Hugh Freeze was downtrodden.
After another miserable offensive performance in Auburn’s 24-14 loss to Arkansas on Saturday, Freeze found his family on the field and hugged them. And then walked alone into the locker room, head down, probably wondering why nothing on offense is working.
He’s the offensive brain. The genius play-caller. The artist who can design an offense to get the ball into the end zone.
Except Auburn is not getting the ball there. The Tigers aren’t scoring points. And they’re losing games they should win.
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In the post-game press conference, Freeze was refreshingly honest. Maybe too candid as he stares at a 2-2 record with Oklahoma, Georgia and Missouri coming up.
“I don’t have the words, it’s just sickening, sickening that we can’t take care of the football on offense,” Freeze said. “I’ve got to get that fixed. … It’s miserable to watch that.”
Former three-star Hank Brown threw three interceptions in the first half, twice when linebackers simply dropped into coverage and Brown apparently just didn’t see them.
Payton Thorne replaced Brown in the second half (after getting benched for throwing four picks in a 21-14 loss to Cal at Jordan-Hare Stadium a couple of weeks ago) and he threw a pick as well although it really wasn’t his fault. The ball caromed off five-star receiver Cam Coleman’s hands and went right to an Arkansas defender.
Freeze can have all the brilliant play designs he wants but if none of Auburn’s quarterbacks are worth a nickel, what does it matter?
Thorne and Brown have been highly disappointing to start this season – and the competition only gets stronger through SEC play. Four-star Walker White and three-star Holden Geriner are other possibilities but neither seems ready for the big stage.
And to top if off, former Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace, who played for Freeze in Oxford, went on a social media rampage Saturday about playing for Freeze that didn’t paint either side in a decidedly positive light.
Something has to change, though, because this Auburn offense is bupkis – and only time will tell if it negatively impacts recruiting.
The Tigers had 431 yards against the Razorbacks but screwed up numerous times in Arkansas territory. In the loss to Cal, no Auburn receiver had more than 53 yards.
It’s just not an offense that smoothly moves the ball down the field, makes plays and puts points on the board, ya know, a Freeze offense. Not every week can be New Mexico and Alabama A&M, the Tigers’ two wins this season.
"I have no idea sitting here right now but I'll go back to work (Sunday) on it,” said Freeze of figuring out the quarterback spot. “I'll be as locked in as I've ever been to try and get it fixed."
There was a highly talented quarterback at Jordan-Hare Saturday – for the third time this season – in high four-star Deuce Knight from Lucedale (Miss.) George County.
Expected to flip now numerous times from his Notre Dame commitment, it has not happened yet. Whether it’s cold feet or eyes wide open into an offense that is not clicking, Knight has not flipped his pledge to the Tigers. He wasn’t talking much this weekend about where his recruitment stands now.
But there is plenty of ancillary talent – a freshman receiver class that is one of the best in the country, if not the best, that is available now if someone could just put the ball on the numbers.
A committed running back in Elba, Ala., standout Alvin Henderson who could basically name his stat line each week. Some talented tight ends committed and a big, athletic offensive line group. But those are not immediate fixes, not until next season, at least.
Knight, the talented lefty, could be a window to the future, someone who should be able to orchestrate the offense the way Freeze wants, the way he needs it done.
“We need to find a guy who won’t throw it to the other team,” Freeze deadpanned.
That part is obvious. What isn’t so clear is whether he’s on the Auburn roster right now or whether the Tigers have to simply wait for a Knight in shining armor.
