GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Mississippi State got to Auburn for three sacks last week, and now comes Tennessee LB Darrell Taylor, who has three sacks this season to give the Vols 10 as a team in four games. Auburn will have to do a solid job up front when it comes to protection. The Tigers have given up 13 sacks in five games, however, and haven’t generated a consistent running game to take some of the pressure off its passing attack.
DRAFT SLANT
–QB Jarrett Stidham completed only half of his 38 pass attempts and couldn’t get his Tigers into the end zone in the 23-9 loss at Mississippi State. He could be playing his way out of an early spot in the NFL draft or at least back to a senior season at Auburn, that’s assuming he doesn’t lose his job to dual-threat QB Malik Willis. The junior has completed 60.1 percent of his attempts for the season, though, but for less than 200 yards a game. He has five touchdown tosses against two interceptions. He needs to have a big game against a big opponent, but Tennessee (2-3) doesn’t really represent a “big game” opportunity.
ROSTER REPORT:
–RT Jack Driscoll did not play at Mississippi State because of a leg injury sustained the previous week against Southern Mississippi State. Auburn is hopeful he can return this week against Tennessee but it is “iffy.”
–RT Calvin Ashley got his first collegiate start in the loss to Mississippi State in place of the injured Driscoll. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey credited Ashley with a solid effort in the run game, but the redshirt freshman had his hands full against Bulldogs’ DE Montez Sweat, who had three sacks and forced a fumble.
–FS Jeremiah Dinson registered a career-high in tackles and also came up with an interception against Mississippi State. It gave the junior two interceptions in his last two games to go with his 15 tackles against the Bulldogs. “The individual stats are good,” he said, “but we didn’t get the win.”
–LB Deshaun Davis had to be helped off the field with an apparent leg injury in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State but still was able to return late in the quarter. “It was a 16-9 game. I’m the senior linebacker. I have to come back,” Davis said. “In a game like that, you’re not supposed to sit out, unless you can’t walk. And I could walk fine.” Davis is expected to play this week against Tennessee.
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