“We appeared disorganized and uncertain”: Hugh Freeze desires to see Auburn’s defense advance in this area.
Auburn’s defense had arguably its worst performance of the season against New Mexico, allowing a season-high 448 total yards. New Mexico’s offense was well-balanced, with 291 passing yards and 157 rushing yards. Quarterback Devon Dampier posed challenges for Auburn’s defense with his mobility, a skill that Arkansas’ quarterback Taylen Green can exploit in their upcoming matchup.
“We didn’t tackle well. I didn’t think our effort was great. Hopefully, this will serve as a valuable lesson,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said on Monday, reflecting on the team’s defensive struggles.
Although Auburn is 0-2, they weren’t the first major team to struggle against New Mexico. The Lobos scored 39 points in a Week 1 loss to Arizona and had extra preparation time with a bye before facing Auburn. Freeze acknowledged New Mexico’s preparation but emphasized that Auburn’s poor execution was the primary issue.
“We got two takeaways, but we looked chaotic and unsure,” Freeze remarked.
This disorganization led to several big plays by New Mexico, both on the ground and through the air. Auburn’s defense, which had been strong against the run until this game, gave up more than 150 rushing yards for the first time this season. While New Mexico’s running backs contributed to this, Dampier’s ability to run and extend plays also facilitated explosive passing plays.
Freeze attributed these big plays to a lack of discipline in the secondary. He noted that some of these plays occurred when Auburn’s deep safety abandoned their position during quarterback scrambles.
Despite these struggles, there were positives in the secondary, particularly from freshman safety Kaleb Harris. Freeze shared that he hadn’t planned to offer Harris a scholarship until seeing him perform at Thompson High School. Harris now trails only team captain Jerrin Thompson in snaps played at safety this season.
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