Upon Further Review - Arkansas Game

[StatTiger 3,188]

• Auburn has allowed the opponent to convert only 5 of 35 third-down situations of 10-yards or more needed to convert.
   
• Auburn has converted 62.5% of their third-downs during the first quarter, while allowing the opponent to convert just 18.5%.
   
• 49.4 percent of Auburn's offensive snaps netted at least 5-yards against the Razorbacks, a season high for the Auburn offense.
   
• 50.1 percent of the snaps defended by the Auburn defense this season has been held to 2-yards or less.
   
• Of Auburn's 35 first down plays, 19 went for 5-yards or more, a season high for the Auburn offense. It also marked the first time this season, Auburn was not tackled for a loss on first down.
   
• Auburn's 330-yards from impact plays marked the sixth time this season the Tigers have gained at least 235-yards from impact plays during a game and the third time over 300-yards.
   
• During the 4 games before LSU, Auburn attempted 32 passes on first down for 569-yards. During the last two games, Auburn has attempted 17 first down passes for only 108-yards.
   
• For only the second time this season, Auburn averaged more yards per rush during the second-half, than the first-half.
   
• Of Auburn's 49 scoring drives this season, 41 have been aided by at least one impact play (15-yards or more).
   
• Auburn is currently averaging 4.5 points per forced-turnover, while surrendering only 1.67 points per turnover.
   
• Gus Malzahn's Auburn teams are now 27-2 during games the Tigers average at least 1-yard more than the opponent per first down snaps.
   
• Auburn is currently No. 4 nationally in pass-efficiency on first-down with a rating of 204.4. It is the highest pass-efficiency rating by an Auburn offense the past 25 years.
   
• Auburn is currently No. 19 nationally in pass-efficiency on third-down and No. 26 in converting first downs. Texas A&M is currently No. 106 in converting third-downs with their passing game, Georgia is No. 31 and Alabama is No. 29.
   
• Auburn under Gus Malzahn's offense is now 57-10 during games the Tigers produce at least 20 first downs with an average score of 39.9 points per game.
   
• Has the "fumble curse" been lifted? Prior to this season, Auburn had recovered only 28.2 percent of the opponent's fumbles from 2013-2016. This season, the Tigers have recovered 69.2 percent.
   
• Normally during a football game, there is no more than a one possession difference between the two teams. Last night against Arkansas, Auburn had 14 offensive possessions to the Razorbacks 12. This was the result of a turnover on special teams. It marked only the 15th time Auburn has gained at least two more possessions than the opponent during a game during the last 318 games.
   
• From 2013-2015, Auburn held their opponent to under 33 percent in scoring possessions, 47.5 percent of the time. Under Kevin Steele, it has occurred 66.7 percent of the time.
   
• The 2017 Auburn Tigers recorded their fourth conference victory of 20 or more points this season, equaling the record held by three other teams from 1960-2017. The 1969, 2004 and 2005 Auburn teams had four such games.
   
• Auburn has now scored at least 10 points during the first quarter in five consecutive games, something not accomplished during the Tigers last 450 games.
   
• Auburn has scored 89 points during the first quarter, more than 23 other Auburn teams since 1981 through an entire season.
   
• The 2010 and 2013 Auburn offenses combined for 13 games of 500-yards or more, The 2016 and 2017 Auburn offenses have 10 such games.
   
• From 1981-2017, Auburn has now rushed for over 300-yards on 61 occasions with 30 of them occurring under Gus Malzahn.

 

War Eagle!

[AU64 10,122]

Thanks for the analysis....lots of work there...but when you do the pass-fail  I expect you to deduct some points from the O since arky is so poor...

[AURealist 2,185]

Always a good read.  Thanks again.

[KolchakAU85 430]

None of us should forget the LSU debacle.  The drubbing of a terrible Arkansas team in no way diminishes what happened in Baton Rouge.  Gus Malzahn is still the same, in-over-his-head, failure of a coach who has guided a top-5 team (talent-wise) toward another average, under-achieving season.

The FIRST thing I wanted to hear from Malzahn after Arkansas laid down and rolled over was another apology for screwing up against LSU.

[CR 2,427]

Kinda confirms what most AU fans have come to realize about Gus. If a team is unable to match up physically and stop his running game he will run them out of the stadium. When that doesn't happen we get the 250 yd(or less) performances that give AU no chance to win matchups with top teams. I guess the folks that matter will have to decide if they think that's the best this program is capable of. 

[StatTiger 3,188]

1 hour ago, CR said:

Kinda confirms what most AU fans have come to realize about Gus. If a team is unable to match up physically and stop his running game he will run them out of the stadium. When that doesn't happen we get the 250 yd(or less) performances that give AU no chance to win matchups with top teams. I guess the folks that matter will have to decide if they think that's the best this program is capable of. 

His offense at Auburn has faced 28 Power-5 teams that finished 9-3 or better and ranked. His offense has averaged 363-yards and 23 PPG in those game and were held to under 260-yards during 5 of those 28 games.

