- Get 'chu some of that, 2017 Mercer Bears!!! We comin' 9/16/2017!!!!
- Fun Fact: Of the 62 total plays ran from scrimmage in the 2nd half, 8 occurred in Auburn territory (all by AU).
- A&M didn't "earn" a 1st down in the 2nd half until they gained one on their final possession. So almost last week in reverse. Almost.
- Lesser-known injuries
- Nick Ruffin and Montavious Atkinson did not play vs A&M. They're the only two guys who haven't really been discussed who are "rotation guys". Ruffin has been banged-up since Miss St so he wasn't a surprise. I didn't see Atkinson get hurt vs UGA so I'm not sure if it occurred then or later.
- Prince Tega Wanogho also didn't get any run on the OL which surprised me as I watched. But kudos to @Bryan Matthews for reporting that he was evidently banged-up earlier in the game (I assume on one of the Special Teams). I think he may be in the lead for our starting RT spot next season so I was a little bummed not to see him in this one.
Offense
- Not much to pull from this game. Kam Martin looked solid at RB. Kerryon looked hurt. Hopefully that ankle gets better as it's really affecting his ability to rip off any explosive plays.
- Marquel Harrell looked good (and mean) on the 2nd team OL. Again, I think Price Tega takes the RT spot next season. Mike Horton and Harrell will battle for the LG spot. Or, if Braden Smith declares, they may both start. Those are the 3 reserve OLinemen who look like they could start next season. Maybe Kaleb Kim as well but I haven't really seen anything from the rest to indicate they're remotely close.
Defense
- Basically everyone played, so who were the "non-rotation" guys who played in the 1st half? Markell Boston (who usually only plays in Dime), Daniel Thomas, Richard McBryde, and Marshall Taylor all played in the 1st. McBryde and Taylor played early due to injuries, but they were out there before the starters were yanked for good.
- Another interesting tidbit: Despite very limited action all year, Taylor would be up to 4 interceptions if he ever turned around when covering a WR. A little sarcasm, yes. And Taylor does a decent job in Man. But there have literally been ~4 balls that have been lofted up and hit him in the shoe this season in only ~70 snaps.
- Daniel Thomas did play fairly well and has spelled Rudy a few times this year at Nickel. He obviously doesn't have Rudy's speed... but he could figure into the rotation next season. Not too bad for a 2* "add-on" back in February.
- One oddity though it was cool to see someone get his first snap ever: #50 Chase Ritter played LB for one play... but was then replaced by the LB who had played the entire 2nd half. It was the first play of A&M's final drive. But instead of just leaving him out there for the final few plays of a 55-0 game, #51 Richard McBryde went back in. I don't know if Travis Williams yelled for #51 to be out there but was interrupted so it came out as "fifty-what?!!". Maybe Ritter took advantage.. kudos to him.
- That's about it. Considering the opponent, to me the only player interest is who were the next-men-up. That could provide a glimpse towards 2017.
Alabama Game
- After the Ole Miss game, I thought we could pull the upset if everything stayed the course. But Sean White was hurt more than anyone knew at the time and then Kam hurt himself against Vandy which was plain to all of us.
- Since neither is 100% and SW may not even play, I'm having a hard time seeing how our remaining offense will get more than a handful of 1st downs.
- If we pulled the upset, it'd have to be a 13-10 type game. Our D is really good but that may be too much to ask for 60 minutes. Especially if the O doesn't make much progress.
- But.... Gus usually hangs in there longer vs Saban compared with most of his counterparts. I could see it being a "Wow, 1-2 big plays and we could win" type game. But I think that's best case. I just don't see us keeping it within 1 score long enough for Bama to piss themselves and lose. Hopefully, I'm wrong once again.
WAR EAGLE!!!
Total Plays: 66 (All in Nickel)
DT
An. Williams - 26
M. Swain - 24
D. Lawrence - 22
M. Adams - 19
D. Russell - 19
T. Carter - 11
G. Walker, Jr - 11 (walk-on)
DE
J. Holland - 36
D. Brown - 36 (all at DE)
C. Lawson - 19
M. Davidson - 19
C. Toney - 11
G. Hall, Jr - 11
LB
D. Davis - 38
D. Williams - 35
R. McBryde - 24
Tr. Threat - 20
TJ Neal - 14
Ch. Ritter - 1 (walk-on)
CB
J. Davis - 46
Marshall Taylor Band - 42
J. Holsey - 24
J. Broussard - 20
Dirty M. Sherwood - 8
S
Tr. Matthews - 46
R. Ford - 41
St. Roberts - 40
M. Boston - 24
D. Thomas - 17
TJ Davis - 17
A. Dupper - 5 (walk-on)
- Fun Fact: Of the 62 total plays ran from scrimmage in the 2nd half, 8 occurred in Auburn territory (all by AU).
