It's time for TIGER TALK, Coach Gus Malzahn's weekly radio program. Review below.
ASK A QUESTION
Via The Mic (for those of you at the broadcast location): Speak into the mic when Rod calls your name
Via The Twitter: @VoiceOfAUTigers (Rod's handle)
Via The Emails: AUBTigerTalk@gmail.com
Via The Telephone: 1-888-AU-CALLS
ANDY BURCHAM is doing the show tonight. I hope Rod is OK.
** Malzahn makes a passing reference to the Big 12 officials in the his opening statement. I found that odd; he's not a complainer.
** Andy wants to know about the KSU game. "It was good for us to have a game like that. We found a way to win at the end. There's a lot of lessons we can take from that," Malzahn said.
** Andy mentions that some players don't care about loud stadia: "Our players are used to that."
** Andy wants to know about how he got players ready for the environment: "We wanted to make sure each player knew what the play was and what the check was before we played."
** Andy wants to talk about the late throw to DUKE: "The bottom line is ... we were there to win the game. We had to give our guys a chance to win the game. We'd run the slant three times. They were in Cover 0. It was the perfect defense to run that again."
** KIM is at the restaurant. She's "on the mic," as the kids say. She wants to know about La Tech, whom she doesn't view as a cupcake. "What jumps out to me is that they have talented players on both sides of the football. They beat Lafayette and North Texas ... soundly. We're not overlooking them, I can promise you that."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Question from the INTERNET about Co Grant: "They were really taking away the perimeter, edge runs. Their safeties were funneling everything back in. Their runs fits were extremely good. They were playing one high safety and daring us to throw it."
** Gus also said something about Roc. Says he could be a factor moving forward.
** Sammy from Columbus, Miss., is in the house. He wants to know about why Gus touches every player before the game. "It's one of those things ... I want to just touch them and tell them to get after 'em and have a great game. I did that back in high school. I'm a routine guy."
** Andy wants to know about how Auburn DUG DEEP and won the game last week. "We worked hard on our passing and you saw that we were able to make plays in the passing game when we needed to. We have a chance to be very good in the passing game, I feel like."
** Andy wants to talk about Duke dropping some balls, then being a hero. "I can probably count on one hand how many balls he's drops. He has real sticky hands. I told him we were going to keep throwing (the ball) his way."
** Andy wants to know about AU's run defense. "They were very effective with their quarterback runs. We felt like we had to limit that; we rolled a safety down."
** Andy wants to know about JOSHUA HOLSEY, who is the SEC Defensive POY. "You're talking about a guy who's been playing corner and he played field safety. He's a calm, confident guy. His play was really big."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Andy wants to talk about wind at KSU. Really? "As the game went on, the wind was blowing harder. It was affecting a lot of the kicking game. The long passes, he had to put a little more on it."
** Jean from Auburn is IN THE HOUSE. She thinks Gus is an offensive genius. She's asking a veiled question about Clemson running their 4th-and-1 out of the shotgun. She wants to know if Auburn has a short-yardage package. "I feel like we've got a good plan. We're a shotgun-oriented offense. We led the nation in rushing last season and we ran maybe four snaps from under center. I'm not of that train of thought that you have to be under center to get a yard. I just don't have that ... philosophy."
** Question about the weird package that had Jeremy Johnson at wideout. Gus offered nothing useful; said that was the plan.
** Andy wants to know what Mondays are like for LES TIGRES ($1 to the Boomtown Rats): "The players are off. That's our day to study our opponent. On Monday, we figure out our base game plan. Tuesday, you get into some red zone stuff and third downs."
** Andy wants to know about KSU's offense. "I thought that was a big factor going into the game -- who could control the tempo."
** Andy wants to know about the late drives. "The fade we threw ... that's a play the quarterback and receiver really worked on. Daniel Carlson did a very solid job. Those were two long drives that helped us win the game."
** Andy wants to know why there were Big 12 officials Thursday: Gus said the 2007 game had SEC officials, so Kansas State got Big 12 guys this time around.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Bruce wins a modest gift card (can't do better than $25?) for this question ... what did the team learn from the KSU game that can carry forward? "We can take a lot of lessons form this game. Top 20 team on the road, their place. Are we going to make a play when the game's on the line. Our guys did that. We've got to figure out a way to get better. When you do win your best and you can win against a Top 20 team, I think that's a good thing."
