Grading Auburn’s season to date in Year

[aubiefifty 16,774]

Grading Auburn’s season to date in Year 1 of the Bryan Harsin era

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

11-14 minutes

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Auburn has hit the bye week. It’s time for introspection and self-evaluation, as the program assesses what it has done well and what it needs to improve on as it prepares for the homestretch of its 2021 campaign.

So, what better time to do some evaluating of our own and hand out position-by-position grades for the Tigers’ season to date in Year 1 of the Bryan Harsin era?

 

Quarterbacks: B

Bo Nix got off to a hot start to the season, even setting the program single-game record for completion percentage in Auburn’s season-opener, before an uneven two-game stretch that saw him get benched in the second half of the team’s come-from-behind win against Georgia State. Since then, Nix has responded nicely, putting together three consecutive strong performances—including two difference-making efforts on the road against LSU and Arkansas, as well as a Georgia performance that was better than it looked on paper, due to several dropped passes from teammates. Nix hasn’t been perfect this year, but his inner competitor has made him dangerous the last few weeks. Overall, his completion percentage (60.7 percent) is up slightly from last year, and he has thrown for 1,488 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games while also rushing for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

T.J. Finley, meanwhile, has proven to be a valuable offseason addition as Auburn’s backup quarterback. If not for his poise off the bench against Georgia State, the Tigers likely have their worst loss in 30 years.

Running backs: B-

Auburn’s ground game got off to a strong start this season, as the Tigers had one of the nation’s best rushing attacks through the season’s first five weeks. Production has dropped off the last three games, though, as Tank Bigsby, Jarquez Hunter and Shaun Shivers have not been as effective on the ground—though reestablishing the downhill rushing attack if something Auburn wants to prioritize down the homestretch of the season.

Still, the group has been solid this year. Bigsby opened the season with three straight 100-yard performances and leads the team with 526 yards and six scores, the former of which ranks sixth in the SEC. Hunter has been arguably the biggest surprise of the season, opening his career with back-to-back 100-yard games, breaking the school record for longest run from scrimmage (94 yards) and ranking third among FBS players (and first in the SEC) at 8.63 yards per carry while totaling 492 rushing yards. Shivers missed some time for undisclosed reasons and has seen limited touches, but he has emerged as a valuable third-down back who has made some big plays in the passing game. The group can definitely stand to be more consistent coming out of the bye week, but for a position that had questions about its depth throughout the offseason, Auburn has to be pleased with the production from that trio.

Wide receivers: C

The most inconsistent position group on Auburn’s offense has been the wide receivers, and it has been a point of contention for coach Bryan Harsin for much of the season. It’s a relatively inexperienced group, but it has struggled with dropped passes and misalignments throughout the year—so much so that Harsin parted ways with first-year receivers coach Cornelius Williams after just four games. The group is coming off a much-improved performance against Arkansas, and Auburn is hoping to build off that during the bye week and apply it down the stretch.

Some bright spots for the group: Georgia transfer Demetris Robertson is the team’s leading receiver, with 23 receptions for 312 yards and four total touchdowns; sophomore Kobe Hudson has emerged as perhaps the most reliable pass-catcher among the group and has 22 receptions for 296 yards and a touchdown, and Shedrick Jackson has overcome some early-season struggles to catch 21 passes for 271 yards and a score. Auburn has done well in spreading the ball around, but the team would benefit from getting Ja’Varrius Johnson more involved in the passing attack after he was Nix’s go-to target throughout the offseason; he has just seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and he was limited somewhat early in the season.

Tight ends: A

The most promising development for Auburn’s offense in its new wide-open, pro-style system has been the emphasis placed on the tight end position. After years of tight ends being an afterthought in the Tigers’ offense, the position is seeing a prominent role in the passing game this season, and Auburn’s depth at the position has shown through. John Samuel Shenker has been one of the team’s most consistent playmakers, with 20 receptions for 268 yards, while the team has gotten the likes of Tyler Fromm, Luke Deal and, most recently, freshman Landen King more involved in the gameplan. Even when Auburn hasn’t been targeting the tight ends, the offense has predominantly fielded one- and two-tight end sets throughout the season — so the group is well-involved in what the Tigers are doing, whether it’s run or pass.

Also, bonus points here to Fromm, whose effort against LSU helped produce perhaps the most memorable play of the season — Nix’s magician-esque touchdown pass in Death Valley.

