field that is a double whammy.

3. The third and by far the most important school of thought is what does Nick Saban think?  He's weighed all the options and has made a decision by now. It is certainly possible  that Black wouldn't be at Alabama past his junior year if he is as good as advertised.  I bet if you ask Black he wants to play. That will not play a role in Saban's decsion.

     One thing seems pretty certain - Saban isn't hinting he might use Black to cause Georgia to have to prepare for the player. No one knows how good he is. I suppose you could  argue that because no one has seen him play that makes him an unknown.  With Cooper and Black in the lineup the Tide would have speed to burn so to speak.  I'll just throw this in as my own opinion - Christian Jones is a pretty darn good player. How much better does Black need to be to break into that starting line up. Cooper, Jones, and Norwood are pretty intimidating.  In the photo by this paragraph you can clearly see that Black is without the no contact/injury status jersey. All this makes me believe he may play. Surely, the wisest course of action is to wait and see if he is needed.  It is entirely possible that Bell may be back by the National Championship game. The coaches understand how the surgery will effect an early return or not. A re-break is never good. Okay, here is an absolute spineless prediction. I think that Black will dress, he will be ready to play, and if needed, really needed, he will play.

I suspect the question that Saban has already answered is this:  Do we need Black to win the national championship. If Saban thinks Bama needs him,  the young man will play. Otherwise, all this has been fun to speculate over.


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How much better can it get than this?

'Bama kills Auburn and the SEC game is next...

     If you are an Alabama fan it can't get much better than right now. First, Alabama annihilates arch rival Auburn. The next day, Auburn fires their head coach and names a search committee consisting of Bo Jackson, Pat Sullivan, Jay Jacobs, and Mac Crawford. Jacobs called this group a "real committee doing real work." What did Auburn expect? A committee that does nothing? Jacobs isn't exactly standing on concrete regarding his own job. Bo Jackson is window dressing. Pat Sullivan is there to make it appear that Pat Dye has nothing to do with the search. Jacobs is required to be on the committee. Crawford is the check writer in all likelihood. He is also an astute business man. I know these men will work hard, and if Pat Dye agrees with them the Tigers have a new coach.

Bama doesn't care who Auburn names - there is a game to be played...

Murray is key to the Bulldogs

       I have no idea who Auburn might intice to become their next head coach. Personally, I don't really care. The Alabama football foundation is based upon its own history of success. There will always be a Gene Chizik or Doug Barfield to contend with if you are a Tide supporter. They come and they go. They mainly just go. So what's Alabama's take on all this? None whatsoever. Nick Saban is preparing his team for the Georgia Bulldogs. All this Auburn stuff might take up headlines until Saturday. If you are an Alabama fan the situtation at Auburn might serve as a useful diversion to lower the nervousness level that comes with a Championship Game. For Bama fans it is business as usual. Alabama has its hand full with Georgia. Mainly, it's because Bama's secondary hasn't been exactly lock down solid lately, and the Tide's pass rush has been lacking. Alabama has had two rough games this season. LSU and Texas A&M both have one thing in common. On those two given days Zach Mettenburger and Johnny Manziel were first team All-Americans.

McCarron has been on fire in the last two games...

       So the question is my mind is whether Georgia's Aaron Murray will do the same. How much of those two earlier games was the fault of Bama's offense and how much did the two quarterbacks?  Murray has the credentials to do the same. He has the highest rating of any quarterback in the NCAA at 177.1. That is out of the statistics world so to speak. A.J. McCarron is second on that list - he stands at 176.3.  In games against top 25 teams Murray stands at 72. That's the reason some pundits doubt that Murray can't win the big game. His only signature win is the win over Florida this year. McCarron didn't have his best games against LSU or TAM, but he did pull himself together and took the Tide on a game winning drive agains the Tigers and came up two yards short against the Aggies. His rating against ranked teams is 144.6. Oddly, McCarrons stats have been almost identical home or away. Murray has been much better at home than away. This is a neutral site. Normally, I'd say this was a road game because it is played in Georgia. Alabama fans will be as numerous as Bulldogs fans on game day, however. Most experts think the game will come down to Georgia's hot and cold defense against the red hot Alabama offense. Bama's first group has scored 11 TD's in 11 chances over the last two games.

