Tennessee’s decision to hand the quarterback job to true freshman Faizon Brandon already looks like a move that can shape more than just the Vols’ season.
On Saturday at Neyland Stadium, Brandon carved up Furman in a 56-9 Tennessee win and looked every bit like a player who had been running Josh Heupel’s offense for years, not weeks. The debut didn’t just light up the box score. It also sent a message that Auburn fans probably didn’t love hearing with the Tigers headed to Knoxville on October 3 for their first SEC road game under Alex Golesh.
Golesh knows exactly what Brandon can do, too. He spent two seasons as Heupel’s offensive coordinator, so this one carries a little extra edge. He won’t want to walk back into his old home and watch his former boss’ freshman quarterback put on a show.
Brandon’s first start against Furman was about more than raw production. Once he settled in, he ran Tennessee’s wide-split spread offense with the kind of rhythm that makes everything else easier.
He looked composed in the pocket, sharp in RPO situations, and difficult to bring down when plays broke down. At 6-foot-4, he has the size and the vision to see the field cleanly, and he played with the calm of someone far older than a true freshman.
He’s also got a 40-yard dash time around 4.5 seconds, which only adds to the problem for defenses trying to keep him contained.
The numbers were ridiculous: 13-of-17 passing, three touchdown throws, 294 all-purpose yards and five all-purpose touchdowns. Against a Paladins defense that was overmatched from the start, Brandon was nearly flawless.
That kind of performance has to make opposing defensive coaches work a little harder. If you’re DJ Durkin, trying to squeeze pressure out of an aggressive front and attack the suspect right side of Tennessee’s offensive line, Brandon’s debut gives you even more to think about. Sure, Furman isn’t the kind of opponent that proves superstardom on its own, but there wasn’t much more Brandon could have done to look the part.
By the time Auburn arrives, Brandon will have more than one game under his belt. Tennessee will also have seen him go through Texas, where he’ll face an elite edge rusher like Colin Simmons and a Will Muschamp-coached defense built to create turnovers and clog passing lanes. Add in games against Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State, plus the daily work that comes with being in a competitive SEC program, and he should be even more settled by early October.
That’s what makes October 3 such a tricky assignment for Golesh and Durkin. Brandon’s tempo can make life miserable for a defense that wants to heat up the pocket, because if the ball is out in two and a half seconds, the rush never gets to fully load up. And if the corners can’t keep pace, Tennessee can stretch Auburn in a hurry.
For Auburn fans, there’s also a familiar sting in all of this. Brandon’s breakout against a Southern Conference team may bring back memories of Deuce Knight’s lone start in orange and blue against Mercer last November. Knight was dominant that night too, finishing with 401 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.
But he never got the same extended runway. Hugh Freeze had him in during a lame duck stretch and sat him through November, and even after the coaching change, the interim staff started Ashton Daniels for three of the final four games instead of Knight.
Oh well.
In Other News...
Bryce Cain Is Forcing His Way Into Auburns Plans
Bryce Cain has gone from a name on the depth chart to someone Auburns staff is actively trying to get on the field more often. Head coach Alex Golesh said the Tigers plan to keep folding Cain into the game plan after a recent explosive play, and he pointed to the way Cain has handled special teams as part of the reason the coaches are taking a harder look at his role.
For a team still sorting out where its best pieces fit, that kind of production tends to travel. Cain has clearly done enough to earn more opportunities, and Auburn is now working through how to create them in the offense without losing what he already brings on special teams. The next step is less about whether he belongs in the mix and more about how quickly the Tigers can turn that into a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Injury Picture Up Front Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Auburns front was a major concern coming out of the season opener against Baylor, when four trench players went down and left the Tigers waiting on clarity during the early part of the week. Alex Golesh has now provided a much better read on the group, and it points to a healthier rotation heading into the matchup with Southern Mississippi, with the staff getting encouraging signs on both sides of the line.
Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand are expected to be available, and edge rusher Chris Murray is already confirmed healthy, which gives Auburn a stronger baseline up front than it had a few days ago. DaShawn Womack is still working through a lower-body injury and remains day-to-day, though there is at least a chance he could return to practice later in the week, leaving one final question for a unit that suddenly looks far less depleted. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Golesh Sent Auburn Fans An Early Message After Ugly Win
Alex Golesh spent the day after Auburns 17-16 win over Baylor putting the focus on the problems behind it, not the relief of escaping with a victory. The Auburn coach took responsibility for the offensive mistakes, including three interceptions from quarterback Byrum Brown, and said the standard has to be the same for him and the players. In a game that still counted as a win, Golesh made it clear the performance on that side of the ball was not close to where it needs to be.
Golesh pointed to the offenses lack of rhythm as a major issue and stressed that Auburn has to do a better job protecting the quarterback and running the football. It was an early message, but an important one, because ugly wins can hide problems only so long in a season. For Auburn, the concern is not just cleaning up turnovers, but making sure the offense finds something steadier before the next tight game forces the same questions again. [Read more 🡒]