Hugh Freeze has been transparent since arriving at Auburn when speaking at press conferences or during interviews. That happened once again on Wednesday when he was discussing watching film of Oklahoma's defense ahead of the Tigers' matchup against the Sooners on Saturday in Memorial Stadium.
"First, I need some Pepto or some Tums," Freeze said on the Dari Nowkhah Show. "Your stomach starts turnin', because, their first three games, they've dominated, I mean really dominated and allowed one touchdown, and it was really on a bust (a 75-yard touchdown run by Michigan's Justice Haynes)."
The numbers tell you what Brent Venables' defense has been able to achieve so far this season. The Sooners are ranked fourth in total defense, allowing just 181 yards per game, while ranking fourth in scoring defense, giving up 6.3 points per game. Moreso, Venables' squad is second in passing defense (84.7 yards per game).
Those sorts of stats would have any coach worried heading into a game. For Auburn, they will attempt to solve Oklahoma's defense with a running game led by Damari Alston, Jeremiah Cobb, and quarterback Jackson Arnold. Arnold will look to get the ball to playmakers Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton Jr., and Malcolm Simmons at wide receiver.
As for Oklahoma's defense, Freeze has nothing but high praise for what he has seen so far.
"They're physical," he said. "They're fast. They do a lot of things that present you issues in both protection and run game. And (head coach) Brent (Venables) does a great job, and he's got great players. It's a great challenge. I do think they're one of the better defenses I've seen the last few years."
When the Tigers and Sooners take the field on Saturday, Auburn's equipment staff might want to stock some extra nausea medicine on the sideline in case things start to go wrong for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers' offense.