Why a late-preseason experiment is happening along Auburn’s offensive line
On Friday, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze told reporters that the offensive line was his “biggest worry about the offense right now.”
It was a comment that somewhat walked back what Freeze had said about the group during SEC Media Days in mid-July.
Auburn held its last preseason scrimmage on Saturday and Freeze said the Tigers’ offense — including the offensive line — performed well in the first half of the scrimmage, but didn’t look as sharp coming down the stretch.
Freeze added that the offensive line was still losing some 1-on-1s against Auburn’s defense — particularly in pass protection.
Now, in an attempt to remedy the group’s struggles, Freeze and Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton are set to play with a few changes.
“We’re shuffling it around a little bit this week,” Freeze said of the offensive line.
Freeze went on to explain that Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis and junior returner Dillon Wade would be switching places, meaning Lewis would be moving from left tackle to left guard and Wade would be moving from left guard to left tackle.
While Wade played left tackle for Auburn all last year, Thornton was excited about the addition of Lewis because it meant the Tigers could move Wade back to guard — a position he believes Wade is “more fit” to play.
“I thought he did a good job at tackle, he’s more fit to play guard here and at the next level,” Thornton said.
Thornton also complimented Lewis, who brings a “big body, big athlete” to Auburn’s offensive line.
However, Auburn was still looking to draw a bit more out of its transfer offensive lineman, who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 355 pounds.
“He’s got to be more consistent with his technique and stop relying on I’m 6-8, 350, I can just be bigger than everybody,” Thornton said of Lewis. “He’s got a rely more on his technique.”
During his first sit-down with reporters on Friday, Lewis mentioned having already done a bit of moving around, taking some second-team reps at the right tackle spot last week.
Lewis also admitted to the offensive line having a “little kink here and there,” adding that it isn’t anything “major.”
”We’ve still got work to do. I’m optimistic,” Freeze said on Friday. “Tyler Johnson is now healthy, and he’s got a chance to be really, really talented. I’ll tell you: (Ronan) Chambers has been a very good late pickup to help us also. We’re debating with (Dillon Wade) where’s best for him to play. We’re still in the process of figuring that out. We do need to improve there.”
Tyler Johnson, a redshirt freshman, is a name that’s consistently surfaced throughout the offseason as someone who has made big strides.
“Tyler Johnson, I can’t speak more about his growth over the last year. Mentally, physically,” Thornton said. “He’s strong at the point of contact, really good body quickness. We’re going to count on him at some point. And he’s doing a really good job.”
From the sounds of it, Johnson is likely the one nipping at Lewis’ heels for the starting left tackle spot.
Meanwhile, Chambers was a late and seasoned addition from the transfer portal as he committed to Auburn after playing four seasons at Akron. Throughout fall camp, Chambers has frequently taken second-team reps at tackle.
Along the right side, however, the line seems set.
“Really pleased with Connor (Lew), Jeremiah (Wright) and (Izavion Miller),” Freeze said. “And obviously D-Wade started every game for us last year, I just think we might need to shuffle it a little bit and see.”