9.28.23 Football Articles

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saturdaydownsouth.com

 

Hugh Freeze speaks at length about needing to do a ‘better job’ coaching Payton Thorne

Ethan Stone | 15 hours ago

3–4 minutes

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Hugh Freeze went on for some time about needing to put Payton Thorne in better situations moving forward after a rough outing against Texas A&M last week.

Thorne has had a rough start to the season. The Tigers are dead last in total passing yards through the first 4 weeks of the season and Thorne was benched against the Aggies after a dreadful start.

At the SEC’s weekly teleconference Wednesday, Freeze addressed needing to coach Thorne better, but also noted that the Tigers desperately need to see some progress at the position moving forward. More than anything, he’s concerned with Thorne’s confidence heading into the middle part of the season.

“When we’re asked to be a psychologists along with being a coach — we had a good meeting Sunday night and obviously I feel like there’s things that our staff has let him down on also,” Freeze said. “And some of it is him and he knows that and he owns it. But I promised him we would do a better job coaching him this week and preparing him. And when you say coaching him, it means also the positions that need to be in the right spots at the right time for him. Because he understands the game from the mental perspective and when the ball is snapped, man, he knows, this dig should be the throw and if it’s not the right time from the receivers or whatever, it throws him off and obviously that leads to sacks. At the same time, we’ve got to do a better job of helping him with that.”

“At the same time, you get a wheel route that’s wide open and you do have time, you’ve got to hit it, or a seam route. We had a couple of those the other day. He seemed distracted in the pocket, so we’ve worked on pocket presence a good bit this week thus far. And we’ll do that again. But hopefully this thing’s got to turn to a positive vibe somehow and it takes some mental toughness to do that on his part and our part. In the coming weeks, we need to see some progress.”

The Tigers are back in action this week, facing off against No. 1 Georgia at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

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Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South. Follow on Twitter.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Auburn Wire goes Behind Enemy Lines with UGA Wire

Taylor Jones

6–8 minutes

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The next edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT.

The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs will put their six-game winning streak on the line at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, and enter the game with a 63-56-8 record all-time over the Tigers.

Buy Tigers Tickets

Georgia is 4-0 after wins over UT-Martin, Ball State, South Carolina, and UAB. Several key players that have contributed to their unbeaten record include quarterback Carson Beck, tight end Brock Bowers, receiver Rara Thomas, and defensive back Tykee Smith.

In an effort to learn more about Auburn’s week five opponent, we called up UGA Wire editor James Morgan. He gave us valuable insight as to how Bulldogs fans feel about Carson Beck, the top receiver to watch for, and his personal take on the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.

Here is this week’s Behind Enemy Lines with James Morgan of UGA Wire.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It’s business as usual for Georgia through four games, as the Bulldogs are 4-0. What is the overall vibe in Athens surrounding the team through four games?

Georgia fans have high expectations for the Bulldogs this year. The Bulldogs’ 2023 schedule is fairly easy, especially since the SEC made Georgia cancel a road trip to Oklahoma, so it’s reasonable to expect this Georgia team to make another run to the College Football Playoff.

Georgia is defending back-to-back national champions and returned a ton of talent for the 2023 season, but we really don’t know too much about the Bulldogs as they have only played one Power Five opponent (South Carolina) through four weeks. Georgia fans are still looking for a complete performance out of this team.

© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fans were skeptical of Carson Beck at the beginning of the season. Has he earned the respect of Georgia fans yet? Or does he still have something to prove?

Carson Beck has played well to begin the season, but he has room to grow. It is tough to earn the respect of Georgia fans. Many fans were critical of Stetson Bennett and didn’t want him back even after he won a national title. The best thing I’ve seen from Beck is that he takes care of the football. Beck has six passing touchdowns and only one interception to start 2023.

Beck’s first road start will come against Auburn, so he will have to prove that he can operate the offense in a tough environment on the road. Additionally, Beck still has to prove he can lead a team down the field when it has to score in the fourth quarter. He helped Georgia comeback from an 11-point deficit at home against South Carolina in Week 3, but Georgia will probably face a situation more desperate than that later in the year.

© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Between Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas, who has been the most exciting transfer receiver to this point for Georgia?

I would say that Rara Thomas, who averages over 20 yards per catch, has been the more exciting player of the two. Thomas has seen more limited snaps than Lovett as he has been learning a very different offense after playing at Mississippi State in 2022. Dominic Lovett is more consistent at this point in time and is a former All-SEC player, but Thomas may have more potential. This Georgia team has an elite wide receiver room with a lot of speed and depth.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn has been iffy when it comes to stopping the run this season. However, Georgia’s leading back has just 184 yards rushing. Do you expect Georgia to run more this week?

