Offensive line, Jarquez Hunter will help Payton Thorne in 2024 according to Cole Cubelic

Hugh Freeze, Keldric Faulk, Eugene Asante, and Payton Thorne take the stage at SEC Media Days on Thursday around 1 p.m. CT. The Tigers have garnered some chatter in the first days of the event, regardless.

Kirby Smart has said that “Auburn is one of the toughest places to play in the world.” Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold said that he was told Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium is “cursed.”

Former Auburn offensive lineman, now ESPN/SEC Network Analyst Cole Cubelic spoke to Paul Finebaum about the Tigers offense in 2024. He thinks it will be better due to having a tough run game. He also thinks that will benefit Payton Thorne.

‘there’s a bigger window to be able to throw the ball into’

Cubelic addressed the narrative that surrounds Payton Thorne after an up and down season for the Tigers in 2023. He immediately turned towards his surrounding cast as a reason for optimism.

“Everybody says ‘Payton Thorne is not good, he can’t be good. Why did Hugh Freeze spend $1.5 million on a new quarterback for half a year and that just be it?’ I think the middle of Auburn’s offensive line is going to be pretty good,” Cubelic said Tuesday of The Paul Finebaum Show.

Cubelic then pointed toward Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter, who he believes is an impact player.

“How many people have asked you about Jarquez Hunter in the last 48 hours?” Cubelic asked Finebaum. “Nobody is talking about him. He’s the most proven back in this league. I think you could make the argument he’s the best running back in the SEC right now.”

An offensive line that is tough in the middle, a good running game and an impact player at running back.. Cubelic says these factors lend a hand to Thorne as a passer: It puts the defense in conflict.

“So let’s say middle three, Jarquez Hunter is pretty good, they (Auburn) can run the ball. Well, what do you (the defense) have to do? You have to take your alley defenders, your safeties, add an extra linebacker — you play the run. Well, that’s going to bump coverage off of you or give you less numbers in coverage where Payton Thorne is not going to have as difficult of a time completing passes.”

“If you can run the ball, have the RPO game going, linebackers are going to squeeze up, try to play the run. You pull the ball out, there’s a bigger window to be able to throw the ball into.”

Auburn Live breakdown

**Auburn Live wrote this breakdown on why the Tigers are best suited for 12 personnel (2 tight end sets) on June 27.

— Hugh Freeze is taking over with his philosophy on offense. He is heavy on RPO’s (run-pass options). Going in 12 personnel only helps the RPO’s become more effective. 

— In 12 personnel, the drop back pass is eliminated. Auburn’s worst offense came from drop back passing. In fact, Auburn’s offense got better in the later games with less drop back situations and play calls.

— RPO’s are up to the quarterback. There are several criticisms/concerns with Payton Thorne, but his decision making ability has not been one of them, at least with sources inside the building. The staff is willing to put a lot on Thorne’s mind and decision making ability in the RPO offense.

— — When Auburn uses 12 personnel to put two tight ends on the line of scrimmage, this can be tricky for defensive alignment. The Tigers typically put both tights on the same side of the formation a year ago with a winged player (Pictured below).

— Notice in this look that both of the receivers on the field have a single coverage matchup. The defense has to make a choice: keep a safety over the top of both outside receivers or load the box. In 2023, Auburn didn’t have threats to win 50/50 balls on the outside. That will be different in 2024, or at least it should be. As soon as defenses place a safety over the top, the run call in the RPO is a go. 

— In the play above, Auburn ran a Mid Zone play for a first down conversion into a heavy box. Izavion Miller earned a pancake block on the 5-technique (No. 93). 

— If Auburn’s outside receivers can make defenses respect the 50/50 situations, the 12 personnel look will be a problem. Do defenses load the box or make sure the single matchups don’t happen? It will be difficult to make the right move. 

— This, of course, is all dependent on execution. If the quarterback makes the right call pre-snap and receivers are able to win single matchups, it will work. Auburn is in better shape to make this a reality rather than an idea on paper.