IN AN INTERESTING SIDEBAR IT SEEMS THAT ALABAMA SPENT AS MUCH TIME GETTING READY FOR GEORGIA AS THEY DID FOR AUBURN. THAT'S FROM A PERSON WHO IS IN THE KNOW, THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME LAST WEEK, AND HE'S IN A PERFECT POSITION TO SEE IT HIMSELF.  

       

Chizik fired as AU Head Coach...

As Expected...

     The waiting period to the official end wasn't as long as some expected. On Saturday the Alabama Crimson Tide sent Auburn packing 49-0. On Sunday they asent Gene Chizik packing as well.  I know that Auburn only won 3 games this season.  Make no mistake Tide fans - the only job for any Auburn head football coach is beating Alabama.  The Chizik trend for doing so in the future wasn't looking that  good. The story of what happened to Gene Chizik and the roller coaster ride he took the Tigers on was astounding. From a lukewarm reception as the just named to the Head Coaching job, to the pinnacle of a national championship, to ending up as the most hated man in Auburn was quite a trip. I think that Auburn had already made the decision to let Chizik go before the Iron Bowl, but if there was any chance of his remaining it was over by the end of the first quarter. 

Who's Next for the Tigers?

     I have no idea who might be on the short list to take his place. I thought later this afternoon  I'd take a walk down to the dock where the  S.S. Ship of Fools  is sailing. I'd like to see which coaches gets on that boat. If Auburn is going to find a well known head coach they need to get Bobby Lowder and that Yeller Feller all greased up to start writing checks, really big checks. I say that tongue in cheek with no real disrespect to the Tigers. Honestly, who wants to come to compete with Alabama and Nick Saban. If I were negotiating the new coaches contract there would be an entire section entitled "Patience on the part of the fans and administration". I'd look the AD straight in the eye and tell him that he has something just short of an atomic disaster on his hands and we are talking about a decade to square things up. I'd also say it might be longer depending on what the NCAA does and how long Nick Saban coaches in West Alabama.  On thing is certain - whoever interviews for the job has the whip hand. He will be negotiating from the Cat's bird seat. And after all that is said and done he has be blessed by Pat Dye. Stay tuned to station WAUB. This is going to be a prolonged soap opera. Act one just ended with the firing of Gene Chizik. Act two is going to be a nail biter. 

     

 

Bama blasts Auburn back to the Stone Age

 All Bama...all day long
Is this Auburn the worst team in Iron Bowl History?
Bell out for SEC Championship game...

      

        The experts all said this would be a pummeling of epic proportions. When the  half-time score was 42-0  I wondered just how many points would the Tide score. Intellectually, I didn't think Alabama would score 84 points. Realistically, I thought they could. After the game was over I have no doubt this Tide team could have scored at least that many. As perfect as the Tide first team played you have to acknowledge that this season's Auburn team is the absolute worst team they've ever brought to the Iron Bowl. Horrible doesn't describe how bad the Tigers truly are. Perfect doesn't describe just how well Alabama played. The Alabama starters had the ball 7 times. They scored 7 touchdowns. I'm not sure that Auburn could score even after Alabama left the field when the game was over. Those scraps of orange and blue on the turf at Bryant-Denny is all that is left of the Auburn program right now. Two seasons ago the Auburn Tiger won a highly questionable national championship. Today, there is no question that Auburn is the worst team in the SEC. You might argue that Kentucky is worse.  But Kentucky isn't burdened with high expectations. In the near future Auburn won't have that burden either. Alabama will prepare for the SEC Championship game. Auburn will prepare for the NCAA infraction committee. Alabama will prepare for bigger and better things in the future. Auburn must hire a new head coach, find a coaching staff, try to convince their talented recruiting class that the great unknown is better than known greatness. Dee Liner has reportedly told 'Bama coaches he's seen enough at Auburn to jump sides. We'll see.

       In his post game press conference Nick Saban took a moment to thank the 9 seniors on Alabama's roster. Saban pointed out that when Barrett Jones and company came to Alabama they were not at the top of anything. These were the young men who came to Alabama to rebuild former greatness. They came on the promise of Nick Saban. I'd say mission accomplished. Barrett Jones was one of those seniors. Jones may be the first college player to make All-American at three different offensive line positions. On the other side of the stadium a sober Gene Chizik apologized to the Auburn 'family' for today's game and the season in general. He called what happened an embarrassment and refused to speculate on his future on the Plains. He handled all that with poise and dignity. A lesser man might not have been able to do so. I bet this is the last game for at Auburn. I wonder the logic of firing a coach who took you to a national championship two years ago.

