The offseason is over. Football is here. By the time Auburn kicks off with Alabama A&M at 6:30pm CT on Saturday night, most college football teams will have played a game already. Their fans know what they have to an extent. At Auburn, we’ll be waiting to see.
No, the opponent shouldn’t require much to put away. No, Hugh Freeze won’t be opening up the playbook to page 47 and the Annexation of Puerto Rico. No, I don’t expect starters Payton Thorne and Jarquez Hunter to be needed much past the 3rd quarter. But this is our first chance to see what Mr. Thorne, all those new receivers, and some new guys defense are going to bring to the table in 2024.
We’ve seen the things Thorne can do when he has time and is not throwing a quick out before noticing the defender is standing there. We learned unsuspectingly last year that he has wheels.
But now he has a full offseason to work with this system, but most importantly he has a room full of new toys. They are called Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, Bryce Cain, and the old guy Robert Lewis. It is inarguably what should be the best collection of receivers Auburn has had as one unit. Sure, four of them haven’t caught a college pass, but in terms of what they are supposed to be, mixed with Lewis from Georgia State, it should be the best receiver group that Auburn has ever fielded. But… we have to see.
Thorne has shown he can throw it deep, he has shown he can run, but will this offensive line that sounds like it will be most of the game group as last season give him time to do so. I think so. I also think Cam Coleman is the type of guy that when in trouble just throw it up and let him grab it off the top of somebody’s head.
I also think that we will start to see a little bit of Hugh was able to do at Ole Miss with the passing game. They are young, but he has the type of receivers he needs to run his offense. Jarquez and Damari and Jeremiah are gonna eat, and it always starts there, but I think we’re about to see a little more Fun and Gun. A little more Chunk and Go. Or Go and Chunk, whatever.
The defense lost some guys to the NFL. Three defensive backs, and two defensive tackles. That’s not easy to replace. But there’s youth that got some time last year, and there’s some portal nasties that should be able to build on what Marcus Harris and Justin Rogers were able to do last season.
This is the type of game where assignment may not matter as much due to the difference in speed and talent, but I would like to see the defensive line in the backfield all day. It should and could happen. However, as every small team that comes into Jordan-Hare, they know they have 1 second to throw, so they throw in 1 second. The quick slant game will need to be defended, and once that’s locked down, let the new guys on the defensive line eat.
Alex McPherson has been hindered with some gastro issues all offseason, so it looks like the Auburn kid Towns McGough will be putting the foot in football at least this first game. I see no drop. Auburn has the two best kickers in the nation and the oldest one is a sophomore. Don’t fret.
We know what the game should look like. There is optimism. There is positivity. There is a vast talent difference. Can Auburn sit on the ball after the first two touchdowns? Probably. But this is not the day for that.
Show the country that there’s a reason or the optimism and positivity. Show the country that the little whipping boy is gone. Show the country that instead of talking about teams like Missouri, Colorado, and NC State, there’s a team that has actually won something in the 21st century, and they’ll win again.
Auburn goes up 42-0 at halftime. All four quarterbacks take at least one snap. Sean Jackson scores a late touchdown. The Tigers start 1-0.
Auburn 56, Alabama A&M 7
