A-Day is here for the Tigers, meaning the annual spring game is set to take place at 4:00 p.m. on the SEC Network. Auburn has a lot of things to work out after a disappointing 7-6 season in 2015, so what do you need to look for in the spring game to see if the Tigers are improving?
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QB race: John Franklin III
Auburn has been giving the former Florida State quarterback a lot of reps in spring practices to see just how well the speedster fits in with the offense.
Reports for Franklin have been very high so far, and it will be interesting to see just how many reps he gets in the actual spring game. If he plays a lot and looks good playing, that might mean that he has passed the level of quarterback play that the Tigers got in the 2015 season from Jeremy Johnson and Sean White.
Who stands out on defense?
Auburn's biggest problem in 2015 was that the defense could not get off the field when they needed it. The Tigers were one of the worst defenses on third downs, as teams were consistently able to put together plays of 7-plus yards on third down to extend drives.
What Auburn needs is a playmaker. It is possible that defensive end Carl Lawson is again that guy, but he needs to stay healthy. In addition to Lawson, Auburn could always use a second defensive option in terms of making plays. Look at guys like Montavius Adams, or even freshman Marlon Davidson, who has received enormous praise so far.
Can the receivers actually catch the football?
Oh boy, the receiver corps in 2015 was... not great. It's safe to say that Auburn could use a breakout performance from someone in the 2016 season, or at least consistency in catching balls that are exactly on target.
Even if it's just spring, a case of the drops from the receivers would be a bad sign.
Enjoy the game!
