AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 31 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAuburn’s Tony Franklin breaks down the spread
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Auburn, Ala.-I had a chance on Wednesday to sit down with Tony Franklin, the new offensive coordinator at Auburn. Now when it comes to coaches, Franklin is a little different. When I walked into his office at the Auburn football complex there was classical music playing from his laptop computer. But then he told me his tastes in music run the gamut and that the next song up could be from Amy Winehouse.
“Her early stuff was so much better before she started having (drug) problems,” he said.
The whole state is abuzz over the new spread offense that Franklin, the former OC at Troy, has installed for this season. The spread has been very effective in high schools and at the lower levels of college football. There are questions or not it will be as effective at the SEC level where opponents have so many good athletes on defense.
There are also questions about who will be his quarterback, Kodi Burns or transfer Chris Todd. Todd basically had a dead arm in the spring and nothing will be known until practice starts.
But those were discussions for another day. On this day I wanted a crash course on the basics. I asked Franklin to tell me five things that all of us need to know about Auburn’s new spread offense:
1. The spread is a formation, not an offense: “Some people spread the field to run it, like West Virginia. Others spread the field to pass it, like Texas Tech. It’s what you do after you spread the field that defines your offense. We spread it to figure out what is going to work in any particular game and then we just do that. At Troy we basically ran it half the time and threw it half the time. We just always took what the defense was giving us. (Note: Troy rolled up 488 yards in a 44-34 loss to Georgia last November). Our plan at Auburn is to throw first and run second but if we find a running play that works, we’re going to do that. I’m not hung up on who gets the ball and how we do it. I just want to score points.”
2. Tempo is everything: “A big part of this offense is to dictate the tempo of the game to the defense. We are no huddle all the time and will play at three speeds: Super fast, normal fast, and freeze. At super fast we snap the ball as soon as the official lets us. At normal fast we might snap it with 17 or 18 seconds left on the play clock. At freeze we might wait until there are only two or three seconds left on the clock. But the idea is to make the defense think that you’re going to snap the ball immediately every time you run a play. That way it’s hard for them to get into a rhythm and to make adjustments on the fly.”
3. The goal is to make the defense tired: “In football the defensive linemen are better athletes than the offensive linemen. That’s just the way it is. But you turn it into an even match by running a lot of plays that force the defensive front to run a lot to get to the ball. Early in the game they are feeling frisky and they will chase after everything. Some plays look like they are not working but they are because the defense is running a long way just to make the tackle.
“Most of the big plays in this offense come in the second and fourth quarters after the defense has gotten tired. This works very well in high school and at the Division II and Division I-AA level of college football because at that level teams don’t have the numbers on defense. It’s more difficult at this level because the good teams are so deep in defensive linemen. But in games where I knew we were overmatched physically, I spent the first quarter and third quarter just running plays hoping to get their defense tired. Then if we could just keep it close we might have a chance in the fourth quarter.”
4. The biggest misconception about the spread? “It is that the players who run this offense, particularly the linemen, are not tough. Go look at film of West Virginia’s offensive line or Texas Tech’s. Those guys are tough. People think guys aren’t tough because we’re not lining up in the I-formation and blowing people off the ball. But I’ve seen a lot of tough coaches get fired because they couldn’t score any points. Toughness is an attitude that good coaches teach their players. We have one of the top offensive line coaches in the country (Hugh Nall). Our guys are going to be very tough.”
5. Players love this offense: “This is really simple. If guys are going to invest all this time at practice, when the game comes they want to touch the ball and make plays. All this offense does is put the ball in the hands of guys who can make plays in enough space to where if they make a defender miss, they have a chance to score. We make a lot of changes at the line of scrimmage and so the defense has to change with us. If the defense misses a signal, we might walk in for an easy score. If we miss a signal then we just might have a bad play but we live to run the next play. It puts a lot of pressure on the defense. Offensive players love that.”
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Comments
By Columbus Dawg
July 31, 2008 6:10 AM | Link to this
I hope Tommy Tubberville does not let this be the latest thing to get everyone at AU on his back again, but Franklin’s own words are key. Teams with deep, talented defenses will put this offense in a box. Everyone knows by now that to try to pass first and run second in the SEC is a recipe for failure. I have no doubt that Coach Willie M. will have something to subside the tiggers.
By athens DAWG
July 31, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this
Tubervilles last stand. Those goofball fans down there will buy right into his next cheesy stunt to hang on. Should have left that place along time ago.
By lakerat
July 31, 2008 7:02 AM | Link to this
Coach Willie M. didn’t have squat to stop WVA a couple of years ago in the Sugar Bowl!
