Video of perceived "bad calls" against Auburn

[af102]

AL.com dubbed the Auburn radio guys over the holding call in the first quarter, the offensive PI, and the PI on 4th down. I don't see how anyone can argue with the holding, though. It was pretty obvious.

They never showed a replay of the O PI in the stadium (that I saw at least). The first time I saw it after the game, I thought it was soft. Now that I have watched it a few times in slow motion, I don't think Coates catches the ball if he doesn't push off. He was running step for step with Calhoun, then pushes off to get a yard of separation. He then catches the ball at the end of his outstretched hands. If he never pushes off, he is probably not open by that full step nor does he have the ability to stretch out far enough to make the catch.

You can see the ref try to pull the flag out of his pocket right when the catch happens (digs in his pants twice at 1:50-1:51), but then takes off running to follow the play. If the flag gets thrown where he tried to, I think it wouldn't have looked as bad as dropping it on the 5 after the play was over. I'm still surprised he made the call honestly, but he had a good view as the push off happened right in front of him.

The PI by Auburn on 4th down is always going to get called in this age of football. Even though he got his head around, he still impeded Wilson's progress back to the ball, and had his arms draped all over him. I don't know how any rational fan can argue that- keyword there is rational.

 

[FQDawg]

On the 4th down call...

As the play develops and before the Auburn DB turns his head, you see his left arm (which was already grabbing Wilson's shoulder pads) slip down and grab Wilson around the midsection. The flag comes from the official trailing the play who probably saw that left arm and thought it impeded Wilson as he was coming back for the ball. That's my guess, anyway.

It might have been a soft call but after the decades of soft calls going against us against those guys (and everyone else in the SEC), Auburn can just suck it.

 

[Hammer Down]

It might have been a soft call but after the decades of soft calls going against us against those guys (and everyone else in the SEC), Auburn can just suck it.

I think you said it all. They might have been 50/50 type deals but f*ck Auburn. Any of you ever noticed that the more talent you have, the more flags you draw? Probably due to the other team compensating.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

My theory on that play is that we designed it to draw pass interference. And that shouldn't keep you from getting the flag thrown.

 

[o_1984Dawg]

3 correct calls. The hold was blatant. The pushoff was PI. It doesn't always get caught but it's called when it's seen and that was right in front of the ref. The defensive PI wasn't the most blatant you'll see but you still can't try to tackle a receiver who's going for the ball. I mean they did a better job of wrapping up on Wilson right there than in the 1st quarter.

 

[AHSDawg]

the push off certainly causes the space. Now, I would never say that the ball couldn't have been caught anyway, but that push off certainly made the catch easier.

On the Wilson play, I still do not see how in the world that you do not see that as PI. I also have no idea how you look at that and say "they were both pushing on each other". The Auburn DB literally does not ever take his hands off of Wilson and certainly impedes his ability to get to the ball. The only time I see Wilson put his hands on the Auburn guy is for a brief moment, he puts his right hand on the DBs' left shoulder. He does not, however, push or shove the DB. At that point, they had gone completely over the edge with their crying.

 

[AssEndDawg]

the push off certainly causes the space. Now, I would never say that the ball couldn't have been caught anyway, but that push off certainly made the catch easier.

On the Wilson play, I still do not see how in the world that you do not see that as PI. I also have no idea how you look at that and say "they were both pushing on each other". The Auburn DB literally does not ever take his hands off of Wilson and certainly impedes his ability to get to the ball. The only time I see Wilson put his hands on the Auburn guy is for a brief moment, he puts his right hand on the DBs' left shoulder. He does not, however, push or shove the DB. At that point, they had gone completely over the edge with their crying.

On the 4th down call I think it is a flag no matter what. The only other option would be defensive holding because he grabbed Bear with the ball in the air and his back to the QB. Sorry Barners, but you don't get grab the guy and THEN turn around for the ball. That was going to be half the distance no matter what.

 

[grimedawg1]

The pass interference on the long Coates play is simple enough. He definitely gained an advantage by extending his arm and pushing the corner. He clearly gained a step by doing it. The ref was trying to pull the flag out as soon as he saw the Auburn guy extend the arm. Also, our corner ran him down at the 5, an outstanding hustle play. And, it was certainly not a no brainer that Auburn was going to get it in from the 5 on this day.

