Auburn started November off the right way with a 26-23 win over Arkansas in Jordan-Hare Stadium in Week 10. It was almost a game the Tigers were going to let slip away due to an abysmal first-half offensive performance, but AU got things together late to tame the Razorbacks on Saturday.
Alex Golesh was facing heat from the fanbase as Joel Gordon's offense sputtered, but like the Georgia game, Auburn realized how much of a weapon quarterback Byrum Brown is. Brown single-handedly won this game for the Tigers, with the defense showing severe lapses even as the offense figured things out.
Here are five observations from a massive win over Arkansas that moved this team closer to a winning season:
Byrum Brown may be the only answer for the running game
Jeremiah Cobb had 41 yards on 11 carries, which is a decent performance given the circumstances, but the Tigers' running back room continues to be met with resistance at the line of scrimmage. The interior offensive line hasn't been able to create gaps all season, and the only reason why Auburn had 183 rushing yards is because Brown was able to make something out of nothing on numerous broken plays.
The offensive line is probably not going to be a strength all year
It feels like Golesh has exhausted every possible combination for his offensive line. Jacob Strand manned the edge on the right side, but Wilson Zierer found his way back in quickly after being benched. This group shouldn't be relied upon, and every play this offense runs should account for a broken pocket.
The pass rush is in good hands moving forward
Defensively, the Tigers got after it with six sacks. That was a season-high for the group, which was down Bryce Deas and De'Marcus Riddick leaving the game early. While this might not be realistic every week, it's clear that Vontrell King-Williams is doing his job admirably as the defensive line coach.
Auburn's secondary has serious issues
KJ Jackson was pressured so much that he didn't get many completions, with a 14/30 day passing. Still, when he did complete deep passes, Auburn's defensive backs oftentimes were out of position. An Antonio Jordan touchdown pass in the final two minutes was a particularly bad look for coverage.
Shadarius Toodle must be unleashed
With three sacks on the game, Shadarius Toodle announced his arrival. Toodle balled out so much that he even got a shout-out from former teammate Xavier Atkins. The Cottage Hill Christian Academy star looks like a building block for this team.
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