That’s more over the top than the posts that are being cautious about the game.
Perhaps, but keep in mind, the big names that keep on getting promoted as their big stars:
QB: Calvert (3000 yard passer 21 touchdowns)
Numbers against Army, Auburn, Virginia: 43-92 46.8% 535 yards 2 touchdowns 6 interceptions
Also below 55% completion percentage on the year 18 interceptions in total
RB: Hickson (1000 yard rusher 11 touchdowns)
Numbers against Army, Auburn, Virginia: 37 carries 142 yards 3.8 ypc 2 scores
Had solid game against UVA (26-93-2) but destroyed Norfolk state and Idaho State (39-233-4) for most of his stats.
WR: Gandy-Golden ( 70 receptions 1000 yard receiver 10 touchdowns)
Numbers against Army, Auburn, Virginia: 8 catches 93 yards 0 scores
Absolutely destroyed during a four game mid-season stretch against New Mexico, New Mexico State, Idaho State, and UMass (37-707-6)
DE: Lemonier (10 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss)
Numbers against Army, Auburn, Virginia: 3 games 11 tackles 0 sacks, 0 tackles for loss
Had half of his sacks and tackles for loss numbers (6 sacks, 8 tfl) in two games against Idaho state and UMass.
Their D ranked 118 out of 130 despite playing a schedule ranked as low as 122 out of 130.
As for the influence of Freeze:
1. This is his first year at a new place. Remember how we had to be patient for our coach to install his playbook and it would start to click in three years with his own guys? Why do we ignore this kind of stuff for other teams' transitions? Now Freeze in year three? That's a different story because he IS a solid coach.
2. He hasn't been around to run things for half of their pre-season. This matters a lot. Hard to establish a culture the way you like it when you can't be there. I'm sure the assistants tried to keep it consistent, but how many assistants are really prepared to run practices?
3. As for the "win one for the Gipper" theory, well, they hardly know Freeze. He's a newcomer. George Gipp was a star for that team that the guys all knew and had spent years with. Not a good analogy for Freeze's particular situation.
And lastly: Malik Willis. If he's eligible he's definitely an elite athlete who can do some damage on the ground. Through the air he's 11-14 for 69 yards in two seasons. It's pretty clear Auburn didn't trust him to throw it down the field which makes his dual-threat ability pretty run heavy. I could definitely see him gashing a couple of long runs if he plays next Saturday, but he isn't quite at Lamar Jackson level, which he would need to elevate the rest of the team.
