The Auburn Tigers offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, left the team in December to become the head coach at Arkansas State. Malzahn's offense is widely considered as a variation of a Hurry Uptempo Spread Offense (HUSO), lining up the quarterback in the Shotgun instead of under center and spreading out the defense with three wide receivers. He has had major success as the OC for the Tigers, including helping win a BCS National Title in 2011 over the Oregon Ducks and shattering many offensive school records. A debate has picked up among Auburn fans on message boards across the web, however, concerning whether the Tigers should switch to a more pro-style offense. There has also been debate about which type of pro-style offense Auburn should run...West Coast offense, I-formation offense, or a Multiple Set offense. The West Coast offense has the quarterback mostly under center and is characterized by using short, horizontal passing routes instead of running the ball to "stretch out" a defense in order to open the potential for long runs or long passes. Auburn ran this type of offense under Offensive Coordinator Al Borges during its undefeated 2004 season.The I-formation offense consists of the quarterback under center with a fullback and halfback lined up directly behind him. It is characterized as a run first and run heavy offense that utilizes play-action to freeze linebackers to open up the vertical passing game. Auburn has ran the I-formation several times in its history and has been very successful when doing so.The Multiple Set offense consists of a playbook borrowing from all the different offensive styles. It utilizes a mixture of the Spread, West Coast, I-form, Single Back, and Pistol formations in its attack of a defense. It is the most complicated of the offenses and has the potential to consist of the largest playbook. In today's NFL, it is the offense that is run by most teams making it the true pro-style offense of the modern game.Personally, I would love for us to go to a multiple set offense. It is much more versatile and allows an offense the opportunity to line up in a formation best suited to defeat the opposing defense. Examples of teams running the Multiple Set offense includes the LSU Tigers and the Washington Huskies. But what do you think? Should Auburn ditch the Spread for a Pro-Style Offense? If so, which type?
On January 9, 2012, the Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the LSU Tigers for the 2011 BCS Championship Title. Following the game, several Bama fans visited a Krystal's burger restaurant and found an extremely intoxicated and unconscious LSU fan laying his head on a counter. As can be seen in the video, Bama fans begin to harass and play pranks on the guy. What seems like just a little fun, suddenly takes an awkward turn as one Bama fan decides to remove his testicles from his trousers and place them on the passed out LSU fan. This act is known as tea-bagging. The LSU fan is a complete stranger. If such an act occurred among friends, it might be laughed off. However, this is not what occurred, and according to NOLA.com the police is looking for the Bama fan to charge him with committing a sexual battery. Has this gone a little too far? Should this be just laughed off as a drunken prank, or is it a crime that should be prosecuted?
Τι πιστεύετε για τους «επενδυτές» που φέρνει ο Τσάκας και ο αθλητικός Τύπος καθημερινά στον Παναθηναϊκό;
Love em, hate em, boot em, tolerate em. Dare you say yay or nay?
With only one second left in the game, Chauncey Billups hits a three pointer to give the LA Clippers the win over the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. Check out the video and then rate it!
Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Joe Flacco entered Sunday night's game against the San Dieog Chargers sporting new facial hair. The style-conscious criticized Joe's new look, calling it "Questionable at Best," while fans and supporters applauded Joe for his chutzpah. The question on everyone's mind, however is: Was Joe's decision to depart from his trademark boy-next-door look to blame for Sunday night's debacle?
Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Joe Flacco entered Sunday night's game against the San Dieog Chargers sporting new facial hair. The style-conscious criticized Joe's new look, calling it "Questionable at Best," while fans and supporters applauded Joe for his chutzpah.
The question on everyone's mind, however is: Was Joe's decision to depart from his trademark boy-next-door look to blame for Sunday night's debacle?
