Halftime analysis: What Auburn is doing well, what to expect in second half

The No. 10 Auburn football team did not get off the start most people wanted Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium against Southern Miss, but it picked up things as the half wore on despite enduring a 2-hour, 44-minute weather delay and leads, 14-3.

Auburn botched up its first two possessions, gaining just 10 yards on six plays. The Tigers were penalized six times for 58 yards in the first quarter. 

But as it’s done this season, the defense was stout and held the Golden Eagles at bay.

Meanwhile, the Auburn offense recovered and put together a 13-play, 73-yard scoring drive to accompany the 2-play scoring drive earlier in the game.

Here are several takeaways from the first half and looking to the second:

1. Auburn’s linebackers are balling

Deshaun Davis is living in the Southern Miss backfield. He has two tackles for loss and is chasing down plays sideline to sideline. Darrell Williams and Montavious Atkinson are doing the same. It’s fun to watch and they’re preventing Southern Miss from getting anything going in the run game and on screen passes. To be honest, it looks like No. 57 is playing a step faster than everyone on the field today. That’s what you get from the defensive leader.

2. Seth Williams, the great and not-so-great

The freshman is 6-foot-3 and a big play waiting to happen. He missed a potential long TD pass (or at least a huge gain) on Auburn’s first possession and later couldn’t hold onto a Jarrett Sitdham pass over the middle, but in between he caught a 46-yard bomb from Stidham. All Stidham did was throw it deep and high and Williams did the rest to get Auburn on the scoreboard.

We hate to pick on Williams after he made the biggest play of the first half, but drops have been an issue for him this season. That’s not all that surprising given that he’s a freshman. Once he starts catching everything thrown his way, he’s going to be a serious threat all over the field.

3. Stidham on the run

Yes, Jarrett Sitdham is 11 for 20 for 143 yards and a touchdown. But he’s been sporadic and too often flushed from the pocket — to his left no less, which makes it difficult to pass — and unable to make throws. Protection has broken down here and there, but at this point, he just doesn’t look ready to handle that. It hasn’t been a terrible first half for him, but he still doesn’t look comfortable in this offense. A little more time to throw helps and receivers getting open quicker helps. And here’s an idea: How about inserting Malik Willis no and again to run the read-option and see if that jump starts the offense.

4. Bottom line

Auburn can’t afford to start that slow against upcoming opponents on the schedule. Maybe the Tigers can get away with it against Southern Miss. We’ll see in the second half. Southern Miss might turn to Kwadra Griggs at QB in the second half. Jack Abraham hasn’t been bad, but he’s been neutralized and can’t get much going against Auburn’s speed on defense. Griggs was suspended for the first few games. He started 10 games last season and threw for 1,879 yards last season with 16 TDs and two picks. He also ran for 268 yards and three scores.

Davis, Williams and Atkinson will have to keep an eye on him on RPO plays and in case he takes off running when he can’t find a receiver. That will be a big challenge for Auburn in the second half if he does indeed step in for Abraham.