Just thought I'd share my 2 pennies. This isn't gospel, feel free to dismiss or disagree. Some of this is rehashed from @Jay G. Tate and I's convo on the Brain Drain post game.
1) Multiple things can be true at once. Offensively a lot of people have placed the blame for the offensive inconsistencies of the last two weeks on the OL, others on the QBs, others on the OC.
Well, the offensive line was terrible in the run game vs GaST. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what they are looking at. Just because an OL is blocking someone, it doesn't mean it's the right someone, or the correct way to block someone. GaST slanted and stunted into the AU zone run path, and the OL got completely out or sorts. No one ever seemed to make it to the second level of an already stacked box, and LB and safeties just ran free and teed off on the ball carriers. The pass protection wasn't terrible throughout the game, but there were some definite busts in some key moments (for example the last TD play, 2 defenders ran through untouched). The run blocking against PSU, especially in the second half was exponentially better than anything they did Saturday. Any grade over 60 for anyone on the OL would surprise me. That was losing football.
The quarterbackS were responsible for drastic misses on 7 potential explosive plays, 5 which could have been easy TDs, if you just convert 3 of those 5 the game is never in question. Both quarterbacks missed relatively easy throws at a high frequency and both were consistently placing the ball too high. Love Finley's effort and courage to finish the game and pull out a W, but if that's an SEC defense on the last play, he's sacked for a 12 yard loss.
Against PSU Bobo didn't call run plays frequently enough in critical downs. especially after they found a scheme that was gashing PSU for 7-8 yards a pop, running DUO to the condensed Trips set from 12 personnel, that should have been 2 of the final four offensive play calls IMO. However, he's dialed up some beautiful shot plays from some really creating and challenging alignments and motions that his QBs have simply gaffed. I'm sure @Jay G. Tate will elaborate in the Camera Eye Piece later this week. If the QBs can execute the big play opportunities he gives them, and he can be patient enough to lean on the run when it's there, an effective and harmonic offense could generate a lot more yardage and points.
2) Defensively alignment and communication are killing AU right now. They aren't handling multiple TE sets, closed/nub trips sets, or condensed sets well at all with their alignment, which also seems to be hampered by not getting the play call in fast enough or not relayed well enough considering the number of players you see running in late panic pre-snap trying to get aligned (and often failing to do so correctly.).
PSU realized real quick that 21 was struggling to find his alignment and responsibility in multiple TE sets and capitalized on it often. That player doesn't make those mistakes, and Auburn wins in Happy Valley. GSU hit Au the same way on some critical passes.
In the first half AU played a passive "read and react" defense to the GSU option offense and got gashed standing flat-footed way too often, having poor gap integrity far too often, and not being accountable for all phases of the option far-too often.
The second half adjustment was what it should have been. Man on the outside, load the box, attack each phase aggressively and make offensive reads take place faster and deeper in the backfield. Not to mention 9 is a DOG and makes the defense exponentially better! Wooten was terrible in the first half of PSU, great in the second. He was terrible in the first half of GSU, solid in the second. The captain needs to be more consistent.
I think football has changed a bit since Mason was a DC only, and he's having to adjust to new schemes and his new players. I didn't expect such hiccups early, but the adjustments so far show that he can adjust. Hopefully the initial game plans become as effective as the in game adjustments have been.
3) On Cornelius Williams. I personally think the world of CWill, as a fellow former Trojan I want to see him succeed. He's going to be a really good coach for a really long time. He, however, is more of a players coach than I think Harsin wants. I think he was a little too lax in how he handled his room and disciplined his players as compared to what was expected by Harsin and the rest of the staff. Regardless of the cause, there were MAJOR communication issues among the WR group Saturday, resulting in AU running a formation that we defensive coaches like to refer to as 10 MF'ers, far too often. That's inexcusable at any level, much less the SEC. I think if Coach Key had been available at the time AU was looking for a WR coach, he would have been the hire anyway, thus the inevitable happened.
All that said, there damn sure is some tumult inside the AU football program at the moment. How Harsin handles it may ultimately define and forecast his ultimate level of success or failure at AU. It damn sure makes for some interesting story lines for Saturday night.
