Oct. 26, 2017
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. -- The bye week could not have come at a better time for Auburn.
This is a team that has a number of players banged up on both sides of the ball, but the offensive line, in particular, has been ravaged by injuries this season. It's probably felt like a game of musical chairs up front as the coaches have had to run out five different starting combinations over the past six games.
"This has been a pretty unique year from the standpoint we've never had this many different lineups up front," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said during Wednesday's SEC teleconference. "I think it's really a tribute to the guys up front and the depth that we're able to execute at a pretty high level with the different lineups and different combinations."
First, there was the injury to right tackle Darius James in the Mercer game. The next week at Missouri, Auburn moved Austin Golson from center to right tackle and inserted graduate transfer Casey Dunn into the lineup at center. The following week, when James returned, Golson switched sides and replaced Prince Tega Wanogho at left tackle, while Dunn remained at center. That group -- Golson, Mike Horton, Dunn, Braden Smith and James -- started back-to-back games against Mississippi State and Ole Miss before Horton left the Ole Miss game with an injury.
At LSU the next week, Golson moved inside to left guard to replace Horton and Wanogho returned to left tackle, but just when it looked like Dunn found a home at center, he suffered an injury. As a result, the most recent starting five against Arkansas this past weekend included, from left to right, Wanogho, first-time starter Marquel Harrell, Golson, Smith and James.
Looking ahead, the good news is that Dunn, Horton and James -- who was carted off the field in the Arkansas game -- were all practicing this week in a limited fashion, per Malzahn.
"This week, we're going to make sure they're healthy, make sure there are no tweaks and stuff like that," Malzahn said. "When we get to Sunday, I'll know a lot more. But so far so good. Everybody is out there with their pads on."
Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is also optimistic about finally getting everybody healthy up front in time for the Texas A&M game a week from Saturday.
"I feel good about it," Lindsey said. "The one positive is some guys have filled in and got some playing time, which provides more depth as we go down this stretch run. But I'm excited to get those guys back. Hopefully they'll all be back and ready to go."
The two constants on the offensive line this season have been Smith and Golson -- the two seniors who have started every game for the Tigers.
Smith, who has started 35 consecutive games dating back to 2014, has not moved from his right guard position since 2015. Golson, on the other hand, has started at least one game at every spot except right guard this season. He's been Mr. Versatility for this Auburn team.
"You can't overvalue [Golson] at all," Lindsey said. "He's a guy that's intelligent and can play all five spots. That's been huge for us because certain guys fit in certain spots, but he's definitely a guy that can play all five and gives you some flexibility when you lose a guy. I think in multiple games he's been used in several different spots."
As the month of November looms, it's important now more than ever that the offensive line get healthy. Upcoming games against Texas A&M, No. 3 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama will ultimately determine the fate of Auburn's season.
"We're going to have to execute at a high level," Malzahn said. "Hopefully, we can settle in, get our guys back, and I think that will help with execution."
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf