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Finally, we’ll get to see how high Auburn’s running back tandem can fly in 2017
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Coming into 2017, Jarrett Stidham was billed as the last piece to Auburn’s puzzle.
The big-armed Baylor transfer was supposed to perfectly complement the Tigers’ 1-2 punch in the backfield. That, plus Auburn’s stout defense, was why many believed they’d be Alabama’s biggest challenge in the SEC.
Against Mississippi State on Saturday, Stidham won’t be the last piece to the puzzle that Auburn fans will be talking about. It’ll be the return of Kamryn Pettway.
For the first time all year, Auburn is expected to have its 1-2 punch of Pettway and Kerryon Johnson active in the same game. Gus Malzahn said there was a strong likelihood that Pettway would return from the ankle injury that sidelined him against Missouri.
That should’ve been music to Stidham’s ears after his slow start. And for SEC defenses, that should mean a different Auburn offense than what they’ve seen so far.
Because of injuries and Pettway’s one-game suspension in the season opener, Auburn hasn’t had the luxury of using both backs interchangeably in 2017. Despite playing in two games apiece so far, the duo still combined for 386 yards and nine touchdowns.
As we’ve seen in the past, though, Johnson and Pettway are more dangerous together than they are separate.
In eight games together last year, they racked up a combined 185 rushing yards per contest. That alone would’ve been good enough for the nation’s No. 52 rushing offense in 2016. Thanks to those two, Auburn finished with the No. 6 rushing offense in FBS.
Heading into Saturday, the Tigers rank No. 44 in rushing. That was with three games against lackluster run defenses like Georgia Southern, Mercer and Missouri.
On Saturday, Mississippi State will look a whole lot more like Clemson than Mercer did.
In four games, the Bulldogs allowed just 3.15 yards per carry. By the way, they already faced the likes of Derrius Guice, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. You can bet they weren’t thrilled to see that they’ll have add Pettway to that list on Saturday.
But beyond one individual matchup, keeping Johnson and Pettway on the field for the rest of 2017 is obviously key for this offense. Stidham was eaten alive by Clemson when the Tigers couldn’t establish the run. There could be more games like that — starting on Saturday — if Auburn can’t find a rhythm in the ground game.
Auburn’s offense isn’t going to work if it can’t operate out of the play-action. Like we saw against Clemson, it’ll just give defensive lines a head start to get to Stidham.
With Pettway back, Stidham has another pass-catching option out of the backfield. Stidham will need as many quick targets as possible when Auburn matches up against better defensive lines. In general, this offense should look more like it did against Missouri than it did against Clemson.
There are still plenty of questions about the offense. Can it rally in pass-only situations? Will Stidham settle into Malzahn’s system? Will of the offensive line provide better protection against quality foes?
The good news is that Auburn finally has two tailbacks who can take over a game at any given point.
Coupled with a lights out defense, the Tigers’ puzzle might have all the pieces it needs to challenge Alabama after all.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Down South. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.
