College and Magnolia - Auburn falls flat at Ole MissAt the corner of Auburn and the Internethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48507/collegeandmagnolia_Fav.png2012-10-14T22:28:00-05:00http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/rss/stream/32456952012-10-14T22:28:00-05:002012-10-14T22:28:00-05:00Auburn Offense | More Questions, Fewer Answers
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<figcaption>Todd Van Emst</figcaption>
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<p>This version of the Tiger offense leaves many people scratching their heads.</p> <p>There has been a lot of turnover on the Plains since hoisting the crystal ball in the desert. The immediate loss of a large senior class and a number of other significant contributors following the championship led to a rebuilding year in 2011. That season saw even further unexpected turnover, including the changing of both coordinators. Despite all of this, the hopes of improved play on the field was high among Auburn fans entering 2012. That's not to say that realistic Auburn fans were expecting a title run this year, just improvement. Many, like myself, had questions that we hoped to see answered -- or at least development towards answering those questions.</p>
<p>After breaking all kinds of records on offense in 2010, the 2011 version of Gus Malzahn's offense was quite anemic. There was a lot of inexperience along the offensive line, and many fans noticed a certain predictability about the play-calling. After the season was over, further attrition occurred, including Malzahn. So, in comes Scot Loeffler and a move away from the hurry up, no-huddle spread toward a more multiple pro-set style of offense. Expectations were for a power running game, utilization of the tight ends and play-action downfield passing. Heading into the season, the reputation of Loeffler gave fans hope that we would see development at the quarterback position. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136333/kiehl-frazier">Kiehl Frazier</a> was a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school and was expected to show off his talents. Having <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78558/emory-blake">Emory Blake</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78545/philip-lutzenkirchen">Philip Lutzenkirchen</a> as his primary targets to throw to was an exciting thought. The idea of utilizing transfer fullback Jay Prosch to lead block and open up Lutz to catch passes was almost more than some fans could take.</p>
<p>What we've actually seen has been far from exciting. The Tigers have just 95 first downs and only 14 appearances in the red zone through the first six games. Blake and Lutz have 26 and 15 receptions, respectively, far fewer than what was expected before the season. Other playmakers haven't stepped up at the receiver position. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131867/quan-bray">Quan Bray</a> has totaled eleven catches, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35418/sammie-coates">Sammie Coates</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112864/trovon-reed">Trovon Reed</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78560/travante-stallworth">Travante Stallworth</a> each have four. Where is the progression from the playmakers? Will someone step up opposite of Blake?</p>
<p>The power running game that was expected before the season has been more like a soft pretzel. Prosch hasn't been on the field as much as expected, and there still seems to be an affinity for jet sweeps and sprint draws up the middle with a 175 running back. Sure, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78531/onterio-mccalebb">Onterio McCalebb</a> is a home run threat, but he's also a candidate to lose yards. O-Mac has gained 347 yards this year and lost 54 for a net of 293. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131875/tre-mason">Tre Mason</a> has been effective running behind Prosch, but he only received 15 carries against LSU and Arkansas and just 5 in the second half against Ole Miss. Mason has gained 406 and lost just 17 for a net of 389. The Tigers as a team have just 753 net yards rushing through the first half of the season. Where has the running game been? Why has Prosch only been used sparingly? Why has Mason not gotten more touches?</p>
<p>Part of the problem on offense stems back to sub-par play by the offensive line. Some growing pains were to be expected with a two-deep full of true freshmen and underclassmen. But after giving up eight sacks to Arkansas in the fifth game of the season, the progression just isn't evident. Not all of those were the fault of the line, but the problem still persists. This is the one position where we have a really good idea of where the problem lies. Youth. A redshirt freshman is starting at left tackle with a freshman behind him. A pair of true freshmen have rotated at right tackle. The leader of the line is a sophomore at center who has now missed two games this season. The guard spots are both juniors, but freshmen back them up. Will they be able to turn a corner? How long will it take for them to grow up?</p>
<p>There is a saying in football that if you have two (or three) quarterbacks then you don't have one. Well, three different quarterbacks have taken snaps for Auburn this season. Frazier showed some flashes in the opener but was hesitant with his decision-making and a little off with his accuracy. He seemed to regress from that point. He played with less confidence each week until the point where he was pulled at halftime against Arkansas in favor of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78527/clint-moseley">Clint Moseley</a>. In four and a half games, Frazier completed just 54.4 percent of his passes and just two touchdowns to eight interceptions. Moseley came in for the second half against Arkansas. In a game and a half of play, he's completed 61.5 percent of his passes for one touchdown and three interceptions. Allegedly, the decision to start Moseley was made in part due to an undisclosed shoulder ailment that prevented Frazier from taking his share of snaps in practice prior to Ole Miss. True freshman Jonathan Wallace has not attempted a pass yet, despite having his redshirt burned to run approximately 15 snaps as the wildcat QB. Where is the progression from the quarterbacks? Who <i>is</i> the quarterback?</p>