TLDR, SIW, WMFE
1) Multiple things can be true at once. Offensively a lot of people have placed the blame for the offensive inconsistencies of the last two weeks on the OL, others on the QBs, others on the OC.
Well, the offensive line was terrible in the run game vs GaST. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what they are looking at. Just because an OL is blocking someone, it doesn't mean it's the right someone, or the correct way to block someone. GaST slanted and stunted into the AU zone run path, and the OL got completely out or sorts. No one ever seemed to make it to the second level of an already stacked box, and LB and safeties just ran free and teed off on the ball carriers. The pass protection wasn't terrible throughout the game, but there were some definite busts in some key moments (for example the last TD play, 2 defenders ran through untouched). The run blocking against PSU, especially in the second half was exponentially better than anything they did Saturday. Any grade over 60 for anyone on the OL would surprise me. That was losing football.
The quarterbackS were responsible for drastic misses on 7 potential explosive plays, 5 which could have been easy TDs, if you just convert 3 of those 5 the game is never in question. Both quarterbacks missed relatively easy throws at a high frequency and both were consistently placing the ball too high. Love Finley's effort and courage to finish the game and pull out a W, but if that's an SEC defense on the last play, he's sacked for a 12 yard loss.
Against PSU Bobo didn't call run plays frequently enough in critical downs. especially after they found a scheme that was gashing PSU for 7-8 yards a pop, running DUO to the condensed Trips set from 12 personnel, that should have been 2 of the final four offensive play calls IMO. However, he's dialed up some beautiful shot plays from some really creating and challenging alignments and motions that his QBs have simply gaffed. I'm sure @Jay G. Tate will elaborate in the Camera Eye Piece later this week. If the QBs can execute the big play opportunities he gives them, and he can be patient enough to lean on the run when it's there, an effective and harmonic offense could generate a lot more yardage and points.
2) Defensively alignment and communication are killing AU right now. They aren't handling multiple TE sets, closed/nub trips sets, or condensed sets well at all with their alignment, which also seems to be hampered by not getting the play call in fast enough or not relayed well enough considering the number of players you see running in late panic pre-snap trying to get aligned (and often failing to do so correctly.).
PSU realized real quick that 21 was struggling to find his alignment and responsibility in multiple TE sets and capitalized on it often. That player doesn't make those mistakes, and Auburn wins in Happy Valley. GSU hit Au the same way on some critical passes.
In the first half AU played a passive "read and react" defense to the GSU option offense and got gashed standing flat-footed way too often, having poor gap integrity far too often, and not being accountable for all phases of the option far-too often.
The second half adjustment was what it should have been. Man on the outside, load the box, attack each phase aggressively and make offensive reads take place faster and deeper in the backfield. Not to mention 9 is a DOG and makes the defense exponentially better! Wooten was terrible in the first half of PSU, great in the second. He was terrible in the first half of GSU, solid in the second. The captain needs to be more consistent.
I think football has changed a bit since Mason was a DC only, and he's having to adjust to new schemes and his new players. I didn't expect such hiccups early, but the adjustments so far show that he can adjust. Hopefully the initial game plans become as effective as the in game adjustments have been.
3) On Cornelius Williams. I personally think the world of CWill, as a fellow former Trojan I want to see him succeed. He's going to be a really good coach for a really long time. He, however, is more of a players coach than I think Harsin wants. I think he was a little too lax in how he handled his room and disciplined his players as compared to what was expected by Harsin and the rest of the staff. Regardless of the cause, there were MAJOR communication issues among the WR group Saturday, resulting in AU running a formation that we defensive coaches like to refer to as 10 MF'ers, far too often. That's inexcusable at any level, much less the SEC. I think if Coach Key had been available at the time AU was looking for a WR coach, he would have been the hire anyway, thus the inevitable happened.
All that said, there damn sure is some tumult inside the AU football program at the moment. How Harsin handles it may ultimately define and forecast his ultimate level of success or failure at AU. It damn sure makes for some interesting story lines for Saturday night.
TLDR, SIW, WMFE
