October 2015

Lyle's Corner

Saturday, October 31st, 2015

Happy Halloween, Auburn fans!

As I write this, the Tigers are just over two and a half hours away from a pivotal home match with Ole Miss. I'll try not to elaborate on this too much, but here are, from my point of view, the keys to victory for Auburn today:

Offense:

1. Establish the run (or pass, if necessary): As we all know, the running game has very solid for the Tigers thus far this year, with Peyton Barber leading the way. However, it will be challenging to establish a ground attack against a talented Ole Miss run defense. If, at any point, the running game starts to sputter, Auburn would have to rely on QB Sean White to exploit a vulnerable Rebel secondary.

2. Convert on third-down situations: Need I say more? Easier said than done, of course, but if we can be successful in this area, we can keep the defense off the field for as long as possible.

3. Catch the passes: This is undoubtedly our area that most desperately need to be corrected. When I say desperately, I mean desperately. The Tiger receivers dropped nine passes in last week's four-overtime heartbreaker at Arkansas. Nine. In SEC competition (regardless of the quality of the opponent), that is absolutely inexcusable. I sincerely hope that the team has strived to rectify that during practice this past week.

Defense:

1. Disrupt Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly: Here is the guy who makes the Rebel offense go. The former Clemson Tiger can make life miserable for any opposing secondary. The Tigers must stop at nothing to harass the daylights out of him.

2. Force the Rebels to run: If Auburn can successfully accomplish the above task, they will make Ole Miss rely on their ground game, led by senior Jaylen Walton. Although their running game is decent, it's not exactly unstoppable.

3. Force turnovers: At this point in the season, the Rebels have accumulated an SEC-worst 19 turnovers. Yes, you read that correctly. Nineteen turnovers from a team with the conference's top offense. If Auburn can make them add to that figure, and cash in on those mistakes, the Tigers have a good chance of pulling off an upset.

4. Cover the Rebel receivers: Chad Kelly has quite a group of talented wideouts that can catch any pass thrown in their direction. Such names include senior Cody Core, junior tight end Evan Engram, and most significantly, senior Laquon Treadwell. Any loyal Auburn fan knows the horrid fate that Treadwell was dealt in last year's confrontation with the Tigers: With just over a minute left, he caught a pass from Bo Wallace and dashed toward the Tiger end zone. Then, disaster struck. Just short of the goal line, he fumbled the ball, which bounced forward to the end zone, and the Tigers fell on it. But the play was completely overshadowed by the fact that Treadwell had broken his leg. His 2014 campaign was over. The Tigers won a 35-31 thriller. Treadwell went through a tough road to recovery in the offseason, but he'll be ready for action today. Freshman defensive back Carlton Davis will likely be responsible for covering him.

Regardless, Auburn's primary concern at this point should be clinching bowl eligibility. If the Tigers don't light the fire in every aspect of the game, the chances of them seeing postseason play will be just the same as the chances of us seeing a sequel to the beloved animated "Peanuts" Halloween special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, in which Linus finally sees the Great Pumpkin rise out of the pumpkin patch on Halloween night. (Don't get me wrong: That will always be one of my favorite "Peanuts" specials. I still watch it every year. Nobody is ever too old for anything.)

In other news...

- Auburn got a bit of good news on the recruiting front. SEC Country confirmed last night that one-time Auburn commit David Marshall has once again pledged to the Tigers. The three-star defensive end from Upson-Lee (Thomaston, Ga.) made the announcement prior to the next-to-last game of his high school career yesterday. He turned down offers from Ole Miss and Alabama in the process.

Marshall, who has reported 12 offers, originally committed to Auburn in May before de-committing a month later. He is now the Tigers' 12th commitment for the class of 2016 and the fourth defensive lineman overall. He is rated as the No. 37 player in Georgia.

- Kickoff time for Auburn's next game at Texas A&M (on November 7th) has been set for 6:30 PM CT. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.

That's all for now. Until next time, Happy Halloween, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Tuesday, October 27th, 2015

Auburn's much-maligned defense may have finally gotten just the tonic it needed.

Head coach Gus Malzahn reported in his weekly press conference today that defensive end Carl Lawson has returned to practice. Lawson, a redshirt sophomore, has not seen the field since he suffered a hip injury in the Tigers' season opener against Louisville. Malzahn didn't say whether or not Lawson would play against Ole Miss on Saturday, or how much he might play.

"Carl Lawson will practice for the first time today, which should give our guys a lift," Malzahn stated. "We'll see where he's at. I'm not going to say right now that he's going to play this Saturday, but the fact that he's out there practicing will be good from a leadership standpoint if nothing else."

Regardless of when he returns, Lawson should provide a major boost to an Auburn pass rush that ranks 13th in the SEC with just 11 sacks. Lawson recorded one of them. He redshirted last year after suffering a torn ACL. The Tigers will host Ole Miss on Saturday at 11:00 AM CT. The game will be televised by ESPN.