<p>That brings me to the coaching and play-calling. Every team has moments where a coach's decision leaves fans scratching their heads, ,but his team seems to have more than its fair share of those moments, starting with the play-calling. There is nothing wrong with running a play that is working multiple times in a game. However, you usually wouldn't run said play three times in a row, especially out of the same formation, with the same personnel package, and using the same pre-snap motion (see LSU and Arkansas). Most coordinators wouldn't call a play and show their hand (formation, personnel, motion, etc.) and run said play, only to have it called back by a procedure penalty, and still come back with the very same play. If I can see that, I know a highly paid SEC defensive coordinator can. You may have noticed some trends with play-calling on certain down and distance situations. Anytime O-Mac is in the game and lined up beside the quarterback, you can count on one of two plays. It will either be a speed sweep or a sprint draw up the gut. Again, if I can see it, an SEC DC surely can. If the goal is to be a power running team, why the insistence on running Squirrel between the tackles in stead of Mason? When a gameplan is working, why would you completely abandon it in the second half (see Ole Miss game)? Of course, there is also the age old question of why would you call a four-yard pattern on 3rd-and-6?</p>
<p>I know I'm just a fan, and the coaches are the ones making the big money, but if I can see certain trends without studying tape, then guys like John Chavis certainly can. That's not a good way to be successful in this league. Before the season started, we weren't wondering if we would score. Now, that's a valid question. If you look back to some of the worst years in memory for Auburn offensively, this one takes the cake. Everyone remembers Tony Franklin being canned following the loss to Vanderbilt in the sixth game of the season in 2008. This year's Tigers are averaging fewer points per game and have significantly more questions. Would a loss to Vandy cause a similar result this year? Should it? The failed Franklin experiment went a long way toward ultimately costing Tommy Tuberville his job. Will this season have a similar effect on Gene Chizik's status? Right now, all we have are questions, and we don't appear to be close to finding answers any time soon.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/14/3503556/more-questions-few-answers-on-offenseD.Miller2012-10-14T12:51:24-05:002012-10-14T12:51:24-05:00Statistical Review: Ole Miss 41, Auburn 20
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<figcaption>Todd Van Emst</figcaption>
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<p>Auburn running back Tre Mason saw his carries dramatically reduced in the second half, and the Tiger offense fell off a cliff.</p> <p>In a season that is shaping up to be one of the worst seasons Auburn has ever seen, the Tigers have developed some disturbing trends. Shocking, right? Right now, it's hard to see Auburn finishing with a better record than 3-9, and if that holds up, the Tigers will lose nine games for the first time since going 0-10 in 1950. That season was the last for Earl Brown, and Auburn went out and hired a guy named Ralph Jordan before the '51 season. That move worked out pretty well.</p>
<p>For Auburn in 2012, one of the worst trends has been "stopping opponents' bleeding." A few teams have been looking to end various streaks of dubious sort, and the Tigers have been happy to oblige. Mississippi State was looking for its first non-Ole Miss SEC West win under Dan Mullen. Check. Arkansas was looking to end a four-game losing streak and a miserable start to the season. Check. And Ole Miss was aiming to snap a 16-game SEC losing streak and win its first conference game since Nov. 21, 2009, against LSU.</p>
<p>Another trend that has led to disaster more often than not is the underutilization of running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131875/tre-mason">Tre Mason</a>. Mason has been Auburn's best running back between the tackles, and considering the type of offense Scot Loeffler wants to employ, successful running between the tackles should be a priority. For some reason, Mason just hasn't been receiving the appropriate amount of carries, as he was averaging 11.8 in the first five games of the year. Against Ole Miss, Loeffler needed to come up with a change in strategy, and for a half, he produced.</p>
<p>The biggest change in strategy for the Ole Miss game was inserting quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78527/clint-moseley">Clint Moseley</a> instead of Kiehl Frazier. The idea was for Moseley to be a game manager in Scot Loeffler's pro-style look, and for a half, it worked. Through two quarters, Moseley was 8 of 8 for 90 yards. No, he wasn't lighting up the box score, but he was doing his job, completing easy throws to open receivers and the long, play-action pass to Sammie Coates. Auburn based its offense on Mason's ability to run between the tackles, and it allowed Moseley to have easy passing situations. After questionable play-calling all season, Loeffler's first-half plan was nearly perfect, and it showed. After falling behind, 14-0, the Tigers rallied for three straight scores and went into the locker room tied at 17.</p>
<p> </p>
<table align="center" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b>Comp-Att-Int</b></td>
<td><b>Yds</b></td>
<td><b>TD</b></td>
<td><b>Long</b></td>
<td><b>Sack</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First half Moseley</td>
<td>8-8-0</td>
<td>90</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Second half Moseley</td>
