By Brant Daughtry
Hank Brown definitely looked the part in start number 1. It was against an overmatched opponent, but he made the correct decisions most of the time and had a couple of really nice throws. The playbook was simplified, but what they tried worked. The RPO game, which had been really underused the first two weeks, was used very effectively to get Brown into a rhythm and get some easy reps under his belt. He took advantage. I also liked to finally see some offensive adjustments in the run game. New Mexico came out in a front that they hadn’t shown this year, and Auburn was forced to change up the scheme to answer. It was a little slower than I’d like, but maybe that’s just me being overly critical.
There are a few pieces of context that rain on the parade though. I’ll start with the smallest. One, Brown got very lucky on a couple of throws. Off the top of my head, I can think of three that should have been picked off and will be against SEC defenses. A clean showing, but one that offers room for improvement. Second, there’s an argument to be made that New Mexico’s defense is the worst in FBS. Entering that game, they had given up more yards than any team that had played only two games. They were also last in allowed yards per play. Auburn’s offense looked good, but it wasn’t exactly against the best college football has to offer. Lastly, and most importantly, the defense.
Let me start this by saying New Mexico has a really good offense. Devin Dampier has done that to a lot of teams this year. He’s a monster and will probably be at a Power 4 school next season if I had to guess. But, Auburn has shown off major problems two games in a row now, especially in the secondary. I have problems with DJ Durkin’s defensive philosophy as well. He’s attempting to cover up a weaker secondary by using more numbers in pass coverage, but it’s not working. He also consistently tries to rush the passer with just three, and that’s never going to work, I don’t care who the offense is. Auburn has to adjust defensively, and they need to do it quickly. Cover up a weak secondary by hurrying the QB with more rushers. Offenses can and will adjust to that, but you have to take care of that before you go anywhere else defensively. Luckily for Auburn, the Tigers’ next opponent isn’t too keen on getting yards through the air.
Arkansas is under the direction of everyone’s favorite head coach, Sam Pittman. He’s the antithesis to everything I dislike about the sport of college football. He’s open, honest, strives to be a good dude, and just seems genuinely likable even if he’s a little silly. Unfortunately, he enters the year on the hot seat at Arkansas. The Razorbacks have had some mediocre years lately, and Pittman just hasn’t been able to get things going in the right direction.
He’s a former offensive lineman and coached that position in his early years. He believes in building up the lines and winning through dominating the trenches. While that’s definitely a good philosophy, it hasn’t resulted in the offense scoring more points. There’s been a lack of playmakers on the outside for Arkansas, and that’s kept them anchored.
Enter Bobby Petrino, former Arkansas head coach and the subject of many headlines for all the wrong reasons. It’s a weird marriage. Pittman, the every-man, and Petrino, the disgraced former head coach. The reason its here though, is because Petrino knows how to score points. And so far this year, it’s worked better than most, including myself, expected.
Arkansas is 2-1, with some weird scores. In week 2, they traveled to Oklahoma State and took the number 16 team in the country to the very end, losing by one possession. Truth be told, they probably should’ve won that game. This past Saturday though, they took it on the chin from UAB. They wound up winning by 10, but were down by a good bit early. They woke up, but it showed that things aren’t just perfect in Fayetteville. Which Arkansas team shows up Saturday is going to be a big factor.
The quarterback for the Hogs is Taylen Green, who enters after KJ Jefferson left for UCF in the offseason. He’s a big body, standing at 6-6, 230 lbs. He transferred over from Boise State, and he’s been very effective as QB for the Hogs. His passing ability won’t blow anyone away, but Petrino has been very smart about how to use him, and it’s translated to a lot of success offensively. He’s over 800 yards passing for three games, and had over 400 yards against Oklahoma State. His real threat though, is in running the ball. He’s an incredible athlete, and when he tucks and runs, he’ll break the game open in a hurry. He’s the team’s second leading rusher, with 245 net yards on the ground. The math geniuses among you will note that means he’s accounted for over 1,000 yards through three games. While the quality of competition needs to be noted, that’s not nothing.
On the other side of the ball for Arkansas is a face that’s familiar to Auburn fans. Former Auburn linebacker at defensive coach Travis Williams is back for his second season in that seat, and he’s been a marvel. T-Will plays an extremely aggressive brand of defense, with linebackers who are smart, defensive lineman who are mean, and DB’s who love to create turnovers. He blitzes a lot and mixes up looks to confuse offensive lineman. We’ve seen Auburn have a tough time dealing with that this year, and they’ll need to be ready.
Players to Watch For:
Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, #22- Jackson has spent the last three years at Utah, transitioning between quarterback and running back, and in 2023, became the Utes premier rusher. He’s a big, powerful running back, and Arkansas leans on him in the running game. He’s averaging 8 yards a carry coming into this game, and while that’s slightly inflated due to competition, he had over six yards a carry in that Oklahoma State game. He’s the replacement for Rocket Sanders, and he’s filling the shoes so far.
Linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr, #10- Sorey is the heart of this defensive unit. Williams moves him all over the field and lets him break offenses apart. He currently leads the team in tackles and tackles for loss with 23 and 3 respectively, also recording a sack. He’s a heat seeking missile and probably the best athlete on this defense.
This is going to be a much stiffer test for Auburn offensively. Williams is an outstanding defensive coach and he’ll be wanting to make an impression against his alma mater. On the other side, Auburn’s had a little trouble already with athletic QB’s, and the secondary has had several issues. It’s going to be a tough game, but if you’re looking for improvement from the Cal game, this could be the game to see it. Adjust the game plan faster. Make the reads easier. It’s the job of this coaching staff to put the team in the best position to win, and they failed to do that in game 2. This is a make-up opportunity.