As if that's not enough positive news in the injury department, backup center Xavier Dampeer is set to return to action sooner than anticipated. Dampeer suffered a jaw injury in an altercation with former wide receiver Duke Williams. At the time, Dampeer was expected to return in time for Auburn's home match against Idaho. Now, it appears that that timetable has been moved up. He posted an update on Facebook yesterday indicating that he will return a week earlier and be available for the Georgia game.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Sunday, October 25th, 2015

Yesterday, there was enough drama to give even the most timid college football fan a case of emotional whiplash. It was a crazy day, with crazy games and crazy endings. Pitt needed a last-play field goal to nip Syracuse. Georgia Tech returned a potential game-winning field goal for a touchdown to stun Florida State. Alabama survived a serious scare by Tennessee. Toledo came from 18 points down to overtake UMass. Duke edged by Virginia Tech in the first-ever four-overtime game in ACC history. Whew!

Now, add Auburn to the list. In Fayetville, against the Arkansas Razorbacks, both squads retaliated with their backs against the wall, again and again, and again, and again. Remember that willy-nilly 65-43 affair that these two clubs had in 2010? Auburn won that one. Yesterday's game was very nearly a carbon copy of that one. Sadly, this time, the Tigers came up on the short end of the stick, in a heart-throbbing 56-44 four-overtime defeat. Time after time, Auburn seemed to have victory within grasping distance, but alas, they let it slip away like sand on the beach trickles through your fingers. It tied the longest game Auburn has played since a four-overtime 56-49 upset loss to Georgia in 1996. Let's look at every facet of this wild, wacky, scintillating showdown:

Offense: When all was said and done in this game, the Tigers had generated 416 total yards, responding time and time again in the first three extra sessions. In the early going, however, the Tigers were anemic. They only had 15 yards of offense in the first quarter. However, they soon lit the fire. Running back Peyton Barber had another super day, gaining 120 yards on 37 carries with four TDs, three of which came in the overtime periods. Quarterback Sean White also had another solid performance, going 19-of-32 for 254 yards. However, he still has yet to throw a touchdown.  Nine different Tigers caught passes. Ricardo Louis led the bunch with six receptions. Unfortunately, in the early going, the group had a severe case of "drop-itis." They dropped five passes in the first half, four of which came on third-down attempts that would have extended drives. By game's end, the Tigers had recorded nine drops in all. Obviously, that issue urgently needs to be rectified. On the up side, there were no turnovers for the second straight week, which is always encouraging. Also, receiver Jason Smith scored his first career touchdown.

Defense: There's still plenty of room for improvement on this side. Early on, the Razorbacks had their way with the Tigers, amassing over 200 yards in the game's first 22 minutes. After that, however, Auburn toughened up, surrendering just 150 yards for the remainder of regulation. However, when the overtimes began, the glaring woes returned. Twice, the Tigers were one stop away from a victory in a fourth-down situation. Twice, Arkansas converted with a score. Auburn simply couldn't come up with an answer when it mattered most. All told, the Tigers gave up 457 yards to the Hogs. Will Muschamp's bunch really needs to bow up. Big time.

Special teams: There were ups and downs here. On the bright side, Daniel Carlson came through in the clutch, nailing his only field goal of the day - a desperation 41-yarder with four seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime with the score deadlocked at 24-24. In the return department, Rudy Ford and Blake Countess had a few quality returns. Unfortunately, punter Kevin Phillips had a shaky outing, averaging 36.2 yards on six punts after averaging 43.52 yards per boot entering the contest. That needs to be corrected.

Overall: The offense started out limp, but soon played with desire and discipline. Defensively, the defense started out cold, then heated up, but then wore thin in the overtime periods. Needless to say, this is a bitter pill to swallow. The Tigers now dwell in the cellar in the SEC West standings at 1-3 with three tough division matches remaining. As hard as it will be, Auburn must move past this heartbreaker and regroup for a home contest with Ole Miss on Halloween night. At this point, their primary focus should be qualifying for a bowl.

Injury report: Auburn wide receiver Stanton Truitt sustained a shoulder injury in the second quarter and didn't return. No details have been released on the extent of his injury. However, Arkansas' Rawleigh Williams III was dealt a more frightening fate. Late in the third quarter, the running back injured his neck after a 1-yard gain, during which Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy incurred a facemask penalty. Williams was taken to a local hospital for observation, and Arkansas officials reported that he is moving all of his extremities. My heart and prayers go out to him, and I hope he is OK, and that he will recover quickly.

Allow me to wrap up this post with a memorable personal account. As you recall, earlier in this post, I reflected back on the wild 65-43 shootout from 2010. My Mom and I both went to that game on the Plains. We went to every home game for 12 years, from 1999-2011. We usually arrived on Thursday (though sometimes on Friday, depending on my college class schedule). The night before this game, we went to the clubhouse near the RV park on campus. We went there quite frequently, and usually spent time with our close friends.