"We're clicking on all cylinders now..." Barrett Jones

    Barrett Jones, 'Bama All-American, said it best, "I think we’re clicking on all cylinders right now going into this SEC championship (game), so it should be a great game," Jones said. "Georgia played well today. It’s going to be a great fight." Alabama has won its last two games 49-0. The first team offense has scored on every possession they've had the ball in the last two games. What has made the difference?  It looks like Alabama has returned to basics. Running behind the best offensive line in football has been a good starting place. Bama has also gone down field with long passes. This has made the short crossing lanes, which has been the Tide's passing bread and butter, wide open. Just for the record Eddie Lacy raced for 131 giving him over 1000 yards for the season.

      Another factor has been the return to form of A.J. McCarron. The lanky junior didn't have his best games against LSU and TAM. Credit him for putting Alabama in a position to win both games when it mattered most. His heart stopping final drive against LSU is the stuff of legends. The Tide comeback against TAM came up two yards short. That slip up has served to cause a refocus on what made Alabama successful. If Alabama wins its 15th national championship it may be due to the A&M loss. The next weekend both Oregon and Kansas State lost games which elevated Alabama to # 2 in the nation, and gave the Crimson a shot at another BCS National Championship game.  Bama next plays Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. They do so with a renewed sense of purpose and perhaps the recapture of some swagger and confidence. You have to have some luck along the line and Bama got their share.

Tigers suffer beyond getting beat...
  

       In the long series of this rivalry there have been some one sided games. None have occurred recently, however. Regardless of when those one sided games might have occurred none took on the theme of a execution styled killing like Saturday. Auburn should have blindfolded themselves and smoked a final cigarette. Auburn looked less like a football team and more like a cattle run at the dog food factory. 'Never Again' reverberated through Bryant-Denny like a vengeful Hatfield or McCoy. Alabama wasn't interested in just winning the game, nor were they interested in thrashing the Tigers. No, the Tide wanted take the Tigers in the alley and give them an old fashioned beat down. I have no idea where Auburn goes from here. In the past three years the Tigers thought they were creating an empire. They have nothing to show for a great season and top 10 national recruiting classes. All these problems are exacerbated by Alabama's success. As the Tide continues to elevate their program, the Tigers drop like rock in a deep lake. Who wants to come to Auburn to coach?  Who wants to come and compete head to head with Nick Saban. It kind of like the old Groucho Marx joke - I'd never join a country club who would actually accept me as a member. Whoever comes to coach at Auburn is going to be paid more money than Midas or is such a dreamer he is able to avoid reality. Name one big name big name coach who would seriously think about taking a job with Auburn. No more Gene Chizik type hires will satisfy the Tiger fan base. They want the Tiger equivalent of Nick Saban. The new man better have more than a passing knowledge of how the NCAA investigates recruiting violations. Seriously, the Tigers will be better served in allowing Chizik a few seasons to get the mess that is Auburn turned around.  Gene Chizik reminds me of the poem about the fall from grace - The fall from grace is steep and swift, and when you land, it does not make a sound, because are alone. - Cari Williams 1995.



 
  





 









































 

A lesson in memory and a glimpse of the future...

Auburn given virtually no chance to win...

Say goodnight Auburn for about a decade...

     These may be the oddest pre-Iron Bowl conversations Tide and Tiger fans have ever had. I don't know about you, but when someone tells me I can't do something it gives me extra incentive to try harder. That's basic human nature. If that's the case with the Auburn Tigers, they have more incentive than any team in SEC history. The official line today is -32 in favor of the Tide. That is an unworldly type number. I'm not  a historian but this might easily be the biggest line ever for this hate filled rivalry. Auburn fans are not the least bit hopeful. I think they are more in the acceptance faze of their mpending death. Auburn has never lost 8 SEC games in one season. All I can say is - Tiger fans welcome to the great unknown. You are about to enter a land that records forgot. If the experts are  correct the Tigers are going to finish the season 3-9. The Orange and Blue will have NO SEC wins. And, things are about to get worse with the NCAA sniffing around. If they ever quit making inquires here and there after the great Cam Newton escape.

