Iron Bowl: It Was over by Halftime, Auburn Was Clueless on Defense and Offense

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) The day didn't start well for Alabama, an offside put them back five yards before they ever ran a play. Trent Richardson ran for no gain, a short pass got a few and another short pass was two yards short of a first down.

Fluker's offside penalty cost them early momentum.

The defense however, did not start slow, or miss a thing. They returned quickly a three and out.

This is not the kind of game that Nick Saban wanted to have, but it was about to change, and change dramatically. A freshman linebacker, who is usually great on special teams, had a stupid block in the back and negated a decent run back.

They started on the 18 instead of the 33.

Alabama started the second drive with two runs that netted a total of three yards until a tight end screen to Brad Smelly got the Tide their first first down.

McCarron had started off three for three, but on first down Micheal Williams fell down, Richardson ran for short yardage on second, and once again McCarron and Smelly connected for a first down.

If you find something that works, stay with it.

On first down, McCarron hit the other tight end, Williams, for eight and Richardson ran for four. Suddenly Alabama had three first downs in a row: The offense was finally finding their legs.

And indeed that was the case. On first down, McElwain ran a razzle dazzle play: Richardson ran the ball to the line and tossed it back to McCarron, who hit a wide open Kenny Bell for an easy-looking touchdown.

Auburn's defenders were completely fooled and the flood gates opened.

Just as I had written in an article earlier in the week, Chizik would die by selling out to stop the There was no one back in position to cover receivers after everyone bit on stopping the apparent run by Richardson.

Once Auburn got the ball back, the offense looked just as clueless. They went a very uninspired three and out.

Now it was time for the Auburn special teams to join the pitiful parade of players participating in this performance. The punter shanked a punt for just 18 yards, putting Alabama in business far on Auburn's side of the field.

The Bama coaching staff was smelling blood in the water, and so did McCarron. Just as I said in that earlier article, Chizik indeed didn't have a clue how to plan a defense. They left Brad Smelley 20 yards open for a laughably easy touchdown.

Auburn did get a first down on the ensuing drive and pooch punted.

Alabama took over the ball with 13 seconds left in the quarter and it looked like the embarrassing blowout was on, but A.J. McCarron took to much time in the pocket he was stripped and Auburn recovered it in in the end zone.

Here is a team without 20 yards total offense, yet they somehow managed to delay for a short time, the embarrassment and bleeding from the Alabama onslaught.

With four seconds left in the first quarter, Alabama had the ball again on the 20. A five-yard run by Lacy started Alabama's next drive, and ended the first quarter with the score 14-7.

But in reality it was nowhere close.

A short yard or two catch to Maze left a short third-down catch to Kenny Bell, and the offensive Juggernaut didn't seem to be fazed by the McCarron mistake. And least of all, McCarron himself, who was 10-11 at this point.

On a 3rd-and-6, the McCarron to Smelley connection continued to pay off and another first down was made.

After an incomplete pass, Richardson ran for six and Smelley came through once again for a big gain and another first down.

Richardson then ran for eleven for another quick first down, but followed that up with a first down run of only a yard. A.J. then went for it all, but an Auburn pass interference penalty put it down to the five yard line.

Then McCarron hit Richardson for the final five in a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ate up almost six minutes of clock and put a dagger in the heart of the Auburn defense.

That was a drive that included good runs, great passing and heads up receivers knowing exactly where they needed to put the ball to get the first downs and touchdown.

If they thought they could stop the run and have McCarron not beat them, they were simply clueless. McCarron ended that drive 12-14 with one pass interference call. McCarron was not a weak link they count count on.

Meanwhile on offense, Malzahn didn't have any rabbits to pull from his hat. The Auburn offense looked like a high school team playing Green Bay.

A quick three and out gave the ball back to Alabama, and Kyle Frazier was introduced to Courtney Upshaw in an Auburn sack.

Richardson ran for a good gain, the defense made a stupid hit out of bounds and added 15 to the run. McCarron hit Richardson who uncharacteristically dropped the ball and then ran for four. Then he made up for the draw by running the ball for more than was needed for the first down.

Lacy came in and ran for one, followed by two short runs by Richardson. On 4th-and-2, Alabama turned to Brad Smelley, who converted his sixth catch into yer another first down.

Richardson pounded out four more before McCarron missed Maze in the corner. On 3rd-and-6, Richardson was short on a third down conversion and in came Shelley to make it 24-7 in yet another time-consuming, soul-sucking drive for the Auburn defense.

With 1:38 left in the first half, Alabama had doubled Auburn's time of possession and offensive yardage was 31 for Auburn, 221 for Alabama.

Auburn's offense was simply feeble, and after another three and out, they punted with 17 seconds left. They didn't even attempt to get a first down or stop the clock, it seemed they just couldn't end the half fast enough.

But in reality, they looked like a team who couldn't wait to end the game fast enough.