Well, on this night, we met a couple who had come to the game in their motorhome. They were Arkansas fans, although they lived in Oklahoma. I talked to the husband, Larry Smith, for quite a while. He was a very friendly man. I asked him about his favorite Arkansas football memory, and he told me that it was in 1964, when Arkansas won the Cotton Bowl. I told him a few things I knew about Arkansas football history, and also talked with him about the Razorbacks' late radio broadcaster, Paul Eells. (He died in a car accident in July of 2006 at age 70.) He went over to another man, and said, "This guy is a walking historian." Obviously, he was amazed by what I knew. (I briefly recounted to him about the 2002 Auburn-Arkansas game, which the Hogs won 38-17. That day, running back Fred Talley demolished the Tigers with 241 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown.)

The next day, we witnessed the incredible shootout. After the game ended, my Mom and I got on a shuttle bus to return to our camper. Larry and his wife happened to be sitting right in front of us. He turned to me and said, as sincerely as all get out, "Lyle, you'll probably remember this one for the rest of your life." Well said. I knew that he made the comment not solely in the context that Auburn won, but that neither team could ever stop the other (at least until the fourth quarter, when Auburn scored 28 unanswered points and forced three turnovers). It's hard to forget a game where the two teams combine for 108 points, and 1,036 total yards of offense. That was the last time I saw him. I don't know if he's still alive, but there's always something about meeting someone for the first time and striking up a conversation with them that leaves a feeling of lasting joy and warmth in you, even if your paths never cross each other again. If he IS still alive, I'd bet he'd say the same thing about yesterday's game...although in this case, my team wasn't so fortunate. (Incidentally, if Auburn had scored the TD and two-point conversion that we needed in the fourth OT to keep the game going, we would have equaled the combined point total (108) from that 2010 game. But alas, we didn't.)

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

Athletic director Jay Jacobs made it official this afternoon: Butch Thompson has been named Auburn's head baseball coach. Thompson, previously the associate head coach and pitching coach at Mississippi State, replaces Sunny Golloway, who was fired with cause after two seasons. The 44-year old Thompson is one of the more respected coaches on the college level. He has developed a propensity for dominating recruiting in the state of Alabama, even while at Mississippi State.

"Throughout the interview process with Coach Thompson, it became clear that he was the right man to lead Auburn's student-athletes now and into the future," Jacobs stated. "Coach Thompson is widely known and respected as one of the best men in college baseball. He has an outstanding track record as an elite recruiter, and he has been recognized as the best pitching coach in the country. His track record of developing players who have gone on to highly successful careers in baseball is second to none."

Thompson said that he embraced "the opportunity of a lifetime."

"My entire family is excited to return to The Plains and be part of such a special place," he said. He further emphasized that he is excited to be leading a program with outstanding fan support that can have a tremendous impact. "This is the perfect time for all who love Auburn University to embrace our current and future players," he said. "Starting today, we will begin to define an identity that will make every Auburn man and woman proud of their team on and off the field. I want to personally reach out to every baseball alumnus and fan and let you know we need and want you now more than ever. This is a worthwhile task best done together."

Thompson was named the Baseball America and American Baseball Coaches Association National Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to the NCAA Championship Series in 2013. He has coached in the College World Series seven times and has been part of nine conference titles.

He previously spent three seasons as an assistant at Auburn, recruiting most of the players on the record-breaking 2010 Western Division championship squad. A former player and coach at Birmingham-Southern, he has maintained his connections in the state throughout a career that has included successful stints at Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi State.

Given these facts, it certainly looks as if Thompson will be a great fit for Auburn's baseball program, and can lead it in the right direction to change its fortunes. I hope so.

In other news...

- Good news for the football team: Sophomore Carl Lawson is reportedly "on schedule" to return to action, although no timetable has been set as to when, or if, that will happen. "...Not this week, but he's a guy that they've had on the field, not practicing at all but running and doing a lot of things with our staff," defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said yesterday.

Lawson hasn't seen the field since sustaining a hip injury in the first half of the Tigers' season opener against Louisville. According to Muschamp, Lawson visited with Dr. James Andrews yesterday and the team is still preparing for the talented Buck linebacker to return to action this season. "We certainly expect him back, unless we have some sort of setback," Muschamp stated. "That's why I don't want to come out and say a date and then, 'Well, what happened?' I think we're dealing with a situation that will be resolved soon."

Obviously, Lawson's return would prove vital to a defense that has struggled to develop a meaningful pass rush without him. Although the Tigers recorded three sacks in their victory over Kentucky last Thursday, I'm still not totally convinced that they're turning a corner in that facet of the game. Then again, I may be wrong. Stranger things have happened.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2015

I mostly just have some random news today:

- Auburn has added new eagle banners to the back of the Jordan-Hare Stadium scoreboard. Based on the pictures I've seen, they look pretty snazzy.

