Auburn (3-4,0-4) will host Mississippi State’s Bulldogs (4-3,1-3) in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers are looking to bounce back from falling just short of an upset bid on No.12 Ole Miss. There are still some question marks around the Auburn roster and game plan, as fans are swirling wondering how the team will perform entering the easier stretch of its schedule coming off of three games against top 25 opponents with one of those being the No.1 ranked team in the Georgia Bulldogs.
Doubts are still in all Auburn fan's minds with regard to the two-quarterback approach. This approach has both its advantages and disadvantages. The goal is to give the team the best chance to win and so far that chance has come from the two quarterbacks rotating in their own packages.
The question is with the inability for long stretches of the game to sustain long drives are these packages too much for the team and that is what has caused this inefficiency?
“They are doing two different things. Whether that’s smart or not, I don’t know. We have to figure that out.” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said, “There are two distinctively different packages.” Coach Freeze added “Whatever our offensive staff convinces me is the best approach to give us a chance to win a game. I've said from day one that I think Robby has a place, and is his place every down? We'll see this week. If it's a package that enables us to continue drives.”
The offense played better last week, scoring 21 points on a very good football team that was good to keep them in the game. However, these points came too little too late and the offensive scheme could see adjustments to play to the strengths of the offense leaning on the run more, however, this will be difficult as Mississippi State boasts the 46th ranked rushing defense, allowing just 127.6 yards on the ground a game.
“It’s a combination. It’s all of us. I certainly listen to the plan and evaluate it, but it’s harder for me than I thought with the verbiage to be involved in every area.” said Freeze on the play calling on offense “I told the staff yesterday that we have to be more balanced” commented Freeze
Freeze has typically not had teams struggle like this on offense. At Liberty in 2020, Freeze set a school record, ranking in the top 15 for total offense, averaging 482.7, while also boasting the number nine rushing offense in the country of with NFL Quarterback Malik Willis at the helm of the offense. The struggle has no doubt hindered the program throughout this stretch but it does not need to be a chronic difficulty as sometimes failure can be a great teacher.
"I think you can go look at my offensive stats everywhere I have been, and the answer is no.” Freeze said. “I think that is where the most growth happens for people that handle it the right way.”
Culture is built every day and is not something that comes from just saying it is a team culture, it is built through team bonding and finding their identity in struggles. Playing the gauntlet of high-powered teams Auburn has is a great way to find a team identity through struggles and success.
Now they are looking down the barrel at an end-of-season run that could very well culminate in a bowl game appearance that starts this weekend against Mississippi State, a game in which Auburn is favored by a touchdown and where ESPN’s FPI gives them a 62 percent chance to win.
“I think is establishing the culture. One of those is playing hard.” Freeze said adding “Creating a standard of accountability in little things.”
Auburn will face off against Mississippi State at 2:30 PM CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
