It's no secret that Auburn's offensive line has been a problem thus far this season. The Tigers are dead last in the FBS in sacks allowed out of 136 games, all the way down at 4.20 sacks allowed per game.
While you can't single-handedly blame one player, it's not shocking that it is at left tackle where Jake Thornton's group struggles again. In the past several seasons, that position has been a weakness for the Tigers, and, despite the signing of Xavier Chaplin from the transfer portal at Virginia Tech, those problems persist.
In a piece naming the biggest transfer portal disappointments going into October, The Athletic's Antonio Morales highlights Chaplin's ineffectiveness.
"Auburn coach Hugh Freeze talked about Chaplin as a potential All-SEC performer this offseason. But Chaplin allowed a combined eight pressures in the Tigers’ first two SEC games (against Oklahoma and Texas A&M), per TruMedia. Overall, he’s allowed 10 pressures through five games after allowing 13 in 12 games last season at Virginia Tech.
Auburn attempted to remake its tackle spots through the portal with the additions of Chaplin and USC transfer Mason Murphy, but it’s been a real struggle. The Tigers have allowed 21 sacks this season, which ranks last nationally.
Chaplin has had issues with penalties, too. During the Auburn-Texas A&M broadcast on Saturday, ESPN sideline reporter Katie George said Freeze considered benching Chaplin after Chaplin told his coach that he couldn’t hear the cadence because of the noise at Kyle Field. Chaplin was called for a costly holding penalty late in the third quarter as well and was beaten for a sack in the fourth."
With a bye week, Thornton and the Tigers have a chance to reevaluate their approach to blocking the opposition, particularly with a formidable Georgia defensive line coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium next Saturday in a rivalry game. If not, Thorton might be looking for another job.