Someone name a team that runs the HUNH that has an exceptional defense.

Arkansas, KSU, LSU, Mississippi were all good games by the Defense.

Of course the defense can improve but it isn't about offensive average. It's about quality offensive production.

Instead of using the Defense for a speed bump let the Offense do some of the work. One of the biggest things to help Alabama's Defense was for the Offense to put pressure on Gus. Once he panicked it was easy shut down that offense.

This post is why I posted the previous question.

Because it's a sports discussion forum. If you don't want to add to the discussion other than some stupid ass "aubsession" comment then stay the hell out of it.

And if you can't see just the opposite is also true, I've got 575 duzen arras to sell you

Anytime you can get a coach out of there comfort zone they are apt to make some bad decisions. That's precisely what happened to Saban in last years iron bowl and to Gus this year. Coaches aren't perfect but they need to address what they see as the biggest needs. While it's fun for us to speculate that's why they are getting paid to make those assessments. Maybe Gus is wrong and Ellis was doing a good job but by all the parameters that defense is measured by ( that I'm aware of) I don't think it
could be proved by any measurable stat.

If the rules committee looks at the HUNH like it was being pushed last year with a new approach the defenses could make a big leap on the offense. Whether it is a change in clock or 8 man officials or some other changes, I would bet that something is changed in the next few months.

I agree with getting a Coach out of their comfort zone but even last year Alabama didn't panic and stuck with what they knew. I put last years loss more on the Offense than the defense. Their inability to get first downs at the end of the game really hurt.

Prior to this years Iron Bowl I think Ellis and crew were improving on defense. Less yards, less points and they were pretty solid in the Red Zone.
I think back to the losses in 09 and I don't recall that AU scored more than 14 points in the second half.
This year seemed more of the same. Get in a hole with turnovers in the first half and not scoring much in the second half.

It's fun to look and say what if. I guess time will tell what works and what doesn't.

Dustin, when Saban doesn't kick the short field goal to go up two scores with little time left in the game, that's as close to panicking as anything I've ever seen. I understand his kicker was having issues but that was a chip shot. I don't know if he didn't want to give AU the ball back or he just didn't trust his kicker that much but it didn't make much sense to me. Gus is bad about, if he is beating you with a certain play he will run the heck out of it even after the defense adjust. I thought continually asking Marshall to throw deep was the equivalent of trying to hit the lottery multiple times. It just wasn't likely to work the whole game.

Auburn scoring defense per game
2012 28.3
2013 24.7
2014 26.1

I said it before and nobody had anything to say about it. Auburns offense is very good, their defense is bad. Same recipe since Gus has been there. The difference is that other SEC teams have upped their offensive production while maintaining a very good defense. Gus's offense isn't a novelty or special anymore and he can't simply outscore opponents every week.

Southwood that's what this discussion has been all about. It's the picture behind the numbers though. You're complaining about a defense that has been hamstrung by bad offensive play IMO.

Bill- I dont' think Cade was going to hit that FG. He'd already missed a shorter attempt and he ended up having one blocked. I think it was just predictable play calling by Nussmeir. But I also think Saban made changes to his Defense this year. The offense put them in a bad situation several times last week but they played well enough to let the offense get on track.

Dustin, I guess I'm thinking in traditional terms. I don't know anyone that would have called AU putting up nearly 40 points a game "bad offensive play " prior to Gus putting the offense on turbo.

I never would have thought it either but I've learned to look beyond the numbers.

I never thought I'd see Alabama give up 600 yards in one game two years in a row either.

You got the wrong person bud....

Auburns defense was ok at the first of the season and got worst from Kansas state on to the end of the season. That why they replaced Ellis. As for doing good playing Arkansas and LSU it's because they sucked this year.

I wouldn't say Arkansas and LSU sucked this year. LSU definitely had a down year and Arkansas is still in a rebuilding faze but they progressed as the season went on.

I meant to say at the first part of the year they sucked when auburn played them.

It's because Arkansas and LSU were as predictable as a broken clock. Not a lot to prepare for and the run was a it the only thing AU had any chance of defending.

I heard he was going to be the offensive coordinator at Auburn kind a like Kiffin at Alabama

I know who the quote was from and who I replied to.