- A&M didn't "earn" a 1st down in the 2nd half until they gained one on their final possession. So almost last week in reverse. Almost.
- Lesser-known injuries
- Nick Ruffin and Montavious Atkinson did not play vs A&M. They're the only two guys who haven't really been discussed who are "rotation guys". Ruffin has been banged-up since Miss St so he wasn't a surprise. I didn't see Atkinson get hurt vs UGA so I'm not sure if it occurred then or later.
- Prince Tega Wanogho also didn't get any run on the OL which surprised me as I watched. But kudos to @Bryan Matthews for reporting that he was evidently banged-up earlier in the game (I assume on one of the Special Teams). I think he may be in the lead for our starting RT spot next season so I was a little bummed not to see him in this one.
Offense
- Not much to pull from this game. Kam Martin looked solid at RB. Kerryon looked hurt. Hopefully that ankle gets better as it's really affecting his ability to rip off any explosive plays.
- Marquel Harrell looked good (and mean) on the 2nd team OL. Again, I think Price Tega takes the RT spot next season. Mike Horton and Harrell will battle for the LG spot. Or, if Braden Smith declares, they may both start. Those are the 3 reserve OLinemen who look like they could start next season. Maybe Kaleb Kim as well but I haven't really seen anything from the rest to indicate they're remotely close.
Defense
- Basically everyone played, so who were the "non-rotation" guys who played in the 1st half? Markell Boston (who usually only plays in Dime), Daniel Thomas, Richard McBryde, and Marshall Taylor all played in the 1st. McBryde and Taylor played early due to injuries, but they were out there before the starters were yanked for good.
- Another interesting tidbit: Despite very limited action all year, Taylor would be up to 4 interceptions if he ever turned around when covering a WR. A little sarcasm, yes. And Taylor does a decent job in Man. But there have literally been ~4 balls that have been lofted up and hit him in the shoe this season in only ~70 snaps.
- Daniel Thomas did play fairly well and has spelled Rudy a few times this year at Nickel. He obviously doesn't have Rudy's speed... but he could figure into the rotation next season. Not too bad for a 2* "add-on" back in February.
- One oddity though it was cool to see someone get his first snap ever: #50 Chase Ritter played LB for one play... but was then replaced by the LB who had played the entire 2nd half. It was the first play of A&M's final drive. But instead of just leaving him out there for the final few plays of a 55-0 game, #51 Richard McBryde went back in. I don't know if Travis Williams yelled for #51 to be out there but was interrupted so it came out as "fifty-what?!!". Maybe Ritter took advantage.. kudos to him.
- That's about it. Considering the opponent, to me the only player interest is who were the next-men-up. That could provide a glimpse towards 2017.
Alabama Game
- After the Ole Miss game, I thought we could pull the upset if everything stayed the course. But Sean White was hurt more than anyone knew at the time and then Kam hurt himself against Vandy which was plain to all of us.
- Since neither is 100% and SW may not even play, I'm having a hard time seeing how our remaining offense will get more than a handful of 1st downs.
- If we pulled the upset, it'd have to be a 13-10 type game. Our D is really good but that may be too much to ask for 60 minutes. Especially if the O doesn't make much progress.
- But.... Gus usually hangs in there longer vs Saban compared with most of his counterparts. I could see it being a "Wow, 1-2 big plays and we could win" type game. But I think that's best case. I just don't see us keeping it within 1 score long enough for Bama to piss themselves and lose. Hopefully, I'm wrong once again.
WAR EAGLE!!!
Total Plays: 66 (All in Nickel)
DT
An. Williams - 26
M. Swain - 24
D. Lawrence - 22
M. Adams - 19
D. Russell - 19
T. Carter - 11
G. Walker, Jr - 11 (walk-on)
DE
J. Holland - 36
D. Brown - 36 (all at DE)
C. Lawson - 19
M. Davidson - 19
C. Toney - 11
G. Hall, Jr - 11
LB
D. Davis - 38
D. Williams - 35
R. McBryde - 24
Tr. Threat - 20
TJ Neal - 14
Ch. Ritter - 1 (walk-on)
CB
J. Davis - 46
Marshall Taylor Band - 42
J. Holsey - 24
J. Broussard - 20
Dirty M. Sherwood - 8
S
Tr. Matthews - 46
R. Ford - 41
St. Roberts - 40
M. Boston - 24
D. Thomas - 17
TJ Davis - 17
A. Dupper - 5 (walk-on)