- After being a week-to-week scenario for the past few weeks, it is now definitive: Sean White has officially been named the Tigers' starting quarterback. Personally, I'm not surprised. Since gaining the role prior to the Mississippi State game, White has completed 66 percent of his passes, although he has yet to throw a touchdown. I strongly believe this is the tonic the offense needs to right the ship and turn things around after a disappointing start to the season. As for Jeremy Johnson, he could still very well be called upon at any time, although it's not clear if he will be used on situational downs that call for a QB draw or something similar.

- Coach Gus Malzahn has hinted that running back Jovon Robinson's role may increase. Robinson injured his ankle after just two carries in the season opener against Louisville. Since then, he's played in just two games, gaining zero yards on four carries. "A lot of it had to do with he was injured," Malzahn stated. "He is starting to get healthy and you could see him more and more. It's also probably a combination of Peyton Barber performing extremely well. You could see him Saturday and could see him before the season is out."

Asked if Robinson was frustrated by his lack of playing time, Malzahn replied, "Probably so. He wants to play and wants to contribute." Doesn't everybody?

- I'm sad to say that on October 24th, Auburn will have another 11:00 AM CT kickoff when they host Ole Miss. Yeah, I know. These early games don't bode with me well, either. Maybe it has to do with the fact that Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss aren't exactly having dream seasons right now.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Friday, October 16th, 2015

Auburn finally broke a two-game conference skid last night with a thrilling 30-27 triumph over Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington. That one had me (and my family) on the edge of our seats. Today, I'm still a bit hoarse, and I'm sure you'd understand why. While we weren't perfect by any standard, we still did enough things right to clinch a game that we had to have. We seemed to have a renewed sense of urgency out there, and will hopefully use this as a confidence-booster going into another road trip to Arkansas next Saturday. Let's break this down:

Offense: For the first time this year, the unit actually looked like what you've come to expect from a Gus Malzahn-led offense. By the end of the night, the Tigers had rolled up 407 total yards (255 passing, 152 rushing). The real highlight was quarterback Sean White. In his third straight start, he went 17-of-27 for 255 yards. He still has yet to throw a touchdown pass, but he also had no interceptions, which is a plus. On Auburn's first possession, he converted three third-down situations with key completions. His favorite target was Ricardo Louis. The senior receiver snatched seven receptions for 154 yards.

In the rushing category, Peyton Barber tallied 92 yards on 26 carries, with two short scoring runs, the second of which was the most crucial to give the Tigers a 30-20 cushion with 7:56 left in the contest and establish some breathing room. Kerryon Johnson also scored on a 6-yard scamper out of the Wildcat formation. He has a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, Roc Thomas left the game with an apparent leg injury in the second quarter and didn't return. Hopefully, we'll have more details about it soon.

The offensive line still has room for improvement, but it only allowed one sack last night. Hopefully, that will mark the start of a positive trend.

Defense: A mixed bag here. The bad news is that they surrendered a season-high 497 total yards to Kentucky. The Tigers simply couldn't contain Wildcat QB Patrick Towles and running back Stanley "Boom" Williams. Not for most of the game, anyway. But, in the clutch situation, when the game was on the line, it broke through. In Kentucky's last-ditch effort to at least tie the game in the waning moments, Auburn denied the Wildcats three yards on its last two downs to seal the deal. A fourth-down sack of Towles put it away. We sacked him three times in the game. The Tigers had only had three sacks combined in their last four games. I hope we can better that figure moving forward. (Incidentally, Carl Lawson reportedly made the trip with the team, but didn't play. Maybe there is still hope for him to return to action before the campaign ends.) Carlton Davis also had a big interception in the end zone in the second quarter to snuff out a scoring threat by UK.

Special teams: In one word, this unit was superb. After missing two field goals against San Jose State last week, Daniel Carlson booted three field goals against the Cats, including a 52-yarder, his third from 50-plus this year, tying the Auburn single-season record. Also, five of his six kickoffs went for touchbacks. Punter Kevin Phillips also did a great job with pinning the Wildcats deep, with the exception of one poor punt in the second half. He put two punts inside the 20.

Coaching: There were yet again times when the staff called a few "vanilla" plays, but I also liked a few trick plays we ran, such as faking the Statue of Liberty, or running the speed sweep with Ricardo Louis. When that works, man, does it ever! It's always a good idea to mix things up to keep the opposing defense honest and guessing as the game goes on.

Overall: It's always big to come out with a conference win on the road. The Tiger offense seems to be getting into gear now, but the defense still needs to brush up in certain aspects. It's quite apparent that the bye week really paid off for Auburn. Now, they'll have a couple of days to recuperate before returning to practice on Sunday to get ready for another road trip to Arkansas next weekend. I personally believe that there's still reason to think that we CAN get this ship steered in the right direction.

