Blogle here. Welp, it happened again. I guess we’ll keep letting @AUTodd21 do these quick reflections and grades. What do y’all think of them? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Auburn played well in Nashville but Diego Pavia and self-inflicted penalties continue to be Auburn’s kryptonite. Let’s grade it out.
Offense: B+
Auburn’s offense showed creativity and improvement for the first time this season, putting up 38 points and moving the ball effectively at several junctures. 563 total yards of offense. 353 through the air and 210 on the ground. Quarterback Ashton Daniels orchestrated multiple long drives, including a 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The Tigers also converted a two-point try which was a one handed grab by Cam to tie the game in regulation after a 23 yard one handed catch from Cam Coleman.
Key breakdowns & penalties that hurt:
False starts by left tackle Xavier Chaplin at a critical moments. On one first-and-goal drive in the second quarter, Chaplin was flagged for a false start which stifled the drive, and on several other occasions this issue bubbled up again.
Offensive holding by tight end Preston Howard that wiped out a big play. That play would have resulted in a 50+ yard TD run for Daniels (albeit the hold was unnecessary and controversial in nature).
Overall pre-snap and line penalties popped up again. The offensive line’s discipline cost yards and down-and-distance situations, increasing pressure on third downs and limiting finish drives. The consistent flags put Auburn behind the sticks which coach mentioned post-game.
Takeaway: Auburn’s offense did enough to win, but self-inflicted wounds especially via false starts and holding penalties undermined what could have been a cleaner drive finishing performance.
Defense: C+
Defensively, Auburn gave up 45 points and allowed late game drives that shifted momentum, including the OT drive by Vanderbilt. The Tigers bent in key moments. Containing Pavia seemed like more of an undertaking than we anticipated.
Positives:
The unit forced some punts and kept Vanderbilt from blowing the game open early.
There were moments when Auburn made stops, but they were offset by the opponent’s big plays.
Critical lapses & game-changing moments:
Vanderbilt’s 57-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter (from Diego Pavia to Tre Richardson).
The overtime drive. Vanderbilt executed efficiently under pressure, while Auburn’s defense failed to generate a stop when it mattered most.
Penalties hurt in coverage. A defensive pass interference flag and a personal-foul face mask were among the costly mistakes that extended opponent drives.
Takeaway: Auburn’s defense showed grit, but when the opponent made a move, the Tigers were unable to respond. The big plays allowed and the late-game drive ability of the opponent tipped the game in Vanderbilt’s favor.
Special Teams: B+
Special teams did not dominate the narrative but managed the game without catastrophic errors. Auburn’s kicker and punter held their own, giving the offense manageable field position at times.
Highlights & observations:
Kicker Alex McPherson connected on a 38-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter and was reliable throughout the game. No major blunders, which was great.
Overall verdict:
Auburn’s effort on offense seemed like it had new life with Nix taking over play calling duties mixing up screens, slants and consistent targets to Cam and Eric which lacked in previous games. The Tigers were their own worst enemy at times with pre-snap penalties on offense and costly coverage mistakes on defense created momentum swings. Vanderbilt took full advantage of those miscues, especially the false start by Chaplin and the holding on Howard, which erased what should have been a long, back-breaking play.
To win games like this, Auburn will need to clean up the yellow flags and sharpen execution in all three phases. The talent is there. Now it’s about eliminating the self-inflicted setbacks with the Iron Bowl in sight and essentially 3 weeks to prepare.