The 2011 BCS National Championship Game between Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers was the most boring title game I have ever watched. It was completely one-sided with Alabama dominating LSU 21-0. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of defensive slugfests and thoroughly enjoyed the first LSU vs Alabama game in Tuscaloosa. This game, however, was not comparable to the first match. The Tide dominated LSU in every aspect of the game...offense, defense, and special teams. They held LSU to only 92 total yards of offense while racking up 384 of their own. It wasn't, however, just a matter of Alabama's defense dominating the game, but also LSU's offense played horrible. Jordan Jefferson fumbled several snaps and missed open wide receivers. The offensive line could not block and create passing lanes for him to find his receivers. Alabama's AJ McCarron played an outstanding game throwing the ball through tight windows to receivers covered by LSU DB's. In particular, he picked on Tyrann Mathieu, "The Honey Badger," and took advantage of his size by throwing the ball out of his reach to taller receivers. Though he did not have any touchdown passes, McCarron did complete 23 or 34 passes (67.6 CMP%) for 234 yards and a long of 26. The only bright spot in LSU's play was that its defense only gave the Tide one touchdown. Bama, once again, was forced to rely on its field goal unit, but this time Jeremy Shelley, the goat from the first game, set a BCS Title game record by making five field goals. In the regular season, if you recall, he missed four field goals allowing LSU to beat Bama in Tuscaloosa. In the game that mattered the most, Shelley was able to redeem himself.Besides blocking one of Shelley's field goals, LSU's special teams were also overwhelmed by Bama. Marquis Maze got the Tide rolling in the first quarter with a 49 yard punt return leading to the first field goal of the game. Though Maze was injured on the play, Bama's punt return and coverage teams were still able to provide them with good field position all game. LSU's punt coverage also assisted the Tide by roughing the punt returner at the ten yard line after he called a fair catch. Instead of giving Alabama the ball at the 10, they gave it to them at the 25. LSU's punter actually kicked pretty well. However, their return game with Mathieu was completely shut down.Coach Nick Saban also out-coached Coach Les Miles. His team was fully prepared for everything LSU's offense and defense tried to do. Miles tried to get the option game going, which was successful the first time around, but Alabama was ready for it and Miles seemed to refuse to go away from it even though it was clearly not working. It didn't seem as though Miles made half time adjustments. They came out and threw the ball down the field twice, which was different than the first half, but then went back to the same basic offense using option, WR screens, and running the HB on dives or off tackle. It was truly a very bland offense and was similar to the one they ran against the Tide in game one. Though Jefferson was clearly struggling, Miles kept him in and chose not to use Jarrett Lee. In my opinion, this was a mistake because Lee has started and played many games this season and may have been able to provide a spark.Saban's offense, on the other hand, came out throwing the football down the field, something they did not do in the first match up. It seemed to catch LSU by surprise. The Tigers were stacking the box and playing man on the Bama's WR's. Saban purposely picked on Mathieu by using tall receivers to go over top of the 5'8" DB. Mathieu may have been a game changer in LSU's games against West Virginia Mountaineers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Oregon Ducks, and Georgia Bulldogs, however, he was not attacked the way Saban targeted him in this game. He usually covers slot receivers that are similar in height. In this game, Saban lined up tall receivers and tight ends in the slot, which Mathieu defend against high, jump balls.Alabama's defense was definitely the highlight of the game, however, LSU's offense assisted them by playing terribly. The Tigers offense committed numerous penalties and missed many opportunities by Jefferson's inability to execute properly. He missed several wide open WR's, throwing the ball in the grass and nowhere near them on multiple occasions. His biggest mistake came when he attempted a shovel pass after his receiver had turned to block for him. The pass was picked off and led to points, and pretty much ended any hopes LSU had of coming back.Had LSU played good and this was a good, defensive game, then I would have loved it. However, LSU played awful, and it wasn't merely due to Bama's dominance. They simply didn't execute, and it was the combo of bad offensive play by LSU and great defensive play by Bama. It was also a combo of poor LSU pass defense and McCarron executing to perfection which allowed Bama to drive down the field on almost every possession.Simply put, I think LSU played awful! This game was disappointing. LSU could have possibly finished the greatest single season in college football with a win, but instead they came out flat, unprepared, and were embarrassed. It is the first time a team was completely shut out in the title game, and there is no excuse for that.What do you think...Was this the worst BCS National Championship Game in History