At this point, I'm in the mood for a flashback that perhaps I should have done yesterday for "Throwback Thursday." Last night marked our first Thursday night match with Kentucky since 1994. I went to that '94 game with my family. At the time, I was in 4th grade. That was Terry Bowden's second season as head coach. Kentucky, meanwhile, was coached by Bill Curry, who had coached at Alabama from 1987-89 (and never beat Auburn in 3 tries).

The 1994 Tigers were a special team, with offensive juggernauts such as quarterback Patrick Nix, running back Stephen Davis, wide receiver Frank Sanders, tight end Andy Fuller, and center Shannon Robique (spelling?). The defense, meanwhile, had its own playmakers, such as linebackers Anthony Harris and Marcellus Mostella. Mike Pelton and Willie Whitehead were on the defensive line. The secondary was equally powerful, with safeties Ken Alvis and Brian Robinson, and cornerback Fred Smith. On this night, the Tigers soundly defeated the Wildcats, 41-14. That gave the Tigers 16 straight wins since Bowden had taken the reins of the program the season before. The streak would reach 20 before being shattered by a comeback tie by Georgia (23-23), followed by a 21-14 loss to Alabama. Still, the 9-1-1 season was fantastic, particularly due to an improbable comeback win over LSU ("The Interception Game", as it were), and a dramatic 36-33 upset of top-ranked Florida in Gainesville.

In other news...

- The Auburn basketball program landed another big commitment yesterday. Davion Mitchell, a four-star point guard from Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga., committed to the Tigers for the Class of 2017.

Mitchell, 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, is ranked the nation's No. 13 point guard and No. 50 player overall in the 247Sports Composite.

As a sophomore last season, Mitchell averaged 18.8 points, 7.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game. He picked Auburn over offers from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Louisville, UConn and others. Mitchell joins five-star forward Austin Wiley on Auburn's commitment list for 2017.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Thursday, October 15th, 2015

As I write this, Auburn is nine hours and 12 minutes away from its crucial road match against Kentucky. Here are a couple of pivotal notes regarding tonight's game that I neglected to mention in my last post:

- Aside from its passing game, Kentucky also has a solid running back in sophomore Stanley "Boom" Williams. Although he missed the Wildcats' game against Eastern Kentucky last weekend due to "personal reasons", he has been very efficient when touching the ball. I won't go through all of his stats, but I will tell you that he's averaged 7.3 yards a carry through four games, so the Tiger defense must do all it can to stop him in his tracks.

- Auburn will make a game-time decision as to who its starting quarterback will be. The race at all positions is still very tight, and we still shouldn't rule out the possibility of both Jeremy Johnson and Sean White being used in Commonwealth Stadium. As we all know, Johnson struggled through the first three games, throwing six interceptions before being benched in favor of White. While White has yet to throw a touchdown pass, he has still been very efficient. Also, I firmly think that Malzahn's refusal to reveal the starter until kickoff is for the best. The Tigers absolutely must be able to convert in the red zone.

- Peyton Barber must pile up the yards on the ground, as he has clearly established himself as the go-to guy in our running game. Still, don't be surprised to see Roc Thomas and Kerryon Johnson get some chances along the way.

- In the wake of former wide receiver Duke Williams' dismissal, that opens the door for other guys to step up, especially the youngsters, like Tony Stevens and Stanton Truitt. Also, the veterans, such as Melvin Ray and Ricardo Louis should get some balls thrown their way. Of course, the offensive front must honor its side of the deal by giving the quarterback valuable time.

The bottom line is that Auburn simply must do enough things right to leave Lexington with a victory and give Tiger fans a glimmer of hope for what has turned into a rocky season.

Aside from Auburn, I was as shocked as most everybody else to learn of Steve Spurrier's immediate resignation from South Carolina three days ago. Most people congratulated him on his successful coaching career over almost three decades, although others have disapproved of his decision, calling him a quitter. To each his own, but I believe this will open the door for many other avenues for Ol' Ball Coach to explore. Personally, I think he'd make a great fit for broadcasting, particularly on ESPN. And yes, I know that he's making an appearance on College GameDay on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a coach, he was never easy to beat, but he's always been a class act in every sense. I salute him!

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, October 12th, 2015

With three days to go until Auburn's road tilt with Kentucky, here are a couple of noteworthy tidbits to keep in mind:

1. Auburn may use two QBs against the Wildcats: Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has adamantly stated that he believes in both Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. While no definitive starter is written in stone, there is still the potential that they will both be used in Lexington. Regardless, the offense needs to find more rhythm, as the Tigers have had just 13 plays of 20 or more yards thus far this season. The next closest team has 22. Johnson's confidence appeared to waver following the Tigers' loss to LSU in Week 3, but there's still a chance that he will regain a more significant role. Still, neither of them has set himself apart to be named the full-time starter, and Lashlee says that that decision won't come until later in the week. "Coach (Malzahn) will make that call when it's time." he said.

