Jeremiah Cobb didn’t fill up the stat sheet the way Auburn hoped, but he still left his mark on the Tigers’ 17-16 win over Baylor in Atlanta.
That matters for a team that has just one starter back on offense from last season, and Cobb entered Saturday as one of the key pieces on that side of the ball for coach Alex Golesh’s team. The Montgomery native was supposed to help carry Auburn, and even when the rushing numbers weren’t there, he found a way to swing the game.
The biggest moment came with the score tied 10-10 and Auburn facing third and 3 from the 11-yard line. Quarterback Byrum Brown took the shotgun handoff and ran an old fashioned counter with Cobb leading the way into the hole. Cobb met 6-2, 205 safety Devin Turner and blew him backward, opening the lane for Brown to turn the corner and score what became the game-winning touchdown.
It was a run that showed Brown’s ability, but it also said plenty about Cobb.
"I thought Jeremiah Cobb's block was as big time as big time gets," Golesh said. "I thought Jeremiah just in general, played his butt off.
And just the nature of the game, I wish we could have gotten them going a little bit more, and we will hear as we go. But you talk about throwing it in there for a running back, lead blocking for somebody that was about as impressive as anybody."
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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 🡒]