Game 2 Review: Wave of Doubt

Auburn 24  Tulane 6.  The season that started as a fairy tale may quickly turn into a nightmare.  I am sure Auburn will romp next week against Kent State but now I have serious doubts about the rest of this season.  I know Auburn was due for a let down after a big win, I understand that.  However the fact is that Auburn's offensive line, all senior or not, is just not that good.  They have been good enough to wear down undersized opponents so far but what happens when the other side is not undersized?  Auburn could not run or protect the quarterback very well.

On top of that, anointed superstar running back Boobee Whitlow fumbled the ball twice.  The wide receivers were better but not great and several got hurt.  Of course, that gives the sunshine pumping web sites their excuses to run when the team starts losing.  Finally you have the coaching... It is impossible to find anything new to say after watching and blogging about Gus Malzahn for six years.  He did throw more (where was that last year with a SENIOR quarterback?) but the offense on a whole is still painfully predictable.  That is obvious even to us who do not engage in football "technospeak" when breaking down a game. 

The defense is very good.  Auburn has a lot of big strong fast football players on defense.  During this game I was most impressed with the young guys in the secondary.  Auburn appears to be doing a good job recruiting in the secondary.  The young linebackers continue to fly around and of course the defensive line is nasty.  There is still only one glaring problem and I hate to keep harping on it but the Tigers still do not have a consistent pass rusher.  It really stinks because this could be an exceptional group with a big-time pass rusher.  Auburn is going to have to blitz more against the big boys.  I think this group can be successful doing that.  Be aggressive, do not lay back with these guys.

The special teams were better other than giving up one big punt return.  I really like Christian Tutt returning punts, he looks like a good one.  The team on a whole has a lot of good players but unfortunately it is hard to overcome an average offensive line and predictable offensive play calling.  It is obvious too that as much as I love Bo Nix he is going to have some tough games this season.  His stats rolling out and lofting the ball will continue to be really bad and the teams down the line are going to make him pay for those mistakes.  On the flip side Auburn is going to face a lot of good veteran quarterbacks this season.  

The upcoming stretch of games after Kent State will really decide Auburn's season.  In fact the game against Texas A&M is starting to look like a real deciding factor in this season.  Auburn wins that game and then takes care of Mississippi State and the Tigers are 2-0 in the SEC going into Florida with some momentum and at least a chance at an upset in the Swamp.  The Tigers lose in College Station and I think the momentum goes the other way.  I believe in two weeks we will see what this team is made of.  Auburn at Texas A&M is going to be a HUGE game.

I do want to end this post on a positive note though.  I have been very critical of Gus but I will say it could be worse, a lot worse.  I cannot believe what has happened in Knoxville the last two weeks.  I am certainly not poking fun at Tennessee, I love Tennessee doing well.  It does not usually hurt Auburn and it can hurt Bama.  Auburn and Tennessee have a common rival.  The situation at Tennessee though right now looks really bad.  These were absolutely backbreaking losses that puts yet another Tennessee head coach on the hot seat.  Thank goodness that regardless of the tough times upcoming Auburn has so many good young players.