By Dallas Dawg
July 31, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
“the chicken spread offense”
The goobers will love it!!!!
By AUeagle
July 31, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Thats right lakerat. The dawg players are to stupid to figure out the best offense in the league.
WDE
By JB
July 31, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
it’s still about speed and tackling…..Dawgs can handle it.
By Dallas Dawg
July 31, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this
Get your toilet paper ready for Goobers corner, the plainsman are gonna win some football games with the spread offense.
NOT IN THIS LEAGUE GOOBERS !!!!
By Todd
July 31, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Spread, pro-set, wing tee, whatever.
It’s talent for the most part and Cody Burns doesn’t exactly put the fear in to SEC D’s.
Ask the Gators about that Knowshon guy, after the game dumba——s Gator fan is like “where did Ga get that guy, not realizing how hard they had recruited him”
The real reason the Gators got a 42-30 (which included a fluke TD given to UF) put on them was b/c Tebow’s shoulder was sore!
Don’t make me laugh.
By Bwh Dawg
July 31, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
In reply to AUEagle,
The Dawgs Defense had little trouble with Florida’s spread offense and Mr. Tebow last year. Ask, Mr. Tebow as he was sacked 6 times and bruised black and blue. (Georgia wrote the game plan as to how to beat Florida and then Michigan used it successfully in the Capitol One Bowl game). In fact, your AU players may know a little something about getting beaten black (as in BLACK out) and blue last year. AU Eagle, I would keep my mouth shut after getting the crap beat out of me two years in a row by Georgia.
Franklin said you have to have an athletic D-line to defense the spread. The Dawgs have just that and are three deep with quality in this area. The only team that compares to us on the D-line is LSU. Infact, I look forward to seeing how AU’s new offense fares against LSU’s defense. See you in November.
Go Dawgs!!!!!!
By Roswell Ed
July 31, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
I always forget how much class you Dogged fans have until y’all remind me!!
Now tell me this.
What is the dogs record in their last 10 SEC East games?
What a bunch of overblown hooey.
I can tell you this. Our offense can’t be worse than it was last yr.
WDE!!!
By David
July 31, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
I’m really looking forward to seeing what this offense does. Maybe it won’t work like we hope, but it will fun to watch.
athens DAWG, Tuberville’s last stand? Yeah, Auburn is going to run off one of the better SEC coaches. His record the past 6 years really sucks.
By SecIsFootball
July 31, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
AUEagle…..The best offense in the league??? What are you on? You have played one game with a hybrid style offense against a team who had nothing to prepare for. Now you bring in a QB with MINIMAL experience and WR’s who have proven nothing at all and you guys are the “best offense in the league”. I dont care who you are….THATS FUNNY!!!
By JRL
July 31, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
I only hope the Tigers spread Bama and send Saban packing (yet again).
By KR
July 31, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Bwh Dawg: I would keep my mouth shut after getting the crap beat out of me two years in a row by Tennessee.
Funny how that works, isn’t it?
The level of excitement from Auburn fans was summed up nicely by Roswell Ed: Our offense can’t be worse than it was last yr.
Will it work? Only time will tell.
WAR EAGLE!
By Mike
July 31, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
I always love being reminded of how blind some Dawg fans are. The cries of “this won’t work in our league”…after giving up 488 yards (34 points) to Troy, and before that giving up 502 yards (38 points) to WVU. Umm, where are the FACTS that support your arguments, Dawg fans???
By Pago Flyer
July 31, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Frankly, I’m a little worried about this super offense that auburn will have!
By countrylawyer
July 31, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Dawg-fans -
You guys need to chill. Tony Barnhart wrote an artilce about the Spread Offense and Tony Franklin the new OC at Auburn.
Auburn’s offensive production the last few years was not very good. Coach Tuberville made a calculated gamble, and decided to totally change the offensive philosophy and scheme. That’s interesting stuff.
Like most new offenses [remember the wishbone] it will probably be effective for a few years and then everyone will figure out how to defend it.
However, it sure sounds like it will be a lot of fun to watch. Something a little different.
PS: The entire college football world doesn’t revolve around Athens. You guys need to learn, appreciate and respect the other teams in the SEC and College football. If you read the message boards UGA fans hate all other schools and believe that all other schools are evil trash. It’s a simple UGA concept, UGA is all good and wonderful and we love them and every other school in the world is bad, and evil and we hate them.
Rant over. I’ll be preaching next week at the First Baptist Church.
By Todd
July 31, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
Columbus Dawg:
You’re right. Pass first, run second is a recipe for failure.
Sincerely,
Steve Spurrier in the 90’s
Geez, some Dawg fans are just utterly clueless, and have such short term memories.