<td>3-10-1</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>In the second half, Loeffler got away from the power run game, another bad trend that has dominated this season, and asked Moseley to do more in less-than-ideal passing situations. The result was an offense that looked so good in the first half looked like its old, underachieving self in the second. After carrying the ball 13 times for 46 yards and two scores in the first half, Mason was limited to five carries and 36 yards in the final two quarters. The main reason for this is because the Auburn offense often found itself behind the eight ball, needing to pick up bigger chunks of yards. And the reason for that is because Mason wasn't being utilized in the same way he was in the first half. Before halftime, Auburn ran 15 first-down plays, and Mason was given eight carries on eight of those plays. The result: Auburn averaged 8.1 yards per play on first down. The biggest payoff was Moseley's long pass to Coates. Auburn had the ball in great field position, and everyone knew the Tigers would probably take a shot deep in that situation. But because Mason had been running well and getting plenty of first-down carries, Ole Miss was forced to stay honest and respect the run. Moseley faked the handoff and hit an open Coates streaking down the field. Obviously, that play had a big impact on Auburn's yards per first down, but even without it, the Tigers averaged 5.7 yards, which is more than acceptable.</p>
<p> </p>
<table align="center" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b>AU 1D plays</b></td>
<td><b>Mason carries</b></td>
<td><b>Yds</b></td>
<td><b>Avg</b></td>
<td><b>AU Yds</b></td>
<td><b>Avg</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>First half</b></td>
<td>15</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>39</td>
<td>4.8</td>
<td>122</td>
<td>8.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Second half</b></td>
<td>10</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>39</td>
<td>9.8</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>4.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>In the second half, Auburn wasn't using Mason as often on first downs, giving him just four carries out of 10 possible opportunities. It's tempting to look at the final score and say, "Well, Auburn was playing from behind in the second half. The Tigers didn't have the luxury of grinding out yards," but that really isn't the case. Auburn was within one score until there was 5:02 remaining in the game. And even at that point, the Tigers could have focused on the run. Auburn took over at the Ole Miss 35, and Moseley immediately threw a first-down interception, essentially sealing the game. With such a short field, a first-down run wouldn't have hurt Auburn too badly in terms of clock management. Of course, had Auburn used Mason a little more on first downs in the second half, that first-down throw by Moseley may have come against more favorable coverage.</p>
<p>Averaging 4.8 yards per first down isn't bad, but taking away Auburn's best play, a 26-yard run by Mason, changes the story. On the nine other first down plays, three of which were Mason carries, Auburn gained just 22 yards, a 2.4-yard average. Aside from the long first down plays, Auburn looked at an average of 2nd and 4 in the first half and 2nd and 8 in the second half. With so many 2nd-and-longs, Auburn faced more 3rd-and-longs in the second half, leading to conversions on just 1 of 7 third downs. In the first half, Auburn was 4 of 8 on third downs. Looking at those numbers, it's easy to see why the Tigers had much more success in the first 30 minutes, and why it was much easier to gain first downs. Auburn picked up 10 in the first half and three in the second.</p>
<p>Not only did Auburn's shift away from Mason hurt the offense, it had serious repercussions on the defense. The Tiger 'D' spent 9:14 on the field in the first half, compared to 16:26 in the second. As a result, Ole Miss racked up 280 yards in the final 30 minutes after gaining 176 in the first half hour. With a powerful offense, the Rebels weren't going to be completely shut down, but Auburn need to focus on ball control to keep the opposing offense off the field. The Tigers were able to do that for a while, but after shifting the offensive strategy and losing the ability to sustain long drives, it was impossible.</p>
<p> </p>
<table align="center" border="0">
<caption><b>Ole Miss offense</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b>Rush yds</b></td>
<td><b>Pass yds</b></td>
<td><b>Total</b></td>
<td><b>Avg/play</b></td>
<td><b>Points</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>First half</b></td>
<td>76</td>
<td>110</td>
<td>186</td>
<td>6.2</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Second half</b></td>
<td>124</td>
<td>141</td>
<td>265</td>
<td>7.2</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Loeffler had the the right gameplan in the first half, and he gave Auburn a chance to win. But in the second half, for whatever reason, he abandoned it, and Auburn fell flat. At 1-5 with three incredibly difficult games remaining, there isn't much for Auburn to salvage this season, but if Chizik and Loeffler want to give Auburn any chance at winning next week against Vanderbilt, they'll let Mason be the offense's foundation for a full 60 minutes.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/14/3501062/by-moving-away-from-mason-auburn-moved-away-from-successChris Fuhrmeister2012-10-13T21:41:41-05:002012-10-13T21:41:41-05:00Ole Miss 41, Auburn 20 | Postgame Quotes
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<figcaption>Todd Van Emst</figcaption>
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<p>Coaches and players discuss the Rebels' big win over the Tigers.</p> <p><b>Auburn head coach Gene Chizik</b></p>
