Making Fromm uncomfortable key for Auburn D

AUBURN | Auburn’s defense has proven it can stymie the nation’s best offense, holding LSU to 23 points three weeks ago, less than half its average.

No. 5 Georgia won’t bring near as good of an offense to Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday but they will bring a veteran quarterback in Jake Fromm, who has a 2-1 record over the Tigers.

"You look at them offensively, it starts with Jake Fromm,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “Really feel like he’s one of the better players at any position in all of college football. You look at his career, he’s been very consistent. He’s a tough guy.”

Fromm, a junior, has completed 156 of 233 passes for 1,858 yards with 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His 67.0 percent completion percentage ranks third in the SEC.

“You’ve got to make him uncomfortable,” Malzahn said. “He’s got a very good command of his offense. He doesn’t hold the ball long. He knows where to go with it. He can throw the ball away and when he has to he can be a running threat, too. I just think he’s a complete guy. Of course, we’ve played him numerous times. We played him right out here two years ago as a true freshman. He showed a lot of toughness. He’s one of the best. That’s what I believe.”

Auburn held LSU quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-low one touchdown pass and sacked the Heisman Trophy favorite three times. It’s been seniors Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson, who have both earned three SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week awards this season, that have instrumental in AU’s defensive resurgence.

Brown and Davidson have combined for 17.0 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks. But Fromm has only been sacked three times this season and UGA's five total sacks allowed ranks first in the SEC.

“Jake’s a great quarterback,” Brown said. “I remember playing against him last time he was here, last year, in the SEC Championship — I mean the guy’s just poised. You’ve got to be able to make him uncomfortable. If you let him sit back there and pick you apart all day, then you’re making his job real easy and you’re putting yourself in for a long day. So being able to affect him, that’s going to be one of our main goals this week.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.