A late-season collapse saw Auburn fall from 6-2 to finish the season 6-7 in 2021. That – plus a miserable 3-5 record in the SEC – saw Bryan Harsin’s position come under question after just one season at the Tigers’ helm. Harsin survived but can Auburn improve?
By Steve Wright
Here are the three keys for Auburn to improve in 2022:
Rush Defense Has To Step Up
It might be a case that only diehard Auburn fans know the players starting in their front seven this season. The Tigers have lost at least seven defensive linemen and edge rushers to the transfer portal since their Iron Bowl loss to Alabama. They have also lost defensive coordinator Derek Mason and Nick Eason, their defensive line coach. A unit that was No. 29 in the nation in 2021 and gave up just eight rushing scores all season will need to find parts quickly to be close to that good this fall.
Find a Quarterback
It is generally never a good thing when a team is in the middle of the offseason without a clear No. 1 quarterback. That is the case for Auburn in 2022, as a quarterback room full of transfers tries to shake itself out to produce a legitimate SEC-level starter. Former Aggie Zach Calzada seems to be the favorite. He is the best fit for the scheme and has SEC experience (if not always wins). TJ Finley was bad down the stretch in 2021 and faces an uphill battle for the job. The dark horse is Oregon transfer Robby Ashford, a dual-threat that would ask more questions of defenses than the other two options.
Tank Bigsby Takes Over
Auburn will go as far as running back Tank Bigsby takes them in 2022. Bigsby is the best offensive player on the roster. He needs to be the focal point of the offense and in an SEC where everyone wants to throw the ball, Bigsby and a run-first assault will be a different puzzle for defenses to solve. The junior will have a lights-out campaign in 2022 and Auburn will need everything from him to improve on their miserable end to 2021.
The Auburn Tigers open their 2022 football season on Saturday, September 3, when they host the Mercer Bears in Auburn.
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