A View from the ‘Skyebox’: SEC Post-Spring Power Rankings
May 21, 2018
Skye Underwood
Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry: Part 1 (Regular Season Edition)
“I don’t trust Gus Malzahn in big games…he coaches scared and not to lose.” — Barrett Sallee
That’s fair but Gus can change that this wk pic.twitter.com/onhNtxYDUz
— ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@SkyeUnderwood) November 7, 2017
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11/11/17: #1 Georgia 17 @ #10 Auburn 40
- Both Gus Malzahn and Auburn had many doubters entering this contest as referenced in the tweet above, which features Paul Finebaum’s interview on the SEC Network with Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports. This game was monumental for the head coach in order to get the proverbial monkey off of his back.
- The difference in the game was Auburn’s defense, specifically the front seven, who return every single starter and backup in 2018 with the exception of Jeff Holland on the edge and Tre’ Williams on the second level at linebacker. Not to mention, the Tigers had a lot of talented underclassmen gain valuable experience last season.
- Auburn’s vaunted defensive front seven dominated the game, holding UGA’s SEC leading ground game led by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to just 46 yards rushing, 233 yards below their SEC leading season average.
- Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham was absolutely masterful with his throws as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 214 yards and 3 touchdowns, all of 30+ yards. The deep ball to Slayton was as if Stidham was an artist with a brush creating a masterpiece. Stidham heeved the ball 50 yards down the field and put it in a specific spot that only an Auburn player could catch it. Slayton’s outstretched arms snagged the bomb for a memorable Auburn touchdown.
- Tiger runningback Kerryon Johnson ran for 167 yards on 32 carries, adding 66 more yards on 2 catches and a touchdown. The fourth quarter screen to KJ, who took it 55 yards for a touchdown will forever live in AU lore.
This tweet is a perfect example of Auburn’s magnificent front seven, cfb’s best in my opinion
For the fans that love recruiting, on this play the state of Alabama and Georgia’s #1 defensive lineman in the 2016 class, sophomores Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown converge on this sack to crush Jake Fromm pic.twitter.com/TJnd75yeW1
— ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@SkyeUnderwood) November 12, 2017
CBS Sports Gary Danielson shares his perspective on how the “Auburn franchise” is built
“The most important project that this Auburn franchise has done is gone out & get good football players. They’ve got a lot of them on defense – the secondary and linebacker and most importantly that defensive line – they are elite.” pic.twitter.com/BpQQMEK2AK
— ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@SkyeUnderwood) November 12, 2017