2. The Tigers are focused on improving the pass rush: "At the end of the day, you have to have guys who can win the one-on-ones," defensive coordinator Will Muschamp told reporters on Sunday night." Through five games this season, Auburn is next to last in the SEC in sacks with just seven. However, the Tigers should have a chance to increase that figure against Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles. Kentucky has allowed the most sacks in the league in five games with 16. Muschamp has tried to boost the Tigers' pass rush by moving players around on defense. Senior linebacker Cassanova McKinzy has played the last two games at the Buck position (hybrid defensive end). The move was made to get McKinzy in solo matchups so that he could use his skills to get in the opponents' backfield.

As a whole, Auburn's defense has struggled to force plays for negative yardage. The Tigers have only 23 tackles for loss. Only Kentucky is worse in the conference with 21. "We've got to create more negative plays in early downs," Muschamp said. He also mentioned that freshman defensive tackle Jauntavius Johnson may get a chance to play a significant amount of snaps against the Wildcats. Johnson would add depth to the defensive front, allowing the Tigers to rotate in players so that the line doesn't wear down as the game progresses. "I'd be real happy," Muschamp said about the Tigers possibly pressuring UK's quarterback. If Auburn can improve an area where they've clearly sputtered thus far this year, there should be plenty of joy to share.

3. Backup center Xavier Dampeer out for extended period: Dampeer will miss the Kentucky game, and possibly more, following an injury to the jaw stemming from the altercation at the local Auburn club Skybar that led to the dismissal of former wide receiver Duke Williams. Dampeer was treated for his injuries at a local hospital last Wednesday and subsequently released. The No. 2 center behind starter Austin Golson, Dampeer has not played in Auburn's previous four games since seeing brief action in the season opener against Louisville.

In other news...

- This obviously won't bode well with many of you (including me), but it has been announced that Auburn's road match against Arkansas on October 24th will kick off at 11:00 AM Central. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. Home or road, morning games have never sat well with me. The crowd is often smaller as opposed to games played later in the day, and the team frequently appears unprepared and unenergized. I already have a wary feeling about the outcome of this one, but only time will tell.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Sunday, October 11th, 2015

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the past few days have been pretty uneventful for Auburn athletics, especially since the football team had this weekend off.

As for today, I obviously don't have any game review to write, but I did come across a bit of recruiting news on Friday that I haven't had a chance to share until now.

This past Friday, Gus Malzahn stopped at Central Gwinnett High School in Georgia to see 2017 four-star offensive tackle Tony Gray. He currently holds 19 offers from universities like Auburn, Alabama and Georgia, among others. Unfortunately, Malzahn never got the chance to speak with the 6-foot-5, 262-pounder, but Malzahn told Central Gwinnett's coach that Gray is wanted on the Plains.

"He wanted me to make sure that I let Tony know that he stopped by today," Central Gwinnett coach Todd Wofford told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's SECCountry.com. "He wants to make sure that he knows he's their guy."

Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes accompanied Malzahn on the trip. The two stayed at Central Gwinnett for about 30 minutes. Grimes' message to Wofford mirrored that of Malzahn - Gray would look great in an Auburn jersey. "Grimes said he loved the way Tony looked on film," said Wofford. "He said he looks more physical this year than he did last year. He also let me know that Tony is one of their top priorities."

However, Gray wasn't the only player who caught the Auburn coaches' eyes. Major Bellamy, a 2016 athlete, grabbed Malzahn's attention also. Bellamy only has two offers so far from Miami (Ohio) and Georgia State, but does that mean you should count him out of donning the orange and blue?

"(Malzahn) liked him and liked how we were using him," Wofford stated. "That was really encouraging to hear.

"Coach Malzahn told me that he would let me know about Major."

Aside from Auburn, I feel led to share my sentiments on Georgia running back Nick Chubb's injury against Tennessee yesterday. If you watched that game, you know that he got the carry on the first play from scrimmage, and landed awkwardly on his knee as he cut to the far sideline. After a few alarming minutes, he left the field and didn't return to action. After Georgia's 38-31 loss to the Vols, head coach Mark Richt said that he was optimistic that the injury wouldn't require surgery, but that he couldn't assure it 100 percent. He hoped to get confirmation on the injury's nature today.

I may not be a Georgia fan, but I personally consider myself an impartial class act. I never like to see any players get hurt, whether it's Auburn or the opposing team. For all of its thrills and excitement, sports can also pose many physical risks. I went to every Auburn home game for 12 years from 1999-2011, and there are still two injuries that are etched in my mind: One came in 2004, when Georgia receiver Reggie Brown collided helmet to helmet with Auburn safety Junior Rosegreen after catching a David Greene pass inside the Auburn 20-yard line. Brown was drilled and fumbled, and Will Herring scooped it up for the Tigers. But the play was overshadowed by the fact that Brown had suffered a concussion. For the next several minutes, he lay on the ground, dazed and practically motionless. Soon, the Auburn fans (including me) started chanting, "Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!" Eventually, he slowly got up and was helped off the field. During that time, the Auburn players knelt together in unison and prayed. I always love to see that type of sportsmanship.

