Auburn 17, Mississippi St 14

Tigers' Defense Holds Off State

Obviously I was very off in my prediction on the final score. I thought these two teams would easily hit 55, but around the second quarter I began to realize that this would be more of a return to the defensive Miss St-Auburn games.

There were a few positives to take out of the game. While I'm not one to jump over the 'any-SEC-road-win-is-a-Great-Win,' I am pleased to get out of Starkville with a victory. Auburn was the more talented team, but when you don't put a team away (and basically give them 7 points), you're asking for trouble.

Auburn's defense played better, and part of that was due to the offensive gameplan. Chizik apparently decided to slow down the Malzahn attack. Gus basically prefers to snap the ball before it's even set for play, but Chizik has realized the wear this takes on the defense. I don't know if that's going to be the plan for the season, and if so, how it worked last night worries me.

It's going to be all-or-nothing with Malzahn - either run the attack at his up-tempo speed, or be prepared for the offense to look disoriented. Some of the central tenants of Malzahn's offense are that it tires defenses, keeps them from subbing properly, gets players caught out-of-position and causes more missed tackles (though apparently RB Ontario McCallebb has decided he wants to play tag-football). Auburn's going to have trouble if they try to just slow down the attack.

I'm hoping that this was just a plan for Miss St., who basically runs the same offense and was obviously prepared for it defensively. But at this point, every team is prepared for the spread; I'm just weary about where this is headed (i.e. 2008).

Cam Newton is a very good QB, and is a game-changer. He's still quick to take-off and other teams are going to start spying him, but he's quicker than most LBs and will smash DB or Safeties trying to take him down. Once he decides to run, he makes a few yards just falling forward. Michael Dyer, while exceptionally short, may be exceptionally good. He'll probably be the starting back by mid-season, if not sooner given Fannin's injury. Fannin's fumble-less streak: 1. Hooray!

Defensively, I was happy with the stand we made when the offense failed to score in the second half. After giving up the opening 2nd half TD and then giving up the onside kick, the defense forced a 3-and-out and MSU was never able to consistently move the ball until their final drive. While the defense will be better with LB Craig Stevens' return next week, the front four might turn out to be really good. Apparently Tracy Rocker is a really good coach; players have said that, beginning with his first practice in 2009, Rocker taught them moves that they'd never seen before. His coaching really paid off last night, as DT Nick Fairley just took over the game at times. Eltoro Freeman can be a play-maker on defense as long as he doesn't get caught out of position. He made some great athletic plays against State.

Special teams are yet again a concern. State made a great play in blocking the FG at the end of the game, but (yet another) muffed punt led to 7 MSU points. Carr made some good plays last week, and I think he may turn out to be an explosive weapon, but his judgment has to be better - unless he has room, he has to make the fair catch in that situation. The coaches must be confident enough with him to keep him out there all game.

They have extra time to prepare for Clemson, and they'll need it. The offense is going to have to be more consistent and the defense will be tested by a much better QB and better receivers. State had a lot of open plays and the receivers were either missed or dropped the ball (usually the latter). That won't happen against Clemson.

I am happy this game is over, and we got the win. Saturday's going to be a ton of fun. I'm really hoping for a downpour in Atlanta so I don't feel like a sloth for remaining indoors all-day.

Cowbells
Obviously the new cowbell rule is a joke. State fans are not going to follow the new rules and will always use the bells when they think it'll help their team win. It is ingrained in them, and it's part of their tradition. Either the SEC needs to get over it, or truly enforce the artificial noisemaker ban.

As long as State remains a 60,000-seat stadium, I don't know if it's that big of an effect; but if they grow and there were 80,000 bells ringing, then all of a sudden I start to wonder why other SEC teams (e.g. Auburn, Florida) don't start piping in music again.

Anyway here's my idea to end it: people are checked at the gates and all bells found are confiscated; if people are caught with a bell inside the stadium, they're kicked out of the game and lose their season ticket privileges. That gets to the fans. If Mississippi State won't enforce it and there's evidence of large amounts of people that have bells, then State loses their allotment of the bowl money. Right now, the most State will lose this season for fan violations is $280,000. Their 2008 bowl allotment: $2.1 million.

Commentators
I've never been a Craig James fan (though I probably like him a little more than, say, Mike Leach), but he did a good job last night. Jesse Palmer on the other hand was atrocious. I've been quick to defend Palmer (who most fans have hated since he joined ESPN), but last night was pretty bad. Other than a few insightful comments about the QB-play, he mainly detracted from the telecast. Rece Davis was his usual superb self.