Was that the 2013 Auburn Tigers we saw in the 42-35 win over South Carolina?

After five games, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee used the bye week to make a few tweaks. The Tigers got back to what they do best.

The result?

A season-high 395 rushing yards, 551 yards of total offense and 42 points. Head coach Gus Malzahn had emphasized that his offense needed to improve on the perimeter of the field, and it did just that. Auburn notched a season-high 152 yards outside the tackles against the Gamecocks.

Gone were the deep throws to Sammie Coates. Gone were the posts and outs 15-yards or more down the field, and gone were the ill-advised throws into double coverage.

For an offense that sputtered most of the way through the Tigers’ 5-1 start, there was a sense of urgency. There was a sense of accepting that no defense has shown the capability to stop or even slow down Malzahn’s zone-read attack.

It wasn’t happen stance that Auburn played its best offensive game of the year.

“We were more efficient in running the football and playing with pace,” Malzahn said earlier this week. “At least we’re taking the right step, put it that way.”

The effort in Saturday’s win closely resembled that of the 2013 Tigers, who led the nation in rushing last season. Cameron Artis-Payne and the stable of running backs were hitting lanes, the offensive line had its most impressive performance of the year clearing the way and Auburn had its most successful effort on the perimeter of the field.

The Tigers recorded 10 runs of 10 yards or more, highlighted by Ricardo Louis’ 75-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep.

Auburn has eclipsed the 300-yard mark rushing three times this season. The Tigers are 3-0 in those games. Their 2013 counterparts surpassed 300-yards rushing seven times; they were 7-0 in those games.

“Obviously anytime you rush for over 300 in this league you are doing well,” center Reese Dismukes told AL.com. “[The South Carolina game] was a little different from last year, but then again we felt some of the same things.”

Aside from wanting to be more balanced this season, the big question surrounding the Auburn running game was whether or not the Tigers could replace Heisman finalist Tre Mason.

Artis-Payne leads the SEC in carries, and that took a toll on his body through the first six games. On too many of those carries, however, Artis-Payne tried to battle his way through crowded running lanes when there were chances to bounce the play out.

Artis-Payne said he felt the freshest he had all year against the Gamecocks, due to the bye week ahead of Saturday night’s win. He finally looked like the back who could replace Mason with 167 yards on 25 carries. His performance gives him 831 yards on the season and vaulted him into second place in the SEC behind Mississippi State’s Josh Robinson.

Let’s be clear, the South Carolina defense is not the Ole Miss’ defense. Auburn will have a much different go of it this week to duplicate that performance. The Rebels got roughed up in their loss at LSU last week, but the Bayou Bengals pose a more downhill, smash-mouth rushing attack. Ole Miss lacks size inside, which is why Leonard Fournette and company had success.

The Rebels are better-suited to stop a perimeter, tempo running game, which is what Auburn will bring to The Grove Saturday night.

However, the Tigers have to feel good about its last time out as they embark on the trip to Oxford. The offense finally clicked, and that coincided with the offensive line’s strongest performance of the season. Auburn controlled the trenches, and with positive yardage on first and second downs, the Tigers were able to operate at the pace they likes to go.

It may have taken seven games to get there, but Auburn’s offensive success is predicated on an effective run game. It opens everything else up.

Quarterback Nick Marshall was accurate last week on short throws and throws in the flats, allowing its skill position players to attack defenses. Marshall finished 12 of 14 for 139 yards and a touchdown.

With one game of its brutal six game stretch down, Auburn is 1-0. To get to 2-0, the Tigers better keep on running, Forrest.