I think Georgia will really look to establish the run against Auburn to put Carson Beck in the best possible situations. If Georgia does not turn the ball over, then I don’t think many SEC teams can compete with the Dawgs.

The Bulldogs have a backfield that is battling through a lot of injuries right now. Daijun Edwards, the team’s leading rusher, missed two games with a knee injury. Branson Robinson is out for the season with a knee injury. Kendall Milton and Roderick Robinson are both fighting injuries and it looks like Robinson won’t play against Auburn. Georgia is relying on walk-ons and even a wide receiver (Dillon Bell) to take some snaps at running back.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Tykee Smith has been a nightmare on defense this season. What makes him so special in the Georgia defensive backfield?

Smith has 15 total tackles and three interceptions this season and really stepped up against South Carolina. Smith is a playmaker. Yet, what makes it special is the depth and tackling ability of the Georgia defensive back room. Safety Malaki Starks, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection, is probably Georgia’s best defensive back. Safety Javon Bullard, who is questionable for the Auburn game with an ankle injury, is another preseason All-SEC first-team selection. Smith and Georgia’s stout defensive back room helps the Dawgs avoid giving up big plays.

© Richard Hamm / USA TODAY NETWORK

Hugh Freeze says that he does not sense that the DSOR has as much of a sense of hatred as other rivalries. In your opinion, what does this rivalry game mean to you?

Georgia and Auburn are not the most hostile rivals. Georgia’s most hostile rivalry is probably Florida and I don’t have to tell you who Auburn’s most hostile rival is. The Bulldogs have been dominant in recent history against Auburn. There’s an extra boost of joy that comes to Georgia fans beating Auburn as opposed to another SEC foe.

I am not happy about how Auburn defeated Georgia in 2010 or 2013. Georgia got revenge on the Tigers in the 2017 SEC championship, but it always seems like Auburn’s best seasons coincide with a dramatic win over Georgia. The Georgia-Auburn rivalry is one that should continue to be played annually as the SEC expands.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

What is your final score prediction?

Auburn does not have a quarterback with over 100 yards passing, against a Power Five opponent, since the Arkansas game of 2022. One-dimensional rushing teams don’t tend to play well against Georgia. Auburn’s defense is solid, but quarterback Carson Beck and Georgia will eventually open up a significant lead because the Tigers aren’t going to be scoring much.

Prediction: Georgia 31, Auburn 6

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247sports.com

 

Freeze on Payton Thorne: 'I promised him we’d do a better job coaching him'

Nathan King

10–12 minutes

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As of Tuesday, OddsShark lists Auburn as a 14.5-point underdog to Georgia in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. Per the OddsShark database, the Tigers have lost their last 13 games as double-digit underdogs, with the last win being a 10-point upset of Alabama in 2013. Saturday's game marks the first time Auburn is a double-digit underdog under Hugh Freeze.

In Gus Malzahn's eight seasons at Auburn, the Tigers were double-digit underdogs 10 times, with four of those occasions coming in his first season.

In Bryan Harsin's two seasons, Auburn's opponent was favored by double digits six times.

If Auburn were to stun the Bulldogs on Saturday, it would rank as the Tigers' third-largest upset since 2000. Auburn's top five upsets in that time include rivalry wins, dramatic finishes and a game that kickstarted an SEC title run.

Per the point spreads given by the OddsShark database, these are Auburn's four largest upsets since 2000.

4. Nov. 23, 2002: Auburn 17, No. 9 Alabama 7

Point spread: Alabama -11

The "Fear the Thumb" streak over Alabama started with a major upset at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Tigers were 7-4 going into the 2002 game, just their second in Tuscaloosa since Alabama’s home Iron Bowls permanently moved to Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2000, while Alabama was 9-2 with two losses to top-10 teams.

In his pregame intro, the late Auburn radio announcer Jim Fyffe compared the game to David vs. Goliath.

Alabama was the fourth ranked opponent Auburn played in 2002, with the Tigers going 1-2 in the previous three. The losses, however, were each one-possession losses to USC and Georgia, while the win was a blowout of Nick Saban’s LSU team.

Auburn had injury issues going into the game, especially at the running back position. The Tigers were forced to use Tre Smith as the primary running back. Smith etched his name into Iron Bowl history, as he rushed for 126 yards on 25 carries in the game.  Meanwhile, the Tigers defense held the Tide’s offense down.