           All the statistics favor Alabama. I know there are a few Auburn fans that hold out hope that Tigers will win. 'Hope springs eternal' is how that old saying goes. Here's another old saying - Reality will stomp the living daylights out of hope. The reality of the level of the two respective programs is like comparing the living to the walking dead. The only kind thing to help your Auburn fans is shoot them in the head to put them out of there misery. If you can't bring your self to do that it is likely the NCAA is going to do it for you. Of course, there is that long extended tortuous period that the governing body sees fit to put a team and their fan base through. It is like Chinese Water torture but you have to listen to talk radio every day. Richard Nixon once said to the media "you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore". Gene Chizik just joined the Nixon club. If I was Gene Chizik I'd want to leave. If you think things are bad at Auburn right now just stay tuned for the impending death bed scene and subsequent AU NCAA funeral. The finger pointing, the recriminations between the fans, the blame game, and all the other silly acts that make the NCAA experience so upsetting are at hand. . The healthiest thing in Auburn right now are the trees on Toomer's corner. At least those aren't likely to be draped in  Charmin' and set afire this weekend. In fact, you wonder when those famed trees will ever feel the gentle touch the white and fluffly stuff again. New Auburn Rule - no toilet paper thrown skyward unless you beat an SEC team.

       I talked earlier in the week with a prominent sports writer who is an AU fan. He told me that Bama will win 35-0 if the tide can get their team on the field sometime in the first half.  You have to go back to the early 1970's when people sensed a complete shift in the rivalry. Alabama is going to make it 4 out of the last 5, and who among us would doubt it could grow to 9 out of the last 10 It might be even more. It could be a lot more. It might be as long as Nick Saban coaches and the memory of "never again" remains. Elephants never forget. Tomorrow is going to be a lesson in memory, and a glimpse of the future. Bama 35-0, but then there is a second half. Saban will not run up the score. He may not be able to stop it though.


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Tide defense vs. Tiger defense by position

Tide defense looks the best on paper...

        SEC teams win by playing defense. That is what sets the Southeastern Conference apart from other leagues according to the football gurus. You might have an occasional team that comes into the league and runs some sort of gizmo offense and have some short time success. Texas A&M proved this point, but I'd hate to be Manziel the next time around in the SEC. Gus Malzhon has some short lived success at Auburn. Like TAM he also had a phenominal quarterback, but once the quarterback left it was like road kill for SEC teams. Even Urban Meyer got run out of the league.  Keeping in mind the importance of defense here is my comparison of the Tide and Tiger defenses.

Coaching: Kirby Smart vs. Brian VanGorter: When you look at Alabama it seems like you are looking at a stonewall. LSU and TAM found some cracks, but the defense played well enough for the Alabama offense to come  mount a comeback.  The Tide came back and  beat LSU, but came up two yards short against A&M.  Auburn's defense doens't look all that bad on paper. They have a solid front seven, but have suffered some injuries in the secondary. The real problem is that Auburn, despite looking decent on paper, looks horrible on the field. Bama is a tremendous team agains the run. The run the 3 - 4 and hope the the down lineman can hold off the offensive line and allow the linebackers and corners come up to make the tackles. More often than not it has worked. VanGorter has put in a new scheme and that sometimes requires some patience. Big Edge to Alabama in the coaching department. The continuity of the defensive staff shows.

The defensive line:  Alabama starts big and strong at the nose guard with Jesse Williams. Williams moved over from tackle and has done yoeman work. Brandon Ivory comes in and backs up Williams, but on occasion both play on short yardage plays. Alabama recruits specifically for their defensive positions. That is why 3 star players have looked so good for the Tide. This year's 3 star special is Damion Square. Square was rated a 3 star prospect coming out of high school, but is a 5 star player at his defensive end/ lineback position at Alabama. Alabama is so disciplined on defense. They don't get a lot of silly penalties, broken assignments are few and far between. And the defensivie line is simply intimidating. You have a noseguard who can pick up a Volkswagen. You have big and fast defensive tackles who can plug the run or run down a back to the corner. Auburn has some good defensive lineman. Cory Lemonier is boss lineman for the Tigers. He has been a shining star in a bleak night for the Tigers. This was a defense that many thought was deep enough, fast enough, and tough enough to be dominate. It never happened. Edge to Alabama

The linebackers:  C.J. Moselely might be the best linebacker in the NCAA. There is no doubt his peer group is very small. Moseley is a hard nosed tackler and has great hands. He ran one interception back against Michigan. If an offensive runnin back is inbounds then C.J. can find him, and often just run him down from behind. Sideline to sideline he has no one in his category. Nico Johnson is stougt against the run. Trey DePriest is showing everyone he is going to be a star. Alabama can do two deep at each linebacking position and the drop off is very small. Auburn has a good one in Daren Bates. Bates is AU's leading tackler and has that knack of always being round the ball. Jermaine Whitehed compliments Bates with his run stopping ability. Auburn has some good linebackers. They have a great one in Bates.Cassnove McKinizie is improving. This is one category where they two teams are pretty even, although Bama's depth gives Alabama the edge.

