Real-time analysis: Auburn 34 Georgia State 24

AUBURN – Welcome into Real-time analysis, our live play-by-play blog that runs throughout every Auburn football game. Today, we will be breaking down everything that transpires during No. 23 Auburn’s homecoming game against Georgia State.

This will be a stream of consciousness on things happening in the game as we analyze the hows and the whys of the Tigers game against the Panthers.

Make sure you have this page open and are refreshing throughout the game to get our thoughts on how the Tigers are performing in real time.

[Pate’s perspective: Losing always stings]

[Five questions: The Georgia State game]

Pregame

Justin Hokanson reported these injury updates Thursday evening…

Jaylin Simpson remains day-to-day and week-to-week with a groin injury.

Simpson LOOKS good going through warmups and should see his first extended action of the season today.

Owen Pappoe is questionable to play today due to an undisclosed injury. Pappoe left the game against Penn State early in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. Bryan Harsin didn’t seem too concerned about his injury when he spoke about it on Monday.

Pappoe will not play today with an undisclosed lower leg injury.

Tank Bigsby also is questionable to play today due to an undisclosed injury. Bigsby didn’t seem to be injured on Saturday, so he must have played through the pain late, and this is a lingering issue from the game.

Bigsby appears to be ready to play today. Let’s see how much action he sees, and if Auburn can get away with Jarquez Hunter and Shaun Shivers carrying the load in order to rest Bigsby.

First quarter

Colby Wooden is looking to bounce back today from a so-so performance last week..

It looks like Puckett is wearing number 10 today possibly? Meanwhile Tennison gets beat on a corner route and is bailed out by an over throw.

The two Johnsons will get the starts at receiver today.

Shenker loves to pull the rug out on the first defender.. I love it. He’s nifty.

Great protection and Nix is a little too hot with it.

A couple of inaccurate throws for Nix to start with. If he puts that one outside its a first down.

Major hit off tackle there.. OL got to the second level and cut off the linebackers. Wow.

Marcus Harris is not going to overpower anybody in the interior, but man he is quick. That was a nice stop.

Nix still looks like he’s trying to figure out how to survey the whole field. Somewhat eyeing down specific routes.

So that’s why Nehemiah Pritchett is back there.. Can he play receiver?

Another inaccurate throw in my opinion. He needed to loft it over Shenker..

Carlson is true. He needs the work today right? can’t hurt.

Georgia State had an open guy coming across.. Looked like zone coverage again.

Man coverage on the next play allows nothing on Roger’s side. That’s what he does.

Barton Lester couldn’t pass up a kill shot and will get flagged. That stuff will cause blood pressure issues for a head coach.

Nice jet sweep with Shivers. He’s got to make that last guy miss..

They went back to the out route and Nix puts it in a much better spot.

That bunch look mid zone play has been the most effective run play for Auburn this year in my opinion.. It is so tough.

Nix will never be consistent on those throws until he gets his balance right.. Did he set his feet? yes.. but he didn’t shift the weight correctly. Thats why its wild.. Did it again on the next play. He is falling onto the back foot.

Nice play call.. Tip of the hat.. Had the linebackers flowing the wrong way.

Wesley Steiner is showing why he was highly thought of. Such a quick reactor to the ball.

2nd quarter

The only play there has been real pressure was due to a blitz… You don’t want that in a game like this.

Theres some more pressure, but Auburn can’t keep him bottled up.

Woah.. Now that is very bad.. just a simple crosser and nobody ran with it.. I mean nobody. It wasn’t a tight end, just a tight slot receiver.

Luke Deal is missed on an over the middle throw.. Nix is not sharp right now.

Just another easy out route for Nix. Nothing crazy. Hudson is there and finally gets a chance to work with the ball and some space.

There’s the toss crack again.. Tell me how the inside backer who is getting cracked makes that play? He can’t do it. Great play.

Tashawn Manning is seeing some action at right guard for this drive.He replaced K. Jones.

Nix is just not comfortable with what he is seeing. They want him to survey and make a read, but he isn’t surveying.. Surely that’s the conversation on the sideline currently.

Zykeivous Walker comes in and does his job.. Wooten and Steiner don’t stay in their reads and lose the back through the middle.. That is unacceptable.

And Walker is the injured guy.. Did not see what happened there.

Georgia State is not afraid to challenge Roger, a future draft pick.. it pays off this time.

Now they go at Monday in man coverage. He never turns around to make the play.

I said before this one, Georgia State as nothing to lose and have played spoiler before.. that’s always dangerous.

Yikes.. Georgia State 17 Auburn 9

Pritchett is making plays on the kick returns and on defense. Speed kills.

Dawson is checking in now.. They gave him deep post from the slot.. He was waving his hand as he had a step but the ball was already out.

Theres a good rhythm throw by Nix. Nice catch by Shed as well.

There are zero lanes in the running game. Thats wild.

So many times Nix has not looked over the middle at the drag.. He finally did it.. It has been there.. and was there last week. Hudson earning more work right now and that’s a good thing for Auburn.

The pistol look.. Bigsby is not helping himself. stay where the movement is. Cant always get the big play.

Hudson looked like he was not expecting a throw at all.. Nix thought it was a back shoulder? Whose to say it wasn’t. Too many miscommunications.