Jason Campbell passed for two touchdowns in the first quarter, both to Robert Johnson, and the Tigers added a Damon Duval field goal in the second quarter. Auburn was up 17-0 at the half, and the lead was never in serious jeopardy in the second half.

Despite Alabama having more yards and first downs, the Crimson Tide only reached the end zone once, in the third quarter, and Auburn won 17-7.

Alabama went for it on seven fourth downs, and the Auburn defense held the Tide to two conversions on those attempts. The Tide went 0-for-2 on fourth downs in the first half as Auburn built its lead and was 2-for-5 in the second half as the Tigers maintained that lead.

The win was the first of six straight Auburn victories over the Crimson Tide from 2002-07. Auburn did not lose in Tuscaloosa until 2008. Tommy Tuberville finished his ten-year Auburn tenure in 2008 with a record of 7-3 against Alabama.

3. Oct. 19, 2013: No. 24 Auburn 45, No. 7 Texas A&M 41

Point spread: Texas A&M -13

In 2012, Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies came to Jordan-Hare Stadium and beat the Tigers 63-21. In the week before the team’s meeting the following year, Auburn entered the AP rankings for the first time since losing to Alabama in 2011. Despite Auburn’s newly acquired ranking, the Aggies were ranked No. 7 and heavily favored to beat the Tigers, much like they did the previous year.

Both teams were 5-1, with Auburn losing at No. 6 LSU and Texas A&M falling at home to No. 1 Alabama.

It was an offensive matchup of clashing styles. Auburn gashed the Aggies’ defense on the ground, rushing for 379 yards. Johnny Manziel and the Aggies did their damage through the air, with 469 passing yards. Both styles were almost equally successful, with Auburn totaling 615 yards and the Aggies getting 602 total yards.

While Manziel himself passed for 454 yards and totaled over 500 yards, he threw two first-quarter interceptions, with Ryan White and Ryan Smith each intercepting a pass, leading to 10 Auburn points.

Of Auburn’s six touchdowns, four were rushing while two were passing.  Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall passed for a pair of touchdowns — one to Sammie Coates and the other to Quan Bray — and ran for a pair of scores. 

Auburn was down 34-24 early in the fourth quarter but outscored the Aggies 21-10 in the frame. Tre Mason scored the winning touchdown, which was originally ruled short but reversed to a touchdown, with 1:19 to go.

With Manziel getting one chance to lead the Aggies to victory, the Auburn defense came up with the stand led by Dee Ford, who sacked Manziel twice in the drive — including on fourth-and-13 to seal the win.

The win was Auburn’s first SEC road win since an Oct. 1, 2011 win over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium, ending a stretch of over two calendar years without a conference road win.

The teams’ seasons went in opposite directions following the game. After winning three straight games after the loss, Texas A&M dropped its final two regular-season contests, finishing 9-4 with a win in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. 

Auburn did not lose again in the regular season, with the upset being the third of a nine-game win streak for the Tigers. The win was one of six one-possession wins by the Tigers in 2013 as Auburn won the SEC title and came 13 seconds away from a national championship.

2. Sept. 29, 2007: Auburn 20, No. 4 Florida 17

Point spread: Florida -17.5

In 2006, Auburn beat Florida at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Going into the teams’ 2007 matchup, the Gators had not lost since. Auburn, meanwhile, was 2-2 in the first four games of the wild, upset-heavy 2007 season. Florida was ranked No. 4 by the AP Poll and was the heavy favorite over the unranked Tigers going into the primetime game at The Swamp. 

Despite facing a hostile crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Auburn got off to a fast start, taking a 14-0 lead into halftime courtesy of a pair of touchdown runs, one by Kodi Burns and the other by Ben Tate. The teams each kicked a field goal in the third quarter and with 15 minutes to go, Auburn was ahead 17-3.

The Tim Tebow-led Gators quickly evened the score, scoring on their first two drives of the fourth quarter and tying the game with 7:36 to go.  Auburn was forced to punt on its ensuing drive and a kick-catch interference penalty, which Tuberville vehemently argued, set Florida up at its 42-yard line. 

Auburn’s defense, however, forced the Gators to go three-and-out, giving Auburn the ball with 3:38 on its final drive. A 25-yard punt gave Auburn good field position, at its own 40-yard line.

The Tigers used 10 plays to run the clock out and send freshman Wes Byrum out for a 43-yard field goal attempt for the win. Byrum nailed the kick, only to have it nullified as Florida coach Urban Meyer called timeout right before the snap. 

In his second attempt, Byrum made it once more as time ran out, giving Auburn the upset. Byrum celebrated by mockingly doing the Gator chomp as he left the field.