The secondary: Alabama lost key defensive backs the NFL last season. Robert Lester is the steady and dependable saftey evey team in America wants. Dee Milliner is going to be a first round pick in the draft. Last week, cornerback Deion Belue, picked up a misplayed lateral and ran it into the endzone. He is supposedly the weak link in the Tide secondary. He hasn't proven to be anyone's picked on guy so far. Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix is getting better and better. Vinnie Sunseri has some speed issues but he plays his saftey position so well he he is rarely out of position. Auburn's secondary has been wracked with injuries which have caused a never ending lineup change. Big Edge to Alabama

Kickng game:  Alabama's Jeremy Shelly is the only player in the NCAA who has not missed a field goal or PAT. Codey Parkey has kicked on game winner this season and has been range. Alabama relies on the hot/cold Cade Foster for long range attempts.  Parkey is better at kicking touchbacks. Mandell has improved for Tide. Alabama's kickoff coverage has been shaky. Auburn has run back a couple of kickoffs for TD's. Slight edge to Auburn
 
 

Tide dominates...

Position by position points to 'Bama...

      Taking a look at the two Iron Bowl teams position by position gives the appearance of an Alabama victory.  It might be hard to find a single area where the Tigers outshine the Tide. Let's look at the positions one by one and some intangibles.

• Coaching:  Alabama gets the nod in what might be Gene Chizik's farewell song... Some fans believe that Chizik will  tell his squad that Saturday is his last game as the Auburn's head coach.  Edge: to Alabama. 
• Mental Attitude:   Alabama will be focused on this game. Tide fans are looking forward to Atlanta and beyond. Auburn has one game left this season. The Iron Bowl is their bowl game.I'm not worried about Alabama. I think that the Tigers will play hard. Early success might help them.  Bama has more to play for in this game: Edge: Alabama

Quarterback:  Auburn's quarterbacking woes have been well document and highly lamented by Tiger fans. Of late, the Tigers have turned to Jonathon Wallace. Wallace is the third quarterback the Tigers have used this season. Failed experiments with Frazier and Moseley caused Chizik to simplify the offense and turn to Wallace. With Wallace at the helm the Tigers and have won two games. First, they beat New Mexico State and last weekend they defeated Alabama A&M. Hey, it's a start. Wallace is 41/66 for 650  yards. That's  a 62% completion rate and a 158.5 quarterback rating. Those are not bad numbers. Alabama will have A.J. McCarron under center. A.J. is 163/244 for 2291 yards. He has an phenomenal TD to interception ratio. He's thrown for 21 touchdowns and had only 2 picks. His rating is an sky high 178.9. That is a lofty number. It would be silly to think that Wallace has the skills of McCarron. The real questions is whether Wallace can bring enough to the Tiger offense to win. I don't think so. Edge to Alabama

       Running backs:  The Tide's one-two punch of Eddie Lacey and T.J. Yeldon has a lot more press and hype. They also have the luxury of running behind a great offensive line. Lacy has gained 870 yards on 146 rushes for an average of 6 yards a carry. He is a load inside, and finally looks to be one hundred percent well. His teammate, T.J. Yeldon has 801 yards on 121 carries for a 6.7 pop per carry. The Tide tailbacks are tough, elusive, and someone is always  has fresh legs.  Auburn's backs are not that far behind Alabama's. Tre Mason is a hard running, quick, and tricky little back who has gained 920 yards on on 150 carries for a 6 yard average. Despite the Tigers problems on offense the running backs have done well. Anonio McCaleb, who seems to have been on the Plains for decades,  has run the ball 91 times for 573 yards and a 6.1 average. The truth here is that Alabama and Auburn both have excellent running games which have been effective. Auburn's backs are better than you think.  McCaleb has also run back a kick-off for a TD All things considered, and the difference isn't as large as you'd think.  Edge to Alabama.

