We’re down to just two in the Auburn football quarterback battle according to AL.com’s Tom Green — he has effectively written off Zach Calzada, as many have, to be the Tigers’ starting signal-caller in 2022.
After the three-man race looked like it’d end in the heavy favorite Calzada being named QB1, fall camp has taken things in the completely opposite direction. Not only is Calzada no longer the presumed starter, but he also isn’t even considered the primary backup.
Instead, the race is seen to be between Finley and Ashford at this point, and perhaps the most surprising development of the entire summer is the former jumping far ahead of everyone else in the room.
Here was Green’s breakdown of the QB race as the 2022 season looms in a week’s time:
"“What started as a three-man competition at the beginning of fall camp narrowed down to a two-man race in the last couple of weeks, with Finley putting himself in the driver’s seat to be Auburn’s next starting quarterback.”“His command of the offense and overall operation, from play-call through the snap, has kept him atop the depth chart and No. 1 in the rotation during practices and scrimmages. Ashford has been making a push, and the two rotated first-team reps during drills earlier in the week. Even if/when Finley is tabbed the starter, don’t be surprised to see Ashford get some meaningful snaps early in the season.”"
Auburn football has to be unorthodox on offense to win
The play-calling during the Bryan Harsin and Gus Malzahn eras has not been up to snuff. Creativity will be needed to overcome the difficulties of dealing with SEC West, Georgia, and Penn State frontlines.
Multiple QB sets with Robby Ashford is a good start. Feeding Tank Bigsby’s hot hand should never be something Eric Kiesau should be afraid of doing — and it sounds like the first-year offensive coordinator knows that.
Either way, the Tigers not taking chances will lead to six or seven wins at most. Harsin and co. need to adjust to the more talented teams they’ll be facing and beat them through superior coaching.