I love the hire of Brian VanGorder by Auburn Tigers coach Gene Chizik. The last month has been tough for the Auburn Family. We lost both of our coordinators, our top recruit to the Alabama Crimson Tide, our best player, Mike Dyer, has left the team, and Bama won the BCS National Title. The perception of the program and overall direction seemed to have been in a downward spiral. We really needed to change the momentum heading into National Recruiting Signing Day by making a big splash, and I think hiring a coach with NFL pedigree as our defensive coordinator did just that. I also like the timing of announcing the new defensive coordinator by Coach Chizik. It was not coincidental the announcement came on the same day two of Auburn's Rivals, the LSU Tigers and Bama, were playing in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. Instead of being completely forgotten during tomorrow's media coverage of college football because a rival won the Title, the Tigers new hire will also be discussed and will steal some of the press Bama would have gotten in-state and in the SEC. His timing, in my opinion, was brilliant. The only other time of making the announcement that might have been better would have been the day after the BCS Title game.VanGroder has about 30 years of coaching experience, including a four year stop as the defensive coordinator in the SEC at Georgia. He has coached in various levels of college football and in the NFL as linebackers coach, defensive coordinator, and head coach. Coach Chizik said he was looking for a great coach and recruiter, and I believe VanGroder fits that billing. Here is a glance of VanGroder's bio: Central Florida defensive coordinator (1996-97)Central Michigan defensive coordinator (1998-99)Western Illinois defensive coordinator (2000)Georgia defensive coordinator (2001-04)Jacksonville Jaguars line backers coach (2005)Georgia Southern head coach (2006)Atlanta Falcons line backers coach (2007)Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator (2008-11)As defensive coordinator with the Georgia Bulldogs, Phillip Marshall of Auburn Undercover reports the following (bullets added):In 2001, the Bulldogs allowed 18.9 points per game, No. 5 in rushing defense and No. 17 in scoring defense. In 2002, led the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense at fewer than 15 points per game as Georgia won the league championship and finished No.3 in the polls.In 2003, VanGorder's defense was No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, No. 4 in total defense and No. 6 in passing defense. He won the Frank Boyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.In 2004, VanGorder's final season, the Bulldogs were No. 8 nationally in scoring defense.Those are damn impressive statistics and are directly relevant for evaluating his potential at Auburn. He has had success in the South Eastern Conference and with the talent currently at Auburn, he should be able to produce better results and have more success than Auburn's former DC, Ted Roof. Adding NFL experience should make him even better. What do you think? Was VanGorder a great hire by Auburn head coach Gene Chizik?
Nick Saban just won his second BCS National Title as coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and has become the first coach to win three BCS National Titles having previously won one as head coach of the LSU Tigers in 2003. All three of his championship teams used the same formula: great recruiting classes, great defense, strong run game, and a quarterback that doesn't make mistakes. A great college football coach has to be good at coaching, game-planning, x's and o's, and recruiting. Saban is clearly brilliant at coaching as he has turned Alabama into an NFL warehouse. The recent BCS National Championship game exemplified his skill at game-planning as he caught LSU's defense by surprise by throwing the ball often on first down. He also had Bama's defense prepared for everything LSU did and they were able to hold them to only 92 yards of Total Offense and pitching the first shut out in BCS Title history. The fact he is great at game planning suggests he must be great at x's and o's. His top notch play-calling was also exemplified in the Title game. While Saban is definitely among the best in these three areas of college football coaching, what sets him apart is recruiting.Saban has proven he is one of the best, if not the best, recruiter in college football. Going into his sixth season at Alabama, he currently has the nation's #1 recruiting class. If he maintains this spot, it will make it his third #1 recruiting class since he has been head coach for the Tide and the fifth top five class. To win the SEC and BCS Title's, a coach absolutely must be able to recruit. As the saying goes, "you need your Jimmy's and Joe's to run your X's and O's to be successful," and Saban is definitely a tireless recruiter.
Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat won Dunk of the Night on ESPN on January 17, 2012. On January 18, Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers won. Watch the two videos and vote for who you think had a sicker dunk!
Larry King
March Madness
Natasha Fame Leslie
Ryan Seacrest
Sanu Dellafiore
John Armstrong
Fred Hanna
Georgia Hester