The other moment came in 2009 when Auburn safety Zac Etheridge severely injured his neck against Ole Miss. For 20 minutes, the Rebels' Rodney Scott lay on top of Etheridge in order to save him from being paralyzed. After what seemed like an eternity, Etheridge was carted off the field. By the grace of God, he made a full recovery. The day after the game, then-head coach Gene Chizik called Rodney and asked how he knew to lay on top of Zac. His response? "I can't explain it, but it had to be God saying, 'Don't move. Don't move.'" Chizik was so touched by his story, and told his players about it shortly thereafter.

My heart and prayers go out to Chubb, his team, his coaches and his family. I wish him nothing but a full recovery, however long it takes. He's a phenomenal athlete with incredible talent.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015

Life is full of second chances, as well it should be. But generally speaking, if you abuse them, you're bound to run out. Such is now the case for a player who was considered one of Auburn's biggest offensive playmakers.

Late yesterday evening, head coach Gus Malzahn announced that senior wide receiver D'haquille "Duke" Williams had been dismissed from the team. In a press release announcing his decision, Malzahn stated, "When individuals fail to meet the expectations of our program, there has to be consequences. I gave D'haquille the chance to prove himself. I am disappointed that it did not work out."

Although no official reason for Williams' dismissal was given at the time, reliable sources have now indicated that it stemmed from an altercation at a local nightclub this past weekend. The axing caps a tumultuous 10-month stint for Williams, who has had several brushes with trouble prior to now. He was suspended from Auburn's appearance in the Outback Bowl last season for a violation of team rules. He gave Tiger fans reason to be optimistic when he announced that he would return for his senior season.

However, that excitement was tarnished when Williams was pulled from fall camp for a week before being reinstated to the team. Upon his return, Williams, who led the team in receiving last season with 45 receptions for 730 yards and five scores in 10 games, was placed at the bottom of the depth chart among receivers and had to work his way back into the starting lineup.

When this season's opener against Louisville rolled around, Williams was working with the first-team offense and started in each of Auburn's first five games. However, contrary to last year, he was not a significant factor, recording only 12 catches for 147 yards and one TD, ranking second on the team behind senior Ricardo Louis. Williams was a first-team All-SEC selection at wide receiver in the preseason, and was pegged by many as a future first-round NFL Draft pick. Now, his future remains in dire straits as the Tigers prepare to move on without him.

On one hand, I feel sorry for Duke. If you've read news articles about him, it's no secret that he's had a very troubled past, in Auburn and in his hometown of LaPlace, Louisiana. He told his story to teammates during team meetings, and they were very touched. During spring practice, they commended him for his work ethic and leadership. But during preseason camp, there was talk floating around that he wasn't the best teammate, that he'd walked off the practice field, and that he was estranged from most of his teammates. But even then, they loved having him on the field. Come Saturdays, Duke was a guy that you always wanted on your side.

However, amid all his incredible talent and potential, there was also a frustrated, angry side. He evidently wasn't able to contain that blustery side. Now, as a Christian, it's not my job to judge him. Even the most troubled individuals can overcome their struggles and live happy, successful, productive lives. I sincerely hope and pray that he can conquer his hardships and create a bright future for himself. I'm sad that he is no longer an Auburn Tiger, but I'm sure that for quite some time, he'll be playing an endless mind game of "What could have been?"

Also, let's not assume that this will mean more trouble for our still somewhat disoriented offense. We do still have other talented receivers who can step up, like Marcus Davis, Melvin Ray, Ricardo Louis and Stanton Truitt, to name a few.

In other news...

- Freshman tight end Jalen Harris is fine following a scary car crash on Sunday, an Auburn spokesman reported. The Montgomery native posted on his Instagram account Sunday a photo showing extensive damage to his personal vehicle, which appeared to flip during an accident. "I'm blessed that's one thing that I know," Harris wrote in the photo's caption. "Angels (sic) watching over me everywhere that I go."

He also thanked everyone who reached out to him following the crash.

Head coach Gus Malzahn said yesterday evening on Tiger Talk that Harris called him as soon as the accident occurred. The freshman was on his way back to Auburn after attending church, according to Malzahn, when he rolled his vehicle on the road. It's a blessing that he's doing very well," Malzahn stated. "He was in a little bit of shock. He just rolled his vehicle...His parents showed up and all that. But he's doing well. If you look at his car, it's definitely a blessing that he is doing well."