Byrum's clutch kicks prompted ESPN announcer Mike Patrick to ask, “How cool is Wes Byrum?” following the second make.

Brandon Cox finished with 227 passing yards to Tebow’s 201, with 102 of Cox’s passing yards going to Rodgeriqus Smith.

In his four seasons with the Tigers, Byrum made 62 field goals and converted 75.61 percent of his field goal tries, capping off his career by kicking the winning field goal in the BCS National Championship Game following the 2010 season.

Meyer and Tebow, despite combining for two national championships during their time at Florida, were 0-2 against Auburn — making Auburn the only SEC team they never defeated.

1. Oct. 13, 2001: Auburn 23, No. 1 Florida 20

Point spread: Florida -26.5

In 2000, Auburn played Florida twice, including once in the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers lost those two games by a combined 53 points. 

In 2001, the Tigers began the season 4-1, but were blown out at Syracuse and had three one-possession wins over Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State — the latter two won on Duval field goals. Meanwhile, the Gators began 2001 with a 5-0 record, winning every game by at least 29 points en route to a No. 1 ranking.

On Oct. 13, the Gators traveled to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the Tigers in an ESPN primetime game with a weather forecast calling for heavy wind and rain. Steve Spurrier’s club had one of the nation’s top offenses, with quarterback Rex Grossman passing for 20 touchdowns in the first five games and the team not scoring fewer than 44 points in a game to that point.

On this night in Auburn, however, Grossman threw for two touchdowns but it was not enough for the Gators. The Auburn defense held the Gators to minus 36 yards rushing and, though Grossman threw for 364 yards, the Tigers came away with four interceptions by four players: Roderick Hood, Phillip Pate, Mayo Sowell and Karlos Dansby.

It was a back-and-forth game, with neither team holding a lead of more than a touchdown at any point. After Grossman struck for an 80-yard touchdown to Jabar Gaffney with 12:09 in the fourth quarter, the score was tied 20-20.

While Florida looked to be driving for the go-ahead score, Grossman threw his fourth and final interception at the Auburn six-yard line, which Dansby returned to the Auburn 24-yard line. The pick set up Auburn with 4:28 to go, and the Tigers methodically moved their way down the field. The Tigers ran 4:18 off the clock, with no play earning more than 15 yards in the drive. With 1o seconds to go, the Tigers called on Duval to give them the win.

Duval hooked a 44-yard field goal through a 17 mph wind — his third straight game-winning field goal. Florida was unable to score on its one remaining offensive play, and Auburn had the upset. The fans stormed the field, even as a penalty on Florida was being announced, and tore down the goalposts.

The Tigers entered the AP Poll for the first time in 2001 the following week and finished the season at 5-3 in SEC play. 

The Gators only lost once more that season — a two-point loss to Tennessee on Dec. 1 that cost them the SEC East title. That same day, Auburn lost the SEC West’s berth in the conference title game with a loss to LSU. Had that day’s results been different, the teams would have met again in the SEC title game.

The game marked Spurrier's final game against Auburn as Florida's coach as he departed the program after the season, though Spurrier faced Auburn six more times as South Carolina's coach — never beating the Tigers while with the Gamecocks.

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Auburn football: Can Hugh Freeze help Payton Thorne be confident?

Updated: Sep. 27, 2023, 1:01 p.m.|Published: Sep. 27, 2023, 1:01 p.m.

~4 minutes

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Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (1) looks to run against Texas A&M defensive back Tyreek Chappell (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP

Echoing a message from his Monday press conference, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference that he and the rest of Auburn’s offense have to get Payton Thorne some help.

That help is on the field certainly, but it also includes helping him be confident before he gets on the field.

“We’re asked to be psychologists along with being a coach,” Freeze said Wednesday. “We had a good meeting Sunday night and obviously, I feel like there’s things that our staff has let him down on also. And some of it is him and he knows that, he owns it. But I promised him we would do a better job coaching him this week and preparing him.”

Thorne has struggled so far this season in four games as Auburn’s starter. He has thrown for 561 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

He’s been at his worst in games against Power 5 opponents. He was 9-of-14 for 94 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Cal. Texas A&M was his worst game yet, completing only six of his 12 passes for 44 yards. He was sacked five times. The day was rough enough that it warranted Freeze to be not fully committed to ensuring Thorne would be the starter against Georgia in his Monday press conference.

On Wednesday, Freeze said the focus on working with Throne this week also includes preparing other position groups on the offense. During a period of practice open to reporters Tuesday evening, Freeze spent significant attention with the wide receiver group and where exactly they were lining up.

