Hugh Freeze's belief in one Auburn football player led to acquiring weapons AU can't properly use
Hugh Freeze put all his eggs in the Payton Thorne basket -- and Auburn football hasn't been better off for it during the 2024 season. As CBS Sports' John Talty writes, the Tigers dedicated a high financial investment into offensive weapons like the Freeze Four, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and third-year running back Jarquez Hunter, whose NIL valuation has gone up over the years but haven't been able to get the most out of them because of Payton Thorne.
"In Year 2 of the Hugh Freeze regime, Auburn was supposed to take a leap into the eight or nine win territory," Talty wrote. "Auburn heavily invested in acquiring top position players, believing with the right surrounding cast, quarterback Payton Thorne would return to the version that guided Michigan State to a 11-2 record in 2021., TV cameras keep showing Thorne and Freeze bickering at each other on the sideline and the Tigers are all but assured of missing a bowl game."
Freeze hasn't gotten the passing performance from Thorne that was necessary to unlock the new and returning talent. Thorne is trending towards a career-low completion percentage and the most interceptions of his career. But the two going back and forth on the field and through the media is the cherry on top.
Still, he's risen to the occasion enough to have Lambert-Smith considered a top-100 player in college football. Malcolm Simmons has broken through as a certifiable weapon and Cam Coleman's potential as a top WR is obvious.
After his gutsy performance against Missouri in an unfortunate 21-17 loss, a loss that saw a 17-3 Auburn lead at one point, it's clear that Thorne is at least trying to make the most of AU's investment in him.
He can only do so much if the coaching staff is in over their heads.
Hugh Freeze is crying bad luck as Auburn football continues to falter
Freeze doesn't seem to be trusting the positions his coaching staff is putting his players in nor the players' intentions. He doesn't think they're playing to win, but rather playing not to lose.
He believes bad luck is the reason his team keeps blowing leads and turning the ball over at the most inopportune times.
It's a negative mindset that is holding the team back. AU has the defense to hang in any game. If Freeze's play-calling can lead to better chances, and his coaching can instill more confidence in his players, he'd bring Tiger fans some semblance of happiness this season.
It's sad how possible it is that serotonin rushes are already done in 2024, though. It's going to take a lot in 2025 from Freeze to undo this heartbreak.
In Deuce Knight we trust.