         The Receivers: In fairness to the AU receivers, judging them is a little difficult because of the problems the line and quarterbacks have faced. Two AU wideouts stand apart from their teammates. Emory Blake is as good as anyone in the SEC. He gets open with his speed and running precise routes. He has great hands and can lay out to make some great catches. Sammie Coates hasn't caught but 6 passes this season. But he has the talent and speed.He is back from fighting some injuries. He is averaging a whopping 20 yards per catch. The Auburn backs, McCaleb and Mason, have caught a total of 31 passes. The Tigers use them primarily to get to the corner.  Auburn's great tight end Phillip Lutzenkirchen is out of the season. That is a huge loss for Auburn. He is a great player.

       Alabama has some outstanding recievers. Start with freshman sensation Amari Cooper. He has been sensational since overcoming an early season injury. Kevin Norwood seems to have the knack of making the important catches. Tight end Michael Williams makes some key catches when he isn't sealing off the corner for the running backs. Christian Jones caught a nice TD pass from McCarron last week.. Kenny Bell is the downtown threat and he can fly.  You cannot leave out Lacey and Yeldon when talking receiving. The Tigers have a lot of talent, but the Tide is more versatile. Both teams have wide outs who could change the outcome of a close game. Hopefully, for the Tide it won't be close.  Edge goes to Alabama

         The Offensive Line ...  Alabama's offensive line has been touted as the best in the nation and maybe the best in college football history. Those are pretty lofty expectations. The Tide has looked that good at times, and not so good on others. The Tide has had some problems with pass defense. However, I haven't seen a better offensive line than the Tide and we certainly won't see one on this Saturday. The Tiger offensive line has done a decent job in run offense, but have had a hard time in defending the pass rush. This is going to be fun to watch. The Tide's defensive strength is against the run, and everyone says the Tide has no outstanding individual pass rusher. Splat and pancake are words you often hear when talking about the Tide OL.  It is amazing how far Tide backs run without being touched. Big Edge goes to Alabama.


Tomorrow the Defense and special teams...



Coach Kirby Smart was named Assistant Coach of the Year. Hey, we could have told them that. Roll Tide Roll



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BCS and around the SEC. Dooley fired, Bama fired up

'Vol fans get some relief...

     Coachspeak is a unique language. I've never seen it listed in a list of college courses or something you could receive a major.  Perhaps there are on-line courses. Here's the latest example. Tennessee AD Director Dave Hart told the media that he had no doubt that Tennessee's football program was in better shape with Derrick Dooley as the head coach. He then fired him. Huh?  Tennessee fans everywhere celebrate almost everywhere. And if you know any Tennessee fans they are under some delusional thinking that the next coach will turn the program around. Right now the bar is pretty low for the next coach. One thing is certain in my mind. The Vols are going to pay some big bucks to get their next head man if he has any sort of status. Dooley inherited a bad situation with the sudden departure of Lane Kiffin. Kiffin is now working his lack of coaching ability at Southern Cal. You might have watched UCLA knocking the Trojans to hell and back over the weekend.
 I know a lot of Tennessee fans. To a man they wanted Dooley gone. The wanted him gone yesterday. Now he       is,and you have to wonder who is next. Is Phil Fulmer going to be pulled out of retirement as some suggest. I'll believe that story has some validity only if Krispy Kreme announces ground breaking a few in stores in the Knoxville. Tennessee's football program lost almost 4.5 million dollars last season. It can't be much better this year. To add insult to injury the NCAA extended the Kiffin caused probation to 2015 after the illegal recruitment of a player now at Baylor. The last two seasons has seen the Vols go 6-7 and 5-7. The loss to Nashville was just too much for Hart to accept. Tennessee fans are scared that Vandy is going to overtake their storied program. If the 42-18 pasting by the Commodores is any proof they are probably right. James Franklin has the Commodore program climbing while Tennessee is free falling into the abyss. The Vandy program is scalding Tennessee in recruitment so far this season. Vanderbilt is ranked 15th in nation. This is not basketball. I'm talking football.  Tennessee's recruiting now will  be reaccessed by some of players who have already committed. Dooley left with class expressing his appreciation for the chance. Dooley seems like a nice guy. Too bad.

Les Miles is crazeeee...

