Auburn prepares for 'unique' Air Raid offense

[aubiefifty 18,231]

al.com

 

Auburn prepares for 'unique' Air Raid offense

By Giana Han

5-6 minutes

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Auburn defensive back Jeremiah Dinson (20) encourages Auburn fans to make noise after a defensive stop in the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP

While Mississippi State’s offense may not have been efficient through the first half of the season, it’s definitely succeeded in being different.

In the first five games, it has passed the ball at least twice as many times as it’s run the ball, and in the first three it made 60 pass attempts or more. Meanwhile its opponents have passed the ball, at most 48 times. Auburn quarterback Bo Nix has never been asked to throw more than 47 times in a game this season.

“It’s very unique and kind of a different approach, throw to open up the run,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said the Tuesday before the two teams faced.

All those attempts did not exactly lead to completions, yardage or wins for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs started out hot with a win over LSU in which it passed for over 600 yards, but after that, their production steadily dropped to 300 yards, then 200, then 160. Those yards garnered just seven touchdowns while setting up 14 interceptions in five games. They also led to four straight losses.

The Bulldogs weren’t able to offset the drop with an increased push on the ground. Through nine games, the Bulldogs have never rushed for over 100 yards and have, in fact, rushed for negative yardage in two games.

When Mississippi State finally got another win, it wasn’t because of a change in offensive philosophy but rather from a change in personnel philosophy. Through the first five games, the Bulldogs either had K.J. Costello leading them as their starting quarterback or had both Costello and Will Rogers switching. Together, they threw a combined 14 interceptions, four by Rogers and 10 by Costello.

Then Rogers took over for the Vanderbilt game after Costello was injured. Since that game, the Bulldogs have not given up a single interception and have scored five passing touchdowns. All while Rogers still threw an average of 53 times per game.

“Real impressed with the quarterback since he’s taken over the starting job,” Malzahn said. “He’s protected the ball very well considering how many times he’s thrown the ball.”

This season, opponents have attempted to throw the ball an average of 31 times against Auburn for about 240 yards per game. LSU threw the most against Auburn, and while its 48 attempts led to 315 yards, they also led to just one passing touchdown.

Auburn has defended dangerous passing teams before. Ole Miss is known for its explosive plays through the air, while Alabama has a Heisman-contending quarterback and a receiver that’s considered one of the best in the country. Auburn did great against the first of those two offenses and not so great against the second, but neither of those teams attempted more than 35 passes.

As the Tigers have prepared for the Bulldogs, they’ve considered how their strengths and weaknesses match up differently against this team. The defensive line, which was stifled by Texas A&M’s offensive line, may have more of a chance to affect the quarterback this week, since it’s playing a team that’s given up 2.4 sacks a game.

“It’s completely different this week,” Malzahn said. “I mean, it’s just from one extreme to the other.”

The line also won’t face too much in the run game if the Bulldogs stick to their M.O. of barely trying to carry the ball. That would make it easier to focus on getting to the quarterback, which would then make things easier for all the guys behind them.

But if the Bulldogs just keep on passing like they do, the defensive backs may be run ragged. Malzahn said they’ve considered rotating more players through the secondary during the game to keep them rested.

“That conversation has come up,” Malzahn said. “We’ll see how the game unfolds … Each game unfolds a little bit different, but they throw it and they throw it and they throw it. You need as many DB’s or fresh DB’s as you can get.”

Mississippi State has stubbornly stuck with that style of play, never once straying in nine games. Auburn already got in some preparation for Mississippi State back during the bye week, before the original game was postponed. Both then and now, the Tigers know they’re about to face a different type of opponent.

[AuburnNTexas 7,317]

Tutt and Smoke are better DB;'s when helping to stop the run versus stopping the pass I wonder if we will see different players against the air raid?

[aucanucktiger 1,889]

Spurriers Fun & Gun without the athletes. 

[bigbird 60,939]

On 12/9/2020 at 2:45 PM, AuburnNTexas said:

Tutt and Smoke are better DB;'s when helping to stop the run versus stopping the pass I wonder if we will see different players against the air raid?

My biggest concern Saturday is Tutt, Smoke, and the LBs. All three have been exposed this year at different points. 

Leach is a master at creating and  identifying weaknesses and exploiting mismatches. If undisciplined, too aggressive, or have mental letdowns against the air raid and Leech, it'll be a long day for the secondary. 

[bigbird 60,939]

On 12/9/2020 at 2:45 PM, AuburnNTexas said:

Tutt and Smoke are better DB;'s when helping to stop the run versus stopping the pass I wonder if we will see different players against the air raid?

Not many to choose from at Safety