Note on Auburn's inside running game

[StatTiger 3,188]

A primary area to watch for in 2014, when it comes to the Auburn offense will be their ability to run inside and throw over the top (over the LB's).

Late in the 2013 season, opposing teams began to defend the edge to defend the running game to limit the damage caused by the Auburn running game. The following numbers will explain why...

Tre Mason and Cameron Artis-Payne accounted for 408 carries last season. Nick Marshall, Corey Grant and Ricardo Louis accounted for 257 carries.

Mason and CAP accounted for a 10+ yard run every 6.1 carries, while Marshall, Grant and Louis did it every 3.5 attempts.

Mason and CAP accounted for a 20+ yard run every 25.5 attempts, while Marshall, Grant and Louis did it every 11.7 carries.

Mason and CAP accounted for a 30+ run every 58.3 attempts, while Marshall, Grant and Louis did it every 19.8 attempts.

Auburn was more likely to pop a big run on the edge than between the tackles, which is why opposing defenses were more concerned about the edge, willing to take their chances inside. Tre Mason was a consistent and reliable performer running between the tackles last season with 45 percent of his carries netting at least 5-yards. Will Cameron Artis-Payne and Peyton Barber be able to be as productive in 2014?

Auburn's ability to run inside and pass over the top, will prevent defenses from out-manning Auburn on the edge or make them pay for it, when they do.

[gman87 398]

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[aucanucktiger 1,791]

One of the biggest head shakers from last season was Bammers claiming we avoided "manly football" and won instead with tricks & gimmicks. In the Ironbowl 200 of our 300 rushing yards against them was straight up the middle.

[AURex 1,994]

Malzahn has always said that his offense starts with the power running game. I don't think he expects the inside running game to create big plays until late in the game when their defensive interior is gassed and the linebackers so tired and confused that they lose eye discipline. That's when the RB starts breaking bigger gains inside. But until that point, grinding away, with the RB eating up 3-7 yards per play sets up everything else on the edge and downfield.

Is that basic philosophy so much different from traditional power football, in which the smash mouth running game sets up the play-action pass and the screen? The inside game opens up the rest of the field. Malzahn just changed the way that basic philosophy is implemented.

[WFE12 9,191]

wonder how much corey will run up the middle since he bulked up a bit.