Game 5 Review: Better Enjoy This One

Auburn 35  San Jose State 21.  Yes Auburn fans better enjoy this one because there will not be too many more wins to enjoy this season.  It was another typical Gus Malzahn-coached game against a weaker non-conference opponent.  The team comes out sluggish and then finally pounds the lesser team into submission.  The team never gets any better, the team never works on anything like say the passing game.  It is always a boring ho-hum affair.  It is always the same with Malzahn.  This game was no exception.  Auburn checked all those boxes in this game.

THE GOOD
Kudos to Peyton Barber.  The guy has sat on the bench waiting for a couple of years and has finally gotten his chance this year.  He is one of the few people on this team playing to their potential.  He delivered again today with 147 yards rushing and five touchdowns.  That is a great day no matter who you are playing.  The offensive line did the work ahead of him especially late in the game.  You always have to credit them when a running back has a big day.  Roc Thomas and Kerryon Johnson also had a few nice plays as well but the star of the day was Barber.

THE BAD
The Auburn defense got the job done but the cracks are evident.  These guys are going to get absolutely pounded starting very soon.  It is not going to be pretty and I am already starting to feel bad for them.  The effort has been better since the LSU game and Montravious Adams is the real deal but unfortunately the talent is subpar most everywhere else.  This was evident as the Tigers gave up 160 yards rushing to San Jose State running back Tyler Ervin.  Ervin is pretty talented but no opposing back should be running for 160 yards in Jordan Hare.

THE UGLY
I am tired of talking and writing about this but Auburn has no passing game.  None.  Zero.  Nada.  Zilch.  I heard all week how great Sean White is yet the Auburn coaches certainly did not let him do anything against San Jose State.  He threw only 10 passes for a 100 yards and every single one of those yards was after the catch except for one underthrown ball caught by Ricardo Louis.  I was wrong in my post last week, I think Georgia Tech might have a better passing game than Auburn.  It is going to be truly sad watching Auburn try to pass against the better teams left on the schedule.  I do not know how any high school senior star wide receiver would ever consider playing for Gus Malzahn.

THE LAST WORD
There is really not much else to say.  This coaching staff has had plenty of time to have a quarterback ready for this season.  It is their fault they do not have one.  Everything else is a smoke screen.  This coaching staff was hired for their offensive prowess and they have miserably failed this season.  Everything that has happened and will happen is on them.  I do not want to hear about injuries or any other ridiculous excuses.  This team has the worst passing game in the country and that is absolutely inexcusable with one of the highest paid group of coaches in all of college football.  The only remaining question is just how bad this season is going to get.