Auburn's Weak Link: The Entire Defense

The score is 38-24, and Clemson is driving with only eight minutes left in the game. Consider this one over for the Auburn Tigers. As the drive continues, the Auburn defense looks weaker, more tired and completely resigned to losing this game on the road.

But don't credit this win to the Clemson offense; they barely beat Wofford last week, 35-27, pulling away in the fourth quarter, as they did with Auburn this week. Credit the loss to the entire defense of the Auburn Tigers, which includes the coaching staff.

Bottom line, they did not have the Auburn Tigers prepared for a hard-hitting game, and multiple offense system utilized by Clemson. And once again the Auburn defenders missed tackle after tackle when given the opportunity to stall the Clemson offensive momentum.

The defense of the Auburn Tigers yielded 31 first downs, Clemson had a third down efficiency of 13-17 and blistered the turf with 617 total yards (and the game is still going). The Clemson offense gained 240 yards on the ground in addition to nearly 400 yards passing.

So much for the 17-game longest winning streak in the country. The losing streak begins. The "Cardiac Kids" find reality in Death Valley, SC. And reality really bites! That pain in the chest is not from physical exhaustion; This is the big one, Elizabeth!

In addition to putting the worst SEC defense on the field against a mediocre ACC offense, the AU coaching staff made an egregious error by placing their sophomore cornerback, Chris Davis, in harms way, putting him back in the game after a diagnosed concussion that occurred in the first quarter of play.

The staff member responsible for this unconscionable decision should be fired immediately and blacklisted from the coaching ranks of college football. If this were the United States government, there would be a call for an immediate investigation.

After recovering from a loss of consciousness and loss of orientation, the young, inexperienced cornerback re-entered the game in the third quarter at the request of his coach. Head injuries should be taken as seriously in college football as in the professional ranks. The coaching staff should know that they are placing the health of this youngster at risk, not just in the short term, but for the long haul.

True to form, the Clemson offense ran a sweep toward the corner. Davis, leading with his helmet, suffered a second head injury, which left him unconscious on the turf in death valley. When will college coaches learn? When will head injuries be taken seriously?