Auburn’s offense went into the matchup against Ball State looking to air it out and expand on its passing attack after rushing for 307 yards in the season opener against Baylor.
Ball State’s secondary was determined to keep everything in front of them and prevent a big play through the air, and as a result, Jackson Arnold completed 24-of-28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. His 85.7% completion rate was the highest completion rate since Bo Nix (20-22; 90.9%) vs. Akron in 2021 and the highest since Jarrett Stidham (32-37; 86.5%) vs. Mercer in 2017 when attempting at least 25 passes.
Arnold was efficient in spreading the ball around to his playmakers with Cam Coleman, Horatio Fields, Malcolm Simmons and Eric Singleton, Jr. each hauling in at least four catches.
"Twenty-four of 28, so pretty good stat night. I thought he got our receivers involved and allowed us to stay balanced like we'd like to be from game to game,” Freeze said of Arnold’s performance against Ball State.
Auburn’s potent rushing attack, which leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally, had little trouble against a lesser opponent, churning out 224 yards on the ground at an average of 6.6 yards per play. Of course, it was largely due to the Tigers' offensive line, which overmatched the Cardinals all night long and posted a run-blocking grade of 82.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, a lingering concern for Freeze and his staff has been the pass protection that the front five has put on display thus far. In the latter half of preseason camp, Freeze noted that he was seeking improvement from the group in that regard. Auburn’s offensive line allowed four sacks in the first half alone on Saturday, one being a strip-sack that the Tigers eventually corralled. Ball State cashed in on just one sack the previous week against Purdue.
“Offensively, I did not think we strained very well, up front, particularly. I know we averaged nine yards a rush. The run blocking was solid. But I did not think we strained the entire game, particularly (with) another slow start in both halves,” Freeze said.
The offensive line, while taking the brunt of the criticism for most of the protection woes, isn’t the only group to blame. On a few occasions, Arnold held on to the ball too long. Some of that is on the coaching staff and Freeze for wanting to take shots down the field instead of taking what the defense gave them.
And he’d be the first to acknowledge where he messed up.
“Giving up the two sacks was disappointing, but we’ve got to make sure the pocket is where it needs to be, also as coaches, and that’s on us. One of those was definitely… we were way too deep in the pocket to be able to protect from that launch point. We as coaches have to make sure we get that fixed,” Freeze said.
Part of the reason is that it’s simply early in the season. Throughout fall camp, when blowing the whistle early on most occasions to alleviate contact against your own, players get accustomed to letting up before the play is over. Freeze called it “straining” on Monday and said he wants to see each position group on his team continue to strain.
“You have to strain for the entire play. I think it’s the same way with the O-line sustaining blocks. We’re blowing a whistle pretty dang quick when somebody gets close to that quarterback, and they’re not straining for the four seconds it may take. I think that’s a long time to hold up, but sometimes you have to,” Freeze said.
However, it’s a collective group effort that makes the ‘wheels go round’. And for Auburn to achieve the high-octane style of offense it so desperately desires, effort from every position group is necessary.
“I think we can all strain a little more to win at the top end of routes as receivers, quarterback to make sure we’re at the right launch point and we’re progressing through our reads properly, and O-line straining to win for a little longer length of time, and tight ends the same,” Freeze said. “It’s not just them, not just the O-line”
Auburn will kick off against South Alabama in its annual homecoming game on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. on SECN.
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