FIRST CALL | Auburn’s 24 Missed Tackles Are UNACCEPTABLE! What Must Change After Florida Loss?

Auburn football’s 44-39 loss to Florida still stings, and the biggest concern coming out of the game is impossible to ignore: 24 missed tackles. On this Monday edition of Auburn Daily’s First Call, Christian Rauh and Daryl Dapprich break down the defensive mistakes, missed opportunities and discipline issues that cost the Tigers a chance to beat the Gators at Jordan-Hare Stadium.According to Pro Football Focus, Auburn was credited with 24 missed tackles against Florida, including five apiece for Xavier Atkins and Da’Shawn Womack. Christian and Daryl explain how missed tackles near the line of scrimmage turned potential stops into manageable third downs, extended Florida drives and contributed to explosive plays. They revisit a particularly frustrating touchdown run on third and long and discuss why Auburn cannot afford to keep giving opponents extra yards in SEC play.But the defense was not Auburn’s only problem.Despite scoring 39 points, the Tigers failed to capitalize on several opportunities, including a possession that began at Florida’s eight-yard line following an interception but ended in a field goal. Christian and Daryl examine how those missed chances, costly penalties and Florida’s 17 unanswered points around halftime changed the game.With Alex Golesh taking responsibility for the loss, the conversation turns to what Auburn can actually fix. Is this simply part of the process in Golesh’s first season, or does the coaching staff need to make personnel changes to improve tackling and discipline? Daryl argues that players who consistently wrap up and avoid unnecessary penalties need opportunities, regardless of their experience.The Tigers now turn their attention to Vanderbilt. Christian asks what a meaningful improvement in tackling would look like, and Daryl sets a target of fewer than 10 missed tackles in the next game.Later in the show, Daryl shares his firsthand experience covering Auburn versus Florida from the press box and sidelines at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He discusses interactions with some members of the Florida media, including an incident he recalls from the Final Four, and explains why he believes journalists should maintain professional standards while covering rivalry games. Those observations reflect Daryl’s personal experiences, not a characterization of every Florida reporter.Can Auburn clean up its tackling before facing Vanderbilt? Should DJ Durkin and the defensive staff consider personnel changes? And how much of the Florida loss falls on missed opportunities by the offense?Join Christian Rauh and Daryl Dapprich for First Call, Auburn Daily’s morning show covering Auburn Tigers football, SEC matchups and the biggest stories on the Plains.#AuburnFootball #AuburnTigers #WarEagle Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.