Auburn’s most jarring problem wasn’t on defense, and it wasn’t really in the passing game, either. It was the run game. If the Tigers are going to steady themselves at Ole Miss, that has to be where they rediscover something.
The contrast over the last two Saturdays has been hard to miss. Auburn knocked off Georgia by three on the road, then came home and spent most of the LSU game chasing the scoreboard.
The obvious separator was turnovers: Auburn played clean against Georgia and forced three from Gunner Stockton, including a late fumble at midfield that led to the winning field goal. LSU, meanwhile, never coughed it up, even if it came close early in the second quarter while the game was still hanging in the balance.
That part of the story matters. It just doesn’t explain everything.
Auburn’s defense wasn’t wildly different from one week to the next. LSU averaged 8.2 passing yards per attempt, which is strong, but Georgia had been even better at 8.8 the week before. The pressure numbers were in the same neighborhood, too: LSU recorded seven sacks, Georgia had five.
The Tigers’ passing attack also held fairly steady. Byrum Brown actually posted slightly better passing numbers against LSU than he did against Georgia, finishing with 0.9 more yards per attempt and nearly a 5% better completion rate. The one notable drop-off was simple enough: he did not throw a touchdown against LSU.
Where the biggest swing showed up was on the ground. LSU was more effective running the ball against Auburn than Georgia had been, putting up 4.82 yards per carry and two touchdowns after Georgia managed 4.04 and one score.
But even that is not the sharpest decline Auburn has to answer for.
The bigger issue is what Auburn’s own rushing attack did - or didn’t do - against LSU after showing far more against Georgia. That’s the area that has to come back around if the Tigers are going to make this road trip to Ole Miss work.
“I think it will be a really big challenge for us,” head coach Alex Golesh said Monday. “It’s the next step for us in our growth, to be able to get rid of whatever happened on Saturday, wipe it clean, reset and go.
I told our guys this morning that we’ve had the ability to reset as this year has gone. We’ve licked our wounds, come back and played good football.
“That’s the challenge to us. If we don’t, it will be a really long week. If we do, we’ve got an opportunity to go on the road and beat a really good football team, which is what’s expected of us.”
In Other News...
Auburn Walks Into A Huge SEC Test With Ole Miss Suddenly Shorthanded
Auburns trip to Oxford brings a notable SEC matchup back into view, with the Tigers and Ole Miss meeting for the first time in three years. The timing matters for both sides, too, because Auburn is trying to build on a win over Georgia after a loss to LSU, while Ole Miss is navigating a change in its backfield heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Kewan Lacy will be unavailable for the Rebels after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Texas, leaving Ole Miss with a hole it has to fill against an Auburn defense that will be keyed on Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels quarterback has piled up 1,926 passing yards this season, so even with the backfield shorthanded, Auburn still has to deal with the part of the Ole Miss offense that can tilt the game fastest. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Could Be Getting A Needed O-Line Boost At The Right Time
Auburns offensive line might be getting some timely help as the season wears on, with head coach Alex Golesh saying sophomore Tai Buster could return to practice and play within a few weeks. Buster has been sidelined by a preseason injury, but he has stayed involved with the team during his recovery, keeping himself in the mix even while hes been unable to get back on the field.
For a line that always benefits from added depth, especially as the schedule tightens, Busters eventual return would give Auburn another option at a spot where bodies matter. He will miss the upcoming game against Ole Miss, but the possibility of getting him back later in the season gives the Tigers something worth watching beyond just the next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns International Signee Saga Ends With Bigger Questions For The Program
Mantas Rubstavicius will not suit up for Auburn basketball this season after voluntarily dismissing his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, ending one of the more unusual roster stories the program has dealt with in recent months. The international signee is now expected to pursue a basketball opportunity in Europe, and he thanked Auburns administration, coach and teammates as the path with the Tigers came to a close.
The bigger issue for Auburn, though, may be what happens around the decision rather than the decision itself. The school also confirmed that general manager Brian Kloman was fired, with reports indicating the move stemmed from a failure to disclose Rubstavicius prior college enrollment overseas, leaving the program to sort through how such a significant oversight occurred in the first place. [Read more 🡒]