T
By Bob
July 31, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Todd, speaking of utterly clueless, Spurrier did not have a pass first and run second offense at Florida in the 90’s. He had a very conventional offense that relied heavily on the running game. He just had great players that executed well and he was (and is) a great play caller. You obviously didn’t even watch Florida football back then.
I digress. I too am a spread offense skeptic. Its one thing to point at a game here and there where it was successful (you can just as easily find games where it wasn’t successful), but we are talking about the long haul. Defenses will adjust. They always do. You still have to win games with blocking and tackling. No amount of gimmickry will change that.
By merculf
July 31, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Bwh Dawg you forget that Auburn beat UF 2 years in a row. Uga only beat them once. Auburn went and bat them in the Swamp, not a neutral site where there is no real homefield advantage. Beat UF consistantly and then you can brag about how great the Dawgs are.How quickly you forget that Au beat UGA the 2 years before.
By scoreboard
July 31, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Hi Ed,
I don’t usually get caught up in these back and forth shouting contests, but your post at 7:58 struck me a little odd. If you are interested in discussing UGA’s record in their last 10 SEC East games, I’ll agree with you that it is bad (4-6 I believe). But keep in mind that record covers the last two years.
That brings me to another question about cherry-picked SEC records over the last two years. Namely, how has Auburn fared against UGA the last two years? As I recall, those were two pretty ugly games for y’all.
Trust me. I am no flamer. I have nothing against Auburn, and I’m as interested to see how Auburn’s offense will work out as anybody. Who knows? It might be really good. I just wanted to point out that your chosen two year window can be interpreted in a number of ways.
By Spike
July 31, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Hey AU people, I thought Tommy Tubs lectured Mark Richt a few years back about needing a running attack to be succesful in the SEC. Now they are going to pass first? How did Tubs like our running game last year in the black out game, especially in the second half? And those defenses this new coach will be facing are not from the Sun Belt Conference anymore.
By Munson's Call
July 31, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Nicely put Scoreboard.
Ed what does it say about Auburn that they were pasted by that same Georgia team that was so bad in their last 10 SEC games?
By GoBoGo
July 31, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Auburn fans are excited about this offense. Why? The last two years of offensive output has been, well…..offensive. This guy (Franklin) comes in December and with nine practices puts together enough of a scheme to beat a pretty good Clemson team in the bowl game. Nine practices produced the most offensive output (yardage and plays) all year by Auburn.
So, Auburn fans are excited about the possibilities. Lester, Tate and Fannin will all be getting plenty of touches in this offense.
It should be fun to watch.
By GoBoGo
July 31, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Muschamp was the D coordinator for Auburn the last two years. He was great against everyone except for……UGA. He had that same problem at LSU too.
Can you explain that?
By mcdawg
July 31, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Dawgs 4 turnovers in the first half had a little something to do w/ WVUs win in the sugar bowl
our depth on the D-Line and speed everywhere else will match up fine w/ this offense
By Joe Mac
July 31, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
So how will this offense perform on a cold, wet November Saturday?
By BB @ UGA
July 31, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
plainsmen, war eagles, tigers - What the heck? - Make up your mind!….GOOBERS!!!
**GO DAWGS !!!!
By AltamahaDawg
July 31, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
ED speaking for myself, and I would bet that if you think about it, you would agree, I care a LOT more about the next 10 games than the last.
But if you must look backwards, its kinda like we tell the gators, anyone can carve out certain timeframes. UGA Beat AU last 2 times and SEC record this decade speaks for itself.
By Florida Dawg
July 31, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
If I remember correctly, it was Auburn’s offense who developed the right plan first to beat the lowly lizzards. The rest of the SEC followed that plan I do believe. You have to give Auburn credit for that and also give Kentucky credit for knocking TTebow down before the Dawgs finished him off. Look forwrd to seeing out of you down here in J’ville…we have a “celebration” in waiting!! Go Dawgs!
By wsa
July 31, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
War “Spread” Eagle
Am I the only guy that remembers what Tubby told CMR after his first Auburn game where we lost on the goal line? “You have to run the ball to compete in this league”.
By Suwanee
July 31, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
AU will be and usually is a force. The SEC is going to strong this year. AU should and will win the West and we will get to play UGA twice and see you in the new red and black dome.
By BobDog
July 31, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
Going to the spread was a good move by AU to spark some interest and help recruiting. They seemed to have built their success on a smash mouth running game and if the featured back wasn’t exceptional, they struggled. Franklin said his philosophy is to pass first, but take what the D gives him.
But, you have to admit, the spread seems to be the current fad. What will be next?
