Iron Bowl Talk Thread

Watch for Auburn to go all out on JK's punts. He's arguably the best in the country at flipping the field, but anyone notice how long he sometimes takes to get punts off?

Also have to keep Auburn from getting into 3rd and manageable. This is where the defense will have to bring their A game. Swarm to the ball carrier and tackle well.

Something to add to the discussion:

quote:

---

Peter Burns
@PeterBurnsESPN

Jalen Hurts 1 turnover for every 320 plays

Baker Mayfield 1 turnover for every 81 plays

Sam Darnold 1 turnover for every 25 plays

---

We need Hurts to continue to protect the football.

I really get worried every time we field a punt. Ive never seen Bama muff so many punts like they have last year.

My take is this:

When Bama's Offense is on the field:

I expect us to be 50/50 run pass, i.e. staying balanced. However, I expect us to do a good bit of running from formations where au has to be in Nickle, 3 WR sets and the like.

I also expect Jalen Hurts' legs to be more of a factor than normal. au's defensive front wants to get upfield quickly, and I see us taking advantage of that via QB draws. A lot of QB draws.

If au is smart, they will not try to get upfield so quickly and simply collapse the pocket. In this scenario, Bama has to pass and pass well.

I also think that play action should be a huge part of what we do, particularly after establishing the run. You always want to get good defenses to take a step in the wrong direction. Obviously, if they're getting significant pressure, this will completely destroy play action.

I'm very interested in the presnap chess match between the coordinators, as both teams do a lot of RPOs and both teams have great defenses. Should be great to watch.

I do think Bama has WRs who can get open against man coverage, and I expect us to pass more than most here will want us to. I have a sneaking suspicion that the team with the better passing day will win.

When Bama's Defense is on the field:

I think that on first down, Bama plays straight up. Obviously, when they're behind the chains, we'll bring heat. However, Lindsay has done a good job of neutralizing blitzes with screens/dumps/slants at the area vacated by the blitzer, and so I'm curious as to how much we'll blitz.

Having said that, I do think that we, given that fact that we're (fingers crossed) getting some pass rushers back, will endeavor to put more heat on Stidham than he's seen all year. He doesn't get happy feet, but he is definitely affected by pressure.

I think the fact that au has only one healthy running back will be a factor, and I'll be surprised if he's healthy in the 4th.

au doesn't have any WRs who can beat man coverage, and so they'll rely on scheming people open. We have to communicate well to handle it. We should be able to handle their route tress with our normal folks, and commit a full compliment to the run. As I've said before, I think we're a nightmare matchup for au given how elite we are in the back end.

Other thoughts:

We will have a significant advantage when returning any kick. We should go all out to take advantage of just how bad their coverage units are, which is atrocious.

I definitely respect au regarding their ability to play with us on the line of scrimmage. Beyond that, they are nothing special. Stidham is accurate, but we have the best D in football. I like our chances.


Playing in their stadium is difficult, but I like how it usually unites us into a "us against the world" mentality.

And finally, and this goes against most here, but I am getting a very similar feeling as the lead up to the Blackout game against Georgia. I have respect for au because of their defense, but they are 2-2 against the top 25 and we're the best team in football.

I think au is a paper tiger, pun intended.

38-12 Bama

quote:

---

Defensively we have to get off the field on third down. Third down will determine the rest of the game.

---

I agree, but I see it as we need to get au off schedule. When they're getting first downs and going fats, they frequently get another first down without ever getting to 3rd down.

And so, we need to get au to 2nd/3rd and long. If we do that, au will totally collapse. Their offense, more than anyone else's, CANNOT function when off schedule relative to the chains.

If au stays in 2nd and medium and 3rd and short, we (and anyone else) is fricked.

quote:

---

Daniel Carlson will miss a FG

---

very possible

quote:

---

will have a FG blocked.

---

As he gets excellent height on his kicks, this is pretty unlikely. If anyone can do it, it's us. But still unlikely.

I feel like we will not have great success, early, running with the RB's and Hurts has to make it his game. I've liked what I've seen in recent weeks and am hoping Hurts can put together a complete game, passing and running. So many injuries on both teams on the other half of the equation makes it tough to offer any actual insight. I know that if your DBs can play a very good game it will allow us to help out the front 7 and I will feel very good.

For me - Hurts playing efficiently, converting third downs and taking care of the ball like he has all year, as well as DB play to help the front 7, are my keys.

Auburn offense is tough to get a read as I haven't watched them a lot and it seems they have a lot of questionable injuries coming into the game. I'm sure they will have something special prepared for the iron bowl though.

quote:

---

I really get worried every time we field a punt. Ive never seen Bama muff so many punts like they have last year.

---

Never seen anything like it.

Just put somebody back there who can catch it every single time and call a fair catch every single time.

Not worth risking a turnover for a 6 yard punt return.

quote:

---

Just put somebody back there who can catch it every single time and call a fair catch every single time.

Not worth risking a turnover for a 6 yard punt return

---

amen to that

quote:

---

Still don’t know why Jacobs hasn’t been given a shot

---

I have a feeling we'll see a lot of Josh Jacobs Saturday.