Crimson Red Sports

It seems to me the AU offense is very similar to the Wishbone run from a spread formation, and I remember when the Wishbone first came on the scene Texas, Oklahoma, Bama and others were putting up huge rushing numbers. And Coach Bryant always said the Wishbone could be a good passing offense. Then the D-Coordinators caught up with it and it virtually disappeared. Maybe some of you can remember what the defense was that shut down the Wishbone. I seem to remember it was a 7-man front but I'm not sure. Maybe hscoach or Supercoach can remember. Anyway it seems that a place to start would be to build on what defenses did in the late 70's.

I just want to know how a bunch of illiterate goat farmers perfected the read option?  :dunno:

We honestly would have beat them if we had played disciplined defense and just made one field goal.

Have you ever tried to herd goats?

I haven't.  Good practice?

It wasn't that simple. We had a lousy defensive backfield and don't forget, they should have scored 2 TD's in which their receivers were open by 5-10 yards or more. They played with energy & enthusiasm, we looked like the walking dead.


 :deadhorse:

I was living in NYC during the era of the wishbone at Bama and didn't see as many games.  But I seem to remember other teams crowding the l.o.s. to stop the run, so Bama started passing from the formation.

I don't know if 7-man DL is the answer or not.  With the right personnel, maybe three bulky D-linemen who could clog up the middle and two athletic D-ends would slow the plays enough that the LBs could then make plays.  With the Barn, the cut blocks have to somehow be neutralized maybe with some different technique or  different rushing scheme.

In 2009 the whole defensive year was designed to beat the Gators even though we didn't play them until the SECCG.  So I expect a lot of work in spring ball & fall camp will be done installing a D that can stop Gus.

I get what you are saying Marshall, but that's my point. The DBS specifically we're not disciplined and that lead to their WRs being open and especially on their game tying TD.

 It looked too me like they were running the RB and QB counter more than the read option.  There were times when Bama was playing the end man would go for the dive which did allow for the read option to be run.  On the last TD Bama probably would have been better off if the corner stayed with the rec and the safety filled and took the QB.  Also the blockers got leverage on the Bama defenders and cut them many times.  The bad news is they get a lot of those OL back.

Our defense would have worked fine, but we lacked discipline that day like many have said.  You can't guess where the ball is going to go.  You have to play your assignment, and if the ball is there you get the tackle.  Otherwise trust your teammate to play his assignment and get the tackle.  The D-Line has to do a better job of clogging things up.  Many times they were 5 yards downfield before they were ever touched, and on several occasions we ran ourselves right out of the play chasing after the decoy and never did even touch the guy before he scored.  I expect lots of emphasis on assignment football and discipline this spring, with maybe a few minor tweaks to the scheme.  In spite of all of that, the defense still played well enough to win.

Something else to keep in mind, Auburn is a much better team today than they were when they lost to LSU.  They only run about 3 plays most of the time, but they execute those 3 plays to perfection now.

Is Ara Paresgian still alive? He was the defensive mastermind who first defensed the wishbone and stopped it dead. Basically, the key is the pitch man (QB). You would have one player on him and the key was to make him commit to either pitching or running with the ball.


 :popcorn2:

Ara is still alive and well..pushing 90.

AU is fairly deceptive with their faking but I wonder if
Gus isn't setting up the D with false keys. Maybe a simpler system for the front seven might work.