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The Auburn Tigers have played very well on offense this season. They’ve also played well on defense this season, just rarely at the same time.
Now the Tigers (4-4, 1-4 in the SEC), sitting at the bottom of the heap in the SEC West, will try to do both in the same game when they travel to Kyle Field for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday matchup with Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2 in the SEC).
Their record does not indicate it, but these Tigers still have a lot of bite left in them. Auburn took its last two opponents – Arkansas and Ole Miss – down to the last play before falling by identical eight-point margins. The Tigers now have lost seven of its past eight SEC games.
The Tigers rolled up 46 points against the Razorbacks but forgot to play defense and dropped a 54-46 four-overtime decision. The following week Auburn shored up its defense. The Tigers held an explosive Rebels offense that leads the SEC in scoring (39.4) to just 27 points. The trouble was Auburn didn’t bring its offense and suffered a 27-19 setback. It was the team’s second-lowest scoring output of the season, next to yet another eight-point conference loss to Mississippi State (17-9).
Yes you could say it; the Tigers have been close, but no cigar.
A bowl game is Auburn’s carrot dangling from the end of a stick. Saturday’s game will go a long way in determining whether that goal is reached or if the Tigers sit home for the holidays and wonder what might have been.
The return of DE Carl Lawson is a big lift. The Tigers’ defensive leader hadn’t seen action since injuring a hip in the first half of the season opener. He played for the first time since the injury on Saturday against Ole Miss.
“He definitely is a difference-maker,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn after the Ole Miss game. “I think everyone can see that he gives us a little different edge. He’s a disrupter.”
A banged-up Sean White (knee) started against Ole Miss but completed just 12 of 28 passes. If he has problems with the knee this Saturday, Jeremy Johnson is a capable replacement. Johnson has thrown for 517 yards this season (44-for-75) but has been picked off six times while tossing just five touchdowns.
Auburn RB Jovon Robinson stepped in admirably for the injured Peyton Barber, rushing for 91 yards on 18 carries. Malzahn said that he was most impressed with the way Robinson took care of the football (no fumbles) and that he would only get better over time. He said Robinson could see more playing time on Saturday in place of Barber, whose injury though undisclosed was not thought to keep him out of the lineup for any extended period of time.
AUBURN: A CLOSER LOOK
Top returning player, offense: Ricardo Louis, Sr., WR – An explosive playmaker, Lewis’ pass catching abilities have been more the focus this season. Last year the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder had almost as many rushing yards (220) as he had receiving yards (261). But this season, Lewis is the team leader with 563 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 36 receptions. He’s rushed 13 times for 64 yards.
Top returning player, defense: Johnathan Ford, Jr., DB – This guy is all over the field. The team leader with 86 tackles, including 52 solos, Ford has recorded a sack, picked off a pass, broken up two others, and forced two fumbles.
Top returning player, special teams: Kerryon Johnson, Frosh., RB – The former Alabama Mr. Football has helped the Tigers with field position by returning eight kickoffs for 240 yards (30-yard average). His longest return was a 40-yard dash.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