<p>Opening comments...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Give a lot of credit to Ole Miss. They have a very good football team. Our guys played hard and we had our chances in the fourth quarter to stay in the game, but we had some very unique things happen and we couldn't get the job done. Our guys fought hard in the end and they never quit. It's a tough loss for us, but we have to get back to it next week and try to get our first SEC win."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On the importance of not letting things that happen in the fourth quarter pile up on his team later in the season...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The team is very disappointed. At that point in time, we had the game in hand, only down seven, but we couldn't get a stop and we just have to continue to move forward. We have to finish plays. That's the bottom line."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On if his team got away from running the football in the second half...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Well, I think we distributed the ball pretty well on offense. We did distribute well more so in the first half than we did the second. When a team puts eight or nine in the box, you have to be able to throw the ball a little bit. The problem was that we had too many three and outs. We came back from a 14-0 deficit and I think we handled everything pretty well then. They're an explosive offense and we didn't do a good job at making tackles on them as well. It was a total team loss."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On what they have to look forward to toward the end of the season...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We're just looking forward to the next opportunity to play and win a game. That's it. We're just taking it one day at a time."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>DB Jonathan Jones</b></p>
<p>On Getting To Play...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It was good to finally get in and play and show what I can do. It was good to finally get in an SEC game."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On When He Found Out He Would Play...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Coach kind of hinted to it all week, so I'd been looking forward to it all week. When I got in, when he told me I was in, I was prepared."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On his evaluation of the game...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Decent, there's room for improvement, trying to learn everything to do and do it well. There's always room for improvement."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>K <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112883/cody-parkey" class="sbn-auto-link">Cody Parkey</a></b></p>
<p>On team holding together on kicks...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"He had me kick a couple of touchbacks. We wanted to get the crowd going a little bit and get our team motivated, so we kept a couple in. We were able to capitalize one of them, just trying to keep our team strong enough so that if I don't kick a touchback, they can cover every kick."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze</b></p>
<p>Opening comments...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Obviously words really cannot describe the feeling in that locker room and in the stadium. For the<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>better part of two and a half years the Rebel fans and students and players and administration have had to put up with some disappointing times. We're not there yet, nor do we think we are, but today we<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>were. We were good enough in four quarters to win an SEC game. We're sure we sound overly<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>emotional, but one of the things our staff wants so badly to give to the Rebel fans is some good times. I know that they're going to enjoy the Grove today, and that makes it a special weekend for me."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On resilience of team after loss to Texas A&M...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It was real disappointing last weekend, but let's move on from that and talk about the resilience. When<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>I saw them Sunday, I thought our coaching staff did a great job of moving past that, putting that in the<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>trash can, learning from the mistakes, taking the positives from it and building on those, and putting<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>together an effective game plan against what I consider a very talented Auburn team. Obviously<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>something is not exactly right there, but they definitely have a lot of talent, and they scare you when<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>you watch them on film, so I'm very proud of the resilience and the leadership of our team."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116044/jeff-scott" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Scott's</a> touchdown...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We'll just call that touchdown Jesus. But that's what you do. You play until the whistle blows, and that's<br>what he did. I never feel good about replays, but I had a total peace about that one. I don't know why. I just felt like this one is going for us, and it did."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112835/bo-wallace" class="sbn-auto-link">Bo Wallace's</a> performance...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"People really don't know what went on in our week. Monday night Bo's sister had to be airlifted to<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>Vanderbilt with a broken neck. Then Jim Wiseman's mom passes. We had a little issue with some of our<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>kids. I had to put some discipline on a few of them and not play some of them for periods of time. So the whole week was kind of filled with some concern, and obviously Bo, his week started out very<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>concerning. Tuesday he was not himself, but thankfully the doctors did a great job and expect her to<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>have a full recovery, so they're very blessed with that. He was 17-for-22 and protected the football and<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>also ran a couple of touchdowns. We had talked about improving things we were not doing well, and I<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>think he's making strides in the right direction. "</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>QB Bo Wallace</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Great ball game, to come in here and get our first SEC win. It is just a great feeling inside the locker<br>room right now."