Many view the SEC’s schedule this weekend as an opportunity for teams to get a breather and an easy win against FCS opponents.

Just don’t say that to Gus Malzahn.

He’s not buying the idea that Samford, this week’s foe, is an opportunity for younger players to get playing time. Or that this game serves as a tune-up for a certain rivalry game in two weeks.

Auburn is coming off a less-than-stellar two game stretch, and Malzahn wants his team to approach this week’s game as a chance to improve.

“There are strategies to every game, but like I said we need to go out there, we need to play well, we need to get that edge and we’re going to do that,” Malzahn told AL.com. “Hopefully no one gets injured and all that, but that’s part of the game of football. We need to play well this week.”

Malzahn admitted on his radio show earlier this week that he believed the home loss to Texas A&M carried over to last week’s loss at Georgia.

The Tigers are in the midst of a historically bad stretch defensively, while the offense put forth its worst offensive output of the Malzahn era last week in Athens.

Many expect Malzahn to play a lot of reserves and younger players, though the Tigers’ head coach is hesitant to say as much.

“We’re planning to get our edge back, play better and try to get better in all three areas,” Malzahn said. “If the opportunity presents itself, it would be great to get those young guys in to play.”