Offensive line: B

Auburn’s offensive line faced plenty of questions in the offseason, even as it returned eight players with starting experience—including its core five starters—from last season. The group has performed admirably this year, both in pass protection and largely in run blocking. The Tigers are top-10 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, giving up just one per game, and they’ve only surrendered a sack to one of their four Power 5 opponents so far this season: top-ranked Georgia and its elite defense. Keeping Nix upright has been key to the quarterback’s growth, as he has seemed more trusting of his pass protection this year.

As mentioned earlier, Auburn’s run game got off to a strong start to the season but has fallen off in recent weeks. The Tigers still rank a respectable 36th nationally in rushing offense and are seventh among FBS teams in yards per carry (5.74), which is second in the SEC. If Auburn can continue to keep Nix from getting sacked and reestablish its ground attack, its offense could get closer to its true potential down the stretch.

Defensive line: B+

Auburn lost a lot from last year’s defensive line, with Big Kat Bryant, Daquan Newkirk and Tyrone Truesdell all transferring to other programs in the offseason. That left some questions up front, but the Tigers have answered them with Colby Wooden and Derick Hall both improving off their 2020 campaigns, T.D. Moultry playing some of the best ball of his career prior to missing the last few weeks, Marquis Burks and Romello Height coming into their own and the offseason additions of transfers Marcus Harris, Eku Leota and Tony Fair.

Wooden has quietly been one of the top interior linemen in the country, proving to be an effective pass-rusher on the inside and strong against the run. He is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (seven) and sacks (four), and he has been on a tear the last month, with 25 tackles over the past four games. Leota, a transfer from Northwestern, is tied with Wooden in tackles for loss and sacks, while Hall also has four sacks to go along with six stops behind the line of scrimmage. Moultry, who has missed the last three games, still has six tackles for loss and three sacks — and was the team’s most consistent pass-rusher through the season’s first month.

While the team has been more productive in the pass rush, it needs to continue to find more consistency in affecting opposing quarterbacks. The run defense was also stout through the first five weeks — ranking eighth in the nation—but the Tigers have given up 200-plus rushing yards in three of the last four games and could stand to get back on track in that aspect.

Linebackers: A

Owen Pappoe made the proclamation before the season that Auburn had the best linebackers in the country, and while that hasn’t exactly been the case, the Tigers’ linebackers have been the backbone of this defense. Zakoby McClain leads the team with 53 tackles, while Chandler Wooten is just behind him with 52. Pappoe has missed the last four-plus games due to a leg injury he sustained in the second half against Penn State, and his return could be imminent, but he still had 15 tackles in two and a half games.

McClain has picked right back up where he left off last season, when he was the nation’s leading tackler, while Wooten has been one of the most impressive players on either side of the ball. The senior, who opted out of the 2020 season, has been better than ever since returning to the team.

Defensive backs: C

Auburn’s secondary was expected to be one of the team’s strengths this year. The Tigers returned senior safety Smoke Monday, as well as a trio of corners in Roger McCreary, Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson, and they added to the fold key transfers in Donovan Kaufman, Bydarrius Knighten, Ro Torrence and Dreshun Miller. That talent and depth, paired with Derek Mason’s prowess as a defensive backs coach, seemed like the perfect recipe for success in the secondary this season.

Things haven’t gone to plan, however, as Auburn has struggled some in its transition from a press-man coverage to Mason’s preferred off-man zone philosophy in the secondary. It resulted in several blown coverages earlier in the season, as well as inordinately high completion percentages by opposing quarterbacks. Things have improved a bit of late, but the Tigers still rank 118th nationally in opponent completion rate (66.5 percent), 63rd nationally in yards allowed per pass attempt (7.1) and 83rd in pass efficiency defense (137.68). Auburn also ranks 89th in total passes defended, with 22 (18 pass breakups and four interceptions). Overall, Auburn’s play in the secondary has not been reflective of its talent in that room.

Specialists: A-

Anders Carlson is 12-of-15 on field goals this season, with two of his three misses coming from 50-plus yards and the other from 40 yards out. He is also 27-of-28 on extra-point tries this season and has had 61.7 percent of his kickoffs go for touchbacks. Punter Oscar Chapman has been solid in his second season, averaging 44.88 yards per punt—which ranks 29th nationally — with a net punting average of 43.2 yards, which is 13th in the nation.