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On his parents...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Mom texted me during the week and just told me to worry about playing Auburn. I know she wishes<br>she was here but luckily she got to go home and watch the game. I am really proud of it."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On not committing any turnovers...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It is what we have to do to stay in ball games in this conference. I am really proud of the way we<br>protected the ball."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On his offensive line...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"They did an amazing job today. Anytime I felt pressure, I could stay in the pocket and find guys that<br>were open. I gave it to them and let something happen."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On the rest of the season...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We need to get a couple more wins to get bowl eligible and that is what we are focused on."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>RB Jeff Scott</b></p>
<p>On his touchdown at the end of game...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"They gave me the ball. The defender wrapped me up, but he never brought me down. I just got up<br>and kept running."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On protecting the ball...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It is hard. Everybody says I'm too small to run between the tackles, and I feel that I have to play that<br>much harder with a chip on my shoulder."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Difference between last week and this week...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It was a good game (last week), but we came up short. With nine minutes left in this game, I said to the team that we can't let this happen again, we have to finish this game."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>LB Mike Marry</b></p>
<p>On his interception...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The secondary had everyone covered, so the quarterback had to force a throw. I was just in the right<br>place at the right time."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On if the defense got tired...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We never really got tired thanks to our offseason training. We believe in the offense and we believe<br>that they would come through in the clutch."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On receiving the game ball...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"This was my first ever game ball and it means a lot to me."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>S <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137371/cody-prewitt" class="sbn-auto-link">Cody Prewitt</a></b></p>
<p>On the first SEC win...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It feels great to finally get the chip off our shoulder."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116061/mike-marry" class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Marry's</a> interception...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"He has a killer instinct all the time. We know when we are up, we need to put it away, and I can't think<br>of any better way that that could happen."</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/13/3500150/ole-miss-41-auburn-20-postgame-quotesChris Fuhrmeister2012-10-13T15:56:55-05:002012-10-13T15:56:55-05:00Tigers collapse at Ole Miss
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<figcaption>Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>After a solid first 30 minutes, Auburn collapsed in the second half and suffered a 21-point loss at Ole Miss.</p> <p></p>
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<th class="td-left"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/events/96308">Final - 10.13.2012 </a> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/auburn-tigers">Auburn Tigers</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="highlight">20</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/mississippi-rebels">Mississippi Rebels</a> </span></td>
<td>14</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>17</td>
<td class="highlight">41</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/events/96308">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
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<p>For 30 minutes, Auburn was the team fans had hoped to see this season. The defense struggled some, but it did a pretty good job of keeping Ole Miss' powerful offense in check. The Tiger offense, meanwhile, relied on power running to rally from an early 14-point deficit. Going into the locker room tied at 17, Auburn looked like a team that could pick up its first SEC win of the season. In the second half, everything changed, and Auburn stumbled to a 41-20 defeat.</p>
<p>Just like it was for the rest of the Tigers (1-5, 0-4 SEC) the game was a tale of two halves for quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78527/clint-moseley" class="sbn-auto-link">Clint Moseley</a>, who was making his first start of the season. Moseley started the game 8 of 8 for 90 yards, as he did a nice job of managing the game between run plays. In the second half, he completed just 3 of 10 passes for 22 yards, and he threw a fourth-quarter interception that sealed Auburn's fate. Auburn's coaching staff will have you believe Moseley was given the start due to an injury to sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136333/kiehl-frazier" class="sbn-auto-link">Kiehl Frazier</a>, but it's more likely that Gene Chizik and Scot Loeffler were looking for an offensive spark to help get a much-needed win. For 30 minutes, Moseley looked like that spark.</p>
