The Auburn Tigers looked like a finished team in early September, a team that would go 6-6 and not make any difference in the Southeastern Conference or compete for a major bowl game. However, the Tigers have managed to turn around their season. Starting in the month of October, their offense revved into high gear. That’s obviously a source of why they’re doing well, but let’s provide more specific details in order to explain this team’s reversal.
Offensive Line Blocking Schemes And Play Calls Are Organized And Effective
The Auburn running game didn’t work in the first four weeks of the season. The Tigers weren’t able to overpower opponents, nor were they able to get opposing defenses off balance with the use of a high-tempo approach. What marked a turning point was when head coach Gus Malzahn ceded control of play calls to offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. With that move, Auburn became more organized and cohesive in terms of blocking schemes. Runners are now finding holes, but what’s more is that they’re timing their runs to get through the holes. They’re making their cuts at the right times and angles. The pieces of the puzzle now fit in a way they didn’t in late September.
The Quarterback Spot Has Been Figured Out
The 2015 Auburn season went nowhere because Jeremy Johnson didn’t work out at quarterback. The 2016 season began with Johnson, Sean White, and John Franklin III all in the mix. Malzahn rotated and switched quarterbacks in the season opener against Clemson, and the results were a total mess. Auburn scored only 13 points and failed to win a game in which it held Clemson to 19. Even when Auburn won a game against LSU, it failed to score a single touchdown. The defense gave up only 13 points and Auburn kicked six field goals for an 18-13 win.
What happened after the quarterback switching in September is that Malzahn settled on Sean White at quarterback. This past weekend against Ole Miss, White made big passing plays and running plays alike. He has become comfortable within the offense and is a legitimate threat.
The Running Backs Have Picked Up The Slack
When running back Jovon Robinson was dismissed from the team in the summer, Auburn lost its best rusher from 2015, the man who was expected to carry the rushing attack this season. However, Kamryn Pettway has stepped in and made up the difference. With a lot of power and enough speed to make a difference, Pettway has become a revelation. The offensive line and the quarterback help, but they wouldn’t matter if Pettway hadn’t become the featured back in this offense. This area has become a steadying presence on the team, which pairs well with the strong defense.
Auburn Has A Strong Defense
This is the cornerstone of the team. While the offense has been turned from a weakness into a strength, the defense is the number one strength on this team.
Take a look at the recent numbers: they are quite impressive. The Tigers gave up 29 to Ole Miss last week, which isn’t bad. Before that, they held No. 3 Arkansas to three points. Before that, they muted Mississippi State to the tune of 14 points. Before that, UL Monroe was held to seven points. Before that, LSU was held to 13 points. On the season, Auburn has allowed more than 19 points in a game just twice: to Texas A&M and Ole Miss last week. That’s quite impressive.
Carl Lawson is anchoring the defensive line. The linebackers are very effective in run support. The secondary did give up some pass plays against Ole Miss in a comparatively shaky performance, but it still held the fort in the final 10 minutes to seal the win. The defense has done its job all year long and gives Auburn a chance to contend for the SEC West title. They might even challenge No. 1 in the Iron Bowl come Saturday, November 26th. The Crimson Tide thought that it their rivalry game with the Tigers would be a breeze and while it very well might be, the Tigers should prove to be much stronger than the Tide perceived.
