Aggies Defense Must Be Prepare For Auburn's Mobile Quarterbacks In SEC Opener

Both Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford have been effective on the ground for Auburn this fall.

Texas A&M might not need to worry about Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne's arm strength or the passing attack Saturday in its SEC opener at Kyle Field.  

The Aggies will need to be on high alert of his legs in the open field. And Thorne is just one of three players who turn a small scamper into a breakaway run. 

During his coach's show on Wednesday night, Fisher mentioned the mobility of the Tigers' quarterback room led by Thorne and backup Robby Ashford. Thorne, who started the last two years at Michigan State, put teams on notice with his season-high 123-yard, two-touchdown outing last Saturday in a win over Samford.

"You don’t realize how much they get out of their quarterbacks,” said Fisher. “Their tailbacks are getting a lot of it, but their quarterback Ashford...when they put him in, they have a special package." 

Thorne won the starting job over Ashford after electing to leave East Lansing following spring practice. He's been serviceable as a passer through three games, completing 68.3 percent of his throws for four touchdowns against three interceptions. 

But mobility is vital for the Tigers' starter. During Michigan State's breakout 2021 campaign under then-coach Mel Tucker, Thorne scored four touchdowns as a runner and totaled 117 rushing yards. Despite struggles in the Tigers' trench play, he's only been sacked five times. 

Ashford, who split reps with TJ Finley last season under then-coach Bryan Harsin, and later interim coach Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, is the real threat to score in packages. In last year's 13-10 win at Jordan Hare Stadium over A&M, Ashford rushed for 47 yards on 16 carries. He averaged 4.6 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the season. 

"They have a lot of designed runs that are very hard. Because when you run the quarterback, you get up a guy, your numbers change," Fisher said of the quarterback-designed runs. "You don’t realize, when the quarterback runs the football in designed runs, that means you have a hat for a hat with a ball carrier. Which, in other words, if the offense does what it’s supposed to do, it’s almost impossible to stop.”

Ashford hasn't been effective in the passing game, but he remains a staple on the ground. He scored three touchdowns in the season-opener over UMass and tacked on another touchdown last week against the Bulldogs. 

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Even without lead runner Jarquez Hunter for the season-opening win over the Minutemen, Auburn (3-0, 0-0 SEC) ranks fifth nationally in rushing touchdowns and 18th in yards per game (215.7 yards per game). Four of the Tigers' top-five rushers are averaging over 5.0 yards per attempt. 

“A lot of their yards — half or more — come from the quarterback, along with very good tailbacks and some speed sweeps," said Fisher. "So it’s going to be very challenging."

The Aggies (2-1, 0-0 SEC) have seen improvements defending the run after finishing 123rd nationally under then-first-year coordinator D.J. Durkin. Miami, which ranks 38th nationally in rushing, only totaled 78 yards in a 48-33 win at home. 

Louisiana-Monore and New Mexico combined for 218 yards and a touchdown in their matchups against A&M. Entering Saturday's 11 a.m. kick, A&M is holding opponents to 3.33 yards per rush attempt.