Byrum Brown's Turnovers Headline Joel Gordon's Concerns Before Georgia

Auburn offensive coordinator Joel Gordon met with the media Monday ahead of the Tigers matchup against No. 1 Georgia, and there were several interesting comments about the team's offensive struggles.

Gordon discussed everything from the running game to pre-snap penalties, but one of the biggest concerns heading into Saturday is Byrum Brown's decision-making.

Here are my three biggest takeaways from Gordon's press conference.

This one seems obvious, but one of the biggest problems Auburn has experienced offensively this season has been Brown's interceptions, and Gordon acknowledged that his quarterback has to make better decisions.

Brown entered the week ranked second nationally in interceptions, and while Auburn's offensive line hasn't always helped him, Gordon made it clear that some of those mistakes are avoidable.

"There are times where it's been clear, hey, we got to make a better decision here. We're forcing the ball," Gordon said.

Gordon also mentioned that protection has contributed to some interceptions, particularly when Brown gets hit while throwing.

"Whether you're getting hit in the act of throwing or not, we got to make better decisions with the football," Gordon said.

And that's where I think Auburn has a legitimate concern heading into Georgia.

Brown's ability to create plays with his legs has been one of Auburn's biggest offensive advantages, but that doesn't mean much if the Tigers continue giving possessions away through the air.

Gordon pointed out that Brown is adjusting to a different level of competition after previously playing at South Florida, where the speed of the game wasn't necessarily the same as what he's experiencing in the SEC.

That's understandable, but Auburn is already five games into the season.

At some point, Brown has to start learning from those mistakes, especially against an opponent that doesn't need additional opportunities to score.

Gordon also acknowledged that Auburn hasn't consistently adjusted quickly enough when its original offensive approach isn't working.

Against Tennessee, the Tigers struggled with poor field position and couldn't establish much offensively until later in the game.

"We got to get to the right things a little bit faster," Gordon said.

That's important because Auburn can't continue wasting entire quarters before finding something that works.

The coaching staff has to recognize those problems earlier.

Auburn committed five false starts against Tennessee, and Gordon discussed how the coaching staff has tried to simulate difficult road environments during practice.

But he also emphasized the importance of players maintaining their composure when something goes wrong.

The Tigers are heading into another hostile environment against Georgia, and I don't think Auburn can afford another performance filled with preventable mistakes.

If Auburn wants to compete Saturday, better decision-making from Brown, quicker offensive adjustments, and fewer penalties have to be priorities.