At this point in the season, we have beaten 2 (then) top-10 teams and not been favored in either. I am very impressed with this young "no-name" defense and with the play of our quaterback, but I still seem to have some concerns with the 2004 version of the Auburn Tigers. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade nor am I trying to be a downtrodding naysayer, but does our rushing attack concern anyone but me?
I firmly believe that we have the best running back tandem in the SEC, if not the nation. I don't doubt those guys' abilities or game play. It's the OL that I am concerned with. I'm not going to quote stats on here (as you can go to the various websites and get stats forever), but it just seems to me that we should be able to run the ball a little easier than we have been. One key game that really brought that to my attention was the Citadel game. Carnell had a little over 20 carries and barely had 100 yards. Granted, the MO of teams this year has been to stack the line and make Jason Campbell beat them, but Williams should have run rough shod over the Citadel. I watched the replay, and he got most of his yards after contact--with the majority of the contact coming within a couple yards from the line of scrimmage.
Against Tennessee, we had those guys on the ropes and we had trouble running the ball. I didn't see nearly the holes opened up in the UT defense as the UT OL did on our guys on the few times they ran. When UT ran the ball, it was a hole where the back wasn't touched until about 5-7 yards down the field or he was stopped for no gain. There appeared to be very little of the 2-3 yard gainers. AU was just the opposite, Carnell/Ronnie would still manage 8-9 yards on some carries, but they were first hit/touched about 2 yards from the line of scrimmage. It seemed to be ALL the back and very little of the OL.
I know there is a very fine line between a complaint and a concern and I want this to be taken as a concern. I want Nall to get after that OL and practice some run blocking. The pass protection has been very, very good IMO. But the run blocking leaves some to be desired. LSU was the best defense we have faced so far and UT was certainly not chopped liver. I'm not saying that Carnell should have put up 200 yards on Saturday, but to have such great backs, they have to work for every yard they get.
Maybe it' just me.
