Alex Golesh Sends Strong Message by Sidelining Xavier Atkins Against Georgia

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The Auburn Tigers are set to have their most difficult task ahead this weekend against No. 1 Georgia, and that task just became even harder.

Head coach Alex Golesh announced Monday that linebacker Xavier Atkins will not play against the Bulldogs, with the decision reportedly stemming from disciplinary issues.

"We'll keep it in house. That'll be the only piece of it that I will be addressing. He won't be available for us this week for the game," Golesh said.

Atkins has dealt with disciplinary issues throughout the season, including being late to or missing mandatory meetings and concerns about his practice habits.

Reports and rumors over the weekend also indicated that defensive players had asked Golesh and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to hold Atkins accountable.

It obviously isn't the right timing, and things like this never are, but I think Golesh is making the right decision as he looks to find stability in his first year as the head coach at Auburn.

Atkins has arguably been one of Auburn's best defensive players this season, recording 37 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception through five games.

His 7.5 tackles for loss rank fifth in the SEC, while his 26 solo tackles rank fourth.

Those aren't numbers Auburn can easily replace, especially against a Georgia offense averaging 211.8 rushing yards per game.

Auburn has already struggled to stop opposing rushing attacks this season, allowing Florida's Jadan Baugh to rush for 162 yards before Tennessee found success running the football with DeSean Bishop.

Now the Tigers have to address those problems without one of their most productive defenders.

Sophomore Bryce Deas is expected to receive an increased role alongside Elijah Melendez, while Demarcus Riddick could also see additional opportunities as he continues working his way back from last season's shoulder injury.

But replacing Atkins' production isn't going to be easy.

There's also a bigger conversation here about the standards Golesh is trying to establish at Auburn. Throughout the offseason, Golesh emphasized accountability and discipline as important parts of rebuilding this program.

And while Auburn certainly needs Atkins on Saturday, those standards can't suddenly change because the Tigers are facing the No. 1 team in the country.

If anything, this is an opportunity for Golesh to show that accountability applies to everybody, regardless of their importance to the team.

That doesn't make losing Atkins any less frustrating.

Auburn was already facing significant questions about its run defense heading into Athens, and losing an All-American linebacker creates another problem for Durkin to solve.

But if Golesh is serious about changing the culture at Auburn, sometimes that means making decisions that hurt the team in the short term.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they'll have to deal with the consequences against Georgia.

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