Sept. 17, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - The compliments on their solid defensive play only went so far for linebacker Tre' Williams and tackle Montravius Adams.
An Auburn defense that forced five goals, and frustrated Texas A&M on third-down plays, shrugged off its play, saying it wasn't good enough because the Aggies won 29-16 Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"We are the Auburn Tigers, and we play as one. If one side is not doing well, the other side has to pick it up," Williams said.
"It's our jobs. That's what we're there for, to put the fires out. If the offense isn't having a good night, it's our job" to stop the other team.
Coach Gus Malzahn found it easy to praise the defense. "I thought our defense played very well."
But Adams, team guy, said the defense could have done better.
"I don't feel like we played well enough, and the reason being no one ever said the defense couldn't score. Maybe we could have caught two Pick Sixes," Adams said.
Texas A&M converted only two of 15 third-down plays and asked Daniel LaCamera to kick five field goals.
"Some people see those things as a good thing, of course, it's a good thing they didn't get in the end zone. But we still have to stop them," Williams said. "We've got to get off the field on third down. That's a major key."
The Aggies finished with 478 yards, and didn't relinquish the lead after going up 10-7 early in the second quarter. Texas A&M was 5-for-5 in the red zone, but only one of those scores was a touchdown.
"That's just up bowing up. In the red zone that's when we really know we have to man up," Williams said.
Auburn's offense was 6-of-17 on third-down conversions, but was limited to a first-quarter touchdown, a touchdown with three minutes remaining and a Daniel Carlson field goal.
"We should be able to pick them up," Adams said.
Linebacker Deshaun Davis forcing field goals only goes so far in a team game.
"I wouldn't say confidence because as a defense you never want to see points go up on the board. That's our standard. That's who we are."
Williams said the Tigers will be back, starting with next Saturday's game against LSU.
"Some people are down, but that's when the leaders have to come up," he said. "We're only in the third game of the season. It's a long season. We've just got to stay up and get ready for the next game."
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine