Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is walking into Saturday’s game with Auburn carrying the kind of numbers that force defensive coordinators to lose sleep. He leads the SEC with 275.1 passing yards per game and has piled up 22 total touchdowns this season, and that production has clearly made an impression on Auburn coach Alex Golesh.
Golesh spent Wednesday breaking down what makes Chambliss so difficult to deal with, and he kept coming back to one trait: poise. More specifically, the way Chambliss uses his feet.
“Feet, you always watch a quarterback’s feet and say, 'That dude knows what’s going on,' or 'he’s panicked.' His feet and are always right, and that’s what’s really, really impressive," Golesh said on Wednesday (h/t Montgomery Advertiser).
He didn’t stop there.
"There's never a panic. His feet are always set.
When he's moving, feet are always set. There’s really no panic.
That's the part that stands out. Looks like a veteran guy, and obviously, he is."
That calm in the pocket is a big reason Chambliss has become such a tough assignment. He hasn’t had a game under 200 passing yards this season, and with Ole Miss down starting running back Kewan Lacy, the Rebels may need Chambliss to keep carrying the offense through the air.
Auburn’s numbers suggest it will be a real test. The Tigers’ pass rush sits in the middle of the SEC in sacks at No. 6, while the secondary is allowing 250.9 passing yards per game.
Auburn does have eight interceptions, split evenly between the defensive backfield and the front, so there is at least some chance Chambliss gets forced into a mistake. He has thrown seven interceptions this season, including three against Texas last Saturday.
With Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor injured, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is the only other true threat Auburn faces in the final five weeks.
If Auburn’s night in Oxford goes sideways, Chambliss will almost certainly be the reason.
In Other News...
Auburn Walks Into A Huge SEC Test With Ole Miss Suddenly Shorthanded
Auburns trip to Oxford brings a notable SEC matchup back into view, with the Tigers and Ole Miss meeting for the first time in three years. The timing matters for both sides, too, because Auburn is trying to build on a win over Georgia after a loss to LSU, while Ole Miss is navigating a change in its backfield heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Kewan Lacy will be unavailable for the Rebels after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Texas, leaving Ole Miss with a hole it has to fill against an Auburn defense that will be keyed on Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels quarterback has piled up 1,926 passing yards this season, so even with the backfield shorthanded, Auburn still has to deal with the part of the Ole Miss offense that can tilt the game fastest. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Could Be Getting A Needed O-Line Boost At The Right Time
Auburns offensive line might be getting some timely help as the season wears on, with head coach Alex Golesh saying sophomore Tai Buster could return to practice and play within a few weeks. Buster has been sidelined by a preseason injury, but he has stayed involved with the team during his recovery, keeping himself in the mix even while hes been unable to get back on the field.
For a line that always benefits from added depth, especially as the schedule tightens, Busters eventual return would give Auburn another option at a spot where bodies matter. He will miss the upcoming game against Ole Miss, but the possibility of getting him back later in the season gives the Tigers something worth watching beyond just the next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns International Signee Saga Ends With Bigger Questions For The Program
Mantas Rubstavicius will not suit up for Auburn basketball this season after voluntarily dismissing his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, ending one of the more unusual roster stories the program has dealt with in recent months. The international signee is now expected to pursue a basketball opportunity in Europe, and he thanked Auburns administration, coach and teammates as the path with the Tigers came to a close.
The bigger issue for Auburn, though, may be what happens around the decision rather than the decision itself. The school also confirmed that general manager Brian Kloman was fired, with reports indicating the move stemmed from a failure to disclose Rubstavicius prior college enrollment overseas, leaving the program to sort through how such a significant oversight occurred in the first place. [Read more 🡒]