Auburn’s Hugh Freeze defends QB Payton Thorne however guarantees a ‘totally different path’ with out enchancment
Payton Thorne’s 4 interceptions towards Cal in a Week 2 loss have ignited a quarterback discourse on the Plains, however for now, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze will journey with the veteran second-year starter by the use of Michigan State due to what occurs throughout the week — regardless of a brutal exhibiting on Saturday.
But it surely additionally does not seem Freeze will journey with Thorne perpetually if issues do not change.
Talking Monday, Freeze stated “It is actually onerous to not play a younger man, whether or not it is Payton or whoever else it’s. It is actually onerous for me to not play a younger man who’s constantly the most effective performer in follow over and again and again.
“Having stated that, it’s a must to carry that over into the video games. You must,” Freeze continued. “If that continues, we’ve got to go in a unique path.”
The problem is of Freeze’s personal making. Somewhat than improve a place that clearly held Auburn again throughout Freeze’s 6-7 first season on the Plains, Freeze, citing an alleged $1 million value to including a switch QB, most well-liked to encompass Thorne with a greater supporting forged within the (misguided) perception it’d elevate his play. That meant going all-in on the receiver place, touchdown Penn State switch Keandre Lambert-Smith, five-star Cam Coleman and top-40 receiver recruit Perry Thompson to provide Thorne loads of weapons to work with this season.
All of it appeared nice in a simple 73-3 Week 1 win over Alabama A&M. Thorne threw for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns, the brand new receivers all appeared nice and there was numerous positivity rolling into Week 2.
Even Nick Saban, lengthy a tormentor of the Tigers whereas guiding in-state rival Alabama, had loads of reward Saturday on “Faculty GameDay” forward of the sport. Saban predicted Auburn, a 13.5-point favourite, would dominate Cal at dwelling Saturday afternoon. His colleague, Kirk Herbstreit, was equally bullish on Auburn, predicting they’d have an incredible 12 months with an improved Thorne.
“I feel (Auburn coach) Hugh Freeze goes to do an excellent job,” Saban stated. “I feel they’ll be one of the improved groups within the SEC.”
Saban botched the sport prediction — see, Nick, the media prediction sport is not as simple because it appears to be like — however neatly identified that “the massive factor right here at Auburn is Payton Thorne, who final 12 months in all probability did not have loads of confidence in his receivers.”
This 12 months, it feels solely a matter of time earlier than that state of affairs is reversed. It was apparent Saturday that Throne is holding Auburn’s offense again this season. A porous Auburn offensive line that led to 3 sacks did not assist the state of affairs, however Throne’s decision-making and accuracy proceed to be main hindrances. Even past how terrible the interceptions have been, Thorne had far too many moments like lacking a wide-open Lambert-Smith on what may have been a landing throw, or botching a snap that led to a 10-second runoff and lack of downs late within the first half when the Tigers have been attempting so as to add a fast rating.
Thorne, who deserves credit score for being a tricky, hard-nosed quarterback, is nice at beating up on overmatched FCS opponents. However in his 15 Auburn video games towards FBS groups, he averages a pitiful 126 yards passing per sport and has thrown a complete of 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Earlier than the season, Freeze fell again on Thorne’s time at Michigan State to elucidate his confidence in him. Freeze believed with him taking again over play-calling duties plus higher receiving expertise, the Thorne in Auburn would extra intently resemble the one who guided Michigan State to an 11-2 report in 2021.
“I’ve seen it on movie” Freeze stated at SEC Media Days. “I feel he was actually, actually strong in one other Energy 5 convention. He is confirmed he can use his ft to maneuver the chains once we want him to.”
2021 is a lifetime in the past, although, in faculty soccer with how a lot the sport has modified. Freeze claimed he is “in all probability not the best portal recruiter that there’s” and that he was nonetheless attempting to regulate to grabbing a ready-made starter out of the portal versus creating his personal guys.
When he appears to be like again on this 2024 season, he’ll want he adjusted sooner.
Freeze ought to have been extra aggressive in pursuing a quarterback out of the switch portal, even when the value tag was lofty. A number of NIL business sources have claimed Auburn’s On To Victory collective has loads of sources to work with — among the many highest within the SEC — so it wasn’t as if the cash wasn’t out there to take a giant swing.
Are you able to think about Miami quarterback Cam Ward throwing to Lambert-Smith and Coleman downfield? Or having Will Howard execute the Freeze offense? And even taking an opportunity on somebody like Ohio State switch Kyle McCord, who appears to be like rejuvenated in Syracuse, or Baylor switch Blake Shapen, who seems to be slot in Jeff Lebby’s Mississippi State offense. All of them have been out there within the switch portal plus different massive names like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard and Duke’s Maalik Murphy.
There is not any assure that Auburn could be markedly higher with a few of these choices, however it’d not less than really feel like Freeze was taking the issue critically. Rolling Thorne again on the market in upcoming video games towards No. 15 Oklahoma (Sept. 28), No. 1 Georgia (Oct. 5) and No. 9 Missouri (Oct. 19) feels just like the definition of madness.
Forward of an ultra-important 12 months 3, although, Freeze cannot make the identical mistake he made this final offseason. The expertise is there and it is crucial to have a viable, high-level starter on the quarterback place.
Freeze has completely upgraded the extent of offensive expertise, however it’s apparent now that Thorne is not the particular person to finest harness it. Maybe younger quarterback Holden Geriner, Hank Brown or Walker White will get a shot this season and present promise in elevating the offense.
Saturday’s dwelling loss to Cal confirmed the disastrous ramifications if he does not.