Auburn Football's Offensive Line Faces Critical Test Against Mississippi State

Auburn's offensive line has struggled to find consistency throughout the season, and things aren't expected to get any easier when the Tigers travel to Mississippi State on Saturday.

And considering how Auburn's offense started against Arkansas last weekend, that's certainly a concern.

Auburn managed just 27 yards on its first 26 offensive plays against Arkansas before finally putting together a scoring drive late in the first half.

The Tigers eventually found their rhythm offensively and came away with a 26-23 victory, but the slow start was another example of the problems that have followed Auburn throughout the season.

And head coach Alex Golesh knows his offensive line will face another difficult challenge this weekend.

During Wednesday's press conference, Golesh discussed what makes Mississippi State's defense particularly difficult to prepare for.

"These guys are good up front. They're good at the second level. The corners are really good players," Golesh said.

Mississippi State's defensive scheme also creates problems because of the different looks the Bulldogs can present, especially on third down.

"Scheme is tough because it's so multiple. But personnel is really good, too," Golesh said.

And that's important for an Auburn offensive line that has already dealt with its share of problems this season.

The Tigers have been forced to make several changes up front because of injuries, making it difficult to establish much consistency.

Auburn used its fifth different starting offensive line combination of the season against Arkansas, and Cole Skinner was among the players who received opportunities.

But despite those challenges, Golesh said the coaching staff continues to push the offensive line to improve.

"Those guys are working, man. They they continue to get challenged in big ways by everybody," Golesh said.

"We got to play really long on the O-line this week."

And while Auburn's offensive line has certainly contributed to the team's struggles, Golesh believes the problems on early downs go beyond one position group.

When asked Wednesday about Auburn's emphasis on creating more manageable third-down situations, Golesh pointed to execution.

"It's execution. It really is. It's detail," Golesh said.

"It sounds like coach speak, but it is truly detail and execution, and it's guys winning one-on-one matchups, early downs."

That's something Auburn has struggled with throughout the season.

The Tigers have repeatedly put themselves in difficult situations by failing to generate consistent production on first and second down.

And when that happens, it becomes much more difficult to sustain drives, especially against defenses that can create pressure on obvious passing downs.

Auburn eventually overcame those problems against Arkansas, with quarterback Byrum Brown accounting for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.

But the Tigers can't continue relying on those kinds of second-half performances to overcome their offensive struggles.

And that's especially true against a Mississippi State defense that Golesh believes presents several difficult challenges.

Auburn has an opportunity to earn its sixth victory of the season Saturday, but the Tigers will need a more complete offensive performance to make that happen.

That starts with establishing some consistency along the offensive line and finding ways to stay ahead of the chains.

Because if Auburn continues struggling on early downs, Mississippi State's defense could make things difficult throughout the afternoon.

And considering how many problems Auburn has already experienced offensively this season, that's something Golesh and his coaching staff certainly want to avoid.