entering crucial stretch

[aubiefifty 18,222]

Statistically speaking: Auburn enters crucial stretch with top-20 3rd-down defense

Posted Nov 10, 2019

15-19 minutes

Derrick Brown made it clear a week ago that he was satisfied with Auburn’s defensive effort against Ole Miss, even though the Tigers limited the Rebels to 14 points, just 266 yards of total offense and 3-of-15 on third-downs.

That wasn’t good enough, particularly that last number, as Brown noted that Auburn wants to have the best third-down defense in the country this season. The Tigers still have a ways to go in that regard, but coming off their second bye week of the year, they enter the final quarter of the season -- a stretch that includes rivals Georgia and Alabama -- with a top-20 defense on third downs, which could loom large in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry and the Iron Bowl.

Auburn is limiting opponents to a 31.2 percent conversion rate on third downs, which is 19th nationally and second among SEC teams. It’s also on pace for the best third-down defense of the Kevin Steele era on the Plains. Among SEC teams, only Georgia is better on third downs defensively than Auburn, holding teams to a 29.6 percent conversion rate. Wisconsin leads the nation at 21.6 percent.

Auburn’s ability to get third-down stops should be critical against Georgia and Alabama, both of which rank in the top-20 nationally on third downs offensively. The Bulldogs enter next weekend’s rivalry game at Jordan-Hare Stadium converting 46.96 percent of their third downs, which ranks 19th nationally. Alabama, coming off its loss to LSU, has converted 53.15 percent of its third downs, which is third among FBS teams.

Here’s a look at where Auburn stacks up statistically, both in the SEC and nationally, in various categories through Week 11:

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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)

After Ole Miss: 219.3 (3rd, 21st)

2019: 219.3 (2nd, 20th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 205.8 (10th, 91st)

2019: 205.8 (9th, 90th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 130.26 (9th, 84th)

2019: 130.26 (9th, 85th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 425.1 (5th, 49th)

2019: 425.1 (5th, 51st)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 32.7 (5th, 48th)

2019: 32.7 (6th, 45th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 14, 1.56 per game (3rd, 38th)

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

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 44.5 percent (4th, 31st)

2019: 44.5 percent (4th, 31st)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 86.8 percent (4th, 46th)

2019: 86.8 percent (5th, 46th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 112.7 (3rd, 19th)

2019: 112.7 (3rd, 21st)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 221.4 (9th, 63rd)

2019: 221.4 (9th, 59th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 116.28 (7th, 26th)

2019: 116.28 (4th, 23rd)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 334.1 (6th, 28th)

2019: 334.1 (4th, 28th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 17.4 (4th, 13th)

2019: 17.4 (3rd, 13th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 23 sacks, 2.56 per game (2nd, 37th)

2019: 23 sacks, 2.56 per game (4th, 37th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 31.2 percent (3rd, 20th)

2019: 31.2 percent (2nd, 19th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 74.1 percent (5th, 21st)

2019: 74.1 percent (3rd, 19th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 38.11 (11th, 74th)

2019: 38.11 (9th, 70th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 21.00 (4th, 62nd)

2019: 21.00 (4th, 60th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 20.27 (10th, 58th)

2019: 20.27 (9th, 59th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 12.44 (7th, 42nd)

2019: 12.44 (5th, 18th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 21.91 (14th, 129th)

2019: 21.91 (14th, 130th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: plus-two, 0.22 per game (7th, 50th)

2019: plus-two, 0.22 per game (5th, 50th)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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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)

After Ole Miss: 59.78 (10th, 82nd)

2019: 59.78 (11th, 82nd)

Why: Auburn was off in Week 11.

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

[aubiefifty 18,222]

does anyone care about the stats posted in the article? if not i will not include them in future posts of this kind. but if just one person does i will keep on keeping on. just trying to be more reader friendly.

[alexava 6,974]

I do.  Thx. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

16 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

does anyone care about the stats posted in the article? if not i will not include them in future posts of this kind. but if just one person does i will keep on keeping on. just trying to be more reader friendly.

I do. It gives me some perspective. 

[JBiGGiE 2,488]

Someone needs to step up and take Stay Tiger's place 😅