** Andy wants to know what Auburn can do to play better on offense. "It takes all 11 guys ... and we didn't have that. We've got to have a wake-up call. We've got to get better on our foundation plays."
** And defense? "We've got to put more pressure on the quarterback."
** Andy says improvement was a hallmark last season. How about now? "That's our challenge. It's every practice; it's every game. We've got to go out and do it and prove it."
** Andy wonders why the defense can't rush the passer now when they were good at it in 2013. (Dee Ford says hello.) "You'll see our coaches have different plans as the year goes on."
** Andy wants to know about La Tech. "They have our coaches' attentions, no doubt. The Oklahoma game -- they did some very good things. They've got our attention."
** Andy wants to know if Gus watches the polls. "If you asked me in November, it would mean a lot more. I'm trying to figure out how some of these teams are ranked so high, as a coach." (Me too, Gus. ME TOO.)
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Question from the WEBZ on Jermaine: "Nothing has changed to this point."
** Andy wants to talk about Holsey again. "He's our most veteran guy. We felt like he could execute and handle it. He definitely did -- with flying colors."
** Andy reports that Holsey was happy with the win. Huge. "They're very unique with their quarterback run game and play-actions off that quarterback run game."
** Andy reports that Arkansas runs the ball well. "We left that Arkansas game knowing they definitely could run the football. They're a really good team and I think people will figure that out as the year goes on."
** Gus affirms that he's not looking ahead to anything behind La Tech.
** Andy wants to talk about SPECIAL TEAMS. Gus says the punter didn't get enough hang time. "We've got to do a better job of tackling once we get down there."
** Andy wants to know about La Tech's defense. "They're an unusual defense. They attack in a lot of different ways. They present a lot of challenges."
** Andy wants to know if that D reminds Gus of any other team ... short answer is no.
** Andy wants to know if Gus is glad to be back home: "It's such a great place to coach and play in. We're glad to be home."
That's a wrap for Gus. He gives a "WAR EAGLE" and hits the road. He has things to do.
BE SAFE OUT THERE.
This post was edited on 9/22 7:11 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:19 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:27 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:28 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:36 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:43 PM by Jay G. Tate
ASK A QUESTION
Via The Mic (for those of you at the broadcast location): Speak into the mic when Rod calls your name
Via The Twitter: @VoiceOfAUTigers (Rod's handle)
Via The Emails: AUBTigerTalk@gmail.com
Via The Telephone: 1-888-AU-CALLS
ANDY BURCHAM is doing the show tonight. I hope Rod is OK.
** Malzahn makes a passing reference to the Big 12 officials in the his opening statement. I found that odd; he's not a complainer.
** Andy wants to know about the KSU game. "It was good for us to have a game like that. We found a way to win at the end. There's a lot of lessons we can take from that," Malzahn said.
** Andy mentions that some players don't care about loud stadia: "Our players are used to that."
** Andy wants to know about how he got players ready for the environment: "We wanted to make sure each player knew what the play was and what the check was before we played."
** Andy wants to talk about the late throw to DUKE: "The bottom line is ... we were there to win the game. We had to give our guys a chance to win the game. We'd run the slant three times. They were in Cover 0. It was the perfect defense to run that again."
** KIM is at the restaurant. She's "on the mic," as the kids say. She wants to know about La Tech, whom she doesn't view as a cupcake. "What jumps out to me is that they have talented players on both sides of the football. They beat Lafayette and North Texas ... soundly. We're not overlooking them, I can promise you that."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Question from the INTERNET about Co Grant: "They were really taking away the perimeter, edge runs. Their safeties were funneling everything back in. Their runs fits were extremely good. They were playing one high safety and daring us to throw it."
** Gus also said something about Roc. Says he could be a factor moving forward.
** Sammy from Columbus, Miss., is in the house. He wants to know about why Gus touches every player before the game. "It's one of those things ... I want to just touch them and tell them to get after 'em and have a great game. I did that back in high school. I'm a routine guy."
** Andy wants to know about how Auburn DUG DEEP and won the game last week. "We worked hard on our passing and you saw that we were able to make plays in the passing game when we needed to. We have a chance to be very good in the passing game, I feel like."
** Andy wants to talk about Duke dropping some balls, then being a hero. "I can probably count on one hand how many balls he's drops. He has real sticky hands. I told him we were going to keep throwing (the ball) his way."
