Auburn's defense can not "stop bleeding" in 2nd half against Alabama



[ad_1]

During a football game, Auburn has imposed one after another on his biggest rival and the most dominant team in the country.

Then the third quarter came, and in the blink of an eye, Alabama, first in the standings, overwhelmed Auburn with an offensive attack that turned a hard-fought Iron Bowl into a ridiculous Saturday night game. at Bryant-Denny Stadium, 52-21. The Tide scored 21 points for the third quarter, turning a three-point deal into a dazzling victory as the Tigers achieved their worst defensive performance of the Kevin Steele era.

"We had the opportunity to take control of the match and we did not do it," linebacker Deshaun Davis said. "They came out in the third quarter and our mentality was to get a hat-trick. They end up converting a third and a, and the next game (Tua Tagovailoa) got that one-on-one impulse. And as I said, he put the ball in a great spot – the receiver leaned out of our defender, caught the ball and got six. At the end of the day, as I said, it was just a snowball effect.

"They were in a furrow and we did not stop the bleeding on time."

The third quarter took place when the dam broke for the Auburn defense. The Tigers granted 21 points, 213 offensive yards and 13.3 yards per game in that quarter, while Tagovailoa scored the match and put his Heisman moment in one of the biggest sporting rivalries.

In the third quarter, Alabama's second quarterback completed 9 of 10 passes, totaling 176 yards and three touchdowns, prompting Auburn's defense to play deep balloons. According to Davis, the situation was somewhat different in the first period, claiming that the Tide Tide was relying mainly on back-passes to set up the pass, but then she incorporated more takeover after half-time to help the linebackers to withdraw from the blanket to allow players to open it. a match in the slot.

"When they arrived and attacked us in the third quarter, we obviously felt the change happen," said Auburn's defensive tackle Derrick Brown. "But it's something you have to be able to defend. You must be able to take the shots, take the shots and keep going and doing your job. "

Auburn's defense allows fast scores in quick succession against Alabama

This was not the case against Alabama because the wheels defended in the second half. The Tigers allowed six passes of at least 20 yards after half-time, including 46, 33 and 40-yard touchdowns by Tagovailoa in the third quarter, as well as another 22-yard run early in the fourth. quarter and, to top it all off, a total of 53 grounded by Jalen Hurts to return 52-21 to 9:29 to the game.

In total, Auburn gave Alabama 500 yards of offense for just 59 games. After entering the game as a top-ten defenseman, Saturday scored the most points awarded by Steele's defense in three years over the Plains and the second time in three games that the Tigers' defense awarded at least 500 yards against her. Georgia scored 516 offensive yards two weeks ago in the oldest rival of the Great South.

"Well below our expectations," Davis said. "Man in spirit, in the first half, we played very well in defense. We gave them two big games that ended up hurting us: too many self-inflicted injuries, facial mask penalties, and so on. That would be second place and oh, we would have a facial mask penalty. Now, it's the first test after 15 meters. Just things like that, man. When you play against a talented team like this, they do not need any extra help.

"They have a cloakroom full of talent there. I respect these guys and their game, but it's a rivalry, man. You have to find a way to win, and we have not done it. "

Tom Green is a reporter for Auburn's Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[ad_2]
Source link