Auburn is moving on from Saturday’s home blowout loss to LSU and turning the page quickly with Ole Miss up next on the road.
That reset was the central message Monday when head coach Alex Golesh met with the media alongside offensive coordinator Joe Gordon and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. The Tigers are trying to clean up after the LSU loss and get ready for another SEC test this week.
Golesh said Auburn has to be sharper after what happened against LSU.
“There’s so much to clean up, so much to learn from. Ultimately, we’ve got to play much better offensively,” he said.
He added that Auburn did not do enough against LSU, but he pointed to the possibility of building on what the Tigers do well.
“Touch, a little bit, to find positives.”
Golesh also said the team’s next step has to be simple and immediate.
“I think it’s the next step in our growth to be able to get rid of whatever happened on Saturday, wipe it clean, reset, and go.”
On the injury front, Golesh said offensive lineman Tai Buster is still “a couple of weeks” away from being healthy, but he hopes Buster is “here in the next couple week fully integrated in practice.”
Golesh also said offensive tackle Jacor Strand “will be fine” after suffering an injury against LSU. Strand has been Auburn’s starting left tackle the last four games.
Durkin spent time breaking down Auburn’s defense and the challenge Ole Miss presents. He said the Rebels are “big up front.
They’re disruptive up front... They have both size and twitch.”
He also said defensive back Kewayn Lacy will not play against Auburn, according to head coach Pete Golding. Durkin said Lacy’s absence likely won’t change much about Ole Miss on offense.
“Obviously, he’s a phenomenal player. I don’t think really changes what they do offensively in terms of their scheme, their system, what they do.”
Durkin praised Rebel quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, calling him “definitely one of, if not the best player in the country.”
He also spoke highly of cornerback Blake Woodby, saying, “play’d really well” and “he had an energy to him.” Durkin said Auburn’s defense made it harder for LSU to throw when the score got lopsided.
“When the score got a little bit lopsided, I think they ore and they just dropped a bunch of people and made it a little bit harder to keep that going.”
On the offensive side, Gordon offered a straightforward assessment of Auburn’s performance.
“Certainly created a homefield advantage in the first half that we will, as we build, take advantage of. We certainly did not.”
He said Auburn did not do much against LSU, but that it can be built on.
“Nothing.”
Gordon also gave a detailed breakdown of Auburn’s offense, which he said featured seven sacks.
He said LSU’s defense made it tough for Auburn to move the ball once the scoreboard tilted.
“When the score got a little bit lopsided, I think they ore and they just dropped a bunch of people and made it a little bit harder to keep that going.”
Gordon praised his quarterback, saying the player is “definitely one of, if not the best player in the country.”
He also mentioned Auburn’s cornerback Blake Woodby, saying he “played really well” and had “an energy to him.”
As Auburn turns to Ole Miss, the message from Monday was clear: the LSU loss is over, and the Tigers have to reset fast.
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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 🡒]