First-year coordinator Brian VanGorder will be the first to tell you that Auburn's defense has not reached anywhere close to the level he wants it to reach or it needs to reach. But there has been very clear progress.
Last season, the Tigers gave up 30 or more points seven times and 40 or more points four times. This season, in four games, they have yet to give up 30 points. Three of those four games were against teams currently ranked.
VanGorder's wizardry was on full display in Auburn's 12-10 loss to LSU. After taking a 9-0 lead, LSU had 11 possessions. It was forced to punt eight times, fumbled once, was held to a field goal after an Auburn turnover and missed a field goal on its final possession. You won't lose many games playing defense like that. ...
And that bring us to the offense. When your defense gives you that many times at bat, you have to score more than 10 points. For the better part of three quarters, Auburn needed only a field goal to win the game and never even got a kick at it.
If there is not dramatic progress on offense in the coming weeks, even continued improvement by the defense won't be enough to keep the losses from piling up. ...
Watching true freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace operate with no fear in getting his first college action against the nation's No. 2 team, I remembered something junior quarterback Clint Moseley said during preseason camp.
"Wallace really cares," Moseley said. "He wants it as bad as almost anybody I've ever seen. He definitely has the right attitude to play football at this level. He has it figured out already."
It's a safe assumption that Auburn coaches didn't take the redshirt off Wallace without plans for him to play a significant role. ...
If there's an SEC team more disappointed in its start than Auburn, it is clearly Arkansas. The Razorbacks aren't just 1-3, they are 1-3 in the worst imaginable way. They have played just one ranked team and have yet to go on the road. The struggled to win their opener over Jacksonville State, then lost 31-28 to Louisiana-Monroe in overtime, lost 52-0 to Alabama and 35-26 to Rutgers. The Razorbacks go on the road to play Texas A&M on Saturday before visiting Auburn a week later for a game that looks likely to be a season-destroyer for the loser. ...
Wide receivers Trovon Reed, Sammie Coates and Travante Stallworth have combined to catch four passes this season. That's not what Auburn coaches said they wanted or needed or what any of those guys expected. ....
And then there is running back Corey Grant. After being highly praised for his work ethic and leadership after transferring from Alabama and being the most productive runner in spring practice, he has made no impact at all. ...
It's going to be interesting to see what roles sophomore cornerback Robenson Therezie, sophomore safety Erique Florence and true freshman cornerback Joshua Holsey play going forward. All got their first significant playing time of the season against LSU. ...
Sophomore right guard Chad Slade says true freshman right tackle Patrick Miller played with the poise of a veteran in his first Auburn start. ...
Auburn players have talked about the increased passion and energy they showed against LSU. The atmosphere at big night games a Jordan-Hare Stadium is as good as any in college football. The question now is can they match that passion and energy in an 11 a.m. game against Arkansas? ...
Until next time ...
- Phillip Marshall
- Auburn Insider - AuburnUndercover