By Moonlight Mile
July 31, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
Interesting stuff on the spread. I’m sure AU will find the endzone more than they did the last couple with Cox back there. Whatever the offense, you better have a QB.
By UGAly
July 31, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
You UGA fans are just bitter because no one is buying your hype. You beat FL and AU for the first time in any of our life times and you think you’ve done something.
You brag about last year, but tell me something…what did you do? Nothing. You didn’t win the conference or even the division.
You may have some in the national media fooled, but around here we know that you’re just the SEC’s version of Clemson.
Trust me…you guys will choke against FL again. Maybe you’ll win again in another 15 years…maybe.
By SEC Fan
July 31, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Auburn Offense will be very interesting to see. Could be great. Could be a disaster.
GA Fans - The way the talk with such arrogance & entitelment….. makes you want to cheer for Tech!
Roswell Ed is about the dumbest person ever. I think he is gay too.
By gatorrmike
July 31, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Tony, good article on the new AU Offense. It should be interesting to see how it works in the SEC. Guys, I love all of this jabber as we approach kick off. I am really entertained by all of the UGA barking. As a Gator, I prefer the quiet approach because our defense sucked last year. Until I see otherwise, I will be skeptical. As for last year’s FL-GA Game, UGA won fair and square. If it took a silly end zone dance, so be it. My UF bretheren need to get off that soap box. It didn’t bother Tebow if any of you read his comments about the dance. Hopefully, a lot will be on the line for both the Gators and Dawgs on 01 Nov. That should make a great game. I advise my Gator bretheren to keep low profile with the rhetoric. As for the Dawg Fans, your rhetoric is in the stratoshere, and I love it. Ya’ll are giving everyone bulletin board material. Keep it up! Let’s all let the kids at all of the SEC Schools play the games. Go Gators
By tigerflamer
July 31, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
The Georgia fans show as much class as the Alabama fans. I do believe they are of the same breed. Nice classy post in here. I am sure you make Georgia proud. Keep it up dawgs.
By PTC DAWG
July 31, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Like others have said, AU is a quality SEC team. They should be interesting to watch early on to see what they are actually going to do.
By Third
July 31, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
You flea-up mutts think you did something because you finally beat Florida and you ran of from us in the 4th quarter? Get a grip!! Little feather-armed Brandon Cox is gone so now you’ll actually have to play the deep pass this year. And if you think Auburn won’t run the ball down your throat still, look at the bowl game stupids!! Almost 200 yards rushing on a top 15 defense in a offense we practiced for 9 days!! I glad you’re hating, because we need the hate!!It fuels our fire! P.S. Tell CMR we said your welcome on that “how to beat Florida 101” course that Tommy T. gave him. Tell him his enrollment was only good for a season, though.
WDE!!!!
By studtiger
July 31, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Next to Auburn, Georgia is my favorite SEC team. Isn’t this the longest rivalry in college football history? Most GA fans aren’t as arrogant as some of the posters here. Lets face it, in straight up smash mouth football, GA put a whoppin on us. They have some great players and could win the MNC. We have to have more finese which is why we changed from an offense that was not working. I pick GA to win the east and if we can’t win the MNC, then I hope Georgia does.
By Halberstram
July 31, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
It will be very interesting to see how the new Auburn offense works this year. Franklin mentions how they plan on tiring out defense, but I bet he tires out a lot of his own players with all the plays as well. I know that the team is practicing to get used to this scheme, but nothing can completely prepare save for live game action. I think it will be a success but nothing astronomical. They will have some great games and some bad ones.
Further, I completely disagree with his last statement about how if the defense messes up its a TD and if the offense it’s just a bad play. If the offense messes up you’re looking at a fumble just as much as a TD on a big play. It’s not just one-sided.
Go Dawgs!
By Dawgbone
July 31, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Didn’t coach Tuberville lecture coach Richt early on about being able to run the ball in this league to win? Richt has certainly addressed that concern!
Now Tommy wants to pass to set up the run? Speed kills and our deep defense will shut down the spread. Should be another fun trip to Auburn.
DAWGBONE
By GatorGuy
July 31, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
An article about AU and you dawg fans can’t stop talking about UF.
Bob “Spurrier did not have a pass first and run second offense at Florida in the 90’s. He had a very conventional offense that relied heavily on the running game.”
Did you watch any of the Gator games when SOS was the coach? The vast majority of the rushing yardage came when we were up big and grinding the clock. In 12 years of SOS, the only big name RB’s we had were Rhett, Taylor and Graham.
Conventional offense? He reinvented the passing game in college football! Having QB throw to a spot was brand new to college football when he invented it. You have no idea what you are talking about.