On the Wilson PI play, both announcers immediately said it was PI on their initial viewing of the play. I don't think you can grab a guy's midsection and run in to his midsection to impede him making a play on the ball and not have that called pass interference. When you play press and grab and claw and hold, you basically force the ref to make some sort of call.

If you say that the Wilson PI play was not PI, how can the corner put his arm on Wilson and basically impede his progress on the entire route. I am not sure what constitutes holding. Can he be doing that that far down the field? Can someone more knowledgeable explain that?

 

[Digging dog]

They missed holding our receiver on the 1st play if the game as well.
Maybe somebody can find a clip of it.

 

[GoodPadLevel]

The two calls that hurt them the worst were made by the Auburn coaches, not the refs. The first was at the end of the first quarter after our fake punt when they had 3rd and goal. They called time out and then ran a high school trick play with the end around that fooled no one, then settled for a field goal. The other awful call was kicking the field goal when you're down 18 points in the fourth quarter on 4th and 2 on about the 30 yard line. If you're that close you have to go for the TD, not the field goal. Now you have to score at least two more TD's to win. Go for the field goal when it's 4th and long not 4th and short.
Cry about the refs all you want but don't leave points on the field with bad play calling.

 

[57stratdawg]

Here's reality with the Coats: he isn't 100% healthy. He had trouble creating separation all game against our CBs, and you're right, if he doesn't push Calhoun, he probably doesn't make that catch.

I saw an Auburn fan say "Well Calhoun grabs his arm!" but he really doesn't. Calhoun is trying to knock Coats arm off his shoulder which only furthers the idea that it should have been PI on Coats.

 

[57stratdawg]

Yeah, they did. It was on Myles, I think. I remember seeing that the first play and going "Here we go again".

 

[kired]

All of their arguments are null & void after what we've been through

Here's a pic I made last year at Auburn of Jefferson practically getting his jersey pulled off. Pretty good hold on who I believe is Chris Jones as well, not to mention a hands to the face of the other DT. It was this way all night. There was one 5 yard penalty called on Auburn in the entire game.

 

[uptowndawg]

Our check to the refs didn't clear until after the first play

"Here we go again".

nt

 

[benatmsu]

The two calls that hurt them the worst were made by the Auburn coaches, not the refs. The first was at the end of the first quarter after our fake punt when they had 3rd and goal. They called time out and then ran a high school trick play with the end around that fooled no one, then settled for a field goal. The other awful call was kicking the field goal when you're down 18 points in the fourth quarter on 4th and 2 on about the 30 yard line. If you're that close you have to go for the TD, not the field goal. Now you have to score at least two more TD's to win. Go for the field goal when it's 4th and long not 4th and short.
Cry about the refs all you want but don't leave points on the field with bad play calling.

Gonna disagree there. They had to have three scores regardless of what they did there. They hit the field goal, and suddenly it's only a 2 score game. Had they gone for it and not picked up the first, then we would've gotten the ball back and it's still a 3 score game.

FG was the right call. Give yourself a chance to fight another day.

 

[Shamoan]

i didnt like that bear wilson holding call. it looked to me like he physically dominated that db and he was flailing around trying to self correct. looked like a kick *** block to me that was maintained by the receiver. then again, im biased.

 

[o_1984Dawg]

Kicking the field goal was absolutely the wrong call. 4th and 5, kicking might be correct, but 4th and 1 is what their offense is built for.

You're wrong in saying they had to have three scores regardless. 15 points may or may not be a 2 score game. You don't know until you go for 2. They needed to get in the end zone and go for 2 and either cut it to 10 points or cut it to 12 and know they need 2 TDs.

 

[paindonthurt_]

No it wasn't. It could go either way, but if you go for TD on 4th and 2 and don't get it..........ball game over. Kicking the field goal keeps them in the game with a chance to win or tie.

 

[benatmsu]

You are right on one point: you don't know exactly what you need.

