Statistically speaking: struggles vs. top teams

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Statistically speaking: Auburn’s offense continues to struggle vs. top teams

Today 9:30 AM

14-17 minutes

Auburn’s offense was disjointed in the team’s 23-20 loss to LSU on Saturday, as it struggled to sustain drives and largely stalled out on the road.

Auburn totaled just 287 yards of offense, of which 111 came on two long runs by freshman running back D.J. Williams; the team averaged 2.62 yards per play outside of those runs. It was Auburn’s second-worst offensive output of the season, and it continued a troubling trend of offensive inefficiency against top-tier teams this season.

Some of Auburn’s worst offensive performances this year have come in its biggest games: against Oregon in the opener, at Florida and on the road against LSU. Auburn is 1-2 in those games against teams that will enter Week 10 ranked in the top-10 of the AP poll, and Gus Malzahn’s offenses are averaging just 313 yards per game in those contests. The Tigers average 476 yards per game in their other five matchups this season.

Plenty contributed to those troubles against LSU. Bo Nix had another inefficient performance, completing 15-of-35 passes for 157 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The offense committed eight penalties totaling 40 yards, including five false-start calls, and it tied into Auburn’s third-down issues as well. The team converted 5-f-18 third downs, with half of those attempts being in third-and-long (9 yards or more) situations.

Here’s a look at how Auburn stacks up, both in the SEC and nationally, in various statistical categories through Week 9:

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RUSHING OFFENSE

2013: 328.3 (1st, 1st)

2014: 255.5 (2nd, 13th)

2015: 196.4 (5th, 35th)

2016: 271.3 (1st, 6th)

2017: 218.3 (4th, 26th)

2018: 167.5 (10th, 68th)

After Oregon: 206.0 (4th, 43rd)

After Tulane: 189.0 (6th, 51st)

After Kent State: 281.7 (2nd, 11th)

After Texas A&M: 259.5 (1st, 16th)

After Mississippi State: 251.0 (2nd, 14th)

After Florida: 229.8 (3rd, 19th)

After bye week: 229.8 (3rd, 20th)

After Arkansas: 239.6 (1st, 11th)

2019: 225.9 (3rd, 20th)

Why: Auburn rushed for 130 yards against LSU.

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PASSING OFFENSE

2013: 173.0 (11th, 106th)

2014: 229.5 (7th, 66th)

2015: 173.6 (12th, 110th)

2016: 169.5 (14th, 112th)

2017: 233.4 (5th, 65th)

2018: 222.5 (9th, 74th)

After Oregon: 177.0 (10th, 95th)

After Tulane: 192.0 (13th, 95th)

After Kent State: 183.3 (14th, 192nd)

After Texas A&M: 164.0 (14th, 116th)

After Mississippi State: 203.4 (13th, 100th)

After Florida: 193.7 (13th, 105th)

After bye week: 193.7 (12th, 101st)

After Arkansas: 193.6 (12th, 103rd)

2019: 189.0 (13th, 107th)

Why: Auburn had 157 passing yards against LSU.

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PASS EFFICIENCY OFFENSE

2013: 149.63 (6th, 24th)

2014: 156.79 (1st, 8th)

2015: 124.47 (10th, 79th)

2016: 135.17 (6th, 54th)

2017: 153.59 (5th, 13th)

2018: 140.11 (8th, 51st)

After Oregon: 95.21 (10th, 108th)

After Tulane: 101.68 (14th, 118th)

After Kent State: 116.74 (14th, 109th)

After Texas A&M: 120.47 (12th, 101st)

After Mississippi State: 140.33 (6th, 64th)

After Florida: 129.31 (9th, 83rd)

After bye week: 129.31 (10th, 85th)

After Arkansas: 139.39 (6th, 59th)

2019: 129.68 (9th, 84th)

Why: Auburn completed 15-of-36 passes for 157 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

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TOTAL OFFENSE

2013: 501.3 (2nd, 11th)

2014: 485.0 (2nd, 16th)

2015: 370.0 (10th, 94th)

2016: 440.8 (6th, 43rd)

2017: 451.6 (3rd, 26th)

2018: 389.9 (11th, 78th)

After Oregon: 383.0 (10th, 80th)

After Tulane: 381.0 (11th, 83rd)

After Kent State: 465.0 (7th, 39th)

After Texas A&M: 316.8 (6th, 35th)

After Mississippi State: 454.4 (5th, 36th)

After Florida: 423.5 (10th, 64th)

After bye week: 423.5 (7th, 55th)

After Arkansas: 433.1 (6th, 50th)

2019: 414.9 (7th, 57th)

Why: Auburn totaled 287 yards of offense against LSU.