To all you dwag fans - You’re right , you will have no problem stopping UF’s offense, our D is going to be horrible. Maybe we should cancel the game.
By auburn suxs
July 31, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Please the spread will not work for AU , they are going to have to get rid of tubber. I see aubarn having alot of three and outs on offence and their D gettin tied in these games. Yes, Troy put some points up and yrds on us,but UGA played alot of back up players in that game. We also shut UWV down in the second half and almost took the game from them , but they got the fake punt, it was a great call. Tubber has lost the river boat gambler title and he doesn’t take many chances any more. I think Au needs to send him packin and this yr the aubarn fans might see that.good luck, but not to much >>>>GO DAWGS.
By Dallas Dawg
July 31, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Tell all your kids if they can sharpen a #2 pencil you can get into auburn for a fantastic education in cow milking and sociology.
wde lol !
By IM4BAMA
July 31, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Ain’t sec football great! you gotta love livin in the south when it’s time for football. Bottom line, I can’t wait to see what Auburn’s offense will look like under Franklin. Just hope it flops against Bama. Georgia fans, you got a great coach and a good team, but your talking way too much smack because as good as your team is, UGA will not survive the schedule it plays, “the harder they fall” is the expression that comes to mind. Frankly, any team in the SEC that has two or less losses should always get a shot at the national title game in my opinion because the SEC is just that damn good. How bout this for class. Good luck to you all, let’s enjoy another great season of football in the south. ROLL TIDE ROLL
By studtiger
July 31, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Dallas Dawg.
You are living in the dark ages. This is the 21st Century. We don’t use #2 pencil’s anymore.
By ARdawg
July 31, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
SEC fan
Like you, I am not turning my nose up at AU’s spread offense just yet. I’ve never had much opinion on TT personally but the guy can certainly coach and has always been dedicated to the run. If he is willing to spend a season to experiment with the spread in this league, he might know something the rest of us don’t.
My first inclination is NO FUGGIN WAY can it be successful with these quick defenses but I guess time will tell. That is IF he sticks with it.
By Dallas dawg
July 31, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry studtiger, I forgot you guys down there have not progressed pass the crayons yet. Crayons on toilet paper from goobers corner.
whooooa wde. lol
By Best of luck
July 31, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
You UGA folks are comical. Every back UGA has ever signed is the next Hershel. Stafford was going to be the best QB in the nation (laughable). Every year the fanbase mantra ends up being, “Next year. Just wait!” Until they drop the College Park/East Point attitude that they’ve adopted and show up to play every week I see no reason to think anything will change this season. But, I huess we’ll find out next year.
By Tiger Claw
July 31, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
SHOUTING MATCH??!!??
AWRIGHT!!! COOL!!!
AUBURN HOLDS A 53–50–8 LEAD IN THE AU-GA. SERIES!!!
‘Nuff said.
By screeder1au
July 31, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
I just love how all the DAWG fans come out of the woodwork calling the offense a gimmick. My thought is that Troy doesn’t have the athletes that AU has and if they can put up 34pts and 488yds, all the negativity might add up to a little worry on their parts. Surely you can’t think Tony Franklin is just going to say pass first and run second and do that from now on. I think the SEC is going to struggle at first with this just like UGA did with WVU in Sugar Bowl and Troy and like others have done against it. There is just no rhyme or reason to it.
By screeder1au
July 31, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
I also think it’s funny that the UGA fans are busting on the spread when they have had so much trouble with it (West VA and Troy) in the last three years. I think AU will be a good mix between WVU’s spread and TT’s spread. They will be more 50/50 on the pass run and be less predictable. Let’s face it, that has gotten them into trouble especially with UGA the last two years. I think this year, most of the SEC teams will struggle with it to start with.
By Tiger Claw
July 31, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah, and another thing…that 53-50-8 series lead we got on y’all….that’s a 111 years we’ve been playing y’all.
(I thought I’d put that in there for you mathmatically challenged dawggie fans…)
Heck, y’all are still three years out to even tie it up!!! It’ll be four(4)after this year!!!!
Bwhahahahahahahhaaa!!!!
WDE!!!!!
By Ben
July 31, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Where did this argument come from that the spread offense won’t work in the SEC because “the defenses are too fast”? Do the offensive players in the SEC wear cleats made of concrete? Can the WR’s in this conference not run too? They said Urban Meyer’s spread option wouldn’t work, but it did. It’s probably the best offense in the conference. Also, do you guys remember where Texas Tech’s Mike Leach was before he took the spread offense out there? He was at Kentucky, which I’m pretty sure is also in the SEC. I seem to remember a QB named Tim Couch who lit up SEC defenses for a couple years.
