Thorne in Auburn’s side: Hugh Freeze’s reluctance to be aggressive at QB is halting Tigers’ progression
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze stated he simply could not deliver himself to spend large cash on a switch portal quarterback this offseason.
After watching Payton Thorne throw 4 interceptions in a 21-14 loss to Cal inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, possibly he ought to have!
Quite 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 price to including a switch QB, most popular to encompass Thorne with a greater supporting solid 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 high 40 receiver recruit Perry Thompson to present Thorne loads of weapons to work with this season.
All of it seemed 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 seemed nice and there was plenty of 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 a terrific 12 months with an improved Thorne.
“I believe (Auburn coach) Hugh Freeze goes to do an impressive job,” Saban stated. “I believe they’re going to be some 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 well identified that “the large factor right here at Auburn is Payton Thorne, who final 12 months in all probability did not have plenty 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 a few 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 might 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 troublesome, hard-nosed quarterback, is nice at beating up on overmatched FCS opponents. However in his 15 Auburn video games in opposition to FBS groups, he averages a pitiful 126 passing yards 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 believe he was actually, actually stable in one other Energy 5 convention. He is confirmed he can use his toes to maneuver the chains once we want him to.”
2021 is a lifetime in the past, although, in school 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 will want he adjusted sooner.
Freeze ought to have been extra aggressive in pursuing a quarterback out of the switch portal, even when the worth 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 an enormous 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 an excellent slot in Jeff Lebby’s Mississippi State offense. All of them have been out there within the switch portal plus different large names like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard and Duke’s Maalik Murphy.
There is not any assure that Auburn can be markedly higher with a few of these choices, but it surely’d no less than really feel like Freeze was taking the issue significantly. Rolling Thorne again on the market in upcoming video games in opposition to No. 15 Oklahoma (Sept. 28), No. 1 Georgia (Oct. 5) and No. 9 Missouri (Oct. 19) feels just like the definition of madness.
Freeze has completely upgraded the extent of offensive expertise, but it surely’s apparent now that Thorne is not the individual 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.
Forward of an ultra-important Yr 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.
Saturday’s dwelling loss to Cal confirmed the disastrous ramifications if he does not.