He has frequently mentioned receivers running the wrong routes, but there are plays Freeze still notes — like the wide-open wheel route Jay Fair ran in the first half against Texas A&M — that have not been completed.

“He understands the game from the mental perspective and when the ball is snapped, he knows ‘Man, this dig should be the throw,” Freeze said. “And if it’s not the right time from the receivers or whatever, you know, it throws him off, and obviously that leads to sacks.”

Freeze said Thorne has appeared distracted in the pocket, so his pocket presence has been a focus on practice, too.

All the while, Freeze said Thorne still has the autonomy to make checks and change protections himself at the line of scrimmage. Freeze said because of his mental understanding of the game, he can try to line up receivers or routes as he sees best on the field when necessary or when the play allows.

“Things gonna have to turn to a positive vibe somehow and it takes some mental toughness to do that on his part and our part,” Freeze said. “In the coming weeks, we need to see we need to see some progress.”

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

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al.com

How will Auburn’s Hugh Freeze balance involvement in recruiting, play-calling on Saturday?

Updated: Sep. 27, 2023, 11:45 a.m.|Published: Sep. 27, 2023, 11:34 a.m.

8–9 minutes

It was way back in mid-July when local media members had Auburn’s first-year head coach Hugh Freeze cornered in a small breakout room within Nashville’s Grand Hyatt hotel minutes before he took the podium at SEC Media Days.

Freeze was asked about Payton Thorne — who he hadn’t been able to watch throw yet — as well as the countless other new additions to Auburn’s roster.

Needless to say, there was still a lot of unknowns.

However, Freeze seemed pretty sure about two things: He was going to have to recruit his tail off to right the ship at Auburn and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery would be calling plays on offense once the season opened in September.

And to this point, both have been true.

Freeze and the Auburn coaching staff had a successful offseason on the recruiting trail, first flipping 5-star linebacker Demarcus Riddick from Kirby Smart and Georgia, and later pulling 5-star wide receiver Perry Thompson away from Alabama.

Would Auburn have been as successful in earning such commitments if Freeze didn’t have all 10 toes on the recruiting trail? Who’s to say.

More: Hugh Freeze has changed recruiting at Auburn. And all it took was a bit of effort.

But it certainly sends a message to a prospect when the head honcho himself is the one recruiting you and Freeze learned pretty quick that the previous staff left the cupboards pretty dry.

“I don’t want to be negative. Just, it was off from what I believe an Auburn roster should look like,” Freeze said at SEC media days. “Recruiting has been a little more challenging than I thought for Auburn, because of what I believe Auburn should be and what it’s proven it can be.”

So Freeze pushed all his chips towards recruiting and — for the first time in his career — surrendered play-calling duties to someone else.

“I hired Philip (Montgomery) to call plays,” Freeze said in July. “I think there’s so many dynamics going on in the college game right now to rebuild Auburn, that it was very, very beneficial to get someone who has done it at a high level and has the capacity to do that.”

Week 1 against UMass was like the honeymoon phase in Freeze and Montgomery’s play-calling marriage.

With all respect to Don Brown and the Minutemen, the Tigers were able to have their way and take what they wanted.

“It was easy Saturday. I mean, you just kind of looked at the call sheet and the things we had planned are the things we called, and they tended to work in the run game,” Freeze said of the offensive play-calling after Auburn’s win over UMass. “I don’t think that was a great test for, truthfully.”

Freeze acknowledged the play-calling dance would likely become more difficult as the games became more difficult.

Though, he might’ve been faced with that sooner than what he expected as the Tigers went on the road to Cal and sputtered on offense.

But even then, the offensive troubles that night likely weren’t a result of play-calling, but rather the result of Auburn’s offense giving up four turnovers – of which each felt to come during a promising drive down field.

“We’re not overreacting to anything,” Freeze said after the Tigers squeaked out a 14-10 win over the Golden Bears. “Philip is going to be fine. We’re going to work together this week and see if we can’t get a great plan in place to not repeat last week’s performance.”

Auburn’s offense didn’t repeat the Cal performance the following week against, well, Samford.

Instead, Thorne tore through the Bulldogs defense with both his arm and his legs, replicating numbers that haven’t been seen at Auburn since Nick Marshall in 2015.

However, the play-calling dance against Samford was much like the one against UMass – everything was there for Auburn’s taking.

Then the disaster at Texas A&M happened.

Auburn couldn’t sustain a drive worth a lick in College Station as the Tigers went 3-for-15 on third down and had more than 10 yards to gain on third down more times than it didn’t.

And like the lackadaisical showing at Cal, there were a number of factors contributing.

