how Auburn stacks up in the SEC and nationally

[aubiefifty 18,222]

Statistically speaking: Special teams issues resurface for Auburn against Ole Miss

Today 9:00 AM

14-18 minutes

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After Auburn struggled in punt coverage through the first two weeks of the season, the Tigers appeared to get back on track and correct those issues for much of the last two months.

Those issues resurfaced some during Auburn’s 20-14 win against Ole Miss on Saturday, when the Tigers allowed their longest punt return of the season -- a 55-yarder by Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore late in the first half, setting up the Rebels’ first touchdown of the game just prior to halftime.

“That punt return really changed a lot of momentum,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “We had the momentum. They went into halftime with the momentum because of that punt return so we’ve got to do a better job of that. That was really unusual because we’d been doing a super job. I don’t know if it was the trajectory or we didn’t cover well or whatever, a combination of both, but that was really big.”

The long punt return matched the total number of punt return yards Auburn allowed over its previous seven games, and it put a dent in Auburn’s much-improved seasonal numbers on special teams. Auburn averaged only 19.7 yards of net punting against Ole Miss, and it dropped the Tigers to 11th in the SEC and 74th nationally in that category after entering the game sixth and 40th, respectively, at 38.11 net yards per punt. It also dropped Auburn to second-to-last nationally and dead-last in the SEC in punt return defense, as the Tigers are allowing 21.91 yards on 11 punt returns this season.

Here’s a look at how Auburn stacks up, both in the SEC and nationally, in several statistical categories through 10 weeks:

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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)

After LSU: 225.9 (3rd, 20th)

2019: 219.3 (3rd, 21st)

Why: Auburn rushed for 167 yards against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 189.0 (13th, 107th)

2019: 205.8 (10th, 91st)

Why: Auburn had 340 passing yards against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 129.68 (9th, 84th)

2019: 130.26 (9th, 84th)

Why: Bo Nix completed 30-of-44 passes for 340 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.

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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)

After LSU: 414.9 (7th, 57th)

2019: 425.1 (5th, 49th)

Why: Auburn totaled 507 yards of offense against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 34.3 (4th, 34th)

2019: 32.7 (5th, 48th)

Why: Auburn scored 20 points against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 13, 1.63 per game (3rd, 41st)

2019: 14, 1.56 per game (3rd, 38th)

Why: Auburn gave up one sack against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 42.2 percent (6th, 46th)

2019: 44.5 percent (4th, 31st)

Why: Auburn converted 12-of-21 third downs against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 85.3 percent (4th, 56th)

2019: 86.8 percent (4th, 46th)

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)

After LSU: 105.9 (3rd, 16th)

2019: 112.7 (3rd, 19th)

Why: Auburn allowed 167 yards rushing against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 236.8 (10th, 81st)

2019: 221.4 (9th, 63rd)

Why: Auburn limited Ole Miss to 99 yards passing.

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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)

After LSU: 119.93 (8th, 35th)

2019: 116.28 (7th, 26th)

Why: Ole Miss completed 14-of-27 passes for 99 yards 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)

After LSU: 342.6 (6th, 36th)

2019: 334.1 (6th, 28th)

Why: Auburn allowed 266 total yards against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 17.9 (4th, 14th)

2019: 17.4 (4th, 13th)

Why: Auburn held Ole Miss to 14 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)

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

2019: 23 sacks, 2.56 per game (2nd, 37th)

Why: Auburn failed to record a sack against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 32.5 percent (4th, 25th)

2019: 31.2 percent (3rd, 20th)

Why: Auburn held Ole Miss to 3-of-15 on 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)

After LSU: 72.0 percent (4th, 13th)

2019: 74.1 percent (5th, 21st)

Why: Ole Miss scored touchdowns on each of its two red-zone trips.

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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)

After LSU: 39.40 (6th, 40th)

2019: 38.11 (11th, 74th)

Why: Auburn averaged 19.7 yards of net punting against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 18.92 (8th, 92nd)

2019: 21.00 (4th, 62nd)

Why: Auburn had one kick return for 46 yards.

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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)

After LSU: 19.38 (6th, 43rd)

2019: 20.27 (10th, 58th)

Why: Ole Miss averaged 22.7 yards on three kickoff returns.

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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)

After LSU: 13.20 (6th, 21st)

2019: 12.44 (7th, 42nd)

Why: Auburn had one punt return for 1 yard against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 18.60 (14th, 127th)

2019: 21.91 (14th, 129th)

Why: Auburn allowed one punt return for 55 yards against Ole Miss.

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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)

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

2019: plus-two, 0.22 per game (7th, 50th)

Why: Auburn had one interception but also lost a fumble against Ole Miss.

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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)

After LSU: 61.75 (10th, 89th)

2019: 59.78 (10th, 82nd)

Why: Auburn was three times for 44 yards against Ole Miss.

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

[shabby 2,039]

great stuff to dig into