The Auburn Tigers Are 2-0: Getting No Respect Going Into The Clemson Game

Tiger Talk

Saturday Auburn will be playing Clemson for the 47th time. Auburn holds the series lead comfortably 33-11-2. Both teams are undefeated going into Saturday's game down on the Plains. You can find it on ESPN at 7:00et.

College football fans had the chance to see Auburn as they had the prime time spot on ESPN. The outside feedback has been pretty negative. Before the game started the guys in the booth were hyping Cam Newton, once in the broadcast even comparing him to Terrelle Pryor.They mentioned the fact that Newton went with Auburn, instead of Mississippi State the entire game.

There was no way Auburn was going to live up to the expectations, that is unless they blew the Bulldogs out by fifty points. Which was not going to happen, there is no team in the SEC that can beat that team by fifty in Starkville. It was a prime time game with cowbells, the place was loud. To say it was a hostile environment would be putting it lightly. Under head coach Dan Mullen that team was good at the end of 2009. They are not the same Mississippi State the SEC has routinely beaten up on.

Auburn is 2-0 after two games, that's about as good as can be expected. However some comments on several sports sites, Facebook, and comments here on the Bleacher Report, have been mostly derogatory towards the Tigers. I'm not sure whats worse the level of thought behind these comments, or the fact Craig James kept saying "Eye Candy" while working with Jesse Palmer calling the game for ESPN.

Who Wins the Game Saturday?

Auburn

88.9%

Clemson

11.1%

Total votes: 18

Most people didn't realize in the pressure packed moments of the fourth quarter, Auburn was rotating in freshman to keep the defensive front fresh. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof acknowledged that wasn't a luxury the Tigers had last season. Auburn applied constant pressure on the two quarterbacks, getting 3 sacks while holding the Bulldogs' leading rusher to 27 yards.

They way the Tigers have been slowly working the freshman into the games, that will benefit them greatly as the season progresses. That was live SEC football on the road, nothing can prepare the newcomers what they'll be facing better than that. The place was so loud when Auburn was on offense there was no way to hear verbal calls at the line. The Mississippi State fans had cowbells made out of aluminum trashcans. I truly believe most Auburn fans are glad to have gotten out of there with a win.

There are some different things that Auburn needs to improve on. Like the turnovers that would have put the game away and, shut the mouths of the critics. The play calling must get more aggressive to make a serious run for the SEC West. I do think the vanilla play calling has been by design to work Newton into the game slowly. Starkville last Thursday night was no place to start trying anything beyond the basics. I do expect the Tigers to open it up more this Saturday at home against Clemson.

Saturday Nights Game Against Clemson

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Clemson is 2-0 with wins over North Texas 35-10 and Presbyterian 58-21. It's obvious that Clemson has not faced a defense like Auburn. Kyle Parker will be the best quarterback Auburn has seen all season. The red shirt sophomore threw for 2500 yards last season, with 20 touchdown passes.

Lost to the NFL was halfback CJ Spiller but, they seem to have two viable backs this season. Andre Ellington has 133 yards on 15 carries, and 3 touchdowns. Backup Jamie Harper is averaging 9.3 yards per carry with a touchdown of his own.

The fact that Presbyterian scored 21 points stands out but, by the end of the 1st quarter they'd played 57 different players. This was no doubt a game they used to gain much needed experience with Auburn and Miami(FL) in consecutive weeks.

What does Auburn Need to Do?

What I want to see from Auburn is the offensive line winning the battle in the trenches. I'd like to see the running backs exploding off the blocks consistently getting to the second level. I think we need to see more Micheal Dyer running the ball. At least three times a quarter Newton needs to go down field with a medium to long pass. If we can get them to respect the run, those long passes will be there. We can overpower them up front and, I'd like to beat them with old fashion smash mouth football. This is without a doubt the perfect game to start getting deeper in the playbook. We need to know where we stand after this week. South Carolina has been playing as good as anyone and, they come to Jordan Hare in week 4.