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SCORING OFFENSE

2013: 39.5 (2nd, 12th)

2014: 35.5 (4th, 35th)

2015: 27.5 (8th, 75th)

2016: 31.2 (6th, 49th)

2017: 33.9 (4th, 27th)

2018: 30.9 (8th, 47th)

After Oregon: 27.0 (9th, 80th)

After Tulane: 25.5 (10th, 79th)

After Kent State: 35.3 (7th, 42nd)

After Texas A&M: 33.5 (5th, 48th)

After Mississippi State: 38.0 (5th, 24th)

After Florida: 33.8 (5th, 38th)

After bye week: 33.8 (5th, 40th)

After Arkansas: 36.3 (3rd, 23rd)

2019: 34.3 (4th, 34th)

Why: Auburn scored 20 points against LSU.

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SACKS ALLOWED

2013: 18 sacks, 1.29 per game (3rd, 22nd)

2014: 15 sacks, 1.15 per game (3rd, 15th)

2015: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (4th, 33rd)

2016: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (3rd, 27th)

2017: 36 sacks, 2.57 per game (10th, 100th)

2018: 23 sacks, 1.77 per game (6th, 39th)

After Oregon: 1 sack, 1.0 per game (4th, 29th)

After Tulane: 1 sack, 0.50 per game (1st, 7th)

After Kent State: 3 sacks, 1.0 per game (2nd, 22nd)

After Texas A&M: 4 sacks, 1.0 per game (2nd, 16th)

After Mississippi State: 6 sacks, 1.20 per game (2nd, 21st)

After Florida: 8 sacks, 1.33 per game (3rd, 26th)

After bye week: 8 sacks, 1.33 per game (3rd, 25th)

After Arkansas: 10 sacks, 1.43 per game (3rd, 30th)

2019: 13, 1.63 (3rd, 41st)

Why: Auburn gave up three sacks against LSU.

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THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS

2013: 46.5 percent (4th, 24th)

2014: 52.5 percent (1st, 2nd)

2015: 41.3 percent (6th, 49th)

2016: 41.8 percent (4th, 53rd)

2017: 45.5 percent (3rd, 15th)

2018: 36.9 percent (11th, 90th)

After Oregon: 41.2 percent (6th, 71st)

After Tulane: 47.2 percent (6th, 41st)

After Kent State: 51.0 percent (2nd, 22nd)

After Texas A&M: 47.5 percent (3rd, 28th)

After Mississippi State: 49.3 percent (4th, 21st)

After Florida: 43.5 percent (5th, 34th)

After bye week: 43.5 percent (6th, 34th)

After Arkansas: 44.9 percent (3rd, 27th)

2019: 42.2 percent (6th, 46th)

Why: Auburn converted 5-of-18 third downs against LSU.

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RED ZONE OFFENSE

2013: 88.5 percent (2nd, 21st)

2014: 87.9 percent (4th, 31st)

2015: 90.2 percent (2nd, 13th)

2016: 85.5 percent (5th, 52nd)

2017: 88.1 percent (6th, 36th)

2018: 81.1 percent (11th, 88th)

After Oregon: 60.0 percent (12th, 103rd)

After Tulane: 66.7 percent (11th, 107th)

After Kent State: 81.3 percent (10th, 81st)

After Texas A&M: 84.2 percent (9th, 66th)

After Mississippi State: 87.5 percent (6th, 47th)

After Florida: 84.0 percent (8th, 70th)

After bye week: 84.0 percent (6th, 61st)

After Arkansas: 83.3 (6th, 64th)

2019: 85.3 percent (4th, 56th)

Why: Auburn scored on all four of its red-zone opportunities, with two touchdowns and two field goals.

