Player Ratings: Auburn-Oregon
The following ratings are awarded on a 1-10 scale to the top 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players, and three substitutes for Auburn in today’s game.
Auburn Offense:
Cam Newton, QB – 8.0
An off-game for the Heisman winner still looked good on the stat sheet: 265 passing yards and 65 rushing yards for two touchdowns; also recorded an interception.
Mike Dyer, TB – 8.0
The freshman’s biggest day of the season comes on the biggest stage; recorded 143 rushing yards and his 37-yard scamper late in the fourth sealed the win.
Eric Smith, HB – 4.5
The typically-reliable fullback missed a block leading to a sack on Cam Newton, dropped a touchdown pass, and earned a personal foul penalty.
Darvin Adams, WR – 7.0
Despite missing out on what would have been a long touchdown reception, Adams was his opportunistic self, grabbing four balls for 54 yards.
Terrell Zachery, WR – 7.0
T-Zach was a monster in his final game as a Tiger: six catches for 48 yards.
Kodi Burns, WR – 6.5
How’s about a touchdown reception for the former quarterback? Burns wrapped up his Auburn career with a popular TD grab in the second quarter.
Lee Ziemba, LT – 7.0
Ziemba reverted back to his old self with a fourth quarter holding call, but was a warrior on the blind side for the better part of the evening.
Mike Berry, LG – 7.5
Perhaps the most alert O-lineman of the night, he boosted his draft stock by a round and a half.
Ryan Pugh, C – 7.0
Senior center capped off a big season with a big game: Pugh punched holes up the middle all night for Mike Dyer.
Byron Isom, RG – 7.0
Anchored the blocking on several of Cam Newton’s stronger runs and leaves the field as one of Auburn’s all time most underrated blockers.
Brandon Mosley, RT – 7.0
Had his hands full with the Oregon ends, but continued his maturation as a stellar O-lineman.
**
Auburn Defense:
Antoine Carter, DE – 7.0
Owned the fourth quarter, breaking up a pass and harassing quarterback Darron Thomas.
Nick Fairley, DT – 9.0 (Star of the Game)
Let’s see: five tackles (three for a loss of 14 total yards), a forced fumble, and a sack? Yeah, he’s your Star of the Game.
Mike Blanc, DT – 7.0
His tackle on LaMichael James for a safety was a momentum-swinger.
Nosa Eguae, DE – 6.0
A solid outing with four tackles and one tackle-for-loss.
Craig Stevens, OLB – 6.5
The senior led the linebacking corps with five solo tackles.
Josh Bynes, MLB – 5.5
Helped control the Oregon run game from the Mike spot; registered two tackles of his own.
Daren Bates, OLB – 5.0
Wasn’t a big factor (one tackle) as he alternated with Eltoro Freeman the entire game.
Neiko Thorpe, CB – 4.5
Got burned, repeatedly, as Kirk Herbstreit so aptly pointed out. Only one solo tackle on the evening.
Zac Etheridge, S – 7.0
Only three tackles, but a timely interception helped Auburn keep Oregon off the board early.
Mike McNeil, S – 8.0
A breakout game for the junior, thanks to some seldom-seen aggressiveness that resulted in a team-high 14 tackles.
Demond Washington, CB – 7.5
The little man played big in the first half: a major hit on quarterback Darron Thomas and an interception set the tone for his seven-tackle night.
**
Auburn Key Subs:
Emory Blake, WR – 7.5
The sophomore was a game-changer, hauling in four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
T’Sharvan Bell, CB – 7.0
Came up big for the second-straight game, recording five tackles for the Auburn secondary.
Onterio McCalebb, TB – 6.5
Couldn’t really get the outside run working, but still notched 47 yards rushing.
The Jungle Cat is an online magazine dedicated to Auburn Tigers Football, written by David Smith.
