Sometimes a team needs to find a way to win when not everything is working as it should. When that win is by 31 points – as it was when Auburn dominated Arkansas 34-3 on Saturday – it shows that the team has the ability to overcome and still win in a convincing manner. With the hangover of the LSU game now out of the way, Auburn needs to get everything back on track against Southern Miss.
By Steve Wright
Here are the three keys:
Get the passing game working
You would think that in a game where 34 points are put up by a team that the passing game would be humming along nicely. That was not the game for the Tigers against the Razorbacks, however, with Jarrett Stidham throwing for just 134 yards with no touchdowns. The positive in the passing game was that there were no interceptions thrown, but the negatives were just about everything else.
The biggest issue against Arkansas was the inability of the offensive line to protect Stidham. The Baylor transfer was sacked four times and pressured on many other plays, an issue which led to Auburn becoming one dimensional and predictable in their offensive work. Auburn spat out their fewest offensive yards in a win since 2006 against Arkansas, something that must change starting with this game against Southern Miss.
Keep the short fields coming
One way to cover for an offense that isn’t yet firing on all cylinders is to find a way to create a short field for that offense to use to score a touchdown. Auburn did this all day against Arkansas, using a fumble recovery, a blocked punt, and a big punt return to set up scoring drives that all started in Hogs territory. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter of the game when Auburn scored on a drive starting in its own territory.
Expecting another game of that level from the special teams is unrealistic – Auburn also scored on a Noah Igbinoghene kickoff return – but a couple of positive plays on defense or in the kicking game should be manageable. Auburn’s offense will get going again – it is too good not to – but for now any help is welcome.
Know that the Golden Eagles can throw the ball
Southern Miss is one of those C-USA programs that knows how to move the football. They average over 38 points per game, they rank eight nationally with over 353 passing yards per game, and quarterback Jack Abraham is completing 72-percent of his passes. This is an attacking unit that will test the Auburn secondary at a far greater level and Arkansas was able to last weekend.
The Golden Eagles, however, are not particularly balanced. Abraham averaged 35 passes per game, but the running game averages only 3.6 yards per carry. It is not like those totes are against SEC quality defensive lines either, with Southern Miss not having played a Power Five school yet in 2018.
If Auburn can shut down the running game with just their defensive front – a task they should comfortably be up to – then the entire back seven can concentrate on filling passing lanes and covering the dangerous Southern Miss wide receivers.
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