re: How far are we from the “top 12?”

They got beat up by a talented defense no doubt. I never got an opportunity to watch the whole game but I'd wager Tamu was keyed on the run game.

PFF on IB bottom 5....

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Offense

Top 5

TE Rivaldo Fairweather 69.5
OL Dillon Wade 68.8
WR Cam Coleman 65.1
RB Damari Alston 65 (six snaps)
QB Payton Thorne 64.4
Analysis

The fact that the highest-graded player on offense had a 69.5 is telling. Scoring only 14 points will do that to you.

Fairweather had a solid game, though, catching three passes for 55 yards and earning a 73.2 pass blocking grade. Wade was one of few Auburn offensive linemen to earn a good grade, highlighted by a 77.4 pass blocking grade.

Coleman and Thorne didn’t have overly eye-popping numbers, but connected on Auburn’s only touchdown in the game.

Bottom 5

OL Izavion Miller 50.4
WR Malcolm Simmons 51.6
OL Bradyn Joiner 52.3
OL Jeremiah Wright 53
WR Camden Brown 57.7 (two snaps)

Analysis

Three offensive linemen being on this list helps tell the story of what caused some of the offense’s problems. The pass blocking grades from the three weren’t terrible, but they had run blocking grades of 45.3, 47.2 and 47.6 respectively.

In turn, Auburn ran the ball 23 times against Alabama, but 10 of those runs were by Thorne, often scrambles when a pass play broke down. Auburn never leaned on the run, and a lot of that might have had to do with an inability to trust the run blocking.

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Oklahoma

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Top 5
WR Malcolm Simmons 85.4
QB Payton Thorne 78.5
RB Jarquez Hunter 77.7
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith 71.4
LG Dillon Wade 68.8

Analysis

The five highest graded players tell the story of what Auburn’s offense was for most of the game.

Thorne and his receivers were efficient in the passing game and there seemed to be an emphasis on getting the ball to Simmons. He caught the first pass of the game on a screen and was targeted on a few quick passes before taking the top off the defense on a deep ball touchdown.

Hunter and Lambert-Smith continue to look like Auburn’s two best offensive players. Hunter ran for 97 yards and 17 carries and Lambert-Smith caught five passes for 77 yards and an over-the-shoulder touchdown catch.

Bottom 5

WR Sam Jackson V 49.9
OL Bradyn Joiner 50.7
WR Camden Brown 54.1
RB Damari Alston 56.2
OL Izavion Miller 56.9
Analysis

Jackson’s low grade reflects one of the game-changing sequences in Saturday’s game.

Oklahoma stopped Auburn on fourth down near the goal line in the first half, on a possession where Jackson was brought in twice near the endzone as a wildcat quarterback.

On both plays, Jackson was stuffed on a design run and Auburn’s inability to get points on the drive had a direct impact on the game.

Auburn’s offensive line was solid for most of the game, but Oklahoma’s aggressive pass rush began to get home late in the game on obvious passing downs.

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Georgia..

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Offense

Top 5

RB Jarquez Hunter 77.5
WR Keandre Lambert-Smith 77.2
RB Damari Alston 73.2
OL Connor Lew 72.4
RB Jeremiah Cobb
Analysis

Hunter, Alston and Cobb’s grades are a perfect illustration of where most of Auburn’s offensive success came from. It should be noted, though, that Cobb only played three offensive snaps.

It was also the first game this season where Auburn didn’t turn the ball over, which reflects partly in Payton Thorne’s grade as he came sixth behind Cobb with a grade of 69. Lambert-Smith was once again his top target, catching seven passes for 95 yards.

Lew’s high grade is another example of Auburn’s success in the run game. While there was a crucial miscommunication on a run late in the game, the Tigers ran the ball well, especially when they pulled guards and got the ball on the perimeter.

Bottom 5

TE Rivaldo Fairweather 48.9
TE Micah Riley 50.2
OL Dillon Wade and WR Cam Coleman 52
WR Robert Lewis 53.6
OL Bradyn Joiner 55.1
Analysis

Riley’s grade shouldn’t be taken too seriously as he only played four offensive snaps, but the other players mentioned had their struggles.

The left side of the offensive line struggled to protect Thorne early in the game and both Wade and Joiner saw significant snaps at left guard. Fairweather’s blocking grade was the main reason for his low rating, with a run blocking grade of 38.6 and a pass blocking grade of 30.

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Arkansas...

Top 5

QB Payton Thorne 81.2
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith 71.9
WR Malcolm Simmons 70.8
RB Jarquez Hunter 70.2
C Connor Lew 65.8
Analysis

After replacing redshirt freshman Hank Brown at halftime, Thorne had a solid performance. It wasn’t enough to turn things completely around for Auburn, but he threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns and his one interception wasn’t his fault.

Lambert-Smith was Auburn’s most dangerous offensive player throughout the game, catching five passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He and Hunter’s performances were encouraging from Auburn’s veterans.

Hugh Freeze said earlier in the week that he wanted to get Simmons more involved in the offense and that was emphasis was clear Saturday. Auburn made more of an effort to get the ball in the speedster’s hands and the freshman showed some positive signs.

Bottom 5

QB Hank Brown 41.6
RB Damari Alston 50
WR Sam Jackson V 52.4
LG Dillon Wade 53.7
WR Perry Thompson 54.3
Analysis

The two lowest grades are due largely to turnovers.

Brown threw three interceptions in the first half before getting benched and Alston had a costly fumble near the goal line. Neither Jackson nor Thompson played significant snaps and no huge mistakes defined their performances.

Alston also played just seven snaps, but his low grade is largely due to the fumble.

Bradyn needs work, Too Tall got abused a couple times, Wade and Lew were up and down. Write ups only shite on the line as a unit 1 time.

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Your argument makes no sense logically. Oklahoma beat us with a true freshman QB making his first career start. We had the FAR more "experienced" QB and OL, and that is worth 10x the "experience" anywhere else on the field. Nobody gives a shite if you are starting true freshman WR's.

So no, Oklahoma could not possibly have been "more experienced". What a crock of shite.



Yep

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Neither of you looked at the OU lineup did you?

Most of their 14 first year players (xfers and TFR) were on O, including 6 of 11 starters. Their O was pretty inept against us. They had a veteran D, with more experienced players across the board, and most of the five first year players on D were 2nd string. Their D won the ballgame for them with critical stops, including the go ahead INT. They also stopped us at the 1, the 8 and the 33 yd lines on downs, and we missed a FG. A D that can stand that kind of adversity has experience and BCR. Our inability to kick a FG didn't help.

Their D was solid all year long. They could have and did make much better O's look pedestrian during the year. They were more experienced as a team, with a bias toward D, and had a better BCR.