Now that a break is here it’s a good time to evaluate what has been seen so far
Five games into the season, with a three and two record, Auburn hasn’t lost any games they were heavy favorites in and they haven’t won any games they weren’t supposed to. However, the wins haven’t come without trials and tribulations in every aspect of the team.
I see play calling adjustments that the coaching staff can start to make
-Mike G on the Midweek Rapport
Quarterback
Payton Thorne, through five games, had posted a stat line of 643 yards, four passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and has accumulated over 200 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns. His play has not been up to par with expectations, however, with circumstances outside of his control that will be addressed, Payton Thorne has warranted a grade of B-.
Running back
The running back room has been a committee thus far this season. Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, and Brian Battie have all had similar amounts of touches between handoffs, screens, and flare outs. Before his injury against Texas A&M, Damari Alston was the best running back on the roster. He consistently made explosive plays and was a tough player to get down to the ground. Next up is Jarquez Hunter, who has always had unrealistic expectations upon his shoulders. He is a great complimentary back, however, he isn’t a player that will carry the load on Sundays. Brian Battie may hold the third spot, however, he is a physical runner in between the tackles and was a big factor in Auburn’s rushing attack against Georgia. The backs have earned an A grade.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
This position group has been the most disappointing one on the entire team. Rivaldo Fairweather, Jay Fair, and Ja’varrius Johnson are the only competent players in their respective rooms. Auburn cannot win on the outside for a 50-50 ball, the only one that we’ve won all year was the Fairweather ball against Cal. Drops, lackluster routes, and bricks for hands have plagued the Tigers for multiple years now, and they haven’t gone away. The Wide receiver room has earned a C, and the Tight End room has garnered a C+.
Offensive Line
The Auburn offensive line is the most underrated unit on the team. They’ve had their struggles; they’ve been penalized. However, the run game, that has been one of the best in the country, is run through these men. Pass protection has been mediocre, however, most of the sacks are coming from defensive backs that aren’t checked at the line of scrimmage. The consistency of play earned the front line a B+ grade.
Play calling
Of all the potential issues Auburn fans worried about this offseason, play calling wasn’t one of them. Hugh Freeze is a renowned play caller, yet, he delegated that responsibility to Offensive Coordinator, Philip Montgomery. While he has assumed some, if not all of those responsibilities back, this tandem hasn’t called a good game yet. Georgia was the only game that was remotely close to standard, yet, it didn’t incorporate much of a passing attack until it was too late, and it cost Auburn a shot at a potential game tying drive. Whoever is calling the plays thus far was earned a C grade.
You can listen to this conversation and more on the The War Rapport’s YouTube channel.