Monday, January 2, 2017

2017 Sugar Bowl Review: What did you expect?

Oklahoma 35  Auburn 19.  First let me be very clear here, just like last year and earlier this season Gus Malzahn cannot be held accountable for this loss.  He cannot be held accountable because just like every other big game the last two seasons Sean White got hurt.  Auburn cannot be expected to play well or to win without Sean White.  Auburn would have blown out the Sooners if Sean White would have played.  Get that through your head!  If you don't believe me go to any other Auburn site.  In fact Gus Malzahn should get another raise and another extension for his brave coaching without the greatest quarterback in Auburn history. 

As I said in my post last week, I never thought Auburn had much of a chance in this one with or without Sean White.  I never understood all of the bright predictions.  Oklahoma was a better team with one of the most prolific offenses in the country that included two Heisman finalists.  Our defense is good but was exposed quite a bit against Ole Miss.  Auburn is lucky it did not play many good passing teams.  Our defense is not near as good against a good passing team.  Oklahoma is way better than Ole Miss and abused the Auburn defense repeatedly.  Baker Mayfield showed why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and that he has an excellent supporting cast receiving and running the ball.   

Gus Malzahn did the same thing he has done his entire career at Auburn.  He tried to run over the opposing team.  He has no other game plans.  He destroys weaker teams that cannot stop the run and gets beat by any team that can.  He showed once again he cannot coach up a competent passing game.  Auburn finished with a paltry 154 yards passing and it would have been 100 yards without a meaningless bomb at the end of the game.  Also regardless of the lies and deceptions attempted in other places, the score would have been the same with Sean White.  He cannot pass on anybody any good either.  His record of never leading Auburn to a victory against anyone any good is safe.

There is really not much else to say.  There will not be much else to say after spring practice or before next season or during next season either.  Malzahn will come out running these exact same plays every game next season as well.  He has run the same shi* for four seasons now.  Nothing is going to change next season either.  It does not matter how good Jarrett Stidham is.  He will not be successful unless Auburn has an absolutely overwhelming offensive line and rushing attack.  From watching four years of Malzahn the only thing he will practice is the read option, the jet sweep, the bubble screen, the double play-action wheel route, a few other predictable pass plays and the most important play of all... the handoff up the middle.  I cannot wait.