Auburn is also holding opponents to 18.78 yards per kickoff return and 5.5 yards per punt return while averaging a respectable 25 yards per kick return and 13.17 yards per punt return this season. The Tigers have also blocked three total kicks — one field goal and two punts — which is tied for fourth in the nation. Auburn has put an emphasis on its special teams play under Harsin, with more starters and members of the two-deep playing larger roles than in seasons past — and it is paying dividends.

Coaches: B

It hasn’t always been pretty, but Harsin and his staff have Auburn sitting at 5-2 overall, with a 2-1 record in SEC play, and ranked 19th in the nation as the team hits the bye week. Auburn’s two losses are against teams currently ranked in the top-seven nationally in the AP poll — with a close road loss to Penn State and a 24-point home loss to top-ranked Georgia.

Auburn needs just one more win to become bowl eligible, and an eight- or nine-win season is certainly in play. The Tigers are also right in the thick of the SEC West race at this point. There’s not much more Harsin could have asked for in Year 1 as he instills his culture and his particular process on the program.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[AU-24 3,071]

Huge, huge improvement in so many areas since the beginning of the season!

[W.E.D 11,070]

Feel like Bo's grade should be a C.  He's been bad and he's been really good and he's been just OK.  Averages out to the middle.

We can see that he's put in a lot of work and is improving in a lot of areas & getting real coaching for the 1st time in his career.  I think we'll start having more good games than bad as we see his practicing start coming through on the field.  

I go up and down on Bo.  Was pretty high on him going into the season, then pretty defeated until the Arkansas game.  I can see progress at times.  It looked really good last game.  He should be able to build after the bye week with Ole Miss's poor defense...then a real test vs Arkansas.

[aubiefifty 16,774]

11 hours ago, AU-24 said:

Huge, huge improvement in so many areas since the beginning of the season!

how much have i improved this season?

[aubiefifty 16,774]

10 minutes ago, W.E.D said:

Feel like Bo's grade should be a C.  He's been bad and he's been really good and he's been just OK.  Averages out to the middle.

We can see that he's put in a lot of work and is improving in a lot of areas & getting real coaching for the 1st time in his career.  I think we'll start having more good games than bad as we see his practicing start coming through on the field.  

I go up and down on Bo.  Was pretty high on him going into the season, then pretty defeated until the Arkansas game.  I can see progress at times.  It looked really good last game.  He should be able to build after the bye week with Ole Miss's poor defense...then a real test vs Arkansas.

i give him a c plus or b minus because he had to learn another hew system. i do however reserve the right to change that grade when needed.

[Hank2020 3,199]

18 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

how much have i improved this season?

At least 2%.

[steeleagle 2,945]

1 hour ago, W.E.D said:

Feel like Bo's grade should be a C.  He's been bad and he's been really good and he's been just OK.  Averages out to the middle.

We can see that he's put in a lot of work and is improving in a lot of areas & getting real coaching for the 1st time in his career.  I think we'll start having more good games than bad as we see his practicing start coming through on the field.  

I go up and down on Bo.  Was pretty high on him going into the season, then pretty defeated until the Arkansas game.  I can see progress at times.  It looked really good last game.  He should be able to build after the bye week with Ole Miss's poor defense...then a real test vs Arkansas.

I think you have to look at how Bo has played since Ga St IMO, and he has improved every week. 

And you really can't judge him in the GA game when his WRs dropped anywhere from 8-12 balls? Who knows how the offense would have been if those had been completed...and gave the offense more rhythm.

And in late 3rd and 4th, we could not stop their ground game...and time was limited for the offense.

What I looked for was is he better making decisions...yes. Is he better staying in the pocket...yes. Is he making better accurate deep throws...yes, is his accuracy better...yes, is he playing better on the road....yes.

I would say B- so far. But he's got to maintain that consistency...moving forward to.

[gravejd 3,270]

He is an easier grader than i am. I would put QBs as a C. DL as a D. WR a D. And RBs as a C as well. Everything else i can agree with. The good news is that the grades are trending upward and i'm hopeful that by the end of the season i'll rate each of these positions with a better grade. Arkansas was a good first step but that cannot be the high point of the season. Gotta keep progressing and keep getting better. 

