Auburn’s offensive line talk around Baylor has settled into something a lot more ordinary than it first sounded.
Alex Golesh sparked plenty of attention earlier in the week when he floated the possibility of using as many as eight offensive linemen in the opener. On the surface, that sounded like a unit still searching for answers. But Golesh added more context on Tiger Talk, and the picture is clearer now: Auburn is not planning to shuffle bodies just for the sake of it.
If the first five are doing their job, they’ll stay on the field.
“We've not subbed necessarily because of the tempo. I mean, these guys are in shape, They're built to do this. But we want to sub a little bit, just guys that have earned the right to play and positions where we're still like, man, like these dudes are truly battling.”
That matters because the Tigers need this group to be better. The offensive line has been one of the biggest concerns all offseason, and the idea of constant rotation in Week 1 against Baylor raised obvious questions. If Auburn gets protection for Byrum Brown and starts moving the ball on the ground, there’s no obvious reason to disrupt that rhythm.
There are still spots being sorted out, though. Jacob Strand and Deryc Plazz have been locked in a battle at left guard, and Strand seems to have the edge for the first chance. Even so, Plazz could still see snaps as Auburn keeps evaluating that spot.
Golesh’s point was less about a full-time rotation and more about depth. He said eight offensive linemen have “earned the right to play,” which sounds less like a plan to cycle through the entire group and more like confidence that Auburn has options if needed.
That’s a pretty standard Week 1 reality. Teams are still sorting through combinations, and Auburn just happens to be doing it against a Power Four opponent, where every decision feels magnified.
The good news for Auburn is that there’s experience in the mix. Byrum Brown and Cole Best have years together, and Golesh has called their relationship “priceless.” Cole Skinner also brings another veteran piece who already knows the offense.
So the opener should tell Auburn plenty about how this front fits together. If someone struggles, the Tigers have depth to lean on. If the starting five plays well, there’s no need to force change.
For now, that’s the story: Auburn may have eight linemen available, but that doesn’t mean all eight are headed for a turnstile of snaps. The first week could always throw a wrinkle into the plan, but Golesh’s message was pretty simple. Let the best group work.
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Auburn also added several former USF teammates around him, giving the Tigers a little more familiarity as they build toward that next season. There is still plenty to sort out before the opener against Baylor in Atlanta, but Browns arrival has already given Auburns offense a jolt of attention it was not going to get by accident. [Read more 🡒]