Five reasons Auburn could struggle against the Texas A&M Aggies

These things could cause trouble for Auburn against Texas A&M.

Andrew Stefaniak | Sep 22, 2023

Five reasons Auburn could struggle against the Texas A&M Aggies /

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Auburn has hit the road as they are ready to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in Kyle Field.

This will be a true road test for the Auburn Tigers and Payton Thorne as SEC play has finally arrived.

This will be a game where the Tigers have to scratch and claw their way to a victory over a talented Texas A&M football team.

Let's take a look at five ways Auburn could struggle against the Texas A&M Aggies.

Conner Weigman has all day in the pocket

Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman has looked good so far this season for the Aggies. If he has all day in the pocket, he will get the ball to his wide array of talented receivers. If Weigman is pressured, he could make mistakes and turn the football over. If Auburn wants to win this game, they need to turn the Aggies over a few times in this ball game. If Weigman has all day in the pocket, the Auburn Tigers could lose their first game of the season.

The run game doesn't get going

Jarquez Hunter vs Samford — Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Texas A&M has done a good job stopping the run so far this season, so the Tigers need to find a way to get the ball moving on the ground against the Aggies. This includes the running backs Payton Throne and Robby Ashford. All of these guys need to have success running the rock. If you run the ball well, it will open up holes in the Texas A&M weak secondary. If you can't run the rock, it will be harder to throw the football, and the Aggies will take advantage of these struggles. Auburn needs to run the ball on Saturday.

Texas A&M runs the football well

Texas A&M has not run the football well this season. They have relied on the arm of Weigman more than the ground game. If the Aggies are able to move the football on the ground, it will open things up for them in the passing game. Auburn needs to stop the run on Saturday, making the Texas A&M offense one-dimensional.

The Aggies score a lot of points

Texas A&M has scored a whopping 132 points through the first three games of the season. This gives them an average of 44 points a game. The way Auburn wins this football game is keeping the score low. Coach Freeze would love for the final score of this game to be something like 21-17 Auburn. If the defense can bend but not break and keep the Aggies out of the end zone, Auburn can win. If this game turns into a shootout, it will be hard for the Tigers to keep up.

Auburn receivers aren't open

Jay Fair vs Samford — Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Texas A&M's biggest struggle has been their secondary. This means the Auburn wide receivers need to get open, giving Payton Thorne somewhere to go with the football. The Tigers should be able to pick on the Aggie secondary for a whole bunch of yards, as receivers on much worse teams have gotten open against the Aggies. If Auburn's wideouts can get open, they will score points and can win this football game. If the Texas A&M secondary has a solid game, it will be hard for Auburn to score a lot of points.

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