Four ways Samford can shock Auburn
Auburn is looking to improve to 3-0 on the season when they host Samford on Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The Bulldogs (1-1) are coming off a 30-7 loss to Western Carolina but are one of the top teams in the Football Championship Subdivision and are looking to stun the Tigers. These two programs are quite familiar with each other, this will be their 30th meeting with Auburn having a near-perfect record of 28-0-1.
While Auburn is playing at home and is more talented, the Bulldogs have a potent offense that is led by senior quarterback Michael Hiers. They will be looking to hand Auburn its first loss of the season and here are four ways they can do just that.
Auburn turns the ball over
Auburn had four turnovers last week against Cal and they should have had more. If it were not for some heroic stands by the defense those turnovers would have cost Auburn the game. The Tigers can’t afford to play with fire again and Samford’s offense is good enough to take advantage if Auburn repeatedly gives them great field position.
Michael Hiers is for real
Hiers is the top returning quarterback in the FCS and is the most proven quarterback Auburn has played this season. He threw for 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns last season while completing 76.6% of his passes and he has been just as good in 2023, averaging 345 yards and three touchdowns to start the season. His arm is dangerous and he is capable of testing Auburn’s defensive backs.
Auburn's passing attack stays silent
The run game was always expected to be the strength of Auburn’s offense but the passing attack has been virtually nonexistent in their first two games. Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford have combined to complete 22-of-41 (53.7%) passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns. The most troubling part is that Jay Fair is the only Auburn player to have caught multiple passes in both games so far.
Auburn is unable to pressure Hiers
In Samford’s loss to Western Carolina last week Hiers was sacked six times and the Bulldogs were held to just 7 points. He was still able to throw for over 300 yards but just one touchdown. Auburn will have to generate pressure on Hiers to make him uncomfortable and prevent him from picking apart the secondary. Ron Roberts has done a great job dialing up blitzes that allow Donovan Kaufman and Eugene Asante to create negative plays and he will have to do so once again.
