Hugh Freeze’s first game as Head Coach of the Tigers was a strong performance
No Jarquez, no problem. A dominant run game was on full display this afternoon which included true freshman, Jeremiah Cobb taking one to the house. Red zone Robby Ashford racked up 3 rushing touchdowns this game, and Damari Alston looks like the best running back on the roster. Also of note, former walk on Sean Jackson scored his first career touchdown.
Payton Thorne looked uncomfortable in the first half, he was making throws until they reached the red-zone. There were a few misses in the end zone that led to a dependency on Robby.
The receivers looked solid, Jay Fair looked the best out of the group. He led the team with 5 receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. Shane Hooks had a mediocre day with two receptions for 41 yards. Rivaldo Fairweather surprisingly wasn’t targeted this afternoon.
The defense struck fear into the heart’s of Tiger fans. Their first drive they allowed 89 yards and a touchdown in only 8 plays. Ron Roberts quickly turned their play around and held Umass scoreless until late in the 4th quarter. Donovan Kaufman was a star at the STAR position, sacking and pressuring the quarterback relentlessly.
Special Teams was the last and one of the best units on this team. USF transfer Brian Battie was electric on Kick returns averaging nearly 40 yards per return. Keionte Scott narrowly missed a house call with a punt return ending at the UMass 15. Kickoff and Punt Coverage look much improved compared to recent seasons. Both Alex McPherson and Oscar Chapman played well.
With game one in the books, the Tigers move to 1-0. Between the in-game improvements defensively and the special teams performance, I grade the Auburn Defense a B. The offense played well considering all the new moving pieces, however Payton Thorne’s lack of success in the red zone warrants a B+ grade for the Tigers.
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