Auburn (3-3) enters this week coming off three straight disappointing losses, with an opportunity to right the ship against 16th-ranked Missouri. While the team seems to have put the officiating debacle from last week behind them, the crowd at Jordan-Hare is going to be especially hungry for a win. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s Mizzou team features strengths that directly oppose Auburn’s, but it goes the other way, too. Auburn is chock full of talent and has had legitimate chances to win each of its losses. While this game doesn’t feel like a must-win for head coach Hugh Freeze to keep his job, it could be a turning point for the season, good or bad. Can Auburn pull off the upset? It’s more than possible, and here’s how.
Protect Jackson Arnold
This is far easier said than done. The Auburn offensive line has been nothing short of abysmal in pass protection through six games. Quarterback Jackson Arnold has been sacked 22 times, the most in the country. Last week, against a physical Georgia defense, improvement was seen, though. The Bulldogs only generated one sack of Arnold, but he still faced consistent pressure. Overall, Auburn’s passing offense is 119th in the nation, with just 167 passing yards a game. When given time, Arnold has been able to get the ball to his receivers on short and intermediate routes. What they’ve yet to do successfully is dial up big plays to their star receivers. If they can stretch the field, especially early, taking a quick lead over a run-heavy team could give them an edge. This offensive line won’t be catching a break this week, however, facing a stout Mizzou defense that’s generated 16 sacks.
Slow down the run
Auburn continued its trend of shutting down rushing attacks last week vs. Georgia. The Bulldogs were held to a season-low 79 yards on the ground and only averaged 2.5 yards a carry. While this line looks to be elite, they haven’t faced a backfield like Missouri’s yet. Led by sophomore running back Ahmad Hardy, Mizzou is sixth in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 270 yards. After transferring from Louisiana-Monroe in the offseason, Hardy has emerged as one of the best backs in the country. He ranks 2nd in the FBS in both rushing yards (782) and rushing scores (9). Missouri’s quarterback, Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, has shown an ability to burn defenses with his legs, too. Their backfield has fueled their offense to become the second-best team in the nation in time of possession. Auburn’s defensive line has emerged as the engine of this team, specifically its group of edge rushers, which will be directly in the line of fire from Hardy and Pribula. If defensive coordinator Kirby Moore wants to make yet another statement, the opportunity will be there for the taking.
Find a way to force turnovers
Outside of its inability to push the ball downfield, Auburn’s greatest weakness has been its secondary. Allowing over 225 yards a game isn’t their worst feat, either. Through six games, they’ve only picked off opposing quarterbacks twice. If they can slow the run and force Missouri’s offense to rely on the passing game, there is an opportunity to change that. It’s exactly what happened last week when Missouri was down late vs Alabama, who had forced them to go pass-first. Pribula, with the game on the line, threw his second interception of the game, and fifth of the season, to seal a loss. Hardy and Pribula have combined for five fumbles on the season, as well. Kirby Moore’s aggressive defense has a chance to add to these totals, flip the field, and potentially swing the game.
Main Image: Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post How Auburn can get back on track against Missouri appeared first on Last Word on College Football.