By Exley DAWG
July 31, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Can I state the obvious. This is a UGA blog people! Of course there are going to be Dawg fans degrading the competition. College football in the South is all about putting down the other other team and pulling for yours.
Tommy Tupperware sucks!
By Deacondawg1
July 31, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Wasn’t it Tuberville who laughed at Coach Richt in 2001 basically saying that to win in this league is to run the ball?
By gmellis
July 31, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Dawg fans put up such negativity before the first ball is snapped. However, by my accounting, 10 games will be played before this arguement is settled (at Auburn) on the field. Remember, it’s Georgia’s game to loose more than Auburn’s game to win. With that being said, enjoy your National Championship now before you face a tough SEC season, trip through Atlanta, and face USC in the Orange Bowl.
By KR
July 31, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Exley DAWG mistakenly wrote: Can I state the obvious. This is a UGA blog people!
You can, but you’d be wrong.
This is a College Football blog. For a UGA blog, go check out The Junkyard Blawg.
WAR EAGLE!
By War Eagle 02
July 31, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Dawg fans if they think this is a gimmick offense. Judging from last season they know more about gimmicks than anyone!
By quaildawg
July 31, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Changing Offensive Identities has worked billiantly at places like Nebraska and that West Coast O Auburn ran under Al Borgges (amazing how smart a coordinator he was with Ronnie Brown and Cadillac and how stupid he became without them) didn’t it?. Just a suggestion Aubbie’s stick with what works. Solid Defense and physical running game. As for the stats on the UGA game vs. Troy Tony you need to preface with the fact that this game was after the emotional game with FL and prior to the Aubbie game. Got to beleive the team was a little flat and the fact that UGA had the 2’s and 3’s in for the second half.
By Bird
July 31, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
If you want to have a semi-intelligent discussion about football fine. Don’t resort to name calling (Goobers) and taunting. Please attempt to show some class.Time will tell. WE SHALL SEE !
WDE
By jayjay
July 31, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
tubs just got franklin to hold on a couple of more years.the true AU fans and city want his AS# out of town.dont think that cody burns will lead them to nothing more than 8 victories.write that down barners.FWDE
By ARdawg
July 31, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Ben I’ll respectfully disagree about Meyer’s spread option. It definitely isn’t the best in the conference. Along in the same vein of Mike Leach’s time at UT. It gave defenses some trouble but you could hardly chalk that up to the spread as more to Couch. Besides, what did UK win?
What makes the SEC different as compared to other leagues where the spread is successful is the speed and talent of the defensive backfields ability to cover while the box is stacked. Bottom line is it comes down to the quality athlete which is in abundance in the SEC. Stacking the box and keeping the fast fresh legs in the defensive backfield is the spread antidote
By Best of luck
July 31, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
“Franklin said you have to have an athletic D-line to defense the spread. The Dawgs have just that and are three deep with quality in this area”
Based on previous discussion the 2nd have of the Troy game’s 2’s and 3’s playing is a non-issue. You can slant it any way you want to but, let’s at least play the games before you polish up that MNC trophy to sell on e-bay.
Pitiful.
By Ben
July 31, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Is Percy Harvin fast? Mohammed Massequoi? Trindan Holliday? Are these guys fast or not? Yes, the defenses in the SEC are faster than other conferences, but so are the offensive players. The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts have been running a spread for years, and they do it against faster defenses than the SEC. If all you’re saying is that “speed kills”, then you’re absolutely right. Fast players will beat slow players every time, but what if they’re going against players that are just as fast as them?
Lastly, yes… Florida did have the best offense last year in the SEC. They were #1 in the conference in points per game at 42.3 and in yards per game at 463. LSU was #2 in the conference in both those categories, surprise surprise they also run a spread offense too.
By AUT83
July 31, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Spurrier proved that you can pass first and run second, but Auburn has always been about the run. We also have bigger, faster and deeper backs than Franklin has ever had in his life. Also this is the best O Line and D he has ever had in support of his plan.
Lets just see what happens. AU fans are tired of lame offense. We have too much talent for that. Im a helluva lot more concerned about our D vs Stafford and Moreno than whether we can score points against Wille Martinez. Dawg fans wanted to run him off just a couple of years ago.
Give an AU offense 90 plays and there will be some dawgs sucking hind t** by the end of the game.
By Jimmy
July 31, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
I think it was Shane#1 who said something to the effect that the UGA players aren’t coming into the season w/ the arrogant attitude that many of the UGA bloogers have. Think about that, for all of you anti UGA people who think that arrogance will be the teams downfall. The players know they need to keep a level head each game. The fanbase, however, has every reason to be as arrogant as ever. Just look at how this team is stacked. Of course that’s just on paper and the games still need to be played. I can’t wait!
