Defense Stat: 50% 3rd Down Rate for the Season

[PirateVOL]

Specifically the last FG drive last night

3 consecutive 3rd down plays
Auburn ends up (due to motion) with single left and a bunch right all three plays
1st time: slant left for a 1st down
2nd time: slant left for a PI (on Taylor, who at least made an attempt to cover the slant)
3rd time: (bunch +1 right): We do NOT cover one of the bunch receivers for an easy pitch and catch for a 1st down - 2 defenders covered one of the bunch receivers, similar to the tying TD in the OT win in Columbia a few years ago when Croom scored the TD

Bonus observations:
Note the difference on how Palmer was covered vs how our DBs cover on the pick 6 - Palmer was engaged ON THE SNAP, hands were put on him.  Our DBs typically (>95% of the time) NEVER actually execute press coverage, they NEVER slow down the receiver at the line.  Often they will initially show press and then back off 10-15 yards and give up the easy throw in front of them because they are SLOW to recover
Also, on that play that was the pick 6: The color guy mumbled something that JG expected him to release outside. That may be true but both Palmer and JG should have noted the coverage PRESNAP (observe the outside technique) and adjusted accordingly.  JG did NOT. (at no time was Palmer open on the route).  Palmer was nowhere near where the lollypop was thrown (Palme back of endzone, lollypop near the goalline
I continue to believe the bust was on Flowers for the Auburn TD.  On the replay it appeared to indicate we were in quarters.

Random observations:
Burrell seemed to play ok last night, definitely an improvement over George.
Difficult to tell on TV but it appeared that in passing situations we had our three best corners in the game (Burrell, Thompson and Taylor -
Thompson playing STAR)
Our LB last night was poor, especially Henry T (2 out of the last 3 games).  I thought Banks the better of the 2 MLBs.  Banks is still a liability in the pass game (so is Crouch) but he was more active and aggressive last night - the Memphis trio needs more PT IMO to prepare them for next year
We do NOT blitz
Deandre Johnson had his best game in a LONG, LONG time last night
Bennett played well, and got to play more - I'd like to see us bookend Johnson and Bennett more at OLB
Our DL play is very poor, across the board.  Occasional flashes surrounded by mediocracy (our new DL coach is NOT getting it done)

[murfvol]

Unfortunately those are fine insights. Our secondary really needs Pruitt and Ansley both devoting time to it, but the former is attempting to coach a position he's with which he's never dealt.