The Auburn ’13 seconds better’ battle cry for the season starts with ball security.

“There are a lot of things that we have to be 13 seconds better at,” Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said during fall camp. “No. 1 for us is ball security.”

With the National Weather Service calling for a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday, both Auburn and Arkansas could be tested as to how well they handle the rock in what could be wet conditions.

“You do everything you can to prepare your guys but like I said there is nothing better than experience,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “The fact that we have gone throught a couple of situations last year in the rain, the guys will know how to handle it better the second time around.”

The first time around was last year in Baton Rouge against LSU, Auburn’s lone SEC loss. An intermittent rain lasted  throughout the game. In the wet environment Auburn fumbled three times and coughing it up played a huge part in the 35- 21 loss.

Auburn lost only one fumble but two of the three lead to easy LSU touchdowns. It put Auburn in a 14-0 hole that they couldn’t get out off. On the first possession of the game, Nick Marshall fumbled on a rushing attempt. It was recovered by LSU at their own 43-yard line. Three plays later Jeremy Hill busted off a 49-yard touchdown scamper. After going 3-and-out on the very next possession, Auburn punter Steve Clark fumbled the snap. He recovered the ball but didn’t get the kick off. LSU took over on in prime territory, the Auburn 10-yard line. Hill ran into the end zone on the very next play.

In this year’s fall camp, as well as all this week in particular, Auburn’s specialists and players that will touch the ball have practiced with wet footballs to prepare themselves.

Lashlee has put the pressure on the quarterbacks, Marshall in particular, to improve their ball-handling. According to AuburnTigers.com, the Tigers fumbled 30 times last season and lost 11. Marshall was credited with six of the 11 lost fumbles.

vs. Missouri – RESULT: Missouri field goal
vs. Missouri – RESULT: Returned for Missouri touchdown
vs. Texas A&M – RESULT: Auburn interception
vs. Ole Miss –  RESULT: Ole Miss punt
vs. LSU – RESULT: LSU touchdown
vs. Ark State – RESULT: Arkansas State field goal

In retrospect, Arkansas lost the ball 60 percent of the time they put it on the ground. Auburn lost it only 36 percent. Still, Lashlee wants that number to be lower this season.