Harris, a former three-star prospect out of St. James in Montgomery, has appeared in four games for Auburn this season, but has yet to record a catch. He was named the team's starting tight end ahead of the season opener against Louisville but did not see the field against the Cardinals.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Sunday, October 4th, 2015

The Tigers' 35-21 victory over San Jose State on homecoming afternoon yesterday could best be described as a mixed bag. Yes, we did do enough things right to get a much-needed 'W', but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Let's break this down:

Offense: First off, Auburn didn't commit any turnovers, which is always nice to see. Also, Peyton Barber was the story of the day. He tallied 147 yards on 28 carries. Plus, he scored all five of Auburn's touchdowns. That's the most TDs by an Auburn player in a single game since Carnell Williams recorded six against Mississippi State in 2003. In the passing department, QB Sean White only threw 10 times, completing six for 108 yards. Those figures might have been better if not for a few dropped passes. But in the end, his arm wasn't urgently needed. The Tigers scored three first-half touchdowns in the contest, breaking a drought of not finding the end zone in the first 30 minutes since the first drive of the season opener against Louisville. By this game's end, the Tigers had rolled up 342 total yards. Solid, but not dominant by any means.

Defense: Don't say I didn't warn you about SJSU's super running back Tyler Ervin. As expected, he frustrated the Tigers tremendously, gaining 160 yards on 27 carries with a score. Also, Spartans quarterback Joe Gray went 21-for-33 with 224 yards, one passing TD, and one rushing TD. All told, SJSU out gained Auburn in total yardage, as the Tigers surrendered 406 offensive yards. So, what made the difference? Turnovers. The Tigers forced four turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions), which they converted into 14 points. Auburn has now doubled its season takeaway total with eight. All that said, Auburn still needs to improve its physicality and intensity, especially heading back to conference play soon.

Special teams: Another mixed bag. On one side of the coin, Rudy Ford and Blake Countess each had brilliant kickoff returns that would have been touchdowns had it not been for a lone defender. Also, punter Kevin Phillips had a good showing, despite only punting twice on the day. He had a 40.5-yard average per kick, and pinned one at SJSU's own five-yard line. However, Daniel Carlson missed two field goals, one of which was a chip shot. This was the second straight week that he missed a short one. Needs some improvement in that area.

Coaching: There are still a lot of cases in which we're trying to run too many "vanilla" plays, and being too predictable. It's always better to keep the opposing defense honest and guessing. Plus, Daniel Carlson missed his second field goal of the day at a time when Auburn perhaps should have gone for the knockout blow instead. Not that it mattered in the end, but depending on the scenario, it may not hurt to try to put the icing on the cake.

This sums it up: Was Auburn powerful? Absolutely not. Still, we did enough things right to get the win and avoid a humiliating upset. Now, we've got a welcome bye week on the horizon, and we can recuperate and search for our identity as we prepare for a road match with Kentucky in 11 days. Yes, we face the Wildcats on a Thursday night, on the 15th. That game kicks off at 6:00 PM CT. It will be our first trip to Lexington since 2010. The Cats needed overtime to top Eastern Kentucky yesterday, so hopefully, that will give us a reasonable amount of confidence that we can beat them. Of course, we must still be on alert at all times. Especially since so many nationally-ranked teams were dethroned yesterday. There was Florida's clobbering of Ole Miss, Alabama's massacre of Georgia (which I never imagined would happen), Clemson's knocking off sixth-ranked Notre Dame, Texas A&M putting away Mississippi State...I could go on.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Saturday, October 3rd, 2015

Auburn's homecoming match today against San Jose State may seem like a stress-free tune-up heading back into SEC play on paper, but there are plenty of things that the Tigers must do to avoid humiliation at the hands of the Spartans. Here are, in my eyes, the keys to victory today:

1. Stop Tyler Ervin- Although the Tigers ran away with a 59-13 victory over SJSU last season, Ervin caught four passes for 76 yards on the night - one of which was a 75-yard touchdown. Additionally, he ran for a single-game record 300 yards in a 49-23 romp over Fresno State last week. If the Tigers aren't on alert, Ervin could give them fits. He's the guy that makes the Spartan offense go.

2. Convert in the red zone- Bar none, this was the one thing above all else that doomed Auburn in their 17-9 loss to Mississippi State last week. Four trips inside State's 20-yard line, and only two field goals to show for it. That simply won't cut it, regardless of the quality of your opponent. The Tigers absolutely must find the end zone early and often.

3. Protect Sean White- White was pretty efficient in his debut start as Auburn's signal-caller. Gus Malzahn was so pleased with him that he decided to put him at the controls for a second straight week. Although White is capable both with his arm and his legs, the line must block for him and give him time to throw. So far this season, the O-line has not been exactly dominant.

4. Let Peyton Barber rack up the yards- Barber has clearly established himself as the workhorse for the Auburn ground attack. That said, don't count out Roc Thomas, who is expected to play today after sustaining a leg injury last week.

Oh, yeah. Did I mention that SJSU's offensive coordinator is Al Borges? He's the same man who took Auburn's offense to new heights by implementing the West Coast attack from 2004-2007. Even though his tenure on the Plains had a sour ending, he's still an offensive mastermind, and he'll be bound and determined to keep his players scrapping.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!