After Kentucky scored on each of its first two drives, there was a deflating feeling in the air about Auburn’s defense.
The Tigers had given up 10 quick points to an offense that had yet to score more than 20 points in a Southeastern Conference game and it seemed like things could only get worse.
After Auburn finished the first quarter down 10, though, things started to click for the defense. Kentucky didn’t score another point in the final three quarters and only gained 109 more yards.
What changed for Auburn’s defense?
“There were a couple of mental mistakes and a couple of things where we really needed to lock in on our jobs,” said defensive end Keldric Faulk after the game. “We’re really good once we hone in on what we’re supposed to do.”
Faulk and other Auburn players chalked up the first quarter struggles to mental errors and missed tackles. Some of those were evident, but Kentucky’s early success was also in no small part due to wide receiver Dane Key.
Key is Kentucky’s leading receiver this season and caught passes of 21 and 34 yards on the first two drives, with both catches coming in tight coverage.
Auburn started consistently bringing more pressure after those drives and Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff never looked comfortable. He seemed to be affected by the pressure on almost every dropback, and the most notable mistake was an interception caught by Jay Crawford.
Vandagriff split snaps with dual threat quarterback Gavin Wimsatt during the first half, but after a rough second quarter, Kentucky went with Wimsatt full time in the second half.
For much of the second half, Auburn kept up the same success, tallying 22 total pressures in the game. Jalen McLeod led the way with four, but he, Faulk and Keyron Crawford all consistently disrupted the pocket.
“They can’t block our d-line. Hardly anybody in the country can do that, blocking them 1-on-1,” said linebacker Dorian Mausi Jr. after the game. “J-Mac, Keldric, the d-tackles… they just make plays.”
The back end was solid too, picking Kentucky off twice, with the second one sealing the game on a goal line stand. Both Kayin Lee and Crawford played well on the outside, grabbing Auburn’s two interceptions.
Crawford’s play has been one of the stories of the season for Auburn, impressing as one of the many freshmen to get playing time. He had an 87.9 coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus, allowing just two catches for 25 yards on six targets.
“I won’t consider myself a freshman now. I consider myself a sophomore,” Crawford said. “We done played, what, eight games now? I just feel like, going into next year, it’ll be better for me going into next year, knowing that I have way more experience than a lot of the other guys.”
While all the numbers look nice, the sweetest part of the performance for Auburn’s defense was seeing it rewarded. The unit has become no stranger to seeing the offense squander great defensive games, but 278 rushing yards from Jarquez Hunter kept that from happening against Kentucky.
It’s a performance Auburn hopes it can replicate as it returns home for the first time in over a month, facing a Vanderbilt team that is tricky at its worst and dangerously good at its best.
“The hope is that you come and win one on the road and it grows your confidence for the next time,” Hugh Freeze said. “Because it’s not going to get any easier with the teams we’re playing.”
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m