[steeleagle 2,945]

1 hour ago, gravejd said:

He is an easier grader than i am. I would put QBs as a C. DL as a D. WR a D. And RBs as a C as well. Everything else i can agree with. The good news is that the grades are trending upward and i'm hopeful that by the end of the season i'll rate each of these positions with a better grade. Arkansas was a good first step but that cannot be the high point of the season. Gotta keep progressing and keep getting better. 

I think I had a professor like you at Auburn.

 

[au302 2,669]

Receivers were an F before Arkansas, but that bumps them up to a D for me. Massive improvement, but consistency needed in every group. Harsin constantly preaches it, and I know the inconsistency has pissed him off several times. Absolutely clear we are improving and moving in the right direction, just gotta take that next step 

[W.E.D 11,070]

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

I think you have to look at how Bo has played since Ga St IMO, and he has improved every week. 

It's a season ranking, not 3 games. 

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

And you really can't judge him in the GA game when his WRs dropped anywhere from 8-12 balls? Who knows how the offense would have been if those had been completed...and gave the offense more rhythm.

I still think LSU was old Bo, it just worked for the 1st time ever.  With UGA we never threw it deep even when it was there.  There were some drops, but a good bit of poorly thrown balls that without pressure should have been an easier catch.

I agree, Bo throws 3-4 batter balls (especially to Schenker) vs the exterior of a catch radius and Shivers catches on off his face & two other blatant drops and it's a lot closer.

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

What I looked for was is he better making decisions.

Kinda of.  He's always protected the ball well.

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

Is he better staying in the pocket...yes

He is, but not until last game has he relaxed in the pocket.  I hope that is just practice reps and starting to feel comfortable.

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

Is he making better accurate deep throws...yes,

2 out how many?  We win the PSU game with accurate deep balls.  Like the point above, I hope it's a move in the right direction.  Until I see more he's still bad at throwing it down the field.

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

is his accuracy better...yes

agree

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

is he playing better on the road....yes.

One time so far.  PSU was probably better than most past games but not great.  I still think LSU was a touch of luck.

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

I would say B- so far. But he's got to maintain that consistency...moving forward to.

I don't think we are that far off, C/B-.  I'd love to see Bo build on Arkansas vs a bad Ole Miss defense and then have a really good game/win vs a good Aggies defense.  I think that would really start to get everyone behind him.

[steeleagle 2,945]

31 minutes ago, W.E.D said:

It's a season ranking, not 3 games. 

I still think LSU was old Bo, it just worked for the 1st time ever.  With UGA we never threw it deep even when it was there.  There were some drops, but a good bit of poorly thrown balls that without pressure should have been an easier catch.

I agree, Bo throws 3-4 batter balls (especially to Schenker) vs the exterior of a catch radius and Shivers catches on off his face & two other blatant drops and it's a lot closer.

Kinda of.  He's always protected the ball well.

He is, but not until last game has he relaxed in the pocket.  I hope that is just practice reps and starting to feel comfortable.

2 out how many?  We win the PSU game with accurate deep balls.  Like the point above, I hope it's a move in the right direction.  Until I see more he's still bad at throwing it down the field.

agree

One time so far.  PSU was probably better than most past games but not great.  I still think LSU was a touch of luck.

I don't think we are that far off, C/B-.  I'd love to see Bo build on Arkansas vs a bad Ole Miss defense and then have a really good game/win vs a good Aggies defense.  I think that would really start to get everyone behind him.

lol. I think that's funny that u decide that LSU was a touch of luck and not anything Bo did to help us win. He had 255 yards passing, and 74 rushing, 2 TDs and didn't turn the ball over, which his past record shows on the road is when he tends to throw them.

I do think Bo has to play at that level he played at Arkansas if we are going to get to 8 or 9 wins.

 

[W.E.D 11,070]

1 hour ago, steeleagle said:

lol. I think that's funny that u decide that LSU was a touch of luck and not anything Bo did to help us win. He had 255 yards passing, and 74 rushing, 2 TDs and didn't turn the ball over, which his past record shows on the road is when he tends to throw them.

I do think Bo has to play at that level he played at Arkansas if we are going to get to 8 or 9 wins.

 

I've been the biggest hype.man of Bo before the season, so it's not like I've always s*** on everything and anything. 

Bo has had that exact same performance on the road or vs good teams and totally ineffective...just enough ridiculous scrambles turned out OK.

Don't get me wrong, he was the reason we won

Edited October 21, 2021 by W.E.D