** Andy wants to know about AU's run defense. "They were very effective with their quarterback runs. We felt like we had to limit that; we rolled a safety down."
** Andy wants to know about JOSHUA HOLSEY, who is the SEC Defensive POY. "You're talking about a guy who's been playing corner and he played field safety. He's a calm, confident guy. His play was really big."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Andy wants to talk about wind at KSU. Really? "As the game went on, the wind was blowing harder. It was affecting a lot of the kicking game. The long passes, he had to put a little more on it."
** Jean from Auburn is IN THE HOUSE. She thinks Gus is an offensive genius. She's asking a veiled question about Clemson running their 4th-and-1 out of the shotgun. She wants to know if Auburn has a short-yardage package. "I feel like we've got a good plan. We're a shotgun-oriented offense. We led the nation in rushing last season and we ran maybe four snaps from under center. I'm not of that train of thought that you have to be under center to get a yard. I just don't have that ... philosophy."
** Question about the weird package that had Jeremy Johnson at wideout. Gus offered nothing useful; said that was the plan.
** Andy wants to know what Mondays are like for LES TIGRES ($1 to the Boomtown Rats): "The players are off. That's our day to study our opponent. On Monday, we figure out our base game plan. Tuesday, you get into some red zone stuff and third downs."
** Andy wants to know about KSU's offense. "I thought that was a big factor going into the game -- who could control the tempo."
** Andy wants to know about the late drives. "The fade we threw ... that's a play the quarterback and receiver really worked on. Daniel Carlson did a very solid job. Those were two long drives that helped us win the game."
** Andy wants to know why there were Big 12 officials Thursday: Gus said the 2007 game had SEC officials, so Kansas State got Big 12 guys this time around.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Bruce wins a modest gift card (can't do better than $25?) for this question ... what did the team learn from the KSU game that can carry forward? "We can take a lot of lessons form this game. Top 20 team on the road, their place. Are we going to make a play when the game's on the line. Our guys did that. We've got to figure out a way to get better. When you do win your best and you can win against a Top 20 team, I think that's a good thing."
** Andy wants to know what Auburn can do to play better on offense. "It takes all 11 guys ... and we didn't have that. We've got to have a wake-up call. We've got to get better on our foundation plays."
** And defense? "We've got to put more pressure on the quarterback."
** Andy says improvement was a hallmark last season. How about now? "That's our challenge. It's every practice; it's every game. We've got to go out and do it and prove it."
** Andy wonders why the defense can't rush the passer now when they were good at it in 2013. (Dee Ford says hello.) "You'll see our coaches have different plans as the year goes on."
** Andy wants to know about La Tech. "They have our coaches' attentions, no doubt. The Oklahoma game -- they did some very good things. They've got our attention."
** Andy wants to know if Gus watches the polls. "If you asked me in November, it would mean a lot more. I'm trying to figure out how some of these teams are ranked so high, as a coach." (Me too, Gus. ME TOO.)
COMMERCIAL BREAK
** Question from the WEBZ on Jermaine: "Nothing has changed to this point."
** Andy wants to talk about Holsey again. "He's our most veteran guy. We felt like he could execute and handle it. He definitely did -- with flying colors."
** Andy reports that Holsey was happy with the win. Huge. "They're very unique with their quarterback run game and play-actions off that quarterback run game."
** Andy reports that Arkansas runs the ball well. "We left that Arkansas game knowing they definitely could run the football. They're a really good team and I think people will figure that out as the year goes on."
** Gus affirms that he's not looking ahead to anything behind La Tech.
** Andy wants to talk about SPECIAL TEAMS. Gus says the punter didn't get enough hang time. "We've got to do a better job of tackling once we get down there."
** Andy wants to know about La Tech's defense. "They're an unusual defense. They attack in a lot of different ways. They present a lot of challenges."
** Andy wants to know if that D reminds Gus of any other team ... short answer is no.
** Andy wants to know if Gus is glad to be back home: "It's such a great place to coach and play in. We're glad to be home."
That's a wrap for Gus. He gives a "WAR EAGLE" and hits the road. He has things to do.
BE SAFE OUT THERE.
This post was edited on 9/22 7:11 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:19 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:27 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:28 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:36 PM by Jay G. Tate
This post was edited on 9/22 7:43 PM by Jay G. Tate
