Finding the right combination for success

Does Auburn have the right combination of athletes and schemes to…

1)   Rush for at least 100-yards per game on a consistent basis.
2)   Complete at least 50 percent of their passes on a consistent basis.
3)   Average at least 7-yards per pass attempt on a consistent basis.
4)   Hold their opponent to under 150-yards rushing on a consistent basis.

Separately, the above statistical goals do not seem difficult to achieve but the combination of all four during the same game has been an entirely different story.

• Since 1961, Auburn has compiled an astounding 166-6-0 record, when they accomplish the above four goals during the same game. It sounds easy, when looking at the objectives separately but it has only been accomplished in 29 percent of Auburn’s games from 1961-2011.
  
• Auburn did it 36.8 percent of the time from 1985-2011, compiling a record of 118-3-0.
  
• The Tigers did it 37.4 percent of the time from 1993-2011, compiling a record of 86-2-0.
  
• It increased to 40.9 percent from 2000-2011, with a combined record of 62-1.

This is the very reason why the 2012 Auburn coaching staff has placed an emphasis of playing as a “team”, attention to details, execution and to becoming a more physical team. As fans we all hope for dramatic improvement on offense as well as defense. In reality, a slight improvement in all phases of the game can make a major impact on how much Auburn improves from 2011 to 2012.

• From 1986-1989, Auburn possessed the 3^rd best win percentage in the nation over a 48-game period. Pat Dye’s teams during that 4-year run reached the magical combination listed above in 47.9 percent of their games, producing a 23-0-0 record. The Tigers rushed for over 100-yards in 89.6 percent of their games, completed at least 50 percent of their passes in 87.5 percent of their games, averaged at least 7-yards per pass attempt in 56.3 percent of their games and held their opponent to under 150-yards in 79.2 percent of their games. They accomplished all four during the same game in 23 of 48 games. Pass-offense was the primary issue when it came to yards per pass attempt.
  
• From 1993-1996, Auburn possessed the 8^th best win percentage in the nation over a 46-game period. Terry Bowden’s teams during that 4-year run reached the magical combination listed above in 39.1 percent of their games, producing an 18-0-0 record. The Tigers rushed for over 100-yards in 78.3 percent of their games, completed at least 50 percent of their passes in 80.4 percent of their games, averaged at least 7-yards per pass attempt in 67.4 percent of their games and held their opponent to under 150-yards in 67.4 percent of their games. They accomplished all four during the same game in 18 of 46 games. Overall defense and run-defense became the primary issue for the Tigers in 1995 and 1996.
  
• From 2004-2007, Auburn possessed the 5^th best win percentage in the nation over a 51-game period. Tommy Tuberville’s teams during that 4-year run reached the magical combination listed above in 54.9 percent of their games, producing a 28-0 record. The Tigers rushed for over 100-yards in 80.4 percent of their games, completed at least 50 percent of their passes in 86.3 percent of their games, averaged at least 7-yards per pass attempt in 72.5 percent of their games and held their opponent to under 150-yards in 80.4 percent of their games. They accomplished all four during the same game in 28 of 51 games. Compared to Dye's best 4-year run and Bowden’s best 4-year run, Tuberville’s 4-year run from 2004-2007 was the best, when it came to reaching the statistical combination.

As Gene Chizik enters his 4^th season at Auburn, the Tigers will be looking to improve on their ability to reach the same statistical combination. Thus far, Auburn possesses the 10^th best win percentage in the nation over a 40-game period. Chizik's teams during their current 3-year run have reached the magical combination listed above in 40.0 percent of their games, producing a 16-0 record. The Tigers have rushed for over 100-yards in 90.0 percent of their games, completed at least 50 percent of their passes in 85.0 percent of their games, averaged at least 7-yards per pass attempt in 67.5 percent of their games while holding their opponent to under 150-yards in 55.0 percent of their games. They accomplished all four during the same game in 16 of 40 games.

Auburn's issues through 3 years under Chizik have been primarily run-defense and inconsistency in their vertical passing game. The talent is there to field a quality running game in 2012 but how consistent will the pass-offense be in 2012? Gene Chizik brought Scot Loeffler aboard to replace the departing Gus Malzahn in hopes that Loeffler would be able to develop Auburn's quarterbacks and improve a pass-offense that became to reliant upon a perimeter passing game. Overall defense as well as run-defense has been an ongoing issue for the Tigers since Chizik arrived as head coach. Auburn did manage to field a top-10 run defense during their national title run. Auburn’s ability to stop the run during 2010 allowed the “team” to reach the statistical combination in 10 of their 14 games. The 2004 Auburn Tigers did it in 10 of 13 games during their undefeated season.