Auburn’s defense has been stout all year long, since holding Deshaun Watson and Clemson to 19 points in AU’s season-opening loss right on through the Tigers’ 56-3 rout of Arkansas last week. Auburn has done a tremendous job under first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ offense, which has averaged nearly 51 points over the last three contests, was definitely a work in progress entering AU’s 18-13 win over LSU on Sept. 24, which was the night offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee started calling plays.
That transition from Gus Malzahn to Lashlee is a major reason why Auburn’s offense has improved so much over the last month, but it’s not the only one. Here are four other factors that have helped Auburn become one of the most dangerous teams in the SEC.
The running backs
Before the season kicked off, Auburn lost a lot of depth at running back. Peyton Barber, last year’s leading rusher, left early for the NFL before Roc Thomas decided to transfer to Jacksonville State. The Tigers seemed to be in an even tougher spot when Jovon Robinson was dismissed from the team in August.
Robinson’s dismissal made Kerryon Johnson AU’s leading returning running back. And injury concerns about the 6-foot, 211-pound sophomore persist, especially since Johnson was held out of last week’s win over Arkansas to give him more time to recover from the sprained ankle he suffered two weeks earlier against Mississippi State.
But by rushing for 538 yards and 6 touchdowns on 105 carries, Johnson has exceeded expectations. However, teammate Kamryn Pettway has been even more of a surprise.
The former fullback, who had no carries last season, is leading the SEC in rushing yards per game (116.2) and has rushed for 6 scores like Johnson. But despite all the offseason tumult at running back, Malzahn insists Johnson and Pettway were his top two options all along.
“Well, like we said before, we thought Kerryon Johnson was, you know, a guy that could be a marquee back, and we really felt great about Pettway after the spring,” Malzahn said Wednesday on his SEC coaches teleconference. “Of course, you know he played tailback in high school. And, of course, our need last year was more of an H-back, but he made that transition very well.
“So really we felt good going into the year with those two guys. It was just the freshmen, getting those guys, you know, some reps, and it was just more of the young guys, you know, that was our question about them stepping it up.”
The running backs coach
Since 2000, an SEC team has rushed for 500 yards or more in a game four times. Under Malzahn, Auburn has done it three of those times, including last week’s 543-yard performance against the Razorbacks.
Malzahn has been one constant in those games. AU running backs coach Tim Horton has been another.
“You’re talking about one of the better running back coaches in all of college football,” Malzahn said of Horton. “And just his coaching, the type of person he is. I’d say his evaluation of running backs and recruiting, I think it all goes together.”
The offensive line
Auburn’s offensive line deserves a lot of credit for how well Auburn has been able to run the ball. Behind offensive line coach Herb Hand, regular tackles Austin Golson and Robert Leff and guards Alex Kozan and Braden Smith have done a terrific job helping Auburn develop the top rushing attack in the SEC, running for nearly 303 yards a game.
Against the Razorbacks, Auburn started Golson at center and Darius James at left tackle for a third straight week. Xavier Dampeer, who started AU’s first four games at center, injured his leg in the second half against LSU.
All six linemen have been solid. But when Malzahn was specifically asked about Smith on Wednesday, he threw some pretty lofty praise his way.
“Braden is an extremely talented young man,” Malzahn said. “Last year was his first year to start, and I thought he had a solid year. This year, you know, he’s really having some games where he’s dominant. I mean (he’s) just doing a great job with especially the run-blocking and the push that he’s getting. He’s gotten better in his pass-protection, so I think he’s much improved from last year.”
And when asked about Smith’s NFL prospects, Malzahn left no doubt that he thinks the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder will be playing for pay on Sundays.
“Yes, for sure. Just ’cause I know what it looks like, and I know what talented guys that have a chance to play at the next level look like, and he’s got all the above traits and characteristics to do that.”
The quarterback
Auburn – and its passing game – hit a crossroads this season in the Tigers’ 29-16 loss at home to Texas A&M on Sept. 17. In that matchup, Sean White completed 18-of-27 passes for 126 yards, or a season-low 4.7 yards per attempt.
Since then, the redshirt sophomore has rebounded to become the most accurate (68.5 completion percentage) and top-rated passer in the SEC. Not bad for a guy Malzahn could’ve justifiably benched five weeks ago.
“We were a really young, inexperienced offense earlier in the year, trying to find our identity and then get consistent around him,” Malzahn said of White. “And I think you’ve seen the more we’ve been consistent around him, you know, the better he’s gotten.
“He’s got a very good understanding of our offense. I think last year’s experience he had really helped him to this point.
“And he’s been more of a run threat this year, and I think that’s helped him, too.”
After rushing for a career-high 61 yards last week, White will try to keep Auburn’s run-based offense Hotty Toddy on Saturday night at Ole Miss. Despite losing last year’s matchup, 27-19, the Tigers lead the all-time series 29-11.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
