Five 'stock fallers' following Auburn's loss to Georgia

Here are five things that saw their stock fall after the Tigers' loss to the Bulldogs.

Lance Dawe | Oct 1, 2023

Five 'stock fallers' following Auburn's loss to Georgia /

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Auburn Tigers

Auburn football kept it close with the No. 1 team in the country.

However, just because the game was competitive against Georgia does not mean there weren't any negatives that need to be addressed.

Hugh Freeze and his staff have a lot to mull over during the bye week.

Here are five things that saw their stock fall after the Tigers' loss to the Bulldogs.

Malcolm Johnson Jr.

Johnson had the second-worst run blocking grade on offense (41.9) according to PFF. The two downfield shots Auburn took with him were incomplete.

The receiver room as a whole wasn't great, especially when it came to run blocking, but Johnson in particular did not have a good day.

Zion Puckett

Puckett had two missed tackles and gave up five receptions on six targets for 116 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.

He struggled mightily.

Larry Nixon

Nixon missed four tackles and finished with a 35.8 PFF grade. He also had the worst coverage grade out of the entire defense.

He was not great.

Payton Thorne

Thorne continues to struggle as Auburn's primary quarterback. He was 10-for-19 passing for 82 yards against UGA.

He missed some throws. He was inaccurate. He did not do a good job of identifying pressure for the second week in a row.

Auburn has to do something. Either to help him out or make a change at the position. This is the sixth straight game against Power 5 competition that the Tigers have failed to eclipse 100 yards passing.

The offensive coaching staff

Auburn continues to pull Payton Thorne and rotate quarterbacks at awkward times.

When Robby Ashford is playing well, they pull him. When Thorne is operating the offense, they pull him. Sometimes it feels like change isn't needed where it's being made.

To pull Ashford on third and one after moving the ball with him on your best drive of the day did not make a ton of sense.

Auburn's staff doesn't seem comfortable with intermediate throws. In order to unlock more rhythm within the offense, they have to try things.

Maybe the offense as a whole will be reevaluated during the bye week.