Perhaps the most notable was the Texas A&M defense creating 15 negative plays and tallying five sacks.

Was that the result of the offensive line? The quarterbacks not getting rid of the ball quick enough? Receivers not getting open? Play-calling? Simply being outmanned by a defensive line full of blue chips?

Simply put, the answer to all of those questions is yes, it was a bit of this and a bit of that.

But for Freeze, whose background lies heavily in piloting explosive offenses, watching the Tigers’ offense total just 200 yards, 56 passing yards and never finding the end zone was hard to do and not step in.

The result of Saturday’s mess at Kyle Field left Freeze itching to be more involved in the offensive gameplan.

“Boy, this is something I’m struggling with,” Freeze said Monday when asked about the play-calling duties ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Georgia. “That’s all I probably need to say.”

Freeze’s response came off a bit sassier than perhaps he intended.

Montgomery still has the backing of Auburn’s head coach.

“I think Monty and them are doing a great job right now trying to correct the issues we all see,” Freeze said Monday, adding that he and Montgomery had met a number of times between Saturday’s loss at Texas A&M and Freeze’s press conference Monday.

Are there still gripes? Absolutely.

One of the things written on Freeze’s complaint card this week was Montgomery’s decision to abandon the run-pass option scheme that had proven successful for the Tigers the week prior.

“The week before, we were very effective in the RPO game, and in this game, we threw zero RPOs. That’s not something I’m happy about,” Freeze said Monday. “We’ve gotten away from that, and I don’t really understand that.”

So while Freeze isn’t totally ready to snatch the play card out of the hands of Montgomery, it’s obvious his foot is beginning to tap with impatience.

And it’s not just Freeze that’s growing irritated. He knows Auburn’s passionate fanbase is too.

“We’ve got to figure out our identity… I know, people don’t like to hear it,” Freeze said. “People want success now. They want you to win now, every single game. I get all of that. This is not my first rodeo with taking over a program that has struggled and I’m certainly not at all fazed.

“I’m hungrier than ever to move forward and get better, and we will. Some of that’s going to help in recruiting, but in the meantime, you’ve got to get the ones you have better.”

It’s all a juggling act.

And the stage of Saturday’s circus is a pretty big one with Kirby Smart and the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs coming to town.

Obviously, an upset over the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs would likely send a sold-out crowd rushing onto Pat Dye Field. That’s what a win over Georgia would mean for Auburn now in its current state.

But the spectacle of Saturday is equally as important for the future of the Tigers’ football program as Auburn’s attendance list of recruits is lengthy and impressive. Freeze isn’t sure Auburn has enough tickets to fulfill each recruit and his family, so he leaves that up to his recruiting staff.

Instead, Freeze’s job on Saturday is to find a healthy balance between finding a way to win a football game and finding a way to win some big-time recruiting battles with one of his biggest competitors of both wars on the opposing sideline.

“We’ve got to make sure they see what Auburn is really about while they’re here for a game of this magnitude,” Freeze said.

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247sports.com

 

Auburn Opponent Preview Taking a look at the Georgia defense

Jason Caldwell

5–6 minutes

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Auburn takes on the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Coming off a rough performance on the road at Texas A&M, Auburn’s offense only sees a greater challenge this weekend when the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs come to Jordan-Hare Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. start on CBS. While not playing the toughest schedule to this point, the Bulldogs are 10th nationally in total defense (11.3 ppg) and 18th in total defense (282.3 ypg) and have another talented roster, especially on the back end of the defense.

Looking for his first win against the Bulldogs, senior tight end Luke Deal said you know what you get when you line up against a Georgia defense.

“Yeah I've played against them quite a few times,” Deal said. “They like to just pressure and confuse the quarterback. They have some really good players, some really talented players. Fast, physical, what they always are. But hopefully people see that from us after a couple of weeks. Obviously we didn't put great things on film, but that's okay. Next week we have an opportunity to do that and I hope Georgia gets to see that.”

After having 19 players drafted off the defense alone in the last three years and eight in the first round, Georgia still has plenty of experience to work with. There are eight different Bulldogs that have started at least 12 games in their career, led by defensive backs Malachi Starks, Kamari Lassiter and Tykee Smith.

A senior star, Smith has been all over the field with 15 tackles, three interceptions and two and a half tackles this season while Starks has added 13 tackles and one pick. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native, Lassiter has nine stops and two and a half tackles for a loss. Sophomore Daylen Everette is the starter at the other corner opposite Lassiter. Listed as a starter, but playing in just two games because of an injury, is talented junior safety Javon Bullard. If he’s unable to go, Georgia has plenty of options with Dan Jackson perhaps the top backup for the Bulldogs.

