5 biggest questions already answered

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The 5 biggest questions Auburn’s already answered coming off the bye week

Updated Oct 28, 11:04 AM; Posted Oct 28, 11:04 AM

6-7 minutes

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Auburn entered its bye week at 5-3, with a 2-3 record in the SEC. They have four games left to redefine the drama and ugliness of this season. They might not have a chance at the conference title or a subsequent playoff berth, but changing the narrative will a strong goal as it heads into the final third of the campaign.

There are still quite a few questions that have yet to be answered. The health of Boobee Whitlow. The return to form and final legacy of Jarrett Stidham. The impact of the freshmen, and way more.

But there are also some things that, eight games into the season, we do know. There are some questions that have already been undeniably answered.

Here’s a look at the five most important ones.

This season is a relative disappointment

Let’s get this one out of the way, because there’s no way around it. I say “relative” because, this team could still finish 10-3, with a lot of relaxed coaches, accomplished players and national pedigree.

The concept of “relative” relates to the goals of this season. Those goals were to make and win an SEC championship, and likely get to the playoff. This team made a run to the SEC title game last season, and that will not happen this season.

They’re unranked, and still need a win to make a bowl game. With a game against Liberty, it’s almost assured that Auburn plays in the postseason, but games against three ranked teams make anything beyond that uncertain.

So while we don’t know if Auburn will leave this season on a run, or a dud, we can already answer the question of whether or not this season was a success. And relative to the goals and expectations, it has not been, and can not be.

“Anytime you are starting out you have to reassess your goals,” Malzahn said on Tuesday. “That is part of the transition. I think our team has done a good job of that.”

Kam Martin is not the (ideal) starting running back

The season started with Martin as the go-to running back. He got 22 carries against Washington. A year after being a sophomore backup, it appeared the prominent job was more or less his to lose.

Since that first game, Martin has started a few more times, but Whitlow has overtaken the reigns on the position. This was most clear in Auburn’s last game, when Whitlow scooted for more than 170 yards, and Martin’s only touches came at the end of a blowout when Whitlow came out with a possible injury.

As it relates to this season, Martin might still get significant time since Whitlow has been battling those aforementioned injuries. If he’s not 100 percent, the burden might fall back on Martin. But it’s clear who the preferred choice is at this point.

Martin has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in 73 attempts. That would put him well below the median in college football if it were enough attempts to qualify.

“Kam is one of our leaders,” Malzahn said when asked about his role on Tuesday. “He sets the tone for a lot of guys on offense. He is a team guy and he is ready when called upon whenever his name is called.”

For now, Anders Carlson doesn’t have 50-yard-range

Carlson is an interesting case because his percentage this season is not good. He’s made just 11-of-21 field goal attempts. But a lot of that blame can be placed on the coaching staff, for overestimating his range.

Between 0-49 yards, Carlson is golden. He’s 10-of-13, with no kicks blocked. But once he goes beyond that, Carlson is 1-of-8. He’s attempted a staggering number of 50-yard-plus kicks. And while he has booted in a 53-yard attempt, all others have failed.

This is his first year taking kicks, and maybe his range does extend into the 50s. Maybe it does in practice, maybe it’s a work in progress. But for now, the numbers do not lie, and it seems that Malzahn has even gotten the message.

“I really think putting him in a situation that we ask him to do so many long field goals didn’t help,” Malzahn said after the Ole Miss win. “Being a kicker is a a lot about confidence and he’s a very talented kicker.”

Auburn is going to stand behind Jarrett Stidham

We know this because if there was ever an opportunity to swap quarterbacks, following the loss to Tennessee was the real opportunity. But Malzahn came back that week, after being noncommittal postgame, and said he was the starter. Given his previous success for this team, and overall professional prospects, it makes sense.

Reasonable people could disagree about whether or not this team is better served in focusing on its future, but the reality is that they’re playing for the present. They’re playing for the postseason. The coaches are playing to get off the hot seat. Stidham provides the best chance at that.

Stidham has eight touchdowns and four interceptions thrown this season. Last season, he threw for 18 touchdowns, he was a better runner. He threw for 3,311 yards, which will out-do whatever he does this season.

So you could look at that two ways. One, he’s regressed. And two, he has the potential — with a sturdier offensive line — to be a great SEC quarterback.

Win or lose, Deshaun Davis is elite

While this season might historic for Auburn because of reasons they’d like to forget, Davis will go down in history for a lot of good reasons. The senior ILB is now 10th in the Auburn record books for tackles in the 21st century.

He’s also recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss, and just six tackles shy of breaking last year’s mark of 82 total tackles, which led the Tigers roster.

A lot is still to be decided about his professional prospects, but he’s one of the most feared defenders in the SEC, and is a big part of the Tigers’ reputation of being a being a great run-defense team.

Davis has been outspoken about his disappointment on how his final season at Auburn has gone, but he himself is having a great season, even while the team as a whole might not be as successful.