Can Auburn's offensive line develop the consistency it needs in time?
The Tigers' most-experienced position group is also one of the most scrutinized. After an offseason full of constant change, will they be able to deliver?
C Nick Brahms (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)
If the single biggest topic in The Discourse™ about the 2021 Auburn football team is Bo Nix, the five linemen tasked with protecting him on each and every snap is a close second.
Since the Tigers smashed and dashed their way to the SEC Championship Game in 2017, the offensive line has gotten a strong amount of criticism. And they’ve heard it.
“We know what we’ve done and how much work we’ve put in in the springtime and summertime,” center Nick Brahms said at the start of fall camp. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that. We work hard all year long for these kinds of opportunities to play football in the fall. We try to block out the noise. We don’t really listen to people because at the end of the day we’re the ones on the field and we’re the ones blocking people.
“We’ll just do that to the best of our ability and get the job done any way we can. That’s our mindset. We’re going to be tough guys and lead this football team.”
Auburn’s 2017…