During the 13 games prior to this season with a solid QB in place, his offense averaged 456-yards and 32 PPG.

We shall see what Stidham can do to close out this season.

[3rdgeneration 6,469]

Stat, in your opinion, how much of last week's play calling was designed to protect our QB from injury? It seemed like they decided to "throw caution to the wind" and even let Stidham run the ball, in yesterday's game.  

[CR 2,427]

Your numbers don't lie Stat. Any idea of how many of the 5 games under 260 yds have been in the last 2 seasons? Seems like the numbers have gotten worse over that time span. Thanks.

[StatTiger 3,188]

2 hours ago, 3rdgeneration said:

Stat, in your opinion, how much of last week's play calling was designed to protect our QB from injury? It seemed like they decided to "throw caution to the wind" and even let Stidham run the ball, in yesterday's game.  

IMO, Malzahn became conservative after the 17-0 lead, primarily to prevent turnovers (passing) and to run clock more so than to prevent injuries. Gus had said prior to the LSU game, Stidham would likely run some zone-read to keep the defense honest.

[3rdgeneration 6,469]

I just feel like the play calling that Gus does is focused on doing certain things purely because he feels he has a weakness somewhere on the team, be it Oline, WRs, QB, etc., more so than planning for the other team's defense. He then over-reacts or over-protects or over-thinks, whatever you want to call it. He's got to let go and trust his players more. I don't think he's allowing them to grow up and become better players in these situations. That's just my inexperienced, uneducated feel about it. It doesn't make sense that Gus is all of the sudden dumb as a bag of rocks. 

[AUBwins 10,064]

14 minutes ago, 3rdgeneration said:

I just feel like the play calling that Gus does is focused on doing certain things purely because he feels he has a weakness somewhere on the team, be it Oline, WRs, QB, etc., more so than planning for the other team's defense. He then over-reacts or over-protects or over-thinks, whatever you want to call it. He's got to let go and trust his players more. I don't think he's allowing them to grow up and become better players in these situations. That's just my inexperienced, uneducated feel about it. It doesn't make sense that Gus is all of the sudden dumb as a bag of rocks. 

Well said. 

[CountStandya 81]

Hey guys and girls....can someone tell me about the first down that was reviewed? Was it a first down?

[aufan57 922]

@StatTiger maybe all ready posted, but when was the last time Auburn gave up special teams touchdowns in consecutive games?

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,641]

A&M’s defense is the perfect test to see if the offensive philosophy has changed

 

very respectable run D, horrible pass D

[gravejd 3,269]

On 10/24/2017 at 6:50 PM, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

A&M’s defense is the perfect test to see if the offensive philosophy has changed

 

very respectable run D, horrible pass D

but some great pass rushers....which has so far has been our kryptonite on offense

 

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,641]

6 hours ago, gravejd said:

but some great pass rushers....which has so far has been our kryptonite on offense

 

Maybe they implements Willis in a little just to keep those edge rushers tired out for a few drives? This'll be a perfect time to implement him 

[murpjf88 506]

On 10/22/2017 at 4:32 PM, StatTiger said:

His offense at Auburn has faced 28 Power-5 teams that finished 9-3 or better and ranked. His offense has averaged 363-yards and 23 PPG in those game and were held to under 260-yards during 5 of those 28 games.

During the 13 games prior to this season with a solid QB in place, his offense averaged 456-yards and 32 PPG.

We shall see what Stidham can do to close out this season.

Stats can be misleading. Gus has never had a problem moving the ball inbetween the 20's. It's the insufferable red zone efficiency that's the problem. His red zone playcalling is a bust. I don't know what makes Gus think that when a particular play(s) Don't work the first 17 times he tries it, the 18th time will be any different. You'd think after 5 years, he'd know what an adjustment looks like.

[murpjf88 506]

On 10/22/2017 at 7:25 PM, 3rdgeneration said:

I just feel like the play calling that Gus does is focused on doing certain things purely because he feels he has a weakness somewhere on the team, be it Oline, WRs, QB, etc., more so than planning for the other team's defense. He then over-reacts or over-protects or over-thinks, whatever you want to call it. He's got to let go and trust his players more. I don't think he's allowing them to grow up and become better players in these situations. That's just my inexperienced, uneducated feel about it. It doesn't make sense that Gus is all of the sudden dumb as a bag of rocks. 

He was never an offensive guru either. He was just lucky enough to coach to elite QB's that were developed elsewhere that dominated and ran the ball on almost every down behind a stout offensive line.

Edited October 30, 2017 by murpjf88

[WDEKC 187]

On 10/24/2017 at 5:50 PM, Dual-Threat Rigby said:

A&M’s defense is the perfect test to see if the offensive philosophy has changed

 

very respectable run D, horrible pass D

Are they that respectable of a run defense or have they just not played many good rushing teams? bama, Arkansas and Miss State all had over 200 yards rushing and averaged about 5 yards per rush.

Edited October 31, 2017 by WDEKC