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Jarrett Stidham on struggles: ‘I’ve got to play a lot better.’

Updated Oct 9, 4:17 PM; Posted Oct 9, 4:17 PM

 

By Sam Blum | SBlum@al.com

SBlum@al.com

Jarrett Stidham insists he has a “24 hour rule” as it relates to moving past a game, or in his words, 24 hours until it’s “over with”. When he spoke to the media on Tuesday, well more than a day after Auburn’s 23-9 loss at Mississippi State, though, he still seemed a little annoyed at himself for one missed play.

The Tigers had a trick play drawn up that would have him throwing a deep ball to a wide open Darius Slayton for an easy touchdown. The play was drawn to perfection, but Stidham’s throw sailed well over Slayton’s head. It was one of several inaccurate deep throws that the starting quarterback addressed.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made that throw in practice,” Stidham said. “And for whatever reason, I just didn’t make it. Whether it’s focusing more, or whatever it needs to be, I’ve got to make those throws and that’s what it comes down to.”

Stidham connected just 19-of-38 times for 214 yards in the MSU loss, as the Tigers were held without a touchdown in a game for the first time in more than a year. Despite the offensive ineptitude -- Stidham estimated there were 21 points left on the field -- his coaches and teammates defended the junior QB.

“He’s pretty tough on himself. If you ask him, he’d be pretty frustrated too. It’s all of the above,” said head coach Gus Malzahn. “It’s everything that goes with it. It’s not just one thing and all that. He’s a good quarterback and I really expect him and the offense to get better in the second half.”

Malzahn actually opened his press conference by saying that “no one needs to be blaming our players,” surely a signal to the avalanche of criticism the team has faced as it has fallen deep into the SEC West standings.

Backup quarterback Malik Willis posted his support of the incumbent starter on Instagram on Monday night, and other teammates remain supportive of Stidham.

“I’m behind Jarrett 100 percent,” said receiver Ryan Davis. “Everybody else is behind Jarrett 100 percent. It’s a part of football. Nobody’s perfect.”

Davis was the beneficiary of a Stidham’s best throw -- a 42-yard completion to open up a quick scoring on Auburn’s first offensive play of the second half. Too often, though, Auburn saw its drives stall or turned over.

Auburn saw its national ranking fall from No. 8 to No. 21. It saw its prospects of winning the SEC go from possible, to well, a lot less possible. But to Stidham’s credit, he’s trying to block it all out.

“I don’t even have social media," Stidham said. "I mean, I have Instagram. ... I don’t really care about the criticism or negativity.”

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