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Auburn football: 3 key matchups the Tigers can exploit against Alabama
By Brian Stultz
Published:
Auburn’s defensive line against Alabama’s front five. The Crimson Tide’s deep wide receiver corps against the Tigers’ secondary. True freshman quarterback against backup quarterback.
Yeah, you could go on and on about the matchups that will determine the winner of the 2019 Iron Bowl, but where can Gus Malzahn’s team take advantage and come out the winners? Here are 3 advantages that Auburn should be able to exploit against the Tide.
1. Anthony Schwartz vs. ‘Bama linebackers
We have seen this happen continually against the Tigers this season — Florida’s first touchdown comes to mind — but Auburn has yet to continually line up the quick Schwartz in the slot and make a linebacker have to deal with him on a 4-receiver package. There’s no linebacker in the country who could keep up with the speedster, so quick slants from Bo Nix to Schwartz could be a way to gain some easy yards.
Nix is used to throw these passes, as he has found the bigger target in Seth Williams quite a few times over the course of the season. Get a couple of those to Schwartz and it will open up a slant-and-go route that will give the receiver a chance to beat the secondary for a long touchdown catch. Let’s just hope Nix is accurate.
2. Derrick Brown/Marlon Davidson vs. Mac Jones
Sure, it will be up to the Alabama offensive line to keep their backup quarterback clean, but the chances of Jones going through the entire game without being hit is highly unlikely. If Brown or Davidson can lay some big knocks early to the redshirt sophomore, it might be enough to throw him off his game. Yes, Jones is poised for someone who has made just 2 starts in his career, but this is his first big-game atmosphere and it comes on the road, and there aren’t many more tests that would be tougher than this one.
The Tigers will have to rattle the young quarterback some, make him antsy in the pocket and that will let the rest of the defense do an even better job.
3. Boobie Whitlow/D.J. Williams vs. ‘Bama rush defense
Alabama’s run defense isn’t bad, but it isn’t up to its standard. Alabama is allowing 130.91 rushing yards per game, and, with a healthy Whitlow finally appearing and the emergence of Williams, the Tigers will be able to throw a 2-headed monster at them. No, it isn’t exactly the most potent attack, but they should be able to set the tone for the game and give Nix some help. Needless to say, if Nix throws the ball 50 times again, Auburn will not win this game.
Whitlow looked like his old self against Samford and with so few carries, his tank should be at full for the closing game of the season. Establish the run like they can and the offense will flow much better.
Brian Stultz covers SEC football for SaturdayDownSouth.com. A graduate of Auburn University, he is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. You can follow him on Twitter @brianjstultz.
