It has been evident that heading into the season, the offensive line was going to be the main concern of the offense for the Auburn Tigers in year one under Alex Golesh, just as it has been for a number of years in recent history.
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The vast majority of the unit enters this season having transferred in from another program, and outside of the current starting five, it is extremely young.
When one reflects on the season opener between Auburn and Baylor on Saturday and considers that fact, the issues showed, both in ability and in having inexperience of playing together in a game setting.
There were noticeable inconsistencies in giving quarterback Byrum Brown enough time to operate efficiently in the pocket, having given up six sacks on the game, while there also was not a well-established run game like Golesh was hoping to have.
Those were not the only problems with the offense in Saturday’s win, but during Monday’s press conference, Golesh and Offensive Coordinator Joel Gordon did not hold back in admitting the line was a place that needed serious work.
“I thought we struggled at times,” Golesh said. “With some twist game stuff, we struggled at times from being able to climb to the second level. I think we struggled at times getting picked off a little bit in the twist game inside. So, I was disappointed with what we played like inside, both at the guard spots and Cole (Best).”
As a whole, the three running backs that played in Jeremiah Cobb, Omar Mabson II and Bryson Washington totaled 79 yards on 18 carries, and with the air attack not panning out too much either, the rushing identity the offense wanted to establish was not there.
Gordon echoed the sentiments of what Golesh said, pointing out execution as something that was not up to par.
“We had some breakdowns everywhere, across the board,” Gordon said. “There was a lot of twisting going on from the defensive line. There were a couple of things communication-wise where we weren't ID’d the right way. And then just technique and execution. You lose on a block on the inside, and it doesn't take much more to screw up a run game concept.”
While Cobb, the first team running back, did get the majority of the carries among the trio, he only ended with 12 carries for 53 yards, which was fewer carries than he had in six games in 2025 and less yards than he amounted in eight of his appearances.
It was an issue Gordon recognized, saying the consistency was something that needed to be found in preparation this week.
“At the end of the day, we just couldn't find a consistent rhythm,” Gordon said. “We had five drives that got inside the 45-yard line, two that got to the 26, that we just stalled out. That's where you're missing being able to keep running the football and handing the football off to Jeremiah and letting him get into a rhythm. He's got to have more touches. At the end of the day, he's got to. There's got to be better balance there. Byrum can't be the guy that's leading the football team in carries. We can't live that way.”
A lot of the concerns directed towards the inside of the offensive line, where there were not defined starters at either of the guard spots heading into the weekend. Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand took the field on the first snap, but backup guards were utilized later in the game at points when minor injuries took over, meaning Kail Ellis and Jack Leyrer entered.
Specifically in that area, and on the offensive line as a whole, Golesh felt the unit was not as aggressive as it needed to be, wanting the players to be more hard-nosed overall.
It is an area him, Gordon and offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick will focus on as days count down to the Southern Miss game on Sept. 12.
“I thought at times we weren't as physical in there as we needed to be,” Golesh said. “I thought effort-wise was really good. I don't know that we always delivered the first punch in there, and so I was disappointed there for sure. We've got to get better. We've got to get better there, and we certainly will, but I was disappointed.”
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
