Auburn’s offensive keys against Mercer
The start of Auburn football is just one day away and we can finally start talking about specific football games.
Auburn is set to open the season against the Mercer Bears Saturday in Jordan-Hare at 6 p.m. CT and the Bears are already 1-0 after dominating Morehead State 63-13 last week.
Auburn is clearly more talented and athletic than Mercer and it can be tough to have any big takeaways against an FCS opponent, even a good one.
Despite that, there are lots of questions about Auburn’s offense and this game will be the first chance to see how they have progressed over the off-season. This includes both newcomers who were brought in this offseason and experienced players who are looking to fill bigger roles.
Here are five keys for Auburn’s offense against Mercer.
T.J. Finley looks comfortable as QB1
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Finley is entering the season as the clear starting quarterback for the first time in his career. In his first season on the Plains, he appeared in nine games and completed 70 of his 128 passes for 827 yards and six touchdowns. While his stats against Mercer will likely be impressive, it is more important for him to look comfortable and make sure the offense runs smoothly.
As long as he does that and avoids turnovers Auburn should be able to pick up a comfortable victory.
Wide receivers make plays
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn’s wide receivers were one of the weaknesses of the team last season and they will have to be better this season. The group will have a chance to show their progress against Mercer, which as strong as their offense is does not have a great defense. This group should be able to take advantage of these matchups and gain valuable experience for a talented but unproven group. Expect Auburn to rotate the players in this group and start to see how they look in games and see if the rotation needs to be tweaked.
Tate Johnson gets valuable experience
Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
Auburn is turning to Tate Johnson at center with the retirement of Nick Brahms and this is a great chance for him to get some valuable experience. Johnson has appeared in just one game in his career and the transition will be important to watch. A center playing poorly can derail an offense just as much as the quarterback and Johnson needs to get experience, he will have a chance to get plenty on Saturday.
Running backs look as good as expected
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn should be able to run the ball at will against Mercer. While Tank Bigbsy will have some carries expect it to be limited to keep him fresh for the rest of the season. This should open the door for Jarquez Hunter and Damari Alston to get some work and solidify the depth behind Bigsby. With an unproven wide receiver group, Auburn is going to need to lean on their running backs and expect them to show why against Mercer.
Tackles take over
Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
Auburn is turning to Kilian Zierer and Austin Troxell at left and right tackle respectively and they have a chance to take the group up a level. At 6-foot-7 and 312-pounds Zierer has a chance to be a great left tackle for Auburn, something the Tigers have been in desperate need of. With a new center in Johnson, Auburn’s tackles taking a step forward will help take some pressure off of him and could unlock a new level for the entire offense.
