Gene Chizik just finished speaking to us media types. Here's what he's had to say:
- Shoring up the run defense is going to be a major focus the next few weeks. "I think when Eltoro (Freeman) went out, that certainly didn't help our cause," Chizik said. "We've got to be able to sustain that for four quarters.
- Chizik doesn't know if Freeman (concussion) will be back for the Iron Bowl.
- Chizik thought Georgia's front seven played well. Thinks Auburn's troubles come down to -- altogether now -- execution.
- On the return of RB Onterio McCalebb: "I think it mattered. I think it gives you some options out there when you have to worry about the corner run."
- On the penalties near the end: "Very disappointing. And they're by veteran guys. I just addressed that during our team meeting. These are guys you're counting on to win ballgames for you, have played a lot of football. It's just disappointing."
- "I think it's just a lack of concentration and attention to detail."
- Auburn didn't use Demond Washington on the final kickoff because he was tired. "He needed a break," Chizik said.
- More on Demond: "Overall, I'm really proud of the kid. He came in late, wasn't here in the summer. And just kept working and working and working. Didn't matter where we put him. He just wanted to play football."
- Demond is fast: "I did (know that). He's one of the fastest kids on the football team, without question."
- Chizik didn't know yet if Washington will move back to corner after this season. He'd prefer for Demond to play corner.
- Thought Clinton Durst did a good job angling his punts to the sideline.
- On Kodi Burns' touchdown: "That was great to see."
- "That loss is very hard to swallow, period. Because we had so many opportunities in my opinion."
- Josh Bynes' missed interception was a big play. "That was a huge point in the game," Chizik said. "Even if he knocks it down ... We just had opportunities to create some momentum changes and we didn't do it."
- Chizik thinks the team's problems have been more related to execution than a lack of depth.
- Auburn will practice three games this week and give the team a day and a half off on the weekend. The players will get Monday and Tuesday off. "They need those days just to regenerate, just re-charge their batteries."
- Alabama is physical. The rest should help a little. "I think it's big," Chizik said. "Wherever we are right now, obviously I think it'll be advantageous to have it now."
- Chizik said he'd like to get an offensive tackle in the program by January, obviously as a replacement for Andrew McCain. He'd actually like to get two offensive linemen enrolled in January, just to get a head start next year.
- That could be a junior college player. "If it's the right fit, we have no problem with that."
- A big selling point is playing time: "I think it's huge. The fact that they see a very bright future here and the opportunity."
3 comments:
Anyone interested in joining a campaign to get Trooper Towels distributed throughout the stands during the game? My reasons being the following:
1-the players are going to need lots of crowd noise - waving towels seems to facilitate this
2- it will irritate Bama fans because they didn't think of it first
3- Paul Finebaum will go nuts - he hates Trooper and the way he interacts with the players
Any white hand towel/dishtowel will do. I bought a pack of 12 at Sam's and will give them out in my section.
I think this would be a great morale booster for all the players because you know they will have down times during the game.
Seemed to me like we where do fine on D until Eltoro when out. Then they just ran at Evans, who did a good job. Early in the game it looked to me like Eltoro was in the box playing the run all by himself.
Im all for Trooper Towels, but we dont need them to get loud. We as a fanbase know when to get loud.
Great game...but these young dawgs showed some heart here. They can be scary good next year
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