<p>But in the second half, the gameplan that had given Auburn so much first-half success went out the window, and so did Moseley's impressive play. In the end, Chizik and Loeffler's gambit failed, and the sacrifice of Frazier's development for an immediate payoff was a waste. In the end, it may be the nail in Chizik's coffin.</p>
<p>There's much more to discuss, but that's all that can be mustered right now.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/13/3498778/auburn-vs-ole-miss-final-score-repcapChris Fuhrmeister2012-10-13T11:01:03-05:002012-10-13T11:01:03-05:00Auburn at Ole Miss Open Thread
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Clint Moseley is starting at quarterback, and Auburn will be without Reese Dismukes, Dee Ford and Chris Davis. This should be fun.</p> <p>This is your open thread for Auburn at Ole Miss. Have at it.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/13/3497632/auburn-at-ole-miss-open-thread-tigers-look-to-stop-the-bleedingChris Fuhrmeister2012-10-12T14:13:25-05:002012-10-12T14:13:25-05:00Chizik names Moseley starter against Ole Miss
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Junior quarterback Clint Moseley will start over sophomore Kiehl Frazier Saturday against Ole Miss.</p> <p>After playing during the second half of the Tigers' 24-7 loss to Arkansas in Week 6, quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78527/clint-moseley" class="sbn-auto-link">Clint Moseley</a> has been named the starter for Auburn's road game at Ole Miss on Saturday.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Auburn">#Auburn</a> coach Gene Chizik has named Clint Moseley the starting quarterback Saturday against Ole Miss.</p>
— Ryan Wood (@AUBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/AUBlog/status/256828656058523648" data-datetime="2012-10-12T18:48:17+00:00">October 12, 2012</a>
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<p>Moseley starts ahead of sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136333/kiehl-frazier" class="sbn-auto-link">Kiehl Frazier</a>, who completed 9 of 14 passes for 118 yards and an interception during the first half against the Razorbacks. On the season, Frazier is 56 of 103 for 664 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions. For much of the season, Frazier has shown a lack of confidence and looked uncomfortable in Scot Loeffler's pro-style offense.</p>
<p>In the second half against Arkansas, Moseley completed 13 of 21 passes for 163 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked five times. Moseley took over for starter <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35416/barrett-trotter" class="sbn-auto-link">Barrett Trotter</a> last season and completed 66 of 108 passes for 800 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.</p>
<p>The move to start Moseley likely signals that Loeffler and head coach Gene Chizik do not believe Frazier can adequately run Loeffler's offense. What is Frazier's future with the Tigers? At this point, no one knows.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/12/3494614/auburn-vs-ole-miss-quarterback-clint-moseley-startingChris Fuhrmeister2012-10-12T10:08:16-05:002012-10-12T10:08:16-05:00Keep Your Enemies Closer | Ole Miss
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<figcaption>Stacy Revere - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Among other things, we discuss Ole Miss quarterbacks, the Rebel defense and how to mix a drink in the stadium without a proper shaker.</p> <p><i>Thanks to the bros over at <a href="http://www.redcuprebellion.com">Red Cup Rebellion</a> for answering my questions. My answers to their questions will be up over at their site shortly.</i></p>
<p><b>Ole Miss is breaking in a new coach this year, and Hugh Freeze has already won more games than Houston Nutt did during all of last season. What was the general consensus when Freeze was hired, and how are Ole Miss fans feeling about him now?</b></p>
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<p>The general consensus when he was hired was that he may be a good coach but he wasn't a big name. Even most fans of the hire though have had their expectations exceeded in year one. Sure, we're only 3-3, but for a team that went 2-10 last season before losing two NFL OTs and an NFL RB, things looked bleak. We've been an adequate team this season, something no one expected. A bowl is a possibility (albeit not a great possibility), and if you had told me we would even sniff a bowl heading into the year, I would have laughed. We have four to six seniors playing meaningful snaps.</p>
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<p><b>I noticed the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium regulations prohibit "pom poms with stick handles." Two things: 1. Everyone knows they're called "shakers," not "pom poms." 2. How do y'all mix your bourbon in your Cokes during the game? I know Ole Miss has been winning the party for quite some time, so I would imagine y'all have figured something out.</b></p>
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<p>Yeah. It's interesting. Essentially, they wanted to remove anything to which a confederate flag could be tied.</p>
<p>I personally go bourbon straight up. People who mix in games use their fingers I guess.</p>
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<p><b>Bo Wallace is the Rebel quarterback. Is that the most Ole Miss name possible for a quarterback, or would it have to involve some variation of "Manning?" Also, what are Wallace's skills and attributes?</b></p>
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<p>Bo would have to be spelled Beau (certainly not Beaux) for it to be the most Ole Miss name, and yeah... almost certainly he would have to have Manning as AT LEAST a middle name.</p>
