Auburn allowed Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre to game-manage the Volunteers to a 24-14 win on Rocky Top in Week 5. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel got what he needed from the performance, which came after true freshman Faizon Brandon was benched in the second quarter.
Heupel named MacIntyre the starter for the Vols' Week 6 matchup against Arkansas at Razorback Stadium, per On3's Peter Nakos and Chris Low.
Perhaps we should've seen that coming after Heupel's praise of MacIntyre at halftime.
“Faizon just wasn’t operating,” Heupel told ESPN’s Stormy Buonantony on his way to the locker room on Saturday (h/t On3). “He didn’t feel 100%. George came in, did some positive things."
The chains were mainly moved in the second half by Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop, who absolutely torched the Tigers' defense. Bishop had 150 yards and all three of his touchdowns in the second half. For the game, Bishop had 220 rushing yards.
MacIntyre mostly kept the offense on schedule in his eight completions. It wasn't much of a challenge against DJ Durkin's struggling group, which is squandering great efforts from linebackers Xavier Atkins and Elijah Melendez.
The Hogs should be an even easier defense to keep together against. A safe option like MacIntyre leaves less room for variance than Brandon, who undoubtedly gives Tennessee a higher ceiling against opponents like Alabama and LSU later in the season.
Auburn's defense allowing too many star-making showings in SEC play
Between Bishop and Jadan Baugh raising their stocks in the SEC at the running back position at Auburn's expense, and Aaron Philo and MacIntyre establishing themselves behind center against the Tigers, it's clear that AU is being used as an in-conference springboard.
Auburn isn't the hammer. It's the nail. The Tigers are who other teams figure themselves out against.
Against AU's makeshift offensive line, few should be surprised by star-making defensive performances from opponents.
It's the lack of a defensive stand against opposing offensive stars that's most jarring. As is often asked around these parts, why pay Durkin so much for this performance?
Let this bye week be the week that the Tigers figure themselves out.
Georgia awaits in Week 7, and not knowing who you are or what your identity is as a football team against the Dawgs is a one-way ticket to disaster.
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