Auburn vs Texas A&M Review: The View From 52

So, there's really not a lot to say that hasn't already been said at this point.

Where has Gus Malzahn gone? Why did Auburn move the ball like a hot knife through butter on one drive and then struggle to move it at all for the rest of the night until John Franklin III came in? Where was Kamryn Pettway in the 3rd quarter? Where is the offensive line?

In a way, it begins and ends for me with that last question. Against Arkansas State, the line protected the QB and everything was wide open. Against Texas A&M last night, the line struggled, and the team could hardly get anything going.

What happened to Kamryn Pettway in the 3rd quarter? Why is it that Gus Malzahn can have a running back running well in the 1st half in nearly every bad game for the last two years and then that running back isn't a part of the playbook for the entire 3rd quarter.

One thing is for sure, and that's that something has to change.

Is the answer putting in JFIII and just running the football? Maybe. Maybe it's time to look at incorporating more option sets. I still think Sean White could lead this team to a great season, but not if he's not protected. JFIII provided a playmaking ability that helped spark big yards. I still think the game could have been much different if the 12 men on the field/offsides call is made in the 4th quarter. At that point, the touchdown cuts it to a one-score game, and maybe they don't break the huge TD run.

What I'm thinking, though, is that it's time to throw to open up the run. It's time to take advantage of the wide receivers and throw early and often. That feels weird to say, but I do think it's something that could work. One thing I come back to on that one long touchdown drive is that Auburn played the way we expected: fast, no subs, and wide open. That's what we need.

The defense Kevin Steele has put on the field has been nothing short of fantastic. They've allowed a few big plays that have created big problems, but for the most part they've held on strong enough that the old Gus Malzahn offenses would have been able to win easily with what the defensive effort gave them. It's hard to ask for more from that unit.

I don't know what needs to happen on offense. This is still a team capable of winning a lot of games. The coaches just have to get out of their own way and maybe contemplate a few changes on the line or with how they're calling the running vs passing plays.

Changes have to be made on the field, and soon, or else it will become more and more likely that a change will be made off the field. The fanbase is restless. I can't count the number of people I heard calling for Malzahn's job on the way back to the car last night. Something has to give, and soon.