Instead of sticking to the same plan away from home — just like it did in losses to Clemson and LSU earlier this season —
^^Here's the one quote from the piece that IMO is at the root of all the negativity. These are our two biggest games to date. And Malzahn shit the bed in both, just like he has in every single big game for the last 3 years. The question is what we'll see come Saturday and 2 weeks after that.
Agree. Thats why I posted the article. It seems like maybe, just maybe, the staff is capable of adjusting after all.
As for the last 3 years, lets look a little closer at that. In 2014 he really didn't shit the bed except for the uga game and I think that was a direct result of the players being disheartened after the butt fumble game. The reason we lost games that year was because Ellis Johnson is the 2nd worst D coordinator in AU history behind Brian Vangoiter. Yea I know Gus hired his ass but lets also give credit where credit is due. He got the defense fixed and now its the best its been in at least a decade. Hard to imagine a 2 better hires than Muschamp and Steele (a move we all bitched about but has turned out to be outstanding). 2015 & 2016 was a massive bed shitting. No denying that. Yet I do think if Sean would've stayed healthy, we would've won one of those thuga games, throw a scare into bama, and probably finished the '16 season with at least 9 wins. Not championship football by any means but I don't think the fan base would be as carrying pitch forks ready to burn it down like they are today. That said, I feel like alot of the issues from the last couple of years are being addressed. Play calling is one (say what you want but our play calling is far less predictable this year outside of the 2nd half of LSU) and mainly the QB position. This Stidham guy is pretty dang good and I think Mailk is gonna be deadly in this offense when its all said and done. I'm also seeing routes that weren't there the last 2 years. Oh and since that LSU game, AU's run-pass ratio on 1st down is pretty close to 50%. Honestly, the more I look for it, the more I start to see progress. Speaking of which, anyone realize AU's redzone offense is 15th in the nation and they are also scoring a TD 70% of the time? Folks thats better than the gumps and leg humps.
Yes those 2 losses hurt. Clemson was classic Gus by not being able to identify his best players in the preseason (though having a hurt Pettway and KJ was a was huge blow in that game). LSU was classic Gus getting too conservative once he got up big. He got tight, players started playing tight, and we lost to a team we are better than. That happens sometimes though (see OSU getting their shit pushed in vs Iowa). However, from what I've seen, Gus has even shown signs he learnt from the LSU game. There was no let up against Arky and aTm. He tried to step on their throats and coached aggressively. Him burning those timeouts before the half and going after that punt in the aTm is a prime example. The reverse pass after the turnover vs Arky is another. Will he coach that way this week in his biggest game at Auburn since Pasadena? We will see but I'm guessing yes. One things for sure. Unlike those 2 trips to Death Valley. These next 2 big games are inside JHS and it will be a factor in both. If we clean up special teams, no more bust on defense and continue to stay balanced on O, I like our chances.
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