Red Zone Watch: Auburn offense fails in red zone for first time in 2014

Unfortunately, ESPN hasn’t rolled out an SEC version of NFL RedZone for the conference’s new network. It would fit well on the alternate channel and would’ve rocked this season. Instead, we’ll keep track of red zone stats for you each week.

OFFENSIVE RED ZONE STATISTICS

South Carolina enjoyed a much-needed bye last week, but even as it watched the games from home it improved to SEC’s No. 1 red zone offense, scoring on more than 95 percent of its trips inside an opponent’s 20 yard line. Auburn had held the No. 1 spot for most of the season, but the Tigers dropped to third after failing to score on a red zone trip for the first time all year in a loss to Mississippi State.

The Tigers were 21 of 21 on red zone trips with 17 touchdowns entering Week 7, but scored on only four of six red zone trips against Mississippi State. They now trail South Carolina and Florida in red zone efficiency after Florida scored on all four of its red zone possessions in a loss to LSU.

In a strange turn of events, the SEC’s two worst red zone offenses belong to the best and worst teams in the conference. Most would expect Vanderbilt to rank at the bottom of the conference in red zone efficiency, but few would have expected the Commodores to be tied with new No. 1 Mississippi State in that category.

The Bulldogs and Commodores have both failed to score on 20 percent of their red zone possessions this season, although State has made exactly twice as many trips into the red zone as Vandy has. The Commodores have reached the red zone only 15 times this season (no other team has had fewer than 19 red zone trips), and they have scored just eight red zone touchdowns in seven games, also worst in the conference. The Bulldogs are third in the SEC with 30 red zone trips, but a poor kicking game has haunted MSU all year as it has only scored on 24 of those possessions.

Tennessee had the greatest red zone improvement from last week to this week, scoring on all six of its red zone trips in a convincing 45-10 win over Chattanooga.

DEFENSIVE RED ZONE STATISTICS

Mississippi State may have the SEC’s worst red zone offense, but it also has the conference’s best red zone defense. The Bulldogs allowed Auburn to reach the red zone six times last week, but held them scoreless on two of those trips to help keep their opponents’ scoring percentage below 60 percent on the season. Every other SEC team has allowed its opponents to score on at least 69 percent of red zone possessions.

Auburn ranks second in the conference in red zone defensive efficiency, which is an excellent complement to the Tigers’ third-ranked red zone offense among SEC teams. Ole Miss is the only team in the conference to not allow its opponents to score on at least 80 percent of their red zone trips.

Alabama has allowed the fewest opponent red zone possessions (12) and the fewest opponent red zone touchdowns (5), but the Tide’s opponents have still scored points on 83 percent of red zone trips, ranking ‘Bama seventh in the conference in red zone defense. Tennessee has also held its opponents to just 12 red zone possessions, but those opponents have scored on all 12 possessions. No other SEC team has allowed its opponents to score on 100 percent of their red zone trips other than the Volunteers.

In addition to making the fewest trips into the red zone on offense, Vanderbilt has also allowed the most red zone possessions of any defense in the SEC with 30 opponent trips inside the Vandy 20. The Commodores’ opponents have scored on 90 percent of those possessions, and they’e scored touchdowns on 60 percent of red zone trips. The 18 touchdowns allowed by Vandy’s red zone defense are the most in the SEC.