Anders earning his money this week. 17-12 Georgia State. Wow

Moultry pursued great there.. can they keep it up?

Nice pressure just couldn’t stop the quick throw.

Oh my.. Steiner just steadily getting blocked and not trying to get off.. Oh boy.. 24-12 Georgia State.

Cant believe I am saying this.. Auburn must get in the end zone here.

The mistakes are at an all time high today.. And Georgia State has all the energy. Halftime will be fun for Auburn.. I don’t see Harsin being very nice.

Joko Willis is getting some time at the edge spot. They give Riley a shot in the box and he reads it right.. but doesn’t wrap up.. Good gracious.

Tony Fair finally bows up in the middle. Someone had to.

If I could be a fly on the wall in the locker room..

3rd quarter

A touchdown is imminent here.. Not a field goal.

Georgia State wants it more up front. Simple as that.

Finally, Wooten plays it right. If he misses that one, there’s no hope.

Auburn tried an all stand up blitz there.. It was effective, but this QB is an athlete. He has to be contained… maybe spied if you blitz like that.

There’s another blitz look.. Kaufman gets home and makes a big play. Auburn has to get on a fumble at some point this year.

Simpson is now getting some action. Nice to see him out there.

Mason decided it is time to blitz. About time I’d say.

AND some man coverage. Again, bring it on.

Great job by Wooden to penetrate and Leota to clean it up. Thats what you want. Very little time for QB there.

Shed slips a tackle.. When Auburn needed a big play the most..

Nix had him but man it was going to have to be perfect.. and you guessed it, it wasn’t.. He set his feet and had great balance.. Just couldn’t get it there.

We want TJ chant breaks out..

Hamm threw a look-out block for Nix on that one.. Just go ahead and kick him while he’s down.

McClain is back.. He’s a saving grace for now.. How much will it matter?

Leota shows up again.. Is there energy building? They damn sure better hope so.

Well that couldn’t have come at a better time.. Harsin ball.. Im saying it now.. It’s the new Beamer ball. Barton Lester again is Johnny on the spot.

Caylin Newton got a great jump.. So did Joko Willis.. HUGE.

When all hope was lost, somehow it turns into a 5 point game. 24-19 Panthers.

Colby Wooden came off the ball with some fire.. About damn time.. Georgia State has come off the ball harder all day.

All of the sudden.. Theres pressure. Energy is a weird thing.

TJ Finley joins the party.

Finley comes in and Bobo decides to go under center and run the football three straight times.. Why now?

Capers makes his first catch.. of the year possibly. That ball was on a rope.

The offensive line has been so very lackluster today in the run game. They look slower than normal.

4th quarter

Right back to Capers. He was covered. Maybe a double move coming? Georgia State trying to man up.

McClain is so much more of a presence at the inside backer.

Monday can play in the box.. So where has he been? It’s been a box game.. He made it when Auburn needed it.

This is where Finley is worrisome.. He can’t evade pressure.. and there’s going to be pressure.

Georgia State is playing so tight on the short routes.. Where is the double move? It would surely come free.. Dawson was the slot there and he had a step it looked like on a deep fade.

I would not be surprised to see Bo come back out for the next series.

Georgia State not wanting to throw the ball if they can help it.. Evidently they feel confident in holding Auburn off for 10 more minutes.. and then they go at Pritchett. He is not the matchup you try right now. He is my player of the game to this point.

There was the double move.. It just so happens Georgia State was playing soft.. Just the way the day has been going for Auburn..

Nice nifty play by Finley.. He kept his eyes over the middle and found the drag. The drag is there.. just find it.

Had Capers over the middle.. The misses are all so close today.. Too much heat on the ball..

Hey guys.. the drag is there.

Kobe got cut down and remains down.. the drag is there but when it’s late the receiver will take the hit.

Bigsby having to fight for every yard today.. In moving the pile, he gets stripped.. That kind of day.

Auburn feeling the pressure now.

Auburn gambles by bringing Kaufman and they had the swing where Kaufman left.. My goodness..

The DL comes up big again when needed.

The ball bounces the way it bounces.. Sometimes all for one side. Can Auburn overcome it? We will find out now.

Weird that Hunter has not been used more.. I don’t understand that.

So, they go back to the drag and this time early.. but again, too much heat on the ball.

And back to the out route.. Those have been there all day. I credit Bobo for going back to what is working.

Canion joins the party. Clock management will be interesting here.

That should be a nice shot in the arm for Finley.. Hopefully he doesn’t put more heat on the ball..

Another nice play by Finley.. He’s showing some mobility that he’s never shown..

Soft hands Shenker on a short post. Can they finish?

You’d have to think the way this one has gone, this review won’t be fruitful for Auburn.

The clock is a major factor obviously.. But how do they manage? This will be very telling.

The tunnel screen wasn’t a bad thought.. They were thinking a sell out for the run..

A heater when it should have floated.. Thats the concern.

Well I’ll be damned. Shed with the mic drop. Why Finley turned the way he did.. I don’t know.. Throw the rule book out for this one.. Just escape.

Nice time for Shed’s first TD.. right?

Tampa 2 coverage.. Wooten was back at the midfield logo.. No deep balls… Keep the pressure turned up to 11.

And the annual Smoke Monday pick 6 to complete the act.

The Tigers escape. 34-24