Three big storylines ahead of Auburn and UMass

AUBURN — The Hugh Freeze era of Auburn football officially gets underway this Saturday. It will mark the third different head coach to man the sidelines inside Jordan-Hare Stadium in the last three years.

There’s palpable difference in the atmosphere around Auburn these days. Maybe it’s the immediate recruiting results, maybe it’s Freeze’s resume that includes success in the SEC, but there’s a feeling that this coaching staff and program is in capable hands. That feeling was rarely evident the last two years.

It’ll be hot, but a new capacity crowd of 88,043 is expected to be in attendance for the Tigers and the Minutemen on Saturday afternoon. The energy certainly won’t reflect that of a routine non-conference game to open the season, more like an important SEC game.

Here’s three big storylines, from Auburn Live’s perspective, heading into the season opener that Auburn’s athletic department is calling “Kickoff on the Plains.”

Good rushing offense or bad rushing defense?

The question that’s quickly become one of, if not the most important question exiting Auburn fall camp is that of the rushing offense versus the rushing defense. Multiple times during camp, Freeze noted that the Tigers’ offense had success running the football. Part of that is due to a talented running back room in Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, Brian Battie and Jeremiah Cobb. Part of that is a developing offensive line, led by three transfers and two returning starters. Freeze noted in the first “Tiger Talk” of the season that the team rushed for over 400 yards in the final fall scrimmage. He joked then, and commented again on Monday, that he doesn’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.

Does that mean Auburn can really rush the football? Or does that mean the defense can’t stop the run? We will find out soon enough. (Although, what exactly will we find out against UMass?)

Given the unknowns in the Auburn defensive front seven, including some injuries that kept Austin Keys, Marcus Harris, Keldric Faulk, Jalen McLeod and others out of the final scrimmage, the takeaway from the rushing and rushing defense performances is likely a balance between good and bad. The Tigers should be able to run the football with some success this season, but more importantly, they’ll have to. With inconsistency at receiver (during camp, at least), a new starting quarterback, and a defense with plenty of question marks, the ability of Auburn to run the football will be paramount to achieving any semblance of success. But even if the Tigers can manage a top-6 rushing offense in the SEC, if that defense can’t stop, or slow, the run consistently, it’ll all be for naught.

What will Auburn’s pass rush look like?

One of Auburn’s biggest points of emphasis from last season to this season was rebuilding the ability to rush the passer. Freeze and Co. did their best to address that by landing McLeod and Stephen Sings in the transfer portal, in addition to landing Faulk in the late stages of the high school recruiting class. But now, heading into the opener, McLeod and Faulk have been limited in practice recently, with McLeod’s status for the opener in question.

UMass sports a talented quarterback in Taisun Phommachanh, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback who previously played at Clemson following high school, then transferred to Georgia Tech for the 2022 season. Phommachanh accounted for nearly 300 total yards against New Mexico State last Saturday and is the focal point of the UMass offense. It’s an offense that’s similar to Auburn’s, using RPO elements to move the football. This will be the first look at Auburn’s ability to rush the passer this season. If McLeod or Faulk don’t play, or are limited, it will be interesting to see how the Tigers get after the quarterback in the opener. And can we even glean anything off the performance if McLeod, Faulk, and even Harris, are limited?

How many different O-line units does Auburn play?

This first game will provide Freeze and offensive line coach Jake Thornton a great opportunity to play with some different offensive line combinations. During fall camp, we’ve seen a number of different first and second-team combos, as Thornton focused on cross training in case of injury, but in most cases in an effort to find the best five linemen to play. The starting five, according to Auburn’s official depth chart, will be Dillon Wade, Jeremiah Wright, Avery Jones, Kam Stutts and Gunner Britton. That reflects the most common five we’ve seen going back to spring camp. However, there’s a number of other O-linemen that will likely see action on Saturday.

Izavion Miller is pushing for the starting spot at right tackle. Jaden Muskrat earned praise during camp and could earn snaps at tackle, even at guard, if necessary. Tate Johnson has experience and should get snaps at left guard, all while the coaches surely would want to toss freshman Connor Lew into deep water once or twice in the opener, too. That’s probably the top nine offensive linemen based on ability. It’s entirely possible we see four or five different combinations along the O-line against UMass, giving Thornton the ability to evaluate rotations, chemistry and individual play before the road game at Cal.

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