Was That Fourth Down Call Was INEXCUSABLE? | Auburn Football Podcast

Auburn Football had fourth and one against Tennessee with a chance to keep a critical drive alive. Byrum Brown had already shown he could hurt Tennessee with his legs, Auburn needed less than a yard, and instead the Tigers pitched the football backward and tried to beat an athletic Tennessee defense to the edge. It failed. That decision has become one of the biggest talking points coming out of Auburn’s 24 to 14 loss at Tennessee, but the problems go much deeper than one fourth down call. Auburn finished with 11 penalties for 94 yards and three turnovers. The Tigers repeatedly put themselves behind the chains with presnap mistakes, struggled to establish an offensive identity and once again needed their defense to play nearly perfect football just to have an opportunity to win. The defense did enough. Auburn held Tennessee to just three conversions on 14 third down attempts and created turnovers. The Tigers limited Tennessee’s passing game and gave the offense opportunities. DeSean Bishop eventually hurt Auburn on the ground, but expecting the defense to completely shut down an SEC opponent while the offense repeatedly gives the football back is not sustainable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices