What does Auburn need to fix statistically to win more games in 2023?

It's no secret that 2022 was a rough football season on the Plains.

Many variables, including subpar coaching, played a huge role in this, but the question is, what has to change in 2023 for this team to exceed expectations?

The first important thing was to land a quality head coach, and so far, it seems like Hugh Freeze was the correct answer on that front.

The second step was to take this roster to the next level via finishing strong with the 2023 recruiting class and hitting the transfer portal hard.

Coach Freeze checked that box within his first month back in the SEC.

Now as we close in on A-Day, it's a great time to reflect on the Tigers' painful season in 2022 and talk about what changes could lead to more wins in 2023.

Scoring More Points

Well, this one is about as straightforward as it gets, but to win football games, you have to move the football, and this was a struggle in 2022.

Auburn finished 11th in the SEC in points per game at 24.75. To put this into perspective, Auburn scored 297 points in 2022, only two more points than Vanderbilt.

It's safe to say this is not where Auburn wants to be.

How does the offense improve in 2023? Well, one way will be putting the minds of Coach Freeze and OC Philip Montgomery together to help this offense succeed. Freeze is widely considered an outstanding offensive mind, so hopefully, he will be able to help this team move the football with just his knowledge of the game.

The next thing needed to help this team move the ball easier will be offensive line play. It was horrendous in 2022. The minute Coach Freeze stepped off the airplane, he started getting offensive linemen from the portal and high school. The reports from spring practice are that this offensive line is looking really good, which if true will be a massive boost for this football team.

Quarterback play has to improve as well. Robby Ashford showed flashes in 2022, but whoever is quarterbacking this football team in 2023 will need to be a lot better than we saw a season ago. Perhaps the answer is grabbing a quarterback from the portal, but if this is the answer, we won't know anything for a while.

Lastly, on offense, the wide receivers need to make their presence felt. Some of the issues with receivers in 2022 weren't their fault, as the offensive line and quarterback play was rough, but these guys need to be good in 2023. Auburn had one top 50 receiver yardage-wise in the SEC a season ago, and that was Ja'Varrius Johnson with 493 yards. If this team wants to win more games in 2023, they will need two to three receivers in the top 50 come the end of next season.

Forcing More Turnovers

Auburn forced the fewest turnovers in the SEC in 2022. Six interceptions and seven fumble recoveries gave the Tigers 13 total turnovers. This number is not going to get it done. To expand more on this stat, Auburn's 13 turnovers gained would put them tied for 113th in FBS.

Winning the turnover margin leads to more points on the scoreboard, and Auburn rarely did this in 2022.

If the Tigers could force more turnovers in 2023, it would help the offense out a ton, as turnovers often lead to good field position.

Auburn will have a stout defense in 2023, so hopefully, on the back of a talented defensive back room, Auburn will win the turnover margin more than they lose it this season.

Fixing Some Things On Special Teams

In 2022 Auburn had a field goal percentage of 75. That was middle of the road in the SEC but needs to improve.

Anders Carlson had a rough go of it in 2022 but has since moved on, and it is Alex McPherson's time to shine now.

McPherson was 6-7 on field goals in 2022 with a long of 51 yards. This young kicker is accurate and has a powerful leg. He should be able to make field goals at a pretty high percentage which will help this team out a lot.

Having a kicker who you are confident can split the posts with ease helps coaches sleep at night, and the Tigers have that in McPherson.

The other numbers related to special teams that need to improve are kickoff and punt returns. Auburn was ninth in the SEC in kickoff returns a season ago, but their longest return was only 31 yards. Their longest punt return was only 22 yards.

Well, I wonder what could fix this issue. Oh, I know how about All-American kick-returner Brian Battie.

Battie is a dynamic return man and should help this team have great returns in the kickoff and punt game.

A big return always seems to spark an offense, which the Tigers lacked in 2022. Battie will be that spark for the Tigers this season, setting them up with favorable field position often.

If the Tigers make these changes heading into the 2023 season, you can expect more wins in the Tiger's first season, led by Coach Freeze.

Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

Join the Discord

Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter

Like Auburn Daily on Facebook

Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

Buy Auburn Daily Merch