Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] hoped to have a clear answer for his quarterback woes during the Tigers’ SEC opener with Arkansas on Saturday.
However, after an abysmal performance from the position in Auburn’s 24-14 loss to the Razorbacks, it appears that Freeze will need more time to figure the problem out.
Starter [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] could not live up to his pregame declaration to “dominate Arkansas” on Saturday by throwing three interceptions and completing just 54% of his passes for 72 yards in the first half. [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] did well in mop-up duty in the second half by throwing two touchdowns and completing 13-of-22 passes for 213 yards in the second half, throwing one interception.
Following the game, Freeze shared his displeasure with quarterback play with the media. He opened by stating his frustrations with mistakes in an otherwise strong offensive first half.
“Our offensive guys played hard. It’s just discouraging,” Freeze said postgame. “You have one possession in the first half that you don’t turn the ball over as you’re moving it. We turned it over on Arkansas’ 29, the zero and the 27. Obviously, the possession time in the first half and you’re doing that is atrocious. It’s miserable to watch that.”
Freeze went on to back up his decision to start Brown and says that he will not change his opinion on Brown based on one game. Freeze also complemented Thorne’s performance in the second half. Overall, he is not pleased with how he and his staff are coaching Auburn’s quarterbacks currently, and says that he has not officially named a starter for next Saturday’s game vs. Oklahoma.
“I have no idea sitting here right now, but I’ll go back to work tomorrow,” Freeze said of who will start at quarterback next week. “I’ll be as locked in as I’ve ever been to try and get that fixed.”
Freeze and the Tiger quarterbacks will get back to work at practice this week and will look to bounce back next Saturday against SEC newcomer Oklahoma. Auburn and Oklahoma will kickoff next Saturday at either 2:30 or 3:15 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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