Auburn inexplicably lost to the Wildcats for the first time since the Beatles were together putting out hits. If this was basketball it would have been understandable. Not to take anything away from Kentucky they played a heck of a game. Randall Cobb is a great player, but Auburn did more to hurt themselves in this game than Kentucky did. Penalties, penalties, and more penalties derailed this team. Good teams don't make mental mistakes in abundance like Auburn did Saturday night. Ben Tate can't carry the team by himself.
I think Todd's arm is shot. He was underthrowing recievers all night long on middle to deep passes. You aren't going to beat to many SEC defenses with screeens and swing passes all night long. He is still having a pretty good season but with each game his arm gets weaker and weaker. Of course he still hasn't had a bye week yet to rest his arm. Shoulder problems are never good for QB's and he has off season shoulder surgery two seasons in a row. When the season started he was able to hit middle to deep passes that right now are being under thrown. He still hasn't turned the ball over much so he is making good decisions more times than not, but eventually that lack of arm strength is going to lead to some pick 6's against the better defenses.
The defense is still paper thin, and as the nicks and scrapes get to be more and more the defense is probably going to get worse and worse. They are still one win away from bowl eligibility so this is still an improved team over last year. I think it may be time to start thinking about putting Neil Caudle or Barrett Trotter in at QB because Todd's arm isn't going to get stronger as the season wears on its going to get weaker.
Ariel Meredith
Lucia Dvorska
Sled Hockey
Heisman Moments: Closest Finishes
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I was starting to wonder if I was the only one noticing the decline of Todd's arm. He looked good at the beginning of the season, but as you said he appears to be weaking as the season progresses. Neil needs a shot at quarterback, and I'm not sure what to do with Barrett, whether to keep the red shirt on him or take it off.
The defense and special teams are still the weak points, but with the offense sputtering and coming back to the mediocre level of the other 2 the rest of the season could be very ugly.
The undisciplined way the team is playing is also disheartening. Too many penalties costing them too many yards for a weak defense and sputtering offense to overcome.
jburg
Birmingham, AL
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Nope your not the only one my friend. I noticed it first last year after the Mississippi State game. Where the Bulldogs defense was taking their shots on him. He still played pretty good against LSU the next week, but again was taking some shots.
This year he took a lot of shots in the Arkansas game and his arm strength in the Kentucky game was lacking. I don't think Trotter has a redshirt on him. Wasn't he redshirted last year? I know Rollison does, but I don't think they want to take the red shirt off of him because they want to get more players to help out.
wildbill21475
East, TN
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You're right, Rollison has the red shirt. With that being the case maybe they should allow Barrett to show them what he has in game conditions and not just on the practice field. I' concerned that they may not win another SEC game this year if the offense doesn't get back to the way they played the first 4 or 5 games. It doesn't look good for the defense this year b/c they are too thin and getting too beat up. WAR EAGLE!!
jburg
Birmingham, AL
Total Comments (25)
Now that I think about it, Barrett Trotter ran a similar offense at Briarwood High School and did a great job.
jburg
Birmingham, AL
Total Comments (25)
Todd hasn't been the only problem. You can't have the penalties that Auburn had on Saturday night and still expect to beat a decent team. The offensive line has gotten way to many penalties all year long.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4886)
Trotter I thing would have won the job had it not been for the knee injury he suffered in the spring. It set him back to much.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4886)
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