A name familiar to Auburn fans, linebacker Smael Mondon, continues to be a playmaker for the Bulldogs. He’s second on the team with 14 tackles this season and the junior has the range to play from sideline to sideline. Big Jamon Dumas-Johnson is the enforcer in the middle of the Georgia defense. The middle linebacker has been active with 10 tackles, one sack and three tackles for a loss. On the outside, Chazz Chambliss has added an interception and one tackle for a loss. In addition to the starters, Georgia has a ton of depth with 16 different players listed at the three linebacker spots on the depth chart.

Up front, Georgia is once again loaded with talent and experience led by seniors Warren Brinson and Zion Logue in the middle along with guys like Tramel Walthour and Nazir Stackhouse. Brinson has one sack, but leads the team with nine quarterback pressures. The pressure off the edge comes from talented sophomore Mykel Williams. The Columbus, Georgia native has two of Georgia’s five sacks on the season. 

DL 

13 Mykel Williams (6-5, 265, So.) OR

90 Tramel Walthour (6-3, 270, Sr.) OR

93 Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (6-5, 280, RSo.)

DL 

96 Zion Logue (6-5, 310, Sr.) OR

97 Warren Brinson (6-4, 305, Sr.) 

44 Jordan Hall (6-4, 320, Fr.)

94 Jonathan Jefferson (6-3, 295, RSo.)

DL 

78 Nazir Stackhouse (6-3, 320, Sr.)

52 Christen Miller (6-4, 305, RFr.)

55 Jamaal Jarrett (6-5, 350, Fr.)

OLB 

32 Chaz Chambliss (6-2, 250, Jr.)

7 Marvin Jones Jr. (6-5, 250, So.) OR

16 C.J. Madden (6-4, 240, RFr.) OR

19 Darris Smith (6-5, 240, So.) OR

29 Gabe Harris Jr. (6-4, 245, Fr.) OR

26 Sam M’Pemba (6-3, 245, Fr.) OR

35 Damon Wilson II (6-4, 235, Fr.)

ILB 

10 Jamon Dumas-Johnson (6-1, 245, Jr.)

11 Jalon Walker (6-2, 245, So.) OR

25 E.J. Lightsey (6-2, 223, RFr.)

0 Troy Bowles (6-0, 220, Fr.)

ILB 

2 Smael Mondon (6-3, 225, Jr.) OR

18 Xavian Sorey (6-3 220, RSo.) OR

33 C.J. Allen (6-1, 235, Fr.)

5 Raylen Wilson (6-1, 224, Fr.) OR

30 Terrell Foster (6-1, 200, RFr.)

CB 

3 Kamari Lassiter (6-0, 180, Jr.) OR

1 Nyland Green (6-1, 185, RSo.) 

4 AJ Harris (6-1, 190, Fr.) OR

27 Chris Peal (6-1, 190, Fr.)

CB 

6 Daylen Everette (6-1, 190, So.) OR

12 Julian Humphrey (6-0 190, RFr.) 

15 Daniel Harris (6-2, 175, Fr.)

S 

24 Malaki Starks (6-1, 205, So.)

17 Dan Jackson (6-1, 200, Sr.)

9 Justyn Rhett (6-0, 190, Fr.) 

S 

22 Javon Bullard (5-11, 195, Jr.)

14 David Daniel-Sisavanh (6-2, 195, Jr.) OR

20 Jacorey Thomas (6-0, 200, So.) 

STAR 

23 Tykee Smith (5-10, 205, Sr.)

8 Joenel Aguero (5-11, 205, Fr.)

31 Kyron Jones (6-0, 200, Fr.)

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Auburn vs. Georgia: Six Bulldogs to know

JD McCarthy

3–4 minutes

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Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC) is looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season on Saturday but it will be a tough task with the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs coming to the Plains.

The Bulldogs (4-0, 1-0) are fresh off a dominant 49-21 win over UAB but this will be their first road test of the season.

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Kirby Smart has transformed them into one of the top programs in the country and has impressed Hugh Freeze with the work he has done in eight years.

“They are one of the gold standards in college football right now,” Freeze said at his weekly press conference. “They are recruiting a top-three class every single year. That is hard to compete with and they are well coached. You have to give them credit. I know it’s a rivalry game, but the truth is the truth. He has built a dang good football program there. It means a lot of things. It means he has the support from the administration and the fans.”

