Before Auburn faces Arkansas in both teams' SEC opener this Saturday, The Auburn Plainsman's assistant sports editor, Grace Heim, joined sports editor Cooper Gant and copy editor Charlie Brandom from The Arkansas Traveler for an in-depth discussion about the upcoming matchup.
Heim: Arkansas had a close game against UAB last weekend at home? Did you notice any specific problems that concerned you heading into SEC play?
Brandom: “Tackling was a huge issue on defense. The touchdown UAB scored to make it to a three point game in the fourth quarter was just a couple guys not wrapping up, issues tackling an open space, things like that. And also, their quarterback had a pretty good performance in the air. I don't think we got enough pressure on the quarterback at all. A lot of time in the pocket to get things done, and when you leave that much time, receivers are going to get open, safeties and corners are going to get tired, and they're going to lose their receivers. To go to the offensive side of the ball, beyond moving Taylen Green out of the pocket, we could not get much going through the air, really, all day. His numbers weren't spectacular. They were all right. But I think Ja'Quinden Jackson, our star running back, and him getting going on the ground. The offensive line did get going finally in the second half in terms of setting up the run. But really in the second half, it just became about passing to set the run up. And the run got us back into that game where it should have been the whole time”
Heim: Arkansas has run the ball well this season. Do you expect them to do the same against Auburn?
Gant: “Absolutely. Ja'Quinden is incredibly confident in Taylen and the ability and the options that he creates through being such a dual-dynamic threat. I mean when it comes to Taylen Green, he's going to get the ball across the field either by land or by air. So if he's not throwing right, he's going to take off. Last game, Ja'Quinden ran for 149 yards and Taylen ran for 114 yards. Something that Pittman talked about at the post game press conference was Taylen maybe being a little rusty or not performing as well as he could have. But for those of us who watched the game, really Taylen's feet, if he cannot get in the air, he has them as an option to get the ball down the field. So I'm incredibly confident in Taylen giving the defense a plethora of looks in ways that they're going to have to try and stop our run game.”
Brandom: “I think Arkansas is going to rely on the ground game. But what you mentioned with the Auburn pass rush, from the few Auburn snaps I've watched, their pass rush being a little weaker is going to be important, because, like I said earlier, Taylen is really good when he gets out of the pocket, when he can move around and, I've noticed at least a couple times he has had some accuracy problems when he has to just sit there and find a guy. But if Auburn can't get to him, then him being able to get out of the pocket is gonna cause problems, I think. And whether it's him or Ja'Quinden, moving the ball on the ground is gonna be key.”
Heim: Which player(s) do you think will be the biggest game-changers for Arkansas in this matchup?
Gant: “I think he's been a little slow this year, but I think if Isaiah Sategna gets going, he's going to be especially a game changer for us. I mean, on special teams, people oftentimes don't see the value in having an electric kick and punt returner, but having a guy like Sategna, a former five star and Fayetteville High School track star, who is just crazy when he takes off. He's so insanely fast. Someone like that is someone that I think will be a game changer. But in general, of course, Andrew Armstrong has been Taylen's top receiver so far this year. He's had 13 targets for 137 yards. He comes down with the ball. He knows how to keep his feet in bounds whenever he's on the sideline. I think offensively, that'll be it. Of course, Landon Jackson, all American defensive end, is always going to be a problem. He also will likely play a big role in stopping the Auburn run, which is something that Pittman pointed out in his press conference yesterday that Auburn has a really solid line, big, physical front, and that's going to be a point of emphasis for the Hogs for Saturday.”
Heim: Is there a particular element of the game (special teams, turnovers, etc.) that could be a deciding factor?
Gant: “I think the biggest factor will be both teams' run games. I think just the two words run game will be a deciding factor for both teams. Of course, like I mentioned, Pittman pointed out Auburn's physical front and the offensive line. We have Coach Mateos coaching a relatively new group of guys this year, and we've seen massive improvements from last year. So I think the run game is going to be important. In football, it really is a game of the little things. It's a game of making the tackle, you know, extending the ball just an inch or two closer to the goal line, things of that sort. But I think the run game will be especially important going into this game for both sides of the ball. Whoever can stop the run game will definitely have a leg up on the others, and it will likely show in the final score.”
Brandom: “Just two quick things, getting off the field on third down was a little bit of issue against UAB, if they can clean that up against Auburn, in terms of getting stops and giving the defense some rest. UAB had a couple of drives, especially in the first half, that were just methodical, and the defense is going to need a breather eventually. And then this is a simple one, but just making less mistakes. Whoever, usually, whoever wins the turnover battle, wins a football game.”
Heim: Your prediction for the game?
Gant: “I think the Hogs beat Auburn, 31-28. Like I said, it's going to be a lot of running. It could be less than that. I mean, obviously the run game is going to keep the ball going, to keep the clock moving, not quite the 10 second touchdown plays that have been. It's just this highlight of how good the run game is going to be for both teams. Both teams really have such motivation to come in and win.”
Brandom: “I'll pick a Hog win, but I'm going to go 38-35. I think it'll be a shootout. I don't think either team is super defensively inclined. And I think, like you said, I think both teams will find the end zone pretty easily, and it's about who makes less mistakes and who gets the ball most at that point.”
Auburn and Arkansas face off in their first SEC game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPN.
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Grace Heim is a senior from Enterprise, Alabama, majoring in Political Science. She started with The Plainsman in January of 2023.
You can follow her on X (Twitter) at @graceeheim