By studtiger
July 31, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
I like it better when the cheerleaders are stacked. I heard that they had to replace the natural grass field at Georgia with artificial turf to keep the cheerleaders from grazing on it during halftime. I also heard that several of the players were arrested for trying to snort the 50 yard line. Or was that Alabama?
By FLA DAWG
July 31, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Sorry to pull a changeup on you Tony but………………as FlaDawg predicted, Spurrier has reinstated Garcia (already).
By TejasJack
July 31, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Wow, you leg humpers are quickly taking over from the bammers as the most obnoxious, self centered jackasses in the SEC. We won’t be running the same predictable offense and Brandon Cox won’t be at the trigger. How do you expect to put our spread offense in the box, with four wide outs? How do you expect to stop our running game with only 6 in the box at most? Keep talking your crap…there are reasons why the Gators and not the leg humpers were picked to win the East. What gadget do you people have to resort to next year? Maybe a grey out? Maybe a mass spearing of an AU player? UGA = over rated
By George
July 31, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Auburn’s offense will DESTROY the pups offense this year. Just wait. Just like Troy put up all those numbers last year on you idiots now imagine a team that actaully has players. Plus read Chip towers article. 34th is the highest you dolts ranked in any offensive category last year so dont act like yall are all mighty either.
By Sec30
July 31, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
These comments illustrate one point so very perfectly:
Class and decency exists in the fan bases of each and every school in the SEC
But it is NOT universal.
By PBR makes florida girls look better
July 31, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
AU are confused as to what they want to be called. War Eagles? Tigers? or Plainsmen? They cant figure that out but you think they can run a new offense. FUNNY
By studtiger
July 31, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
I’d like to know how Alabama got an elephant out of Crimson Tide? Or Criminal Tied as we Tigers call them… except when when we are the War Eagles… or the Plainsmen.
By studtiger
July 31, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Beware of the Spread Eagle!
By tyler durden
July 31, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Unlike 5 years ago, Tubby is getting squeezed out in recruiting to the west by Saban, to the east by Richt, and to the south by Meyer. This spread crap is merely an effort to compete with those 3 in the coming years. Time will tell if it will pay off.
By War Eagle
July 31, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
During my playing days at Auburn, we ran Wing T offense, 5-2 Oklahoma defense, my first year coaching my offense was Wing T offense,my second thru 5 years wish bone offense, 5-2 eagle defense, The next 5 years I formation with slot, 5-3 defense. My point is offense and defenses change with techiques and coaching philosophy. Coach Meyers set the stage for spread at Utah, UWV, made a good example by scoring big time points against major colleges. Auburn has athletes, speed and talent ot run this potential offense, consist execution is another subject.Its refreshing for Auburn with a lack of offensive production last two years…
By Vespula
July 31, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
dogs hope the spread does not work…
After AU whips them first, the Johnson Express will roll into A town for round two!
Dog fans think they understand the spread..just ask them how they ALMOST came back against WV!
By DixieTiger
July 31, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Dang its amazing how UGA starts winning a few games again and Dawg fans start tryin to act like Alabama fans. There’s a surprise.
Make no mistake. Auburn will still run the football. You think Lester, Tate, and Fannin won’t be getting the ball everywhere on the field? You’re crazy.
By Reggie
July 31, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
First of all, no Georgia will not be able to stop this offense. That is a fact, not an opinion. Second, Georgia will prove this year just like they always do, that they can only do so much w/great talent. Georgia’s coaching staff sucks!! Who ever heard of Willie Martinez, outside of the SEC? I bet Tennessee knows him REAL WELL! And third, Knowshon Moreno will not even get 1000 yards this year! So what if Georgia finally has 1 decent tailback. Auburn has several EVERY year! Just remember Georgia fans, those 20 years or so that went by w/out winning an SEC title here before the new millenium! I know I sure do. Don’t recall Auburn ever going that long w/out winning an SEC title. Ain’t nobody scared of the little Georgia Puppies. Gonna give ya a beatdown worse than Tennessee did last year. Bring it on boys!
By Reggie
July 31, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
Did I mention Georgia sucks! Real big, fat ones!
By Mac
July 31, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
One of the things I used to like about the Auburn- Georgia rivalry was how classy everybody acted - genuine Southern politeness. Sigh.
By psych08
August 1, 2008 12:13 AM | Link to this
Yeah, the classy game that was the ‘Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry’ was destroyed, when Georgia pulled out the Black and decided to dance on the field and the stands as they were routing my team. As I was barked at on the way back to my truck I realized that this is no longer a ‘brotherly’ or ‘friendly’ rivalry. I feel within the next few years this will become a pretty vicious rivalry. At least Auburn fans are use to having this type of rivalry. I really don’t think you Bulldog fans know what you are in for when you come to Auburn next year. Whoever wins, don’t expect a welcoming ‘brotherly’ attitude.
