Lane Kiffin left Auburn with a win and a warning.
After LSU’s 38-17 victory on Saturday, Kiffin said he believed Auburn defenders were going after tight end Trey’Dez Green with a “hip-drop tackle,” and he added that Green was “really concerned” about what he thought was happening out there. Kiffin’s remarks centered on the way Auburn was tackling Green during the game, especially as the LSU star was making his return from a lower-body injury.
Green had missed the previous four games after suffering the injury in Week 3, then came back strong on the road. He finished with five catches for 50 yards and a key touchdown in his first action since going down against Ole Miss. He also caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Sam Leavitt in the second quarter, a play that pushed LSU ahead 17-3.
Saturday marked a welcome return for the Louisiana native, who had been on crutches after the Week 3 injury. But Kiffin said Green did not play much late in the game, in part because of his concern about the way Auburn was tackling him. The lopsided score also meant LSU did not need to lean on him all the way to the finish.
Kiffin’s complaint pointed to a broader issue as well: the NFL has banned hip-drop tackles because of the increased risk of injury. That context made his postgame comments land with extra force.
LSU now heads into its bye week after the win, with a chance to get healthier as it keeps its sights on an SEC title.
In Other News...
Former Auburn Receiver Leaves Fans Worried About What Comes Next
Cam Colemans day against Ole Miss ended abruptly in the early stages of the third quarter, when the Texas wide receiver exited with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. Before leaving, he had hauled in one pass for 12 yards, a small but still meaningful part of Texas passing game before the concern shifted from production to his availability.
Steve Sarkisian did not offer a specific update afterward, but he did signal that the injury did not look good, which is exactly the kind of vague postgame messaging that leaves everyone waiting for more. For Auburn fans keeping tabs on one of their former receivers, the bigger question now is not what Coleman did on that one play, but what comes next for a player whose night ended far too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Players Sounded Off After A Loss That Raised Bigger Concerns
The frustration around Auburns loss to No. 18 LSU was easy to understand after a 38-17 defeat that felt bigger than one bad night. LSU piled up 552 total yards and controlled the game on offense, while Auburn had trouble generating much of anything on the ground and spent too much time protecting quarterback Byrum Brown from a relentless pass rush.
For a team that had been hoping to steady itself in SEC play, the result dropped Auburn to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the league and reopened concerns about how much progress has really been made. The timing only adds to the pressure, with No. 7 Ole Miss next on the schedule and little room for Auburn to let one lopsided home loss turn into something more damaging. [Read more 🡒]
DJ Durkin Just Got Another Warning Sign Auburn Fans Will Notice
Auburn took a hit on the recruiting trail when four-star defensive lineman Nate Kamba flipped his commitment from the Tigers to South Carolina. For a program trying to stabilize its defense and build momentum with high-end talent, losing a player like Kamba stings beyond the immediate headline because it connects directly to the larger concerns surrounding the units direction.
DJ Durkin is already under a brighter spotlight because of Auburns defensive struggles, and this latest setback only adds to the pressure. The Tigers still have a strong recruiting class overall, but the loss gives fans another reason to keep watching how the staff handles the defense moving forward, especially with Tim Banks mentioned as a possible replacement if a change is made. [Read more 🡒]