In Auburn’s two SEC losses this season, its defense has given up a total of 382 yards to their opponent’s top running backs, Florida’s Jadan Baugh and Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop. Both of them also scored three touchdowns a piece against the Tigers. Things do not get any easier for DJ Durkin’s unit this Saturday when they visit the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.
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“They're a physical team, good running backs, good o-line. So we're just, we're still just focusing on us and what we need to get better at so that we can go in the game prepared and just have a dogfight,” senior defensive tackle Dallas Walker, IV said to reporters today.
Auburn’s defense will also be facing arguably their greatest quarterback challenge this week as well. Senior Gunner Stockton will be making his twenty first career start and his second against the Tigers. Last year in Jordan-Hare Stadium, he threw for 217 yards and ran for a game-sealing touchdown.
Auburn Senior safety Sylvester Smith-Reed gave his analysis of what he has seen from Stockton on film and on the field. “Gunner's a smart quarterback, does not make a lot of mistakes, tough kid, sits in the pocket well, takes shots, just a great quarterback,” Smith-Reed said.
Stockton has only been sacked six times this season. In his Monday media availability, Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin stressed the importance of being able to get pressure with three or four down linemen to avoid blitzing. Auburn Undercover asked Walker today how the defensive line has been working on their pass rush sets.
“Just the normal things, you know, pass rush, pass rush work, individual pass work, and we just kind of been, it all goes back to the same thing. Just the key details and making sure we clean up little mistakes here and there,” Walker said.
Head coach Alex Golesh has said previously the defense has had problems with communication and getting lined up properly pre-snap. Smith-Reed spoke to the importance of minimizing defensive gaffs against a talented Georgia offense on their field. “It's always big, especially going on the road and playing in a loud environment, to make sure your communication aspect is to its best. So it's been in practice, and whether it's having a crowd noise or not, just make sure we're communicating at a high clip,” Smith-Reed said.
Georgia has not been held under 20 points at home in this rivalry since 2016. The last time the Bulldogs were held under 20 and lost to Auburn was the very next year in 2017, a 40-17 Tiger route. The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry renews for the 131st time, between the hedges, at 2:30 p.m. central on Saturday afternoon.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
