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Freshmen and sophs key auburn resurgence

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Freshmen and sophomores key Auburn’s offensive resurgence

 
 
 
 
 

Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 9:37 pm | Updated: 9:44 pm, Wed Oct 26, 2016.

Josh Vitale | AU Writer
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The most promising thing about Auburn’s offense might not be that it has improved.

It might be how it has improved.

Unlike any time head coach Gus Malzahn can remember, the Tigers are making salient offensive strides without many seniors — or even upperclassmen — to help them do it.

Auburn’s offense has accounted for 3,507 yards and 30 touchdowns through seven games this season, totals which rank 20th and 50th in the nation, respectively.

Freshmen and sophomore skill players have accounted for 2,702 of those yards and 25 of those touchdowns — 77 and 83 percent, respectively.

Quarterback Sean White, a sophomore, has thrown for 91 percent of the Tigers’ passing yards. Underclassmen are responsible for 63 percent of the yards gained on those passes and a near-astounding 86 percent of yards gained on the ground.

Backup quarterback John Franklin III, a junior, and wide receivers Tony Stevens and Marcus Davis, both seniors, are the only upperclassmen members of Auburn’s offense who have gained more than 100 yards this season. Only Franklin (two) and Stevens (three) have scored multiple touchdowns.

The rest of the production belongs to players who played bit roles last season — if they played any at all.

“We’re still green,” Malzahn said. “We’re still playing some guys without much experience. We haven’t arrived. There are a lot of areas we can improve on: The youth and inexperience, and just finding out our identity.”

The improvements in those departments are a big reason for Auburn’s recent offensive surge. During a four-game winning streak in which the Tigers have averaged 42.5 points per game, freshmen and sophomores have largely been the reasons why.

There’s White, who has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 1,264 yards and seven touchdowns through the air to go along with 113 yards and two more scores on the ground.

There’s sophomore running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson, who have gone from likely backups to Jovon Robinson to breakout stars. Pettway has 697 yards on 118 carries, Johnson has 538 yards on 105 carries and both have six touchdowns — even though they’ve both basically only played in five of Auburn’s seven games.

Stevens does lead the receiving corps with 408 yards to go along with Davis’ 100, but Auburn has flashed some impressive future talent there, too. Sophomore Ryan Davis is the team’s second-leading pass-catcher with 22 catches for 170 yards, and true freshman Kyle Davis ranks second on the team with 212 yards despite only catching nine passes.

“All the guys who are young are contributing and are really hard workers,” White said. “Nobody is complacent. No freshman is like, 'Man, I'm making plays and I don't need to come to practice or whatever.' Everyone is coming to work and everyone is playing with a chip on his shoulder. That's the best thing to see.”

That’s true for the rest of this season and the future.

“Very few teams in college football actually get better throughout the year,” Malzahn said. “We have a chance to be one of those teams.”

 
 

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AUDynasty Founding Father

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11 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

Freshmen and sophomores key Auburn’s offensive resurgence

 
 
 
 
 

Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 9:37 pm | Updated: 9:44 pm, Wed Oct 26, 2016.

Josh Vitale | AU Writer
Follow on Twitter
Like on Facebook

The most promising thing about Auburn’s offense might not be that it has improved.

It might be how it has improved.

Unlike any time head coach Gus Malzahn can remember, the Tigers are making salient offensive strides without many seniors — or even upperclassmen — to help them do it.

Auburn’s offense has accounted for 3,507 yards and 30 touchdowns through seven games this season, totals which rank 20th and 50th in the nation, respectively.

Freshmen and sophomore skill players have accounted for 2,702 of those yards and 25 of those touchdowns — 77 and 83 percent, respectively.

Quarterback Sean White, a sophomore, has thrown for 91 percent of the Tigers’ passing yards. Underclassmen are responsible for 63 percent of the yards gained on those passes and a near-astounding 86 percent of yards gained on the ground.

Backup quarterback John Franklin III, a junior, and wide receivers Tony Stevens and Marcus Davis, both seniors, are the only upperclassmen members of Auburn’s offense who have gained more than 100 yards this season. Only Franklin (two) and Stevens (three) have scored multiple touchdowns.

The rest of the production belongs to players who played bit roles last season — if they played any at all.

“We’re still green,” Malzahn said. “We’re still playing some guys without much experience. We haven’t arrived. There are a lot of areas we can improve on: The youth and inexperience, and just finding out our identity.”

The improvements in those departments are a big reason for Auburn’s recent offensive surge. During a four-game winning streak in which the Tigers have averaged 42.5 points per game, freshmen and sophomores have largely been the reasons why.

There’s White, who has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 1,264 yards and seven touchdowns through the air to go along with 113 yards and two more scores on the ground.

There’s sophomore running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson, who have gone from likely backups to Jovon Robinson to breakout stars. Pettway has 697 yards on 118 carries, Johnson has 538 yards on 105 carries and both have six touchdowns — even though they’ve both basically only played in five of Auburn’s seven games.

Stevens does lead the receiving corps with 408 yards to go along with Davis’ 100, but Auburn has flashed some impressive future talent there, too. Sophomore Ryan Davis is the team’s second-leading pass-catcher with 22 catches for 170 yards, and true freshman Kyle Davis ranks second on the team with 212 yards despite only catching nine passes.

“All the guys who are young are contributing and are really hard workers,” White said. “Nobody is complacent. No freshman is like, 'Man, I'm making plays and I don't need to come to practice or whatever.' Everyone is coming to work and everyone is playing with a chip on his shoulder. That's the best thing to see.”

That’s true for the rest of this season and the future.

“Very few teams in college football actually get better throughout the year,” Malzahn said. “We have a chance to be one of those teams.”

 
 

 

Music to my ears.

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kd4au Founding Father

kd4au 1,145

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Proud of all the contributions the young guys have made but I disagree with article somewhat in that the offensive line is all juniors and seniors and I think they are the main reason for the turn around.

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