Grading coaching is tough. It’s hard to not look at the results and try to be objective about what contributed to those results. However, you have to look at what you see on the field and determine “Is this the players not executing or coaches not preparing/adjusting?”. This coaching grade is going to strictly be about the performance on the field and stay away from any off the field things (including recruiting). To that end, let’s talk about what we have seen from coaching decisions this season, thus far.
Coaching: D
Coaching has been a head scratcher. One has to wonder what the evaluation process had been in the offseason. What Auburn came out of fall camp with on the depth chart is a far cry from what has been the most productive members of this team. Nine of the twenty-two starters on 2-deep depth chart for game one are no longer in their original position or have fallen off of the 2-deep depth chart completely. Some of this was due to injury and the need to reshuffle the deck, but some of it was just underperformance from starters. A few of the players that made the 2-deep chart for game 1 have yet to play any significant minutes in this season.
The specific area of concern is the offensive line. The staff seemed to be content, coming into the season, with the group they had. That group has been a disappointment, at best in the previous season. This offensive line unit seems to be lacking discipline and a fundamental understanding of what they are being asked to do. They certainly lack leadership on the field. It makes one wonder what they were seeing in camp versus how it has played out on the field and it is puzzling that this was not a bigger emphasis (if for no other reason but depth) in the transfer portal. Brandon Council seems like the better option at center and you have to wonder why he was not being groomed to start there in the first place. I understand he was hurt for a portion of the off season, but that did not stop them from penciling Nick Brahms in at center. The injuries to the line certainly have derailed that group’s continuity, but it does not explain the lack of talent being shown and the lack of urgency for the staff to not address the needs in the off season.
This coaching staff has not done these athletes any favors in terms of in-game decisions, as well. The early plan of QB rotation seemed to throw off the rhythm of the offense. The stubborn commitment to force the run and lack of creativity in play calling has stifled the offense. When the team did take chances, they did not seem to be the best time to do so. Ill-timed 4th down attempts lead to putting the defense in tough spots and poorly executed trick plays and fakes led to turnovers. Schemes that seem to not fit well for the personnel hint at a reluctance to embrace the skill sets of the current players and adjust to the new, post-injury, reality of the offense. Between penalties and turnovers, this team lacks discipline. Those things come back to preparation and coaching. Auburn is a long way from putting a competitive team on the field and talent evaluation has seemed to be at the epicenter of the issues.
Special Teams: C
The play on special teams has been odd this season. The early results on Anders Carlson’s return from injury were not promising. He does not seem to have the same power that he once had. His kickoffs have routinely come up short of the endzone and he hasn’t been called upon to take many long field goals this season. When he has attempted kicks, the results have been mixed. While he is currently 80% of FGAs, that includes a couple of times when penalties negated a miss. His confidence seemed to be waning, and so did the confidence in this staff in his ability, leading to some questionable 4th down decisions. He made both of his kicks in the Ole Miss game though. Like the offensive line performance, we hope that is a good sign for the future.
Another portion of the specialists that has produced mixed results has been the return game. There have been very few real opportunities for returns on kickoffs, which has meant a reduction in the number of penalties on those returns, which is great. It also means there is less chance for big returns (mostly because teams are routinely kicking it into the endzone). The punt return game had promise early in the season with Keionte Scott taking the majority of the return opportunities. He seemed willing to take chances and pick spots to try to make a play in that unit. However, a muffed punt in the LSU game has made him a routine “fair catch” guy, now (not certain if that is by choice or by force). I hope he is able to get his chances in the future and take advantage of them.
The consistent performances on special teams has been the punter and long snapper. Oscar Chapman has averaged over 40 YPP so far this season and has yet to have a punt blocked. The long snapper, Jacob Quattlebaum has been a stable member of the battery. The snaps on both punts and field goals have not had any issues. He has also been great on the coverage unit.
Speaking of the coverage unit, that has been a group that has been in decline the last few weeks. The team has been giving up far too many yards in the kicking game since the long punt return in the Georgia game. That trend is going in the wrong direction in both the kickoff and punt coverage units. Auburn is using a lot of their starters in special teams and it seems to be contributing to some fatigue, particularly on the defensive side of the ball that is already shallow in their rotations. Additionally, the team has not blocked any kicks this season, something that the units were able to do a few times last season. It seems as if the special teams units are not performing at a high level right now.
Be sure to check out our bye week report card on the Auburn Offense and Auburn Defense.