That recruiting gives them one of the top rosters in college football that is full of proven playmakers on both sides of the ball. While there are too many to name, here are six that you should know ahead of Saturday’s game.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Bowers is one of the top offensive players in the country and is a mismatch at tight end. He leads the Bulldogs in receptions (22), receiving yards (256) and touchdowns (2). Auburn’s defensive backs will have to focus on his every snap to try and slow down the passing attack.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Smith has waited his turn to become a starter at Georgia and that patience has paid off. His 15 tackles are a team-high and Auburn’s quarterbacks will have to be careful when throwing at him as he has already picked off three passes.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Beck entered the season with little experience and improved each week. He has been extremely efficient for Georgia, completing 72.7% of his passes, and has thrown just one interception to six touchdowns. His production has been exactly what Kirby Smart wants from his quarterback as they rely on their defense and run game to win.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Williams missed their game last week with an illness but is expected to be back for Auburn. Williams has 2.0 sacks on the season and Auburn’s offensive line will have to play better to keep him out of the backfield.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Edwards did not play in their first two games but has been great the last two weeks, racking up 184 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging nearly 6.0 yards per carry and Auburn will have to keep him bottled up if they want to stop the Georgia offense.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Just a sophomore, Starks is one of the top defensive backs in the country and is always near the ball. He’s made 13 tackles, picked off one pass and broken up four more. Auburn’s passing attack has struggled to start the season and dealing with Starks and the rest of the Georgia secondary will be their toughest test yet.

[aubiefifty 18,259]

al.com

‘Pray for better quarterback play’: Charles Barkley weighs in on Auburn’s QB situation

Updated: Sep. 27, 2023, 12:17 p.m.|Published: Sep. 27, 2023, 12:14 p.m.

3–4 minutes

Charles Barkley on the state of Auburn basketball and NIL at Regions Tradition

Charles Barkley is a funny guy who loves his alma mater.

When Auburn announced Hugh Freeze as its next head football coach, Barkley was quick to get behind the hire.

“When Mr. Cohen decided to go with Coach Freeze — I told them — I told both of them, ‘I’m all in on Coach Freeze.’,” Barkley said in an appearance on “The Next Round” Wednesday morning.

However, that doesn’t mean Barkley has been 100% sold on what’s been happening on The Plains, especially as it relates to Auburn’s quarterback play.

“If y’all are going to be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play,” Barkley joked. “Let’s get these three quarterbacks and baptize them and maybe the Lord can make them play better.”

Barkley’s quip, which received quite a laugh from the show’s hosts, refers to Freeze’s involvement in “UNITE Auburn” — a revival-like worship event held at Auburn’s Neville Arena on Sept. 12.

Following the event, attendees flocked to Auburn’s Ag Heritage Park pond, where hundreds were baptized. Of those being baptized was Auburn football freshman Sylvester Smith, who waded into the water accompanied by Freeze, who assisted in Smith’s baptism.

The event was later condemned by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group that, according to its website, “works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.”

All that aside, Barkley’s comment on Wednesday was a comical and on-brand quip.

The former Auburn basketball standout, like many Auburn fans, has been frustrated by the Tigers’ quarterback play.

And Barkley wishes Freeze and the Auburn coaching staff would move forward with one guy under center.

“The one thing you can’t do as a coach? You can’t have your quarterback playing scared,” Barkley said. “You can’t have your quarterback playing scared or looking over his shoulders. You can’t play three quarterbacks. You can’t play two quarterbacks.”

Barkley continued to assert that the multi-quarterback approach Freeze and the Auburn offense has been using damages the confidence of quarterbacks.

“The No. 1 thing you have to have as a player is confidence in yourself to make good plays and bad plays,” Barkley said. “If you’re scared to make bad plays, you can’t make good plays. And right now, they’re in no-man’s land. You gotta make a decision and live with it.”

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[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

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[gr82be 14,913]

26 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

Barkley on the QB situation -"The No. 1 thing you have to have as a player is confidence in yourself to make good plays and bad plays,”

I'm halfway to being a starting quarterback. I'm confident I can make bad plays. 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

8 minutes ago, gr82be said:

I'm halfway to being a starting quarterback. I'm confident I can make bad plays. 

hey! can i be your receiver? i cannot catch so i can help................team building baby!

[SaltyTiger 8,579]

Thanx Fiddy, sorta tired of reading about our quarterback problems and bet you are tired of posting them. Seems only so much can be said. Hopefully that can end soon. 
 

63 degrees and a bit gray looking early morning on the Plains. Feels kinda like Georgia week. Just found out we have a good crowd family and friends coming in for the weekend. Lots of tailgates Saturday and a big to do list here. Hope everyone leaves happy in the end.