Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads makes a point to Auburn players/AuburnUndercover.com staff
|
Late in the third quarter Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn’s defensive players planned on doing it again. They’d shut out Louisiana-Monroe 34-0 a week earlier, and they were on the cusp of doing the same to Southern Mississippi.
After all, the score was 24-0. USM couldn’t run the ball and had been only moderately successful throwing it. But Kodi Burns threw an interception, giving the ball to the Golden Eagles at the Auburn 25. They had to convert a fourth-and-10 to do it, but they scored on a 1-yard pass, and the shutout was gone.
But that wasn’t the worst part.
On their next possession, the Golden Eagles drove 90 yards for a touchdown, converting a fouth-and-16 along the way.
Suddenly, the outcome of the game wasn’t even as certain as it had seemed. That’s when Auburn defenders gathered themselves.
Jerraud Powers picked off a deep pass heaved by USM quarterback Austin Davis. After Eric Smith fumbled at the Auburn 41, Zac Etheridge picked off another Davis pass.
On fourth-and-one at Auburn’s 25, Michael Goggans stuffed Davis on a quarterback sneak and Auburn took over again. Finally, on the game’s final play, Craig Stevens scooped up a wild lateral to end the game.
Adding it up, USM’s final four possessions ended with two interceptions, a fourth-and-one stop and a fumble recovery.
First-year Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said his players were temporarily knocked off course when their scoreless streak ended just short of seven quarters.
“The kids were into that too much,” Rhoads said. “You want to play great defense, and the most important defensive statistic is keeping people off the scoreboard. They were affected too much by the first touchdown.
“If you play with your dauber down a little bit, it’s hard to play fully alert. We talked after the game about that. Lesson learned. This is a smart team. They enjoy working and they enjoy playing.”
Defensive end Antonio Coleman said the second touchdown was a wakeup call for the defense.
“We got a little complacent,” Coleman said. “When they scored that second time, we were like ‘Oh, man, we need to do what we did in the first half.’ That’s what we did.”
Rhoads said the Golden Eagles deserved some credit for the defense’s second-half sag.
“They did a nice job of adjusting the second half and finding holes and throwing balls that, even playing well, we weren’t going to cause to be incompletions unless we altered the package,” Rhoads said. “That wasn’t something we needed to do at that point. I wouldn’t say we were playing bend but not break, but we were working not to give up big plays.”
Rhoads said he was pleased with the overall performance of his defense for the second straight week, but he said there must be improvement going into a stretch five consecutive Southeastern Conference games.
“I see improvement needed in everything right now,” Rhoads said. “We need more pressure on the quarterback. When I say pressure, I mean any way we get after him. Whether we bring a blitz, a zone blitz, a four-man pressure or a three-man pressure, we need more pressure on the quarterback.”
Swapping places up front
Senior Jason Bosley and sophomore Ryan Pugh swapped places for Saturday night’s game. Bosley, the starting center, moved to right tackle. Pugh, the starting right tackle and backup center, played only center.
It was an idea that offensive line coach Hugh Nall came up with last week.
“Pugh has been actually snapping the ball better,” Nall said. “We felt Bosley was a little more physical. It gave us a bigger body at the tackle position, a little more size, a little more range. I just looked at it and liked what I saw during the week. I decided to go ahead and go with it.”
It was the first time Bosley had played the position at Auburn.
“I am going to do what is best for the team,” Bosley said. “Ryan and I are basically interchangeable there, so we switched it up today. I did pretty well for my first game at tackle.”
Nall agreed.
“I thought he did well,” Nall said. “He made a few mistakes. That’s the beauty of having experienced linemen, especially a guy like Jason Bosley that is smart and does a good job wherever he is.”
Fumble irritates Tate
A promising drive died at the USM 15 when junior Ben Tate fumbled on Auburn’s second possession. And Tate didn’t like it one bit.
“I was trying to figure out how I did fumble,” Tate said. “I couldn’t figure out what happened. It definitely gets to me. I already heard from Coach (Eddie) Gran. I’ll definitely hear from my dad tonight.”
Players rally around Rhoads
Junior cornerback Jerraud Powers said Auburn players have bought enthusiastically into Rhoads’ schemes and coaching style.
“We are all starting to feel more confident as we go along,” Powers said. “Coach is getting more confident with his players and his game-calling. It’s fun. He gets excited on Saturdays, like he has a helmet on.”
Bulldogs bounce back
After a discouraging 22-14 season-opening loss at Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State beat Division I-AA Southeast Louisiana 34-10 at home on Saturday. Quarterback Wesley Carroll threw two touchdown passes.