Against Oklahoma, Auburn Tigers running backs Jeremiah Cobb and Damari Alston had a combined 11 carries. Auburn lost the game, and afterward, head coach Hugh Freeze said that his team definitely needed to get the run game going more.
The next week, against Texas A&M, Cobb and Alston combined for eight carries. The Tigers offense put on a terrible performance and Auburn lost its second conference matchup. After the game, Freeze said again that the Tigers needed to run the ball more.
So, after a bye week when the coaching staff was forced to re-evaluate everything, will Freeze uphold his pledge to run the ball more? His players certainly hope so, according to Auburn Undercover.
"Yeah, I was surprised," Alston said, when asked about how seldom the running backs had the ball against Texas A&M. "But I don't really want to speak on that.
"I feel like when we run the ball, our offense gets going better — even if we're just getting 3, 4 yards a carry. But eventually, as much as (we) run the ball, everything else will open up. And the big runs, they'll come."
Offensive lineman Jeremiah Wright agreed, saying that running the ball more would help the offensive line regain some confidence after struggling against the Aggies.
"We've got to go out there and execute and do what we know, what we're best at doing — and that's run the ball," Wright said.
Freeze did admit after the Texas A&M loss that he and his offensive staff engaged in some "questionable playcalling" and acknowledged that the coaches have got to be better at putting the team in situations to succeed. Hopefully it will start this week with an emphasis on running the ball.
The Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs face off at Jordan-Hare Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.