Hank Brown’s Debut: Auburn’s New Quarterback and a Defense That’s More “Uncle Buck” than "Buck Wild"
Auburn Tiger's fans were treated to a spectacle last night that could only be described as a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Hank Brown, the red-shirt freshman quarterback, stepped onto the field for his first start against the New Mexico Lobos, and let’s just say it was a game to remember—or defensively, one to try and forget. The final score was 45-19 in favor of Auburn, but the drama and the defensive blunders made this game like what the shellshocked Auburn fans are used to. Most would say how can anyone complain about a 26-point victory. Well, we can. And for good reason.
Hank Brown showed that he could indeed throw a football—and that he could make easy reads and set protections. Brown’s stat line was decent: 17 completions on 25 attempts, 235 yards, and 4 touchdowns. For a first start, it wasn’t bad at all. However, the headline wasn’t really about Brown’s impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio or his occasional “Wow, that was a pass?” moments. No, it was about Auburn’s defense, which had more holes than a colander at a spaghetti party. Special teams? We might just want to not drop anyone back to return punts. That might be the only workable solution at this point.
While Brown was busy orchestrating drives and avoiding the New Mexico defenders, Auburn’s defense was busy playing a high-stakes game of “Let’s Pretend We’re Statues.” Seriously, the Lobos looked like they were having a walk-through practice against a team of motionless mannequins. New Mexico managed to score 19 points and keep it close for a half, which was not only surprising but also left many fans wondering if their defensive coordinator had confused his game plan with a really elaborate nap schedule. These last couple of games have even the most ardent of Barners concerned for our season.
Here’s a fun stat for you: Auburn’s defense allowed New Mexico to accumulate nearly 450 total yards. That’s almost the entire length of the Great Wall of China (slight exaggeration) —if the Great Wall were made of unguarded wide receivers and missed tackles. To put it mildly, the Tigers’ defense couldn’t tackle a feather pillow in a windstorm. If you think that’s hyperbole, just remember that the Lobos scored on four separate occasions where Auburn defenders seemed more interested in discussing their weekend plans than defending the end zone. It could have just as easily been more. The refs added in their normal “we get paid per flag” impression and turned a sloppy game into something almost unwatchable. (Push off much?) The defense looked tired and out of position. Also, whoever made the decision to drop Faulk and Mcleod into coverage so often should immediately fired and imprisoned.
As the season progresses, Auburn fans might want to consider investing in heart monitors, because watching this defense is like riding a train that goes off the rails every few minutes. While Hank Brown’s debut showed promise, the defensive lapses were so glaring that they might as well have been broadcast in neon lights. If the defense doesn’t tighten up soon, future opponents might start calling the Tigers’ games “The Road to Easy Points.” If they don’t get it cleaned up, and quickly, the next five games on Auburn’s schedule can turn into losses very quickly. I am including the offense in this. There are no indications we can play on an SEC level yet and I fear we have not seen the last of Thorne’s patented panic interoceptions.
I will attempt to be more pragmatic with this. After all, every team has its growing pains, and Brown’s potential is certainly something to be optimistic about. However, take his performance with a grain of salt. It was clean but that was against a defense is considered the worst in the FBS. The Lobos rank in the bottom five for rushing and passing yards allowed, and last for yards per play. Add that with a defense keeping up this “highly entertaining” level of performance, at least fans will get their money’s worth in edge-of-your-seat excitement. Who needs a boring, predictable game when you can have one that’s filled with enough twists and turns to make a soap opera jealous? Or as we call it, just another day in the life of an Auburn fan.
So, here’s to Hank Brown’s debut—a promising start that reminds us that while our quarterback might be the future, our defense is still living in the past. Let’s hope for a quick turnaround, or at least some more entertaining football. After all, if we’re going to be a rollercoaster of emotions, let’s at least make sure we’re the kind that everyone wants to ride.
Are we in trouble? Or are we just preparing for 2025? Either way, this season is not going to go how we imagined it. Are any of you surprised?
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Matthew Jacobs is an experienced sportswriter who has joined Barner Supply as the managing editor, bringing with him a rich background in sports journalism. With a career spanning major outlets like Sports Illustrated and ESPN, Matthew has built a reputation for insightful coverage of teams across the Southeast. His deep dives into the Auburn Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Memphis Grizzlies, and Tennessee Titans have earned him a loyal following, known for his sharp analysis and engaging storytelling. At Barner Supply, Matthew looks forward to continuing his tradition of excellence, delivering compelling stories and expert commentary to a more focused audience. He can be found on 𝕏 @Mindful_Legacy