- Jun 10, 2014
- 16,578
- 20,016
Founding Member
I think it's safe to say the Grantham haters are in shambles today!
What a ridiculously great afternoon that was in the Swamp. As has already been stated here since the game ended, that place was rocking from the opening kickoff to the last whistle. The seats were full, everyone was loud on every Auburn play, and we had that freshman shook harder than a paint can at Home Depot. I've only been going to games in the Swamp since 2009, so I haven't had a chance to experience too many of those great home game atmospheres will all our struggles this decade, but yesterday certainly qualified and then some. And on a personal note, Auburn was the last SEC team I had yet to see us play in person, and now Texas A&M is the only one I haven't seen us beat in person. I really hope the SEC finds a way to even the scheduling out moving forward, because that was way too much fun to only happen once every 10-12 years.
Now onto the game itself. Trask continues to be a steady playmaker and smart decision maker with the ball in his hands. I don't think he made a single ill-advised throw yesterday, although it seemed as if Mullen was calling some safer plays for him, especially after the injury. He just needs to work on fine-tuning his internal clock so he knows when he's about to get sacked for a fumble. Say what you want about Franks, but he was always VERY good at avoiding sacks and sack fumbles. If Mullen can get Trask working on throwing the ball away or moving in the pocket when the pressure is there, we could really see this offense reach another level moving forward.
I don't usually blame QB's too much for sack fumbles, because it's the nature of the beast. They're going to happen. But the first one was definitely on Trask. He had an unblocked man coming off the edge and didn't get the ball to the hot route (who I believe was Hammond coming across on a shallow crosser). The other two were just great plays by great defensive linemen. We're obviously very fortunate the sniper got that kid on the one return, otherwise Auburn takes the lead and the game changes. An interesting side note for this season, Pierce's fumble was the first turnover by someone other than Franks or Trask this year.
Swain and Pitts really seem to be emerging as our best pass-catching weapons. I'm not sure why we can't get Grimes or Jefferson more involved, but as long as we keep moving the ball through the air, I suppose it doesn't matter who's doing the catching. That back shoulder catch by Pitts was the first back shoulder completion by our offense in about 400 years or so, I about fainted when it happened. We're going to need them to keep producing because the offensive line is still struggling quite a bit to do anything more than the bare minimum blocking wise. It is what it is at this point, and thankfully we won't face too many more DLs as good as Auburn's. Perine's long TD was an outstanding individual effort. I wish we could give that one to the guys up front, but it should have only been about a four yard gain.
Defensively, there's not much more to say other than they FINALLY came out for 60 minutes with continuous intensity and effort, and THAT is what happens when they do. We need to see that every single game from here on out, because there are no more UT-Martins and Towsons where you can slack off for half the game and keep them out of the end zone based solely on talent. The lone touchdown we gave up, as well as the long pass completion in the 3rd quarter were both on Stiner being WAY out of position. Can't have that next week when we're against one of the best passing offenses in the country and a QB who isn't a walking, talking Proactiv commercial. I loved our contain on Nix, and we didn't let him use his scrambling ability as a crutch to move the chains. It was especially refreshing to see after we let the lesser Flacco scramble all over the damn place last week.
So now we have Tiger Stadium at night. SQ and I will be there doing our part to support our guys. Don't need to say much about this one other than bring your A game and have a great week of practice. Nobody is going to give us much of a chance, just like they didn't yesterday, so all that's left to do is say f*ck it and play your asses off.
6-0!
What a ridiculously great afternoon that was in the Swamp. As has already been stated here since the game ended, that place was rocking from the opening kickoff to the last whistle. The seats were full, everyone was loud on every Auburn play, and we had that freshman shook harder than a paint can at Home Depot. I've only been going to games in the Swamp since 2009, so I haven't had a chance to experience too many of those great home game atmospheres will all our struggles this decade, but yesterday certainly qualified and then some. And on a personal note, Auburn was the last SEC team I had yet to see us play in person, and now Texas A&M is the only one I haven't seen us beat in person. I really hope the SEC finds a way to even the scheduling out moving forward, because that was way too much fun to only happen once every 10-12 years.
Now onto the game itself. Trask continues to be a steady playmaker and smart decision maker with the ball in his hands. I don't think he made a single ill-advised throw yesterday, although it seemed as if Mullen was calling some safer plays for him, especially after the injury. He just needs to work on fine-tuning his internal clock so he knows when he's about to get sacked for a fumble. Say what you want about Franks, but he was always VERY good at avoiding sacks and sack fumbles. If Mullen can get Trask working on throwing the ball away or moving in the pocket when the pressure is there, we could really see this offense reach another level moving forward.
I don't usually blame QB's too much for sack fumbles, because it's the nature of the beast. They're going to happen. But the first one was definitely on Trask. He had an unblocked man coming off the edge and didn't get the ball to the hot route (who I believe was Hammond coming across on a shallow crosser). The other two were just great plays by great defensive linemen. We're obviously very fortunate the sniper got that kid on the one return, otherwise Auburn takes the lead and the game changes. An interesting side note for this season, Pierce's fumble was the first turnover by someone other than Franks or Trask this year.
Swain and Pitts really seem to be emerging as our best pass-catching weapons. I'm not sure why we can't get Grimes or Jefferson more involved, but as long as we keep moving the ball through the air, I suppose it doesn't matter who's doing the catching. That back shoulder catch by Pitts was the first back shoulder completion by our offense in about 400 years or so, I about fainted when it happened. We're going to need them to keep producing because the offensive line is still struggling quite a bit to do anything more than the bare minimum blocking wise. It is what it is at this point, and thankfully we won't face too many more DLs as good as Auburn's. Perine's long TD was an outstanding individual effort. I wish we could give that one to the guys up front, but it should have only been about a four yard gain.
Defensively, there's not much more to say other than they FINALLY came out for 60 minutes with continuous intensity and effort, and THAT is what happens when they do. We need to see that every single game from here on out, because there are no more UT-Martins and Towsons where you can slack off for half the game and keep them out of the end zone based solely on talent. The lone touchdown we gave up, as well as the long pass completion in the 3rd quarter were both on Stiner being WAY out of position. Can't have that next week when we're against one of the best passing offenses in the country and a QB who isn't a walking, talking Proactiv commercial. I loved our contain on Nix, and we didn't let him use his scrambling ability as a crutch to move the chains. It was especially refreshing to see after we let the lesser Flacco scramble all over the damn place last week.
So now we have Tiger Stadium at night. SQ and I will be there doing our part to support our guys. Don't need to say much about this one other than bring your A game and have a great week of practice. Nobody is going to give us much of a chance, just like they didn't yesterday, so all that's left to do is say f*ck it and play your asses off.
6-0!
