Auburn Tigers Football: The Comeback in Tuscaloosa

The Greatest Iron Bowl Ever?

There have been some great Iron Bowls over the years, but you could make the argument that this was the best ever.

The question surrounding the game was Cam Newton. Could Alabama be the first team to shut him down? I really can't decide whether Alabama shut him down or not.

Nobody has beaten Cam for an entire half of football. The Alabama defense did just that, Cam never really got off in the first half. From a running standpoint, he never got going period.

It became brutally obvious that Julio Jones couldn't be stopped individually. I knew, like all the Auburn faithful, that the secondary was horrible. McElroy had over 350 passing yards by the half.

The 21 point deficit was the most Auburn had seen all year, but the Tigers had always met the challenge of being behind before. I honestly expected the Tigers to play better in the second half.

Auburn took full advantage of the opportunities the Tide secondary was giving in the second half. Just like Alabama planned, Cam would have to beat them passing, because they wouldn't allow the run.

Newton was forced to beat them with his arm and did just that in the second half. Alabama didn't have a great secondary, so it wasn't like they were forcing Auburn into the strong part of the defense.

That was as good as you can play against Newton. If that wasn't shutting him down, than that's as close as you'll get. Nobody will do any better than Alabama did today against the Heisman hopeful.

Emory Blake is a budding star at wide receiver. The son of former NFL QB Jeff Blake, has shown me he's an elite level player. I look forward to seeing him rip it up in the future.

I'm not sure if that was the best Iron Bowl ever, but I'm sure that it's up there in at the top somewhere.

The Play Calling

Auburn

I wasn't impressed with Malzahn's play calling. Having one week to prepare for the game, I expected more. Cameron Newton was frustrated early because there was nothing to be had. 

I was shocked that they hadn't tried McCalebb or Fannin. Those two guys are who I thought gave Auburn a good shot to win, before I saw Cam was the real deal.

Alabama's secondary was the weak link to the defense. Much like Auburn, they rely on a steady pass rush to help it. When the blitz wasn't quite getting there in the second half, Newton found holes in the pass defense.

That wasn't the way Auburn has beaten teams this year. The Tigers have relied on the elusiveness of Newton. In this game, it seemed as if he took a first half look at the Tide defense, then used the second half to hit the openings he found.

Alabama

The Alabama offense had a 21 point lead after the first quarter. The play calling looked to be perfect. It looked as if they might blow Auburn out in the contest.

When Alabama blew by the Tigers secondary with such ease, it looked like they might have over forty points by the half.

Greg McElroy couldn't have played better than he did in the first half. That was as close to perfect as you're going to get.

The second half brought a more aggressive pass rush by the Tigers. That turned the game around for Auburn. McElroy didn't have the time to find the holes that had been there.

You have to question why Alabama didn't run the ball more in the second half. If they could have ran the ball successfully, the clock would have been in their favor.

Cameron Newton for Heisman

There is no player in the country more deserving of the Heisman than Newton. He is, by far, the best player in the country.

Statistically there's never been a player with his numbers not to win it. If that award goes to the best overall player, then Newton is that guy.

Where would Auburn be without Cam? I seriously don't think they'd be No.2 in the country. There wouldn't be championship talk. The Tigers would be lucky to be bowl eligible at 6-6.

There are quarterbacks playing in the NFL that couldn't have comeback on Bama. With Newton at QB, you are never out of a football game.

There have been people saying, "Newton will be a WR at the next level." I believe he proved against Alabama that he's a quarterback. 

Not only should Cam be a QB at the next level, but he could be one of the best there before he's done. He's a bigger QB than Micheal Vick, with similar speed.

When Vick came into the league, I told everyone he'd change the QB position. Cameron Newton is an example of that.

Unlike Vick who had small hands and was not very big, Cameron Newton is 6'6" with large hands. Nobody said Vince Young should play receiver and Newton is better than Young.

If Cam had been forced to pass like he was in Tuscaloosa, he'd have passing stats that match his rushing yardage. 

Cam will be a QB at the next level. 260 lbs quarterbacks, with speed and a rocket arm, don't play WR.

Can Auburn Win the National Championship?

They played their toughest opponent in Tuscaloosa. I honestly don't think Oregon, Boise St or TCU is better than Alabama was defensively. 

We have to get through South Carolina again and that was not easy the first time in Auburn. Offensively, they match up like Alabama.

Steve Spurrier did Auburn a favor the first time when he pulled Garcia. I don't see that happening this time. Getting through the Gamecocks isn't going to be easy. They are the only opponent who gets a second shot at Newton.

Auburn has shown they're a championship caliber team. However, going against any team a second time isn't easy. If Auburn can beat South Carolina for a second time, then nobody will stop the championship run for Auburn.