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RUSHING DEFENSE

2013: 162.1 (10th, 62nd)

2014: 168.8 (10th, 67th)

2015: 182.7 (11th, 81st)

2016: 132.8 (3rd, 27th)

2017: 137.0 (5th, 35th)

2018: 135.9 (6th, 32nd)

After Oregon: 90.0 (5th, 42nd)

After Tulane: 105.0 (6th, 38th)

After Kent State: 100.7 (5th, 35th)

After Texas A&M: 89.5 (2nd, 20th)

After Mississippi State: 95.2 (3rd, 20th)

After Florida: 101.3 (6th, 25th)

After bye week: 101.3 (3rd, 20th)

After Arkansas: 94.3 (3rd, 12th)

2019: 105.9 (3rd, 16th)

Why: Auburn allowed 187 yards rushing against LSU.

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PASSING DEFENSE

2013: 258.6 (13th, 100th)

2014: 230.1 (12th, 68th)

2015: 222.5 (11th, 63rd)

2016: 229.2 (9th, 67th)

2017: 182.4 (5th, 18th)

2018: 219.5 (7th, 58th)

After Oregon: 242.0 (12th, 85th)

After Tulane: 172.5 (3rd, 36th)

After Kent State: 191.3 (5th, 45th)

After Texas A&M: 227.3 (9th, 67th)

After Mississippi State: 225.0 (9th, 72nd)

After Florida: 235.3 (9th, 75th)

After bye week: 235.3 (11th, 79th)

After Arkansas: 224.7 (9th, 68th)

2019: 236.8 (10th, 81st)

Why: Auburn allowed 321 passing yards against LSU.

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PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE

2013: 126.88 (9th, 63rd)

2014: 124.19 (10th, 52nd)

2015: 116.99 (8th, 31st)

2016: 116.83 (4th, 22nd)

2017: 113.84 (4th, 19th)

2018: 118.12 (6th, 31st)

After Oregon: 139.54 (13th, 89th)

After Tulane: 96.17 (3rd, 17th)

After Kent State: 104.78 (6th, 19th)

After Texas A&M: 114.01 (6th, 31st)

After Mississippi State: 118.46 (7th, 35th)

After Florida: 122.76 (7th, 46th)

After bye week: 122.76 (8th, 46th)

After Arkansas: 116.14 (7th, 29th)

2019: 119.93 (8th, 35th)

Why: LSU completed 32-of-42 passes with one touchdown and an interception.

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TOTAL DEFENSE

2013: 420.7 (12th, 86th)

2014: 398.8 (9th, 64th)

2015: 405.2 (13th, 71st)

2016: 361.9 (5th, 28th)

2017: 319.4 (5th, 14th)

2018: 355.4 (8th, 38th)

After Oregon: 332.0 (7th, 64th)

After Tulane: 277.5 (4th, 30th)

After Kent State: 292.0 (4th, 31st)

After Texas A&M: 316.8 (6th, 35th)

After Mississippi State: 320.2 (6th, 33rd)

After Florida: 336.7 (7th, 40th)

After bye week: 336.7 (7th, 37th)

After Arkansas: 319.0 (3rd, 23rd)

2019: 342.6 (6th, 36th)

Why: Auburn allowed 508 yards of total offense to LSU.

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SCORING DEFENSE

2013: 24.7 (9th, 48th)

2014: 26.7 (10th, 62nd)

2015: 26.0 (11th, 54th)

2016: 17.1 (4th, 7th)

2017: 18.5 (3rd, 12th)

2018: 19.2 (4th, 14th)

After Oregon: 21.0 (8th, 56th)

After Tulane: 13.5 (4th, 24th)

After Kent State: 14.3 (5th, 22nd)

After Texas A&M: 15.8 (6th, 23rd)

After Mississippi State: 17.2 (5th, 22nd)

After Florida: 18.3 (6th, 22nd)

After bye week: 18.3 (5th, 18th)

After Arkansas: 17.1 (5th, 16th)

2019: 17.9 (4th, 14th)

Why: Auburn held LSU to a season-low 23 points.

