Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column

[aubiefifty 18,230]

Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column

ByJason Caldwell

4-5 minutes

This Auburn defense has been one of the best we’ve seen on the Plains in a long time. Going the first 11 games without allowing an opponent more than 23 points, the Tigers come into Saturday’s Iron Bowl giving up just 16.2 points per game. That is tied with Alabama and Michigan for 10th in the country against a more demanding schedule than those teams have faced, but the final test of the regular season is one of the most difficult and also the one that could define how this group is remembered for history.

It’s also another chance to get some redemption after last season. Auburn’s defense has answered the call against Mississippi State and Georgia already this year after both sets of Bulldogs ran for over 300 yards against the Tigers a season ago. Now it’s time to see if Tigers can do that against Alabama. 

Last season Auburn’s defense allowed 377 passing yards, six touchdown passes and 52 points in a loss at Tuscaloosa. Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DaVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle combined for 17 catches for 284 yards and five touchdowns, that day and they’re all back. All season long this Auburn defense has answered the bell. It’s time to do that once again.

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It was Samford and you can’t rely on just running the football to beat Alabama, but there is no doubt in my mind that a healthy and fresh Boobee Whitlow is still the No. 1 option for this Auburn running game at the moment. DJ Williams is going to be a really good back and deserves to get some touches on Saturday, but Whitlow is still the top guy because of his ability to get to the second level and finish runs while also getting to the perimeter of the defense. That’s something this offense was missing against Florida (the game he was injured) and against LSU. We saw very little of him against Georgia, but now it looks like he’s closer to 100 percent than he’s been since the opener against Oregon.

Last season against Alabama, Whitlow wasn’t close to 100 percent while dealing with a lingering shoulder issue. Knowing how competitive he is and how much he wants the ball in his hands, I have no doubts that No. 28 is going to be fired up about the opportunity on Saturday. 

In addition to handing him the ball, Auburn needs to get him the ball in space in the passing game. With Alabama’s young linebackers that’s the spot the Tigers can take advantage of in this matchup. Much like LSU has done with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, throw the ball to your backs and let them make plays.

I still believe Auburn needs to throw first to set up the run, but with a full speed Whitlow available there will be plays to be made in the running game on Saturday. Do that more often and the Tigers have a great shot to come away with the win.

18COMMENTS

This season Kam Martin has 322 yards rushing and two touchdowns. For his career the senior running back has 1,563 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s not a bad career, but not the one that Martin hoped for or the one that many envisioned for him when he came to Auburn as a four-star prospect after originally signing with Baylor. While he’s never been given the role of an every-down running back for the Tigers, Martin has remained all Auburn through all of the ups and downs of the last four years. 

In this day and age of the transfer portal and players jumping from school to school, Martin is a shining example of what it means to be a great teammate. He may not have made as many big plays as he hoped during his career with the Tigers, but there are few players on this team or any Auburn team that I have covered that have shown the level of maturity and have set a better example for his teammates than Martin has. For that he deserves the utmost respect for what he’s done on the Plains.

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[Swamp Eagle 5,267]

Totally agree on his Kam Martin tribute...

[Sizzle 3,948]

Yeah Kam’s been reliable for us. Just wish he had more shiftiness in the hole.