Bryan Harsin provides health update, evaluation of quarterback room
The heat is on Bryan Harsin and Auburn following a 41-12 blowout loss to Penn State on Saturday, and the quarterback situation is at the forefront of a long list of issues.
The Tigers have played both TJ Finley and Robby Ashford at the position since the start of the season, though Finley has served as the starter. However, after Finley struggled to start against the Nittany Lions, Ashford replaced him in the third quarter and finished out the game.
Harsin said postgame that Finley’s shoulder was “banged up,” but in a press conference Monday confirmed that both players will be ready to go for Saturday’s game against Missouri.
“They’re good,” Harsin said. “They weren’t the only two on either side of the ball. I mean, it’s football. But those guys are good going into this week.”
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Ashford went on to finish the game 10-of-19 passing for 144 yards, a touchdown and an interception compared to 11-of-19 for 152 yards, no touchdowns and an interception for Finley. Ashford also rushed for 29 yards, while Finley added 21.
Harsin also used Ashford in the first half, alternating with Finley. Ashford briefly appeared on the Tigers’ first series, and he started their second possession. Asked afterward if the blowout nature of the loss made it any more difficult to evaluate both players’ performance, Harsin gave a clear answer.
“It doesn’t make it difficult to assess,” he said. “I mean, the situation’s difficult. But you just watch the plays. Watching how they execute them. Watch the operation and all that. It’s still — you can evaluate that. Sometimes you get into the last final few minutes of the game, and you’re trying to do some things crazy to get back into it. That’s hard. You’re just trying to make plays.
“We still had time. If you think about it, halftime it’s 14-6. That’s just something we learn from. We’re on to Missouri. We’ve taken that information from this game. We’ve applied it. We’re on to the next thing and I think we’ll learn from that. When we get in those same situations, we’ll be better.”
As last week’s game grew increasingly out of hand, many were surprised that Bryan Harsin did not look toward third-string quarterback Zach Calzada at all. A transfer from Texas A&M, Calzada started 10 games for the Aggies last season after starter Haynes King went down with injury. He was thought to be in the race for the starting job this preseason, but has yet to see any action.
“He’s competed like everybody else,” Harsin said of Calzada. “Every single week those guys get opportunities and we try to play the best players. That’s what happens from Sunday through Friday.”
Auburn is set to kick off against Missouri at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday for homecoming.