Bryan Harsin updates competition at right guard, offensive line play

Bryan Harsin and the Auburn Tigers won their first game against Mercer fairly easily. That doesn’t mean that they won’t be facing major questions moving forward. That includes questions about the Auburn offensive line and the right guard position.

While speaking to the media, Bryan Harsin spoke about the right guard competition Keiondre Jones and Kameron Stutts. He also broke down the offensive line play as a whole.

“We’ll see how the week goes and all that,” Bryan Harsin said. “I thought both guys played well.”

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“You know, we didn’t have a ton of penetration up front. So, for the most part, I thought we did a good job that way there wasn’t very many guys in the backfield and that’s kind of what you gauge in the run game,” Bryan Harsin said.

“I thought both guys covered up, ran their feet, did what they were supposed to do, and that happened back in camp too. Probably Stutts had a little upper hand. KJ started coming on. So, both guys, you know, we’re just trying to figure out who that right guard position is and, you know, something happens at center or left guard too, right, those guys, they can bump around. They can play both. So, we’ll continue with that formula right now unless something changes. But, I thought they both played pretty good.”

Keiondre Jones is the returning starter at Auburn, a four-star recruit from the Class of 2019. He has been pushed for the starting job by Kameron Stutts, a three-star recruit from the Class of 2018.

“So, overall the offensive line, I think they were solid,” Bryan Harsin said. “You know, we ran the ball well. We did some good things…But, overall, I thought the o-line, protection wise, run game wise, was pretty solid.”

Bryan Harsin explained the decision to play two quarterbacks in Week 1

Offensive line isn’t the only position where there is still a competition. Bryan Harsin also chose to play two quarterbacks against Mercer. This was a decision he explained, after previously announcing TJ Finley would be the starter.

“We had to play three in 2019 when I was at Boise,” Harsin said. “The third guy ended up being undefeated and the MVP of the championship game. You start with one, guy gets hurt and we were 12-1 and lost one game by three points that year and played three quarterbacks. To me this whole one-quarterback system, I think everybody feels like if you have two guys playing there’s some controversy or the one guy’s not good enough. I just look at it like, ‘These guys are all football players. They’re here to play just like our tailbacks. Just like our tight ends. Just like are linebackers.’ And if they’re good enough to play, then we should find a role for them.”

“Philosophically, ever since I’ve been an offensive coordinator, we always did that. If guys deserve to play, we try to find a role. Not as much as we do now maybe with our QBs, but we try to get guys on the field.”