     I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. But listening to his post game interview after the Ole Miss was a new kind of bizarre. The mad hatter nickname is appropriate. It is still hard not to like Miles on some level. He is a good coach. He is a great recruiter of talent. However, the man seems like he is from another planet. Most of us are not into kissing football players on the mouth as the LSU coach suggested.  Miles did tone that done a little bit by saying that was okay if you are a girl. He seems like a good fit for Louisiana to me. That is one of the most peculiar places on earth to me. People from Bourbon Street probably take some consolation in the fact they aren't the craziest people in the State.  Ole Miss made a statement in Death Valley that they want the John Vaught years back and want them soon. Hugh Freeze isn't going to back down to anyone. Rumors are flying sky high that the nations top high school player, Robert Nkemdiche, is close to committing publicly to Ole Miss. Robert's older brother plays for Freeze right now and is a darn good player. Alabama has made pitch telling the star that the Tide needs an outside pass rusher who can come in and play immediately. Auburn's problem are about to multiply with the firing of Gene Chizik. It probably will happen and if it does Rueben Foster, the nation's number 2 prospect says he's leaving.  You might remember that Foster was once an Alabama commitment. Bama would love to have another crack at Foster. I'm not sure how that Auburn tattoo on his arm will play in Tuscaloosa.

What the hell?

      What the devil did Texas A&M think they were doing when they let Johnny Manzeil  attempt an extra point? That was like rubbing salt in an open wound. Sumlin will learn that those types of showboating are taken lightly in the SEC. If Manzeil wins the Heisman Trophy he'll do so if he deserves it. The vaudeville act of letting him try an extra point is goofy.  He missed it. The whole thing was funny, but out of place.


One week in Purgatory for Alabama

     One week after the TAM game the Tide finds itself back at number 2 in the BCS standings. If Bama beats Auburn and Georgia they'll likely play Notre Dame for the Crystal Football.  The real question about the BCS Championship is what happens if Alabama or Notre Dame loses. Kansas State fell from # 1 to # 5. That is one place lower than Alabama fell. a 52-24 loss might account for that. At any rate Alabama fans could be heard cheering all over the State last night. I have to admit to doing a little yelling myself.

I caught a lot of grief for worrying about the two voting polls doing the right thing. Hey, sorry if you don't like that - I've seen it happen to Alabama twice and it cost them national championships in both votes.

BCS Standings

1. Notre Dame - undefeated but untested
2. Alabama - stubbed their toe once, bet it won't happen again
3. Georgia - Can Mark Richt prove he can win the big game?
4. Florida - the worst number 4 ranked team in the history of bad rankings
5. Oregon - Quack Attack loses it feathers.
6. Kansas State - It was nice while it lasted - gotta feel bad for Synder
7. LSU - maybe they'll get 7th place rings
8. Stanford - Under appreciated. Got cheated out of the NDame game.
9. Texas A&M -  Great season
10. Florida State - not ready for prime time yet

 

WILL VOTERS DO THE RIGHT THING?

THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH TODAY..
Kansas State and Oregon fall in same night...

       We all know how this works. Your are the # 4 team in the nation and # 1 and # 2 gets beat. # 3 and # 4 win. Numbers 3 and 4 both  move up to numbers 1 and 2. Right? That's the way it has always been done. It seems to have worked that way even in the age of computers. Computers are now used to insure an objective comparison of teams relative to one another. Hmm....  And there are still flesh and blood people who are voting as well. They are supposed to vote without bias. That's doesn't always happen. So everyone of us will be sitting on pins and needles to see if Bama moves up to # 2. It should happen. It might not because of bias against the SEC. Oregon falls to Stanford 17-14 in OT. Kansas s

           This is going to be a lesson in "do the right thing". (to steal a Spike Lee movie title) or will the voters find a way to cast their vote in such a way that the possibility of another SEC team playing for the crystal not occur?  I find it ironic that all the arguments used to keep Alabama out of last years national championship are stacked in the Tide's favor (assuming we beat Auburn and Georgia). Is this going to be one of those do as I say or do as I do moments we all know about. Those are usually moments that you don't like. To be a hypocrite or not to be - that is truly the question today. It's also one of those defining moments when someone has to truly make a statement about having the two best teams in college football play for it all. Last season the same people did the right thing. I believe they will do so this year as well.  Kansas State is out of it now according to the "rules". Kansas State was destroyed by Baylor. They don't look like a team that should play for the national championship. Chip Kelly of Oregon and Bill Snyder looked like men ready to take a walk to the guillotine. You have to feel for those two guys. Synder is a class man who may never get another chance. Kelly sees the golden ring just out of reach once again. A lot of people are still going to say that Oregon losing at home by 3 had a familiar ring, and the Ducks deserve a chance.

      ESPN projects the Tide as the no. 2 team. Notre Dame is no. 1. If Alabama beats Auburn and Georgia beats Georgia Tech it appears that the SEC Champion gets to play one more time. Brad Edwards believes that Florida has an chance to play in the national championship if USC beats Notre Dame next week.

      I know that a lot of Alabama fans hate Notre Dame. But that hate comes from 1966 when the Irish were voted number one over an undefeated Alabama team. That couldn't happen today. That is an old wound which needs healing. We need to look at the Irish for what they are today. The Irish are a lot like Alabama. They are a historic program with national importance They have clawed their way out of decade plus fall from grace. Seriously, could there ever be a BCS National Championship Game that could approach the signfigance of an Irish and Tide game? NO. Clearly, history would say no. This would be a game for the ages. This game will rival all those Rose Bowl wins in the lore of Alabama. It is a game that needs to be played. At least that's how it seems to me


For all those who think that Georgia and Auburn will be walk overs I think you are half right . We won't look past ether team. That's the way the Saban process works.

Countdown to Tiger Hunt Begins...

bama could have scored a 100 ...
dieon belue has the play of the game



Go Bo Go, Alabama's Rudy runs the ball

     I will  never understand why Alabama would even schedule a team like Western Carolina. It is probably the NCAA equivalent of wealth distribution. The Catamounts get a nice pay day of $475,000.  With that money they might improve their football team. Heaven knows they need something to help them. For Alabama it was an opportunity to get back on track, and to allow some rest for the first team players. The opponent on the field may have been wearing blue and gold. I suspect that the fans were thinking more about orange and blue and blood red. The Alabama offense was firing on all eight cylinders.  Eddie Lacy rushed for 99 yards. It seemed to me he ran with reckless disregard. Perhaps he is finally over his turf toe injury. T.J. Yeldon had 55 yards. Both players had limited appearances. Yeldon sprained his foot. Saban said it was not serious. Lacy left the game wth his left arm wrapped in ice. He said he was bruised and not injured. Alabama will be virtually an injury free team for the Iron Bowl next Saturday. CBS  2:30 PM


blake sims was the second quarterback to play...



Sims got to play with first team line.He took advantage
of the opportunity.

      When the second Alabama quarterback took the field it was Blake Sims and not Phillip Ely. I'm not sure what to read into that move. Sims moved the team for a couple of touchdowns although by the read option method. After suffering through the perfect passing  of A.J. McCarron,  the Catamounts had to adjust to an option offense. Alabama ran the offense with flawless perfection. Sims will never be confused as a passing quarterback but he was effective enough to keep the defense honest when he does threw. For the game he finished with 2 completions in 6 attempts for 27 yards. He rushed for 70 yards. McCarron had a 6 for 6 day for 133 yards. He yards per attempt was 22.5 yards. McCarron threw one touchdown pass to Christian Jones. Blake had one rushing touchdown on nifty run through the middle of the Catamount's defense. Sims is not McCarron in several regards, but I think Bama can win with number six at the helm.

on to THE game...

     Last season the Crimson Tide whipped bowl bound Auburn 42-14. It was the "never again" game. Odds are "never again" will last a long time. Auburn is coming off a 51-7 win over Alabama State. Bama will open up as a considerable favorite in the Iron Bowl. Bama plays Aubie in Bryant-Denny. I doubt that Saban will use the last game played in Tuscaloosa as motivation. Tide fans will use it to get beyond fired up. Auburn has won 3 games this season. They beat Louisiana-Monroe in overtime, the beforemention Alabama A&M, and New Mexico State. To say the bottom has dropped out of Tiger football in the last two seasons would be an understatment. Speculation is high that Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is a gone after the Alabama fans. However, late in the week word out of Lee County is that he may be given another season. Let's hope so. There will be a lot written this week about the Iron Bowl. Coach Saban and Alabama will say it is the next game in the process to win  a national championship. That wouldn't be entirely true would it? Not for the fans, and not for a lot of players who grew up in Alabama. Even the players from out of state understand the importance of the game. For Auburn the formula is simple - save a season with a huge upset. Four wins, plus bragging rights for a year would be a great finish for the Auburn "family". I won't happen. It won't come close to happening. Auburn will play its best game of the year. They will play hard. They may even get a break here and there. In the end the game will belong to Alabama.

Never again will last another season.
     
 

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