Hugh Freeze’s approach to Auburn football has left fans on edge, with concerns growing over the offense’s ability to compete in the SEC. While the Tigers’ defense has shown promise under DJ Durkin, questions remain about how explosive the offense needs to be for Auburn to win eight or nine games this season.
The baseline Auburn must avoid is clear: it cannot afford to resemble the struggling offenses of Big Ten teams like Minnesota, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Iowa. Blake Toppmeyer of USA Today warned, “A passing game that emulates a low-octane Big Ten school won’t cut it in today’s SEC.”
Last season, Payton Thorne faced challenges with an underperforming WR room, leading to a lackluster offensive performance. However, this year brings new opportunities for both Thorne and Auburn, with an improved WR group that offers significant playmaking potential.
Thorne’s Opportunity for Redemption
Thorne doesn’t need to transform into an elite quarterback overnight. His focus should be on utilizing an offensive line, which Toppmeyer describes as “average,” to distribute the ball to Auburn’s talented skill-position players. The “Freeze Four” — a group of big-play threats — along with KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who was a standout at Penn State, provide Thorne with ample opportunities to improve.
The Tigers also boast a dynamic RB room, featuring Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, and Jeremiah Cobb, giving Thorne additional support to elevate Auburn’s offensive game.
Hugh Freeze Backs Thorne as the Leader
Despite the pressure, Hugh Freeze continues to stand by his decision to make Payton Thorne the leader of Auburn’s offense. With the season opener against Alabama A&M just two weeks away, Freeze shared a positive update on Thorne’s grasp of the new offense, developed in collaboration with Derrick Nix.
“We’re totally different than last year,” Freeze said on August 16. “His understanding of what the expectations are from him has grown leaps and bounds. He does some things out there right now that I’m really, really proud of.”
The departure of first-year offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery in 2023 led to a disjointed offense, but Freeze’s partnership with Nix represents a crucial upgrade for the team.
The addition of the “Freeze Four” — Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, and Bryce Cain — has the potential to make this the most talented WR group in Auburn’s history. Along with experienced transfers like KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Robert Lewis, and Sam Jackson V, and returning tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, Thorne has a wealth of targets to choose from.
No Excuses for 2024
With full support from Freeze, no direct competition for the starting quarterback role, and the most talented group of receivers in years, Payton Thorne has no excuses in 2024. If he doesn’t lead Auburn to a 5-0 or 4-1 start by the end of September, difficult conversations will be inevitable as the season progresses.
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