· This season Auburn finished No. 108 nationally in sack-ratio allowed. The Tigers gave up a sack every 10.6 pass attempts with the national average being one every 15.2 attempts. Looking back over the last 28 seasons (1990-2017), the 2017 pass-offense was No. 24 in sack ratio among Auburn offenses. Part of the problem was Jarrett Stidham holding the ball too long, but the primary reason was an offensive line that was inconsistent all season. Herb Hand was brought aboard the Auburn staff before the 2016 season with a prior coaching stint with Gus Malzahn at Tulsa. The two coaches worked together at Tulsa, putting up record-setting numbers.
The History:
Coach Herb Hand's national ranking in sack-ratio:
2010 Vanderbilt .......... 109th
2011 Vanderbilt .......... 90th
2012 Vanderbilt .......... 77th
2013 Vanderbilt .......... 104th
2014 Penn State ......... 113th
2015 Penn State ......... 112th
2016 Auburn ............... 64th
2017 Auburn .............. 108th
Average Rank: 97th
Tackles for loss allowed per game:
2010 Vanderbilt ......... 111th
2011 Vanderbilt ......... 110th
2012 Vanderbilt ......... 105th
2013 Vanderbilt ......... 73rd
2014 Penn State ......... 123rd
2015 Penn State ......... 112th
2016 Auburn ............... 57th
2017 Auburn ............... 93rd
Average Rank: 98th
Poor start to the season:
During his first two seasons at Auburn, the offensive line has struggled early on during the season. It usually takes the first three games for the offensive line to find its grove. This was the case at his prior stops as offensive line coach. During the past eight seasons, Hand's offensive line allowed an average of 8 tackles for loss behind the line during the first three games of the season. During the last 20 seasons, Auburn has allowed an average of 6 tackles for loss per game.
The year before he arrived at Vanderbilt, the Commodores were ranked No. 44 nationally in tackles for loss allowed per game. During Hand's first season at Vanderbilt (2010), the Commodores finished No. 111. Before he arrived at Penn State in 2014, the Nittany Lions were No. 14 nationally, plunging to No. 123 during Hand's first season. Auburn was ranked No. 24 during 2014, dropping to No. 57 under Herb Hand. From 2013-2015, Auburn allowed seven tackles for loss or more during 25 percent of their games. During the last two seasons, it has increased to 37.0 percent.
Over the past two seasons, Auburn is 3-7 during games they allow at least seven tackles for loss during a game and 15-2 during their remaining games. The high number of negative plays are just too much to overcome. Hand's offensive line at Auburn has allowed an average of 6.9 tackles for loss per game against defenses ranked in the top-20 and 5.0 tackles for loss against their remaining opponents. From 2013-2015, Auburn allowed an average of 5.1 tackles for loss per game against top-20 defenses. The 2017 Auburn offensive line featured four seniors for most of the season, yet finished with a high number of negative plays.
The History:
Coach Herb Hand's national ranking in sack-ratio:
2010 Vanderbilt .......... 109th
2011 Vanderbilt .......... 90th
2012 Vanderbilt .......... 77th
2013 Vanderbilt .......... 104th
2014 Penn State ......... 113th
2015 Penn State ......... 112th
2016 Auburn ............... 64th
2017 Auburn .............. 108th
Average Rank: 97th
Tackles for loss allowed per game:
2010 Vanderbilt ......... 111th
2011 Vanderbilt ......... 110th
2012 Vanderbilt ......... 105th
2013 Vanderbilt ......... 73rd
2014 Penn State ......... 123rd
2015 Penn State ......... 112th
2016 Auburn ............... 57th
2017 Auburn ............... 93rd
Average Rank: 98th
Poor start to the season:
During his first two seasons at Auburn, the offensive line has struggled early on during the season. It usually takes the first three games for the offensive line to find its grove. This was the case at his prior stops as offensive line coach. During the past eight seasons, Hand's offensive line allowed an average of 8 tackles for loss behind the line during the first three games of the season. During the last 20 seasons, Auburn has allowed an average of 6 tackles for loss per game.
The year before he arrived at Vanderbilt, the Commodores were ranked No. 44 nationally in tackles for loss allowed per game. During Hand's first season at Vanderbilt (2010), the Commodores finished No. 111. Before he arrived at Penn State in 2014, the Nittany Lions were No. 14 nationally, plunging to No. 123 during Hand's first season. Auburn was ranked No. 24 during 2014, dropping to No. 57 under Herb Hand. From 2013-2015, Auburn allowed seven tackles for loss or more during 25 percent of their games. During the last two seasons, it has increased to 37.0 percent.
Over the past two seasons, Auburn is 3-7 during games they allow at least seven tackles for loss during a game and 15-2 during their remaining games. The high number of negative plays are just too much to overcome. Hand's offensive line at Auburn has allowed an average of 6.9 tackles for loss per game against defenses ranked in the top-20 and 5.0 tackles for loss against their remaining opponents. From 2013-2015, Auburn allowed an average of 5.1 tackles for loss per game against top-20 defenses. The 2017 Auburn offensive line featured four seniors for most of the season, yet finished with a high number of negative plays.
