I was expecting Auburn to run Clemson out of the stadium; I was expecting QB Cam Newton to have a big day; I was expecting Gus Malzahn’s offense to shred Clemson’s defense but none of these things happened. I tip my hat to Clemson and offer a bow for a good, solid performance. Auburn, by all accounts, won the game but they were very shaky on offense and Newton is still in developmental stages. Newton is the Southeastern conference version of Terrelle Pryor, a tall kid that is a long strider. Newton and Pryor look like they are thinking too much and just not playing the game, have fun guys.
Newton was 7-14, 203 yards with 2TDs and 2INTs, hardly spectacular. Newton suffers from the syndrome of relying on his physical attributes to win games. Like Pryor, he makes ill-advised throws and hopes his wideouts will bail him out and Darvin Adams (5 catches for 178 yards and 1 TD) did in this game. But against a better defense those passes would not have been completed and probably run back for six points. If you are a dual-threat quarterback and things are breaking down, run like crazy, show some suddenness, cut through defenders. At times, it looks like once the play is a designed quarterback run, Newton saunters instead of hitting the open holes with authority.
Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker was impressive, completing 21-35 for 227 yards with 2 TDs and no INTs. This kid has moxie, after taking a helmet to the middle of the back, to give his team the best shot to win but it was all for naught, as he overshot a wide open WR Jaron Brown in overtime. And a penalty caused a re-kick of field goal that was missed the second time to send Auburn away with a win.
I did not expect this game to have so many brutal hits and two players being carted off the field in stretchers. Clemson brought their lunch pail and went to work, giving Newton and his offensive line fits all night. This heavy-hitting game reminded me of the 2007 LSU-Florida game, where Jacob Hester pushed in the endzone for the game-defining touchdown.
This game will have repercussions for both teams going forward. Clemson gets a week off to rest before facing a physical Miami team at home followed up by another physical team in North Carolina on the road. The rest of the slate does not look bad, but they will probably wear down after their away game at Boston College (Oct. 30).
Auburn, who is my dark horse this season (I’m not giving up on them just yet), has to face South Carolina next at home and face the likes of Arkansas (Oct. 16), LSU (Oct. 23), Georgia (Nov. 13) and @Alabama (Nov. 26). They are fortunate that they have home games against the meat of the SEC teams but in a physical Southeastern conference they will have trouble escaping with only two losses. But who knows, this is college football and like the weather (especially in New England), things can change very quickly.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Auburn downs Clemson in a heated battle, 27-24 OT
I was expecting Auburn to run Clemson out of the stadium; I was expecting QB Cam Newton to have a big day; I was expecting Gus Malzahn’s offense to shred Clemson’s defense but none of these things happened. I tip my hat to Clemson and offer a bow for a good, solid performance. Auburn, by all accounts, won the game but they were very shaky on offense and Newton is still in developmental stages. Newton is the Southeastern conference version of Terrelle Pryor, a tall kid that is a long strider. Newton and Pryor look like they are thinking too much and just not playing the game, have fun guys.
Newton was 7-14, 203 yards with 2TDs and 2INTs, hardly spectacular. Newton suffers from the syndrome of relying on his physical attributes to win games. Like Pryor, he makes ill-advised throws and hopes his wideouts will bail him out and Darvin Adams (5 catches for 178 yards and 1 TD) did in this game. But against a better defense those passes would not have been completed and probably run back for six points. If you are a dual-threat quarterback and things are breaking down, run like crazy, show some suddenness, cut through defenders. At times, it looks like once the play is a designed quarterback run, Newton saunters instead of hitting the open holes with authority.
Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker was impressive, completing 21-35 for 227 yards with 2 TDs and no INTs. This kid has moxie, after taking a helmet to the middle of the back, to give his team the best shot to win but it was all for naught, as he overshot a wide open WR Jaron Brown in overtime. And a penalty caused a re-kick of field goal that was missed the second time to send Auburn away with a win.
I did not expect this game to have so many brutal hits and two players being carted off the field in stretchers. Clemson brought their lunch pail and went to work, giving Newton and his offensive line fits all night. This heavy-hitting game reminded me of the 2007 LSU-Florida game, where Jacob Hester pushed in the endzone for the game-defining touchdown.
This game will have repercussions for both teams going forward. Clemson gets a week off to rest before facing a physical Miami team at home followed up by another physical team in North Carolina on the road. The rest of the slate does not look bad, but they will probably wear down after their away game at Boston College (Oct. 30).
Auburn, who is my dark horse this season (I’m not giving up on them just yet), has to face South Carolina next at home and face the likes of Arkansas (Oct. 16), LSU (Oct. 23), Georgia (Nov. 13) and @Alabama (Nov. 26). They are fortunate that they have home games against the meat of the SEC teams but in a physical Southeastern conference they will have trouble escaping with only two losses. But who knows, this is college football and like the weather (especially in New England), things can change very quickly.
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