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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Live blogging Gene Chizik's teleconference

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is in the building (a little late, but he's here). Here's what he's had to say:
  • He will not make a quarterback change this week. Chris Todd is still the guy. "Chris gives us the best chance to win," Chizik said.
  • On if the defenses have adjusted to what Auburn is doing. "When you get to Game 7, 8, 9, they've got all your films. So I think everybody has got an idea of what everybody is doing."
  • "It still just comes down to execution."
  • "There's a lot of one-on-ones in different places right now where we're losing the battle. We've got to try to win those battles."
  • Chizik said he and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn spoke about everything with the offense but not specifically related to the quarterback situation.
  • They spoke about some other changes on offense. Mario Fannin played tailback last night, for instance. That might be the case in the future. Chizik didn't say specifically.
  • Kodi Burns had some teeth knocked out on an early play last night, had his lip sewn up and went back in the game.
  • On Neil Caudle's play near the end: "I was really proud of Neil and the way we drove the ball and moved the ball down there."
  • LB Eltoro Freeman was "active." Chizik said he's got a lot of room of improvement to play within the defense.
  • LB Adam Herring has been "a little banged up." Auburn played a lot of nickel as well to help with the lack of available linebackers.
  • Chizik said Freeman was willing to take any role when he came back to practice.
  • Biggest difference in offense right now in Chizik's estimation: downfield passing game. "Sheer numbers will tell you that's been an area the last couple weeks that we certainly need to improve on, whatever we need to do," he said.
  • Said there has been a good number of press coverage on the receivers.
  • RB Onterio McCalebb is still not full speed. His lack of explosiveness is a missing part of the offense right now, although Chizik doesn't think not having that threat affects the downfield passing game.
  • Chizik thought the rush defense improved, except for the long touchdown run by Russell Shepard.
  • Officials told him that Zac Etheridge's personal foul penalty was related to some sort of illegal contact with the helmet. "It was an aggressive hit, there's no doubt about that," he said.
  • Chizik chose not to comment about other penalties. "They do the best they can do," he said.
  • "We knew this was going to be a very challenging month. That's something that for our football team to move on, they have to realize it's not getting any easier. They have to make plays."
  • "Obviously it's something you guard against because of the scars of last year, but we have to move on."
  • "There's no finger pointing. There's no one that can do that because it's a total team deal."
  • "It's what you choose to hear. We can't control any of that. It's what you choose to hear and choose to watch. All the external things that nobody can control, you just can't listen to it."
  • "I hope they weren't listening to it when we were 5-0."
  • On Iowa State's five wins: "I'm really happy for them. That's great. Those are great kids and they deserve good things to happen to them."

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Im watchin the replay on CSS, Ethridge push the LSU reciever with his HANDS. It was a BS call last night and still is a BS call. Just like the PI call on Neiko. And the offsides on US on the 3rd and 1, when LSU was in the neutral zone and caused our O to jump. This is the worse officiating year in the SEC Ive ever seen. The SEC needs to make payment based on performance for officials, if they blow a call then it should cost them money. That will be the only way to get it straight