Hugh Freeze expands on how Auburn's starting QB job can be earned

Auburn has a quarterback dilemma.

Payton Thorne has struggled against both Power Five opponents (Cal and Texas A&M) he’s faced this season, and despite the Tigers’ 3-1 start to the season, isn’t going to cut it moving forward. Head coach Hugh Freeze understands this, but believes it’s on him to turn it around, not the quarterbacks, no matter if it’s Thorne, Robby Ashford or Holden Geriner

“There are times I feel like where we’ve let both Payton (Thorne) and Robby or Holden down,” Freeze said on Monday. “Because of all the other components that go into the passing game, that is where I’m determined to help get fixed this week before you give some final grade on quarterback play.

“When Robby came in, I thought he made two really nice throws on two deeps balls and I thought the routes were not run correctly. I know the quarterbacks and coaches get the blame. The coaches, we deserve it and the quarterbacks don’t always deserve it.

All three quarterbacks made appearances during Week 4’s 27-10 loss, but the trio combined for a measly 9 of 23 passing for 56 total yards and no touchdowns. Ashford was arguably the most productive with eight carries for 25 yards, but Thorne led the way with 44 passing yards compared for Ashford’s one completion totaling four yards.

That’s the second time this season Thorne finished with under 100 passing yards in a single game. The first came during the 14-10 victory over Cal — which wasn’t pretty — but a victory is a victory. Thorne threw a total of 14 passes that totaled 94 yards to go with two touchdowns and an interception. Then during the following week against Samford, threw and ran for 405 total yards and three touchdowns single-handedly.

These flashes are why Freeze said that he’s still leaning on Thorne to start under center at home against No. 1 Georgia. It’s unknown whether he’ll rotate his QBs during the matchup, but Thorne and company will have to play a near perfect matchup if they want to come out of Week 5 unscathed.

“Again, I’ve said we are a work in progress with the roster that we have. I’ve always had that in my mind. I kind of divide up the season up,” Freeze said. “There is season one which is the season going up to the open week. We have a lot of evaluating to do that open week as to how you move forward from there.”

Kickoff between the Tigers and Bulldogs is set for 3:30 p.m. ET live on CBS. Georgia has opened as a 14.5-point favorite heading into the matchup, per Vegas Insider, despite playing inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.