Winners and Losers from Auburn beating Missouri
Auburn needed a win to prevent their season from being derailed. They got the win but I doubt anyone is feeling better about this team than if they had lost.
Outside of their first two drives, Aburn’s offense was completely unable to move the ball against Missouri. Thankfully for them and Bryan Harsin, the defense and Oscar Chapman stepped up and were able to keep the Tigers in the game and eventually win 17-14 when Missouri gave the game away, twice.
Here are the winners and losers from Auburn’s first SEC win of the season and a must-win game for Harsin.
Winner: Derrick Hall
(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
With Auburn’s back against the wall their team captain stepped up in a major way. He caught a deflected pass by Nehemiah Pritchett for an interception, Auburn’s first of the season. He only got better from there, finishing with six tackles, 2.0 sacks, and 3.0 tackles for loss.
Losers: The offensive line
(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Auburn’s opened the game with 16 straight runs but was unable to establish the run during the game. The running backs were consistently hit in the backfield and as a team managed just 1.8 yards per carry. It was only that high because they averaged 4.2 yards per carrying in the first quarter. They averaged under 1.0 yards per rush in each of the remaining quarters.
They also struggled when protecting the pass, they allowed 4.0 sacks, and Auburn’s quarterbacks were frequently under duress.
Winner: Koy Moore
(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Auburn did not throw the ball much but when they did Moore was likely the target. He caught four of his six targets for 74 yards and would have had more had he not slipped. Auburn needs its receivers to play better and this was a step in the right direction by him in his second start of the season.
Loser: Bryan Harsin
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Harsin’s job was on the line entering this game and while his team may have won he showed no reason why people should feel better about him. Auburn has the same problems and were in not for several mistakes by Missouri and their coaching staff this would have been a loss.
Winner: Oscar Chapman
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Chapman saved Auburn’s offense throughout this game. The Tigers punted on eight of their nine drives during the second quarter and the second half. The defense did their part in keeping it close but Chapman made sure the road Tigers did not have great field position.
His eight punts went an average of 45.9 yards with one going for 61 yards. He also pinned them inside the 20-yard-line three times.