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SACKS

2013: 32 sacks, 2.29 per game (4th, 46th)

2014: 21 sacks, 1.62 per game (11th, 95th)

2015: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (13th, 104th)

2016: 25 sacks, 1.92 per game (8th, 75th)

2017: 37 sacks, 2.64 per game (5th, 25th)

2018: 38, 2.92 per game (3rd, 16th)

After Oregon: 3, 3.00 per game (4th, 29th)

After Tulane: 3, 1.50 per game (11th, 88th)

After Kent State: 8, 2.67 per game (4th, 41st)

After Texas A&M: 11, 2.75 per game (4th, 32nd)

After Mississippi State: 13, 2.60 per game (6th, 39th)

After Florida: 17 sacks, 2.83 per game (4th, 28th)

After bye week: 17 sacks, 2.83 per game (2nd, 27th)

After Arkansas: 20 sacks, 2.86 per game (2nd, 27th)

2019: 23 sacks, 2.88 per game (2nd, 26th)

Why: Auburn had three sacks against LSU.

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THIRD-DOWN DEFENSE

2013: 33.0 percent (1st, 13th)

2014: 36.0 percent (4th, 29th)

2015: 44.9 percent (13th, 109th)

2016: 34.8 percent (4th, 25th)

2017: 32.9 percent (3rd, 20th)

2018: 34.7 percent (6th, 30th)

After Oregon: 28.6 percent (7th, 40th)

After Tulane: 20.7 percent (1st, 7th)

After Kent State: 31.9 (5th, 40th)

After Texas A&M: 32.8 percent (6th, 44th)

After Mississippi State: 31.5 percent (5th, 20th)

After Florida: 30.7 percent (4th, 22nd)

After bye week: 30.7 percent (1st, 17th)

After Arkansas: 29.8 percent (1st, 11th)

2019: 32.5 percent (4th, 25th)

Why: Auburn allowed LSU to convert 9-of-10 third-down attempts.

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RED ZONE DEFENSE

2013: 73.1 percent (2nd, 10th)

2014: 74.1 percent (4th, 13th)

2015: 75.5 percent (5th, 15th)

2016: 74.4 percent (3rd, 11th)

2017: 83.3 percent (6th, 64th)

2018: 82.9 percent (9th, 64th)

After Oregon: 60.0 percent (6th, 42nd)

After Tulane: 66.7 percent (4th, 25th)

After Kent State: 66.7 percent (5th, 16th)

After Texas A&M: 75.0 percent (8th, 36th)

After Mississippi State: 75.0 percent (6th, 28th)

After Florida: 68.4 percent (5th, 11th)

After bye week: 68.4 percent (5th, 12th)

After Arkansas: 70.0 percent (5th, 13th)

2019: 72.0 percent (4th, 13th)

Why: LSU scored on four of its five red-zone trips, with three touchdowns.

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NET PUNTING

2013: 40.54 (2nd, 9th)

2014: 37.44 (12th, 67th)

2015: 37.58 (7th, 54th)

2016: 39.90 (5th, 21st)

2017: 35.61 (14th, 115th)

2018: 41.91 (2nd, 5th)

After Oregon: 23.17 (14th, 120th)

After Tulane: 29.5 (14th, 127th)

After Kent State: 30.43 (14th, 127th)

After Texas A&M: 35.27 (13th, 114th)

After Mississippi State: 35.61 (12th, 108th)

After Florida: 36.94 (10th, 85th)

After bye week: 36.94 (11th, 89th)

After Arkansas: 37.55 (9th, 80th)

2019: 39.40 (6th, 40th)

Why: Auburn averaged 45.5 net yards per punt against LSU.

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KICK RETURNS

2013: 23.40 (5th, 27th)

2014: 20.03 (11th, 82nd)

2015: 27.94 (2nd, 4th)

2016: 19.04 (12th, 100th)

2017: 23.22 (3rd, 25th)

2018: 21.52 (6th, 48th)

After Oregon: 20.00 (8th, 60th)

After Tulane: 18.00 (10th, 88th)

After Kent State: 11.50 (13th, 123rd)

After Texas A&M: 15.40 (12th, 120th)

After Mississippi State: 16.33 (11th, 111th)

After Florida: 17.14 (11th, 11th)

After bye week: 17.14 (11th, 112th)

After Arkansas: 16.80 (12th, 121st)

2019: 18.92 (8th, 92nd)

Why: Auburn totaled 59 yards on two kickoff returns against LSU.