<p>Wallace is an interesting player. I'm a big fan of his though I can recognize his faults. His biggest problem is that he's still learning what doesn't work against an SEC defense. When the season began, he never ever threw the ball away. Now, he's slowly learning that defenses in this league are fast, so you don't have time to wait for receivers to get open if they're not.</p>
<p>His strengths are tangibles. He's got great touch on deep passes (when his shoulder isn't messed up), he can get the ball into tight spots quickly, and he isn't terrible at pre-snap reads. As I mentioned, I have a rosier view of him than many fans (something that isn't generally the case).</p>
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<p><b>How about the rest of the offense? The Rebels rank in the top five of the SEC in most offensive categories. What's the reason for this? Which players and schemes have been responsible for the most success?</b></p>
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<p>Junior halfback Jeff Scott is a baller. He's averaging over six yards per carry despite playing against some tough defenses. He tweaked his ankle a bit in the A&M game, so he may not be full strength against y'all, but if he is, watch out. He hasn't broken one huge run yet this season, but he picks up yardage quickly and has been reliable (save for 4th and 1 inch versus Texas A&M).</p>
<p>Sophomore receiver Donte Moncrief is absolutely beastly. He put a clinic on Texas' first-round corners. It was just silly. I assume you'll use bracket coverage to try to stop him which will hopefully open up some opportunities for other receivers.</p>
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<p><b>If I were to wear an Auburn hat in Oxford and walk around, shouting "pine box," would that get me beat up?</b></p>
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<p>I can't vouch for other fans. I would have been pissed when Tuberville was still good. As it stands right now, I'd be tempted to say something like, "I know. Isn't he just a super-shitty guy?" I'm sure you'd agree.</p>
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<p><b>Monte's son and Lane's little brother, Chris Kiffin, is the Rebel defensive coordinator. What kind of defense does he like to run? How much influence does he take from his dad?</b></p>
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<p>He's not so much the defensive coordinator as much as he's the defensive line coach. Our defensive coordinator is Dave Wommack. <i>(Oh yeah, Kiffin is the defensive recruiting coordinator. Reading can be hard for us sometimes. - ed.)</i> Our base is technically a 4-2-5, though we haven't seen that defense in three weeks as our defense is totally adaptive. Against Alabama, we ran a 4-3. Against A&M, we ran a 3-3-5. I'm not sure what we'll be running against Auburn since the quarterback situation is up in the air.</p>
<p>More than anything, Chris Kiffin has shown a strong ability to teach defensive tackles and ends good technique. They're using their hands well and eating up blocks to let linebackers and safety hybrids make plays. Our defensive line isn't amazing, but they're young and improving every game. Oh yeah, and we're second in the SEC in sacks.</p>
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<p><b>Defense hasn't been Ole Miss' strong suit this year. What have been the problems? Have the coaches and players done a good job of fixing any of those problems?</b></p>
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<p>Well, when it comes down to it, we have three seniors who play much. We only have a few juniors who play much. Essentially, our defense isn't going to be all that different personnel-wise two years from now as it is now. That's a nice situation long-term, but it's not all that great for now. Our players are undersized but full of effort. After the wounded gerbils we saw trying to play defense last year, it's a welcomed change.</p>
<p>I will say though that our defense is a tad better than numbers suggest. As I'm sure you know from last season and the year before, when you run an up-tempo no-huddle, you get more possessions in, which means your opponent does too. We're not a great defense by any means, but we're also not as bad as a casual on-looker would assume.</p>
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<p><b>Despite the defensive problems, Ole Miss is 11th in the country with 17 sacks. No Rebel has more than two sacks, so how is Kiffin spreading the pressure around?</b></p>
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<p>It's the craziest thing. Coaches talk a lot about manufacturing a pass rush, but it rarely actually happens. This season, it has happened. First of all, we rotate a lot on the line of scrimmage. That leads to fresh legs and matchups that offensive linemen haven't seen all day. We also blitz from any position other than outside corners. Because the 4-2-5 we run has so many variations of different positions along the line of scrimmage, it's tough for offenses to know where pressure will come from, and we use that to our advantage. I'm not sure we'll continue to generate all these sacks, but it has been amazing so far.</p>
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<p><b>Of all the individual and unit matchups, where do you think Ole Miss has the biggest advantage?</b></p>
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<p>I think that, outside of your front four, our offensive skill players could present a real problem for your defense. It's not that they're amazing. It's that we use schemes to get them the ball in space, and many of them are pretty shifty after the catch (or handoff).</p>
<p>Junior wide receiver Korvic Neat is a player a lot of our fans hated on during his first two years in Oxford, but Freeze appears to understand how to use him in a way that Nutt never could. You get him the ball underneath and let him make defenders miss. With Moncrief likely drawing double coverage, Neat could have a big day.</p>
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<p><b>What matchup, if any, scares you the most?</b></p>
