ESPN and WJOX commentator and national championship Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy had some valuable insight that could help improve Auburn football’s play-calling under center.
McElroy, while speaking on WJOX 94.5 FM’s McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, broke Robby Ashford’s Week 4 performance against Missouri on September 24 and gave him some advice on how he should go about rushing out of the pocket in order to move the offense forward:
"“There were probably 5 or 6 examples where had they executed something a little bit better, or made a slightly better read, they’re in pretty good shape. And I think if they continue to really read into the zone-read stuff, there’s a chance for that to be successful.”"
He then went on to give Ashford a blueprint for what he should do to have better success in the run game — revealing that he should watch some game-tape on Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez:
"“If you watch how Adrian Martinez invites the pass rush and then boom, finds a seam, up the middle, between the guards and between the tackles, and attacks it vertically as opposed to running around … he’s very, very dynamic when he gets a full head of steam…”"
Rain during LSU-Auburn football Week 5 could mean more carries for Robby Ashford
The Auburn football offensive line has been forcing Tank Bigsby to battle for yards after contact from the backfield, but Robby Ashford has been able to use his legs on the outside to move the chains forward when he isn’t so pressured to the point of needing to throw the ball away.
With rain expected in the forecast on October 1 during Auburn’s Week 5 matchup against LSU, the run game could be emphasized even more than it usually is out of necessity. Perhaps Ashford could use Greg McElroy’s pointers against an athletic LSU defensive front on Saturday.