re: Gus Malzahn 1-12 against SEC competition

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The program is a mess at the moment

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How is it a mess? We have lost 3 of our 4 games by freaking EIGHT points. We could be sitting here at 7-1 talking about how we would have beaten LSU with Sean White (I don't think we would have but you know some AU fans would be saying that). I understand being frustrated with losing. I am freaking pissed because this team is good enough to compete for a title but they haven't. But I am so tired of the OH MY GOD WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE attitude from a team that has competed very well last few weeks & has improved steadily each week.

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Until last year, it also seems like our ranking was inflated by offensive signees and our defensive recruiting was much weaker.

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Now this is something I very much agree with. I think the complaints about the balance in the talent we have brought in is very valid. We have landed an elite player there each season but have not found done a great job of bringing in young talent throughout the defensive class. I think that is changing seeing already the impact of some of the young guys brought in last season. I have high hopes we finish strong & have more young impact guys in 2016

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Yes, our recruiting rankings have been high, but there has been a ton of attrition and either a lack of development or busts for a lot of the highly ranked guys. Until last year, it also seems like our ranking was inflated by offensive signees and our defensive recruiting was much weaker.

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So then it's not about the bagman, it's about player development. That's something we can't pinpoint at all. It was a problem under Chizik. It's a problem under Malzahn. The players were weak with Yox and are weak with Russell.

The defense has sucked with Ted Roof, Brian Van Gorder, Ellis Johnson, and now Will Muschamp. These are all quality names when it comes to defenses, and all of them have had tremendous success away from Auburn football.

There is a problem we do not see on the football field but is obviously plaguing the program. This problem developed after 2008 when Tuberville left.

Perhaps this is a common complaint, but I think it can still be said: Jay Jacobs is the only constant during this period.

2008 started the time when Jay Jacobs seemed to really make the decisions about Auburn football. Up until then, it was a David Housel project.

Ever since then, we've been built on flash (and had some big ones in 2010 and 2013) but have performed as dry toast (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, and now 2015).