Auburn football responded with a 21-15 win over Vanderbilt, and the biggest improvement came from DJ Durkin’s defense as Alex Golesh earned another close victory with the Tigers. After allowing 24 missed tackles against Florida, Auburn cut that number to 12 against Vanderbilt. There is still work to do, particularly tackling in space, but the Tigers produced six sacks, contained Vanderbilt’s running game and dramatically improved on third down. Pasted text That improvement comes at the perfect time. Auburn now enters a brutal October stretch featuring road games against Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss with LSU coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium. If the Tigers want to reach seven or eight wins, finding a way to steal at least one of those games could completely change the trajectory of Golesh’s first season. The pass rush could become especially important against Tennessee after the Volunteers allowed 10 sacks against Texas. Auburn consistently pressured Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis, and even when the Tigers didn't finish with a sack, that pressure affected throws and disrupted the offense. But perhaps the biggest development against Vanderbilt wasn't statistical. Auburn actually closed the game. With Vanderbilt knowing Auburn wanted to run the football, the Tigers continued moving the chains during a six-minute drive. Jeremiah Cobb eventually broke outside for 24 yards before wisely staying in bounds and effectively ending the game. Those are winning plays Auburn hasn't consistently made in recent seasons. There are still problems to fix. Twelve missed tackles is too many. Fourth-down defense needs improvement. The offense still needs more consistency. But Auburn is winning close games while those issues are being addressed. That feels different. #AuburnFootball #WarEagle #SEC
Auburn football responded with a 21-15 win over Vanderbilt, and the biggest improvement came from DJ Durkin’s defense as Alex Golesh earned another close victory with the Tigers.
After allowing 24 missed tackles against Florida, Auburn cut that number to 12 against Vanderbilt. There is still work to do, particularly tackling in space, but the Tigers produced six sacks, contained Vanderbilt’s running game and dramatically improved on third down. Pasted text
That improvement comes at the perfect time.
Auburn now enters a brutal October stretch featuring road games against Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss with LSU coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium. If the Tigers want to reach seven or eight wins, finding a way to steal at least one of those games could completely change the trajectory of Golesh’s first season.
The pass rush could become especially important against Tennessee after the Volunteers allowed 10 sacks against Texas. Auburn consistently pressured Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis, and even when the Tigers didn't finish with a sack, that pressure affected throws and disrupted the offense.
But perhaps the biggest development against Vanderbilt wasn't statistical.
Auburn actually closed the game.
With Vanderbilt knowing Auburn wanted to run the football, the Tigers continued moving the chains during a six-minute drive. Jeremiah Cobb eventually broke outside for 24 yards before wisely staying in bounds and effectively ending the game.
Those are winning plays Auburn hasn't consistently made in recent seasons.
There are still problems to fix. Twelve missed tackles is too many. Fourth-down defense needs improvement. The offense still needs more consistency.
But Auburn is winning close games while those issues are being addressed.
That feels different.
#AuburnFootball #WarEagle #SEC