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It was an opportunity for a statement game for Auburn – an opportunity to show that he belongs to the upper echelon of the SEC.
The buzz has been palpable throughout the week. The Auburn players spoke confidently of the opportunity before them. Thursday night’s de facto cheering rally at the basketball team’s Tipoff at Toomer’s in downtown Auburn apparently set the stage for Chaos Auburn to come into play at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the 126th installment of the oldest rivalry in the deep south. Cam Newton and shirtless Bruce Pearl made the stadium dizzy as the kick-off approached, and Auburn opened the game confidently and aggressively.
As the sun set over Jordan-Hare Stadium early on Saturday night, the statement that was made seemed clear: these Tigers are not quite here yet in Year 1 of the Bryan Harsin era, as the No.2 Georgia reached a 34-10 win, giving No.18 Auburn a fifth straight loss in the long-standing rivalry and their biggest loss of the series since 2014.
A methodical start, and then …
Auburn has spent the week talking about the need to take Georgia’s defense head-on, and the Tigers have tried to push it back.
Auburn put together a 17-play, 68-yard opening drive that included two conversions in fourth. The Tigers were aggressive and moved the ball well against the Bulldogs’ strong defense, but after coming inside the 10-yard line things got choppy for Auburn. Bo Nix and John Samuel Shenker couldn’t log in for a touchdown pass, then Nix fumbled for a snap and almost returned it on the play that followed – but Auburn kept it after a review of replay determined it was an incomplete pass and intentional ground instead of a lost fumble. Practice ended with a short field goal from Anders Carlson, but that was all Auburn could muster in the first half.
Over Auburn’s next five drives, he totaled just 28 yards in 17 plays as his offense was unable to perform at a high level. There were several dropped passes in key situations, including one from Shaun Shivers which Georgia turned into an interception, short field and, shortly after, a draw. The Tigers offense threatened late in the first half, eventually moving the ball against the Bulldogs, but after coming back down inside the 10, a fourth pass to Ze’Vian Capers fell incomplete.
The Tigers have learned firsthand what the Bulldogs’ defense does to their opponents, as Georgia entered the game as the only team in the country not to allow a touchdown in the red zone this season. Auburn broke that streak with a Tank Bigsby 6-yard run in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough on an afternoon when the Tigers needed a perfect run.
Auburn challenged Stetson Bennett to beat him, and he did
Georgia’s situation for the Georgia quarterback throughout the week looked uncertain, and Auburn prepared for both Stetson Bennett and JT Daniels, but with Bennett – who has less arm talent than Daniels – drawing the Leaving for the Bulldogs, the Tigers apparently challenged the Old One to beat them through the air.
And he did.
Auburn stacked the box early against a good Georgia game, and Bennett delivered for the Bulldogs. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including one for 60 yards on an all-penny to Ladd McConkey to open the game in the second period.
Bennett’s success in the air opened things up for Georgia’s running game in the second half, as the Bulldogs were able to largely milk the clock down the home stretch. After Auburn limited Georgia to 36 yards on 18 carries in the first half, the Bulldogs ran for 165 yards in the second half averaging 5.3 yards per carry – including a 30 yard rush for a big conversion in third by Bennett. Zamir White scored the second half and the victory for Georgia, with his second touchdown of the game in the bottom of the fourth to bring the score to 34-10.
Auburn’s receiving body has a drop problem
Auburn entered the week with the SEC’s most lost assists, at 16, and he did a disservice to Georgia.
Simply put, Auburn has a falling problem.
Playing as a receiver has been a point of contention for Bryan Harsin throughout the season. There were inconsistencies and roster issues, and that prompted Harsin to fire first-year receivers coach Cornelius Williams just four games into the season. The change, however, was not a quick fix for the Tigers’ falling woes – which extended beyond wide receivers on Saturday. Auburn not only had several lost assists against Georgia, but several in key situations that turned out to be costly.
Tight end John Samuel Shenker dropped a possible touchdown on Auburn’s first practice, as the team were ultimately content with a field goal. In the second practice, running back Shaun Shivers dropped a pass from Nix which was later intercepted by Georgian linebacker Nakobe Dean. Demetris Robertson had a drop on a well-tuned screen which would have been a substantial gain. Shedrick Jackson suffered a third drop on a pass through the seam in the first half after Auburn’s defense forced a three-and-out. Robertson suffered another fall on a fourth down try in the third quarter.
It might not have made a difference in Saturday’s final result, but those drops certainly changed the complexion of the game and reduced Auburn’s chances of causing any surprise.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on twitter @Tomas_Verde.
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