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KICK RETURN DEFENSE

2013: 25.79 (14th, 121st)

2014: 21.73 (9th, 84th)

2015: 21.17 (12th, 61st)

2016: 18.00 (1st, 13th)

2017: 27.20 (14th, 129th)

2018: 19.44 (3rd, 39th)

After Oregon: 28.50 (12th, 116th)

After Tulane: 28.50 (12th, 118th)

After Kent State: 21.33 (8th, 79th)

After Texas A&M: 21.00 (7th, 68th)

After Mississippi State: 20.00 (6th, 53rd)

After Florida: 20.00 (7th, 58th)

After bye week: 20.00 (7th, 51st)

After Arkansas: 19.38 (4th, 40th)

2019: 19.38 (6th, 43rd)

Why: LSU did not have any kickoff returns against Auburn.

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PUNT RETURNS

2013: 11.78 (2nd, 22nd)

2014: 17.82 yards per return (1st, 4th)

2015: 11.93 yards per return (7th, 28th)

2016: 10.69 (5th, 24th)

2017: 8.52 (8th, 51st)

2018: 10.75 (6th, 39th)

After Oregon: 12.8 (7th, 26th)

After Tulane: 14.25 (5th, 24th)

After Kent State: 14.25 (7th, 25th)

After Texas A&M: 16.60 (5th, 19th)

After Mississippi State: 15.38 (4th, 20th)

After Florida: 13.93 (7th, 26th)

After bye week: 13.93 (7th, 19th)

After Arkansas: 13.93 (4th, 15th)

2019: 13.20 (6th, 21st)

Why: Auburn had one punt return for 3 yards against LSU.

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PUNT RETURN DEFENSE

2013: 7.0 (8th, 51st)

2014: 7.79 (10th, 72nd)

2015: 12.43 (11th, 110th)

2016: 3.17 (1st, 8th)

2017: 11.43 (14th, 108th)

2018: 3.36 (3rd, 9th)

After Oregon: 43.67 (14th, 127th)

After Tulane: 35.80 (14th, 130th)

After Kent State: 35.80 (14th, 130th)

After Texas A&M: 22.38 (14th, 127th)

After Mississippi State: 22.38 (14th, 127th)

After Florida: 22.38 (14th, 126th)

After bye week: 22.38 (14th, 126th)

After Arkansas: 22.38 (14th, 127th)

2019: 18.60 (14th, 127th)

Why: Auburn allowed two returns totaling 7 yards against LSU.

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TURNOVER MARGIN

2013: even, 0.0 per game (9th, 61st)

2014: plus-seven, 0.54 per game (4th, 27th)

2015: plus-two, 0.15 per game (8th, 51st)

2016: plus-three, plus-0.23 per game (6th, 42nd)

2017: minus-one, 0.07 per game (7th, 71st)

2018: plus-nine, 0.69 (3rd, 16th)

After Oregon: minus-one, -1.00 per game (10th, 77th)

After Tulane: minus-one, -0.50 per game (12th, 97th)

After Kent State: minus-one, -0.67 per game (13th, 95th)

After Texas A&M: minus-one, -0.25 per game (12th, 82nd)

After Mississippi State: minus-two, -0.40 per game (12th, 90th)

After Florida: minus-two, -0.33 per game (12th, 86th)

After bye week: minus-two, -0.33 per game (12th, 87th)

After Arkansas: plus-one, 0.14 per game (7th, 54th)

2019: plus-two, 0.25 per game (6th, 48th)

Why: Auburn forced two turnovers and only committed one against LSU.

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PENALTY YARDS PER GAME

2013: 40.64 (7th 30th)

2014: 68.92 (14th, 112th)

2015: 46.38 (7th, 34th)

2016: 36.54 (1st, 6th)

2017: 38.36 (2nd, 13th)

2018: 56.69 (9th, 75th)

After Oregon: 60.00 (6th, 71st)

After Tulane: 55.5 (5th, 69th)

After Kent State: 56.67 (6th, 73rd)

After Texas A&M: 61.00 (9th, 83rd)

After Mississippi State: 56.20 (7th, 69th)

After Florida: 58.50 (10th, 76th)

After bye week: 58.50 (11th, 78th)

After Arkansas: 56.57 (7th, 69th)

2019: 61.75 (10th, 89th)

Why: Auburn was flagged 15 times for 98 yards against LSU.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

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NEWSFLASH!   All teams perform better vs bad teams and perform worse vs good teams.