Kicking the field goal was absolutely the wrong call. 4th and 5, kicking might be correct, but 4th and 1 is what their offense is built for.

You're wrong in saying they had to have three scores regardless. 15 points may or may not be a 2 score game. You don't know until you go for 2. They needed to get in the end zone and go for 2 and either cut it to 10 points or cut it to 12 and know they need 2 TDs.

I should have said "at least a 3 score game" if you don't pick up the first. I stand by my statement that it was the right call. You had to have "at least 3 scores". Not picking up a first down there gives you absolutely no shot. Kicking the fg cuts the game to potentially a 2 score game at 15 points. Get an onside kick, score a TD, get the xp and suddenly it's an 8 point game and you've given yourself a chance.

If you go for it, and don't pick up the first, you have given yourself no shot. Even if you do pick up the first, you're still risking the potential of running even more clock trying to get into the end zone, and your odds of getting the ball back 2 more times are getting worse and worse.

 

[bulldognation]

 

[o_1984Dawg]

You play to win the game, not to keep slim hopes alive the longest. Going for it gives you a real chance at winning. All kicking the fg did was keep them on life support.

 

[patdog]

If you think that wasn't a hold, then yes, you are biased. It was blatant.

 

[AlanDawg]

Can anyone read Gus' lips around 2:20 mark?

Right after the reply of the Offensive PI call?

 

[o_1984Dawg]

What you're missing is that by kicking the fg they still gave themselves no shot. Forget the chances of scoring TWO more touchdowns and possibly needing to recover an onside kick. Down 15 at that point, two things are certain. You will need a 2-pt conversion. And you will have to win on the road in overtime. Both of those are less than 50% propositions. So if EVERYTHING ELSE goes right (long odds on that) you still are only about 20% to win the game based on those two factors alone.

Going for it on 4th eliminates both of those and keeps the rest of the equation pretty much the same. It even allows the former scenario as a fall-back should you wind up in a 4th and 10 in fg range later. Auburns chances of converting a 4th and 2 and then getting a TD from that spot on the field were much better than 20%. That's why it was the wrong call.

 

[AHSDawg]

Agreed. It was definitely holding. Now, I didn't mind it because Bear was

having a ball driving the crap out of his man into the ground. And, he is still a little confused about the whole 'hands inside the framework'. Having your hands inside the framework doesn't mean you can continue to hold him after he turns and tries to get away from you. In that moment of the game, I didn't mind Bear running his guy like he did. I am sure there was a little 'Auburn didn't want me' in that.

 

[bulldognation]

looks like "You gotta be kidding me"

 

[benatmsu]

Nah. I'm not missing anything. Kick the FG, you're only down two scores. That's why it's the right call.

ETA: It's obviously just a difference in philosophy, which I'm fine with. But the point that I can easily make this argument disproves the original poster that said this one of the two calls that hurt them the worst.

 

[johnson86-1]

What you're missing is that by kicking the fg they still gave themselves no shot. Forget the chances of scoring TWO more touchdowns and possibly needing to recover an onside kick. Down 15 at that point, two things are certain. You will need a 2-pt conversion. And you will have to win on the road in overtime. Both of those are less than 50% propositions. So if EVERYTHING ELSE goes right (long odds on that) you still are only about 20% to win the game based on those two factors alone.

Going for it on 4th eliminates both of those and keeps the rest of the equation pretty much the same. It even allows the former scenario as a fall-back should you wind up in a 4th and 10 in fg range later. Auburns chances of converting a 4th and 2 and then getting a TD from that spot on the field were much better than 20%. That's why it was the wrong call.

There wasn't a decision to be made that was going to make a team down 18 in the 4th quarter have better than 20% chance to win. If you go for it and don't get it, the game is over. If you kick the field goal, you've extended the game. You only go for it if you don't think you'll be able to stop the opposing teams offense. Our offense was struggling at that point, so it was probably a decent call to take the three points and cut it to a two possession game.

It's definitely not clear cut either way. The one big thing I will say supports Malzahn's call is that with the horse shoe they've had up their *** since he's been there and the way we performed in prevent D against LSU, it makes since to be focused on staying in the game as long a possible.