The Tennessee Review: Rough on Rocky Top
It started out alright, then it felt good, then it kinda fizzled, then it felt hopeful again, then it wasnt.
😩 HOW I’M FEELING
Not great, man. On one hand, any number of teams could go to Knoxville and return home with a 24-14 loss. On the other hand, I know Auburn is good enough to beat them, and right now when one side is good, the other is bad, and vice versa. And that was truly going both ways multiple times in the game. I usually welcome bye weeks because it’s a nice break to not worry about losing, but I really wish Auburn was playing this week to get this taste out of my mouth.
👍 WHAT I LIKED
Byrum’s legs. He did a lot with a little. We know he has the ability run to over, around, and through people and he showed it on that touchdown run where he refused to go down, and then he showed it again on the longer run that took multiple broken tackles to get away.
I don’t know if it’s just him, or his leadership, but the team doesn’t ever feel like it’s giving up, despite what some blocking and tackling looks like midgame.
👎 WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The 2nd half tackling and the blocking the whole game. There were some good strong runs by Mabson, which was good to see. But at some point the other team’s run game and Auburn’s run game can’t be literally the only reasons for the losses.
👀 WHO STOOD OUT
I guess Byrum again? Also, I always call him by his first name because it sounds like a last name. I mean it is. Wes Byrum? Anyway. He’ll get all the hate from everybody that would drop dimes all day while running for their lives, but for every bad throw he has, he has two good ones and another tough run to go with it.
🤔 STILL THINKING ABOUT…
Those two terrible spots in the 4th quarter. On the drive where Auburn was stopped on 4th down, they 1000% got the 1st down on 2nd down, and there could be major arguments that they got the 1st down on 3rd down as well. People who would’ve loved the toss had Auburn blocked one guy and gained one more foot hated the 4th down call and therefore have forgotten or ignored the fact that Auburn got the 1st down two plays earlier.
The same people complaining about Auburn’s offensive line are just so sure that Brown could’ve snuck a yard up the middle on 4th down. It’s fun just deciding what you think would happen just to keep your anger up, isn’t it?
😬 STILL WORRIED ABOUT…
The rest of October. Thanks to Greg Sankey’s inability to make a competitive or even fan-friendly schedule, Auburn now gets a week off before going to Georgia, hosting LSU at 11AM, and then going to Ole Miss. Need at least one. Thanks Greg!
📈 DID ANYTHING CHANGE?
Not really. We saw the worst of both sides in this one. But we also saw some of the best, too. We know there’s something there, but we also know evil is always lurking.
🏆 THE BLOGLE GAME BALL
Byrum Brown. He ran for a touchdown out of massive distress and threw for another. Who else?
➡️ WHAT’S NEXT
A much-needed bye week for the team (not for me). Golesh said the team is pretty healthy, but two weeks to prepare for Georgia, who didn’t exactly manhandle Vanderbilt and also has Alabama this week, is a nice little plus. I think Auburn could and should win every game, but they HAVE to win one of these next three. Just so I can tell people to shutup at least once this month.