By Bill
August 1, 2008 6:52 AM | Link to this
The Pups will handle it just as they handled West Virginia in the 2005 Sugar Bowl!
By gatig
August 1, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
psych, I agree about the blackout, but unfortunately, if you’re old enough to remember, the leg humpers took the class out of the game back in the eighties. I was at the game where they had to turn on the fire hoses to try to stop a bunch of ignorant dawgs from vandalizing the field. These nuts were caught on national TV crawling around on their hands and knees barking and tearing the field up.
BTW, hey you doggies, don’t worry about our offense. You need to worry about if you will have a team left when it comes to the Auburn game. At the rate you guys are going, they may all be in jail. I guess you can pass a hat at the games for bail money.
By matt
August 1, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Rumor has it it is being hailed as the “Spread Eagle”
By Tiger Tailgater
August 1, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Alright, look: Georgia has a great team this year. There’s no doubt about that. Stafford is the best QB returning in the league who isn’t named Tebow, Mareno is awesome but might not even be the best back on Georgia’s team (Caleb King is a hoss too), and the defense looks to be just as good as it usually is. But get off yourselves already. Troy dropped better than 30 against you. Yeah, it’s not an SEC game where the team was that focused, but IT’S TROY for crying out loud. Troy wasn’t a pushover these past couple of years, but there’s no way they should have scored that much against the vaunted UGA defense.
Franklin knows what he’s doing. The philosophy in this offense is pass to set up the run. That doesn’t mean there will be more passes than runs. As a matter of fact, most of the passes are more of toss sweeps where the toss is a forward lateral. If you people had any clue what football was about, then you’d recognize what a great scheme this really is: get the ball to your playmakers, whomever they might be, get them in space and let them make people miss.
Georgia certainly has the hosses to beat Auburn. But don’t think for a second that Auburn doesn’t have the hosses to beat Georgia, because then if it happens you’ll feel REALLY stupid.
By jayjay
August 2, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
tigertailgater-you are the only stupid bastage here
By SpongeBob
August 3, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Haven’t heard anyone discuss the real reason for using this offense. With all the rules changes in the past three years to “speed the game up”, the mumber of offensive plays has dropped dramatically. It has become more difficult to get in the endzone using stictly “smash-mouth” offensive formations with 20% fewer plays than were run prior to 2006.
You’ve still got to run in the SEC…you just got to do it in a hurry and with less predicability than 3.5 yards and a cloud of dust.
By AUtiger
August 4, 2008 12:38 AM | Link to this
Leave it up to the toothless UGA fans who never stepped a foot in a college class room to say some stupid crap on an Auburn article.
I’m glad Auburn fans have class and do not trash other teams out of disrespect.
WAR EAGLE!
By chuck
August 4, 2008 1:34 AM | Link to this
as a wvu mountaineer fan i don’t have a dime in this. the spread can work anywhere it is about spreading the field sideline to sideline and putting players in space. see, in any offense all you can do is block 10 whether its the I or split back or whatever so in the end all offenses end up in the same spot. a ball player has to make someone miss to score. the spread is even better if you can even the score by running the Qb, because the numbers are even at this point. the spread is a numbers game, go where the d is not. its not a gimmick, really its football in a simple user friendly form. if a team cheats the box, throw quick hitting pass, if they line up man, run against 5 and 6 man box. watch wvu and pat white, that is the spread. no matter the quality of the defender its hard to tackle another great player in space.
By AFnPC
August 5, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
I sincerely hope the UGAy coaches are a little more bright than the UGAy fans…Auburn will continue to smash the ball down your throat, then spread you out and punk you for 6…The problem defenses have with each different type of the spread are all different. The spread isn’t one offense, “it’s a formation”, but I’m pretty sure all you dawg fans skipped the article and jumped right into the word fight…UGAy has incorporated pieces of the spread the last couple of years as well. 2 years ago at Auburn, how many yards did Stafford run for after the WRs were sent deep and spread the defense out thin? I think it was 80+, but you’re right, the spread won’t work!
WDE!
By au78
September 20, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
I have been an Auburn fan my entire life and Tony Franklin is the WORST offensive coordinator we have ever had. FIRE TONY FRANKLIN!!!
By He Gone!
October 8, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
Franklin hit the door! Look out mutts and bammer, we are going to town! You gonna be kwakin in yo boots! Tate for hieszman!