Auburn went down 21-17 in a loss to LSU last weekend which puts head coach Bryan Harsin on whatever comes after being on borrowed time. Next up, just a trip down to Athens to play the No. 1 team in the nation. On the plus side, no one expects Auburn to win.
By Matt Zemek
Follow @14powerscom
Here are the three keys to what would be a monumental upset:
Quit Turning It Over
Auburn had no right to lose to LSU last time out. Auburn clocked in at 6.3 yards per play, while LSU was running at just 3,6 yards per play. The LSU passing game when nowhere, with the combination of starter Jayden Daniels and backup Garrett Nussmeier completing just 10-of-26 through the air. Given those stats, you would expect an Auburn win. The Tigers, however, turned the ball over four times. The Auburn offense just isn’t explosive enough to make up for those mistakes, so Auburn lost the game. Similar turnover issues against Georgia will lead to a long day at the offense.
Get Pressure Without Eku Leota
While Auburn wasn’t winning, the pass rush was at least successful. That is why losing senior edge rusher Eku Leota for the season with an arm injury is a monumental blow to this defensive front. Leota had picked up 17 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks in this young season. The 6-foot-4 graduate transfer from Northwestern had been a menace of the edge, and Auburn has no replacement. That is why the team seems to have shifted to a 4-2-5 base defense, with nickel corner Keionte Scott promoted to starter. Generating pressure without Leota will be a challenge.
More Through The Air
The advanced metrics hate Auburn here. The Tigers are No. 116 in the country in EPA/Play on passing plays. This means that when Auburn is trying to throw the ball – especially on expected passing downs – it just isn’t working. It looks like another game for Robby Ashford, a player who isn’t a natural throwing the ball and who is about to come up against the best defense in the country through the air on passing downs. Auburn will need Ashford to have the best game of his college career on Saturday.
Be the first to comment