› Auburn expects improved QB play against Clemson,
Employing three quarterbacks didn’t work out too well for Auburn in last year’s opener against Clemson, so Gus Malzahn’s Tigers are back to using one entering Saturday night’s showdown against the reigning national champions.
The Jarrett Stidham era began last weekend inside Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, with the former Baylor University quarterback completing 14 of 24 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns and adding a 14-yard rushing score in a 41-7 smothering of Georgia Southern. The redshirt sophomore also threw an interception and lost a fumble.
“I didn’t think I played all that well,” Stidham said in a news conference after the game. “There are a lot of things I’ve got to clean up, but that’s why you play and that’s why you practice. It’s been a long road for me, but that doesn’t make it an excuse.
“I have to get a lot better.” The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Stidham was the No. 1 junior college prospect in the 2017 recruiting cycle and won the Auburn job over Sean White, a redshirt junior who started 16 games the past two seasons. White led the SEC in accuracy last season with a 63.9-percent clip, but that was not the case in last year’s 19-13 opening loss to Clemson, when he went 10-of-21 for 140 yards and an interception.
Jeremy Johnson also threw an interception in last year’s opener, while the only attempt by John Franklin III resulted in a 3-yard loss. Johnson was a senior last season, while Franklin is now a graduate transfer for Lane Kiffin at Florida Atlantic.
Stidham, whose final pass Saturday night was a 19-yard touchdown to Will Hastings, will face a Clemson defense that held Kent State to five first downs and 120 total yards in last week’s 56-3 laugher.
“It was good for Jarrett to get a game under his belt,” Malzahn said. “He’s going to be an outstanding quarterback — I’ll tell you that right now. He’s played four college games, and most of those were two years ago. I was pleased with the way that he handled the offense.
“He’ll get nothing but better.”
Auburn has a new offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey, from a year ago, and redshirt junior running back Kamryn Pettway didn’t get a single carry in last season’s opener. The 6-foot, 235-pound Pettway went on to amass 1,224 yards in 10 games and became the first Tigers running back since Bo Jackson to compile four consecutive games with 150 yards or more.
Pettway, White and sophomore receiver Kyle Davis sat out last week’s win for reasons Malzahn said are “completely between me and them.” Malzahn added that White will miss this week’s game as well.
Kerryon Johnson and Kam Martin picked up the slack in Pettway’s absence Saturday, each rushing for 136 yards.
Although Auburn’s opener last season was a frustrating exercise offensively, the defense set the tone for what was a vastly improved year. Kevin Steele’s unit finished seventh nationally in fewest points allowed (17.1) and held eight consecutive foes without a touchdown run, the longest such streak for the Tigers since their 1957 national championship team.
Auburn had four defenders drafted by NFL teams this year but opened
Saturday with a dominating effort, as the Eagles managed just 78 total yards and were 0-for-15 on third-down conversions.
“What really stands out to me right now is our defense,” Malzahn said. “They were outstanding. It says a lot about Kevin Steele, our defensive staff and our defensive players. I think they’ve got a chance to be an outstanding defense.”
The No. 13 Tigers had not held a Bowl Subdivision foe to so few yards since limiting Ole Miss to 9 in a 41-0 drubbing in 1985. Auburn totaled 12 tackles for loss, with junior outside linebacker Jeff Holland among four players with two lost-yardage stops.
“It gives us a lot of momentum going into this week,” Holland said. “It’s another game and another opponent, but they are a great team.”
Clemson’s 19 points at Auburn last September wound up being a season low, and Dabo Swinney’s No. 3 Tigers will enter Saturday having scored 30 or more points in nine consecutive contests.
“It’s about us,” Steele said. “It has nothing to do with who we play or what time we play. If you get into that, then you’re going to ride the roller coaster.
“We don’t allow it, and we hammer it home.”