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<p>If I were Dave Wommack, your running backs would keep me up at night. The power runs y'all like to call could be very problematic for our undersized defense, as we're not necessarily built to handle a team who will run right at us.</p>
<p>We handled Alabama moderately well on their runs, but I can't tell at this point whether that was dumb luck or an actual testament to our ability to stop the run.</p>
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<p><b>How do you think the game plays out? With such a bad Auburn team going into Oxford, are you pretty confident in a win, or are you worried the Rebels might screw it up?</b></p>
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<p>I'm relatively confident in a win. I think the spread at this point is six points, and if I were a gambling addict, I would still probably put money on Ole Miss. It's not that I think Auburn's as bad as they look. I just think that you're catching us at the wrong point of the year, and we're catching you at the right time. Our players are mad and hungry for a win. They know they should have gotten one against A&M, and they're ready to get one Saturday. On the other hand, we've seen a lot of in-fighting from Auburn, and it's reminiscent of us last year. I think that if we could get up by double digits early, Auburn might just give up.</p>
<p>My prediction: Ole Miss by ten.</p>
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<p><b>Ole Miss has to give up tailgating or football. Which do you choose?</b></p>
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<p>While many of our fans may choose tailgating, I will always choose football. There aren't many things I wouldn't choose football over. It's just a remarkable game.</p>
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https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/12/3493432/auburn-tigers-ole-miss-rebels-q-and-a-previewChris Fuhrmeister2012-10-11T16:09:00-05:002012-10-11T16:09:00-05:00Travel Tips | Ole Miss
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<figcaption>John Reed-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Don't get caught unprepared on your road trip to Oxford.</p> <p>Heading to Oxford for the Ole Miss game? Here's our quick list of odds and ends we found at OleMissSports.com.</p>
<p><b>Directions from Tupelo to Oxford</b><br>Follow Highway 78 west for 16 miles until you reach Sherman, Miss. (exit 76). Take Highway 9 south for 13 miles, and then turn right on Highway 6 west and travel 22 miles to Oxford.</p>
<p><b>Traffic Flow Map - click </b><a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ole/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/Gameday_Traffic_flow_2012.pdf" target="_blank">here</a></p>
<p><b>Directions to the Shuttle (see more info below)</b><br>Take either the Old Taylor Rd. Exit or Coliseum Dr. Exit onto campus. One option is to take Old Taylor Rd., turn left onto Gertrude Ford Blvd., go through the red light on Jackson Ave., turn right at the stop sign onto Washington Ave. This will take you to the Oxford Middle School shuttle site.</p>
<p><b>Directions to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field</b><br>From Hwy 6: Take the Coliseum Drive Exit and travel north on Coliseum Drive until you reach a four-way stop. Turn right onto Hill Drive and travel 3/4 mile to see the stadium located on the right.</p>
<p><b>Directions to The Grove</b><br>From Hwy 6: Take the Old Taylor Road Exit and travel north on Old Taylor Road, straight through the circle, until you reach a four-way stop. Turn left onto University Drive, cross the bridge and come to another four-way stop. The Grove will be in front of you, off to the right.</p>
<p><b>Shuttle Service</b><br>The City of Oxford provides free parking with security at designated sites in the Oxford community, and there is round-trip shuttle service provided to and from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at $5 per person. Sites include the Oxford Middle School, located at 501 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (corner of Washington Ave.), and the Oxford Activity Center, located at 400 Price St. (corner of Molly Barr Rd.). Shuttle service begins three hours before kickoff and ends two hours after the game. Drop off is on the east side of the stadium at Gates 14, 15 and 16. For more information, contact Matt Davis, Gameday Shuttle Coordinator, 662-816-5501.</p>
<p><b>Parking</b><br>The following areas of the Ole Miss Campus offer general parking on gamedays.<br><i>South Lot</i>: exit Highway 6 on Old Taylor Road, located northwest of the intersection, $15 per vehicle.<br><i>Kinard Hall</i>: access from Rebel Drive.<br><i>Intramural Fields</i>: access from West Jackson Avenue across from the Super 8 Motel.<br><i>Oxford Mall</i>: access from West Jackson Avenue.<br><i>Guyton Hall</i>: access from Fraternity Row across from the Chancellor's House.<br><i>Ford Center for the Performing Arts</i>: access from West Jackson Avenue or University Avenue, $20 per vehicle.<br><i>Physical Plant</i>: access from Hathorn Road, $15 per vehicle.<br><i>The Circle</i>: access from University Avenue. Parking is restricted to right-hand side only.</p>
<p><b>Likely Location for Tiger Walk</b><br>Visiting Teams arrive at Vaught-Hemingway stadium 2 to 2 ½ hours before kickoff at the South Service gate between gates 23 & 24.</p>
<p><b>Shaker Nonsense -- the horror. They refer to them as "pom poms"?</b><br>"<i>Sticks and poles are prohibited inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. This includes pom poms on sticks or flags on sticks. Ole Miss Athletics requires all pom poms to have a paddle handle instead of plastic stick.</i>" <i>(Well, how do they stir their drinks? - ed.)</i></p>
<p><b>Post-Game Traffic Tips</b><br>The following roads will be one-way off of campus following the conclusion of the game: Old Taylor Road, Fraternity Row, and Coliseum.</p>
<p>Stay safe, be loud, and War Eagle!</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/10/10/3486628/headed-to-the-grove-read-thisrunyogasurf