Auburn’s high-scoring win against Idaho got the Tigers bowl eligibleand gives Gus Malzahn a little breathing room against Alabama. Here’s an analysis of Auburn’s 56-34 victory:

5 TAKEAWAYS

  • Remember, Jeremy Johnson has got a pretty good arm: Faith in Johnson’s quarterback ability has been low for most of the season, but his performance in recent games is rebuilding that faith. He made the most of his opportunities throwing the ball against Idaho and came away with fantastic results just when Auburn needed them the most. Johnson completed 13 of 19 passes for 163 and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he had no interceptions.
  • Tony Stevens and Marcus Davis make reliable targets: While Ricardo Louis was the go-to receiver during the first half of the season, both Stevens and Davis have made great grabs in recent games. Both made three catches against Idaho, Davis for 22 yards and Stevens for 28 and a touchdown. Louis was 4-for-90 and a touchdown.
  • Auburn’s defense struggled when it shouldn’t have : After holding Texas A&M and Georgia to around 300 yards, Auburn allowed Idaho 356 yards in passing alone. In total, Idaho gained 479 yards, which shouldn’t happen against a 3-8 team with far less talent. Could it be that they are saving their energy for Alabama?
  • Jovon Robinson could be the run game’s best bet against Alabama: In games where he has been the primary ballcarrier, Robinson has shown that he is fast and able to extend plays with defenders on his back. He has also shown the ability to push the line of scrimmage, which can make him tough to stop. His true test will be against the Tide’s brick wall of a defense. Robinson had 99 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries Saturday night.
  • Tucker Tuberville makes an appearance: With a sizable lead, Tommy Tuberville’s son came in during the fourth quarter as Auburn’s quarterback. Although many fans wanted him to, he didn’t have the chance to use his arm very much, electing instead to either hand it off or run it himself.

REPORT CARD

Offense: (A) – Up-tempo, effective, and dynamic, Auburn offense played how it should have against a defense that’s struggled all year.

Defense: (B-minus) – Aside from easing up on the throttle and letting Idaho score 34 points, Auburn’s defense was able to create some big plays.

Special teams: (A-plus) –From Johnathan Ford delivering huge hits to punter Kevin Phillips running for a first down on a trick play, Auburn’s special teams were firing on all cylinders. And for once, kicker Daniel Carlson wasn’t the main reason why, although he did go 8-for-8 on extra points.

Coaching: (A) – Gus Malzahn and his staff took advantage of the nonconference opponent to build momentum and confidence on all sides of the team.

Overall: (A) – Auburn was able to play at a level it was expected to against a 3-8 Idaho who’s in 10th place in the 11-team Sun Belt Conference with its only wins all year coming against Wofford, Troy and Louisiana-Monroe.

GAME PLAN

Auburn used the run game to establish their offense, gaining 297 yards on the ground. The Tigers continued playing with a quick tempo, which allowed quick passing opportunities for Johnson. As the game progressed, Johnson made more throws down the middle and made good choices on option plays.

GAME BALLS

  • QB Jeremy Johnson: Johnson went 13 of 19 for 163 yards and two touchdowns through the air and also ran five times for 23 yards and two touchdowns.
  • WR Ricardo Louis: In addition to downing a huge 56-yard pass from Johnson, Louis made three other receptions for a total of 90 yards and a touchdown.
  • DB Johnathan Ford: His performance against Idaho proved just how valuable Ford can be, whether he’s delivering the boom on special teams or tapping into his old running back skills to pick his way across the field on a pick-six.

INJURY REPORT

  • C Austin Golson, OL Shon Coleman, and QB Sean White all sat out the Idaho game in the hopes that they will be 100 percent healthy against Alabama.