More Defense Please:
The defense has performed more consistently under the leadership of Kevin Steele, but they have not been dominant, except for a few occasions. Beginning up front, the opposition has rushed for at least 150-yards during 11 of 27 games, with Auburn posting a 4-7 record. The need to become dominant is not a necessity, but it would certainly help to make a championship run. For now, Steele has brought stability to the defense, holding the opposition to 20 points or less during 66.7 percent of their games. From 2013-2015, it happened only 37.5 percent of the time.
Impact on Offense:
Auburn lacked speed when it came to the running game. During the past two seasons, Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson provided power to the Auburn running game but lacked the speed to make the Auburn running game explosive. The Auburn coaching staff will have to make a strong evaluation of the running back position going into 2018 to decide a "pecking order." Hopefully there will be a more fluid rotation of the top-two running backs.
Big Play Offense:
The Auburn pass-offense was good in 2017 but not consistent enough to carry the offense when the running game struggled. Auburn finished No. 13 in pass-efficiency, with Jarrett Stidham having the best season by an Auburn quarterback as a sophomore. The majority of Auburn's 2017 pass-offense was within 5-yards of the line of scrimmage and beyond 20-yards of the line of scrimmage. Only 30.9 percentof Auburn's passing yardage came within the 6-19 yards range. Utilizing big body receivers like Nate Craig-Myers and Marquis McClain in the intermediate range would be valuable. Players like Ryan Davis and Will Hastings could cause havoc on crossing routes.
During the past five seasons, Auburn's receivers have accounted for 79 percent of the receptions, and the running backs have accounted for 18 percent. During the previous five seasons (2008-2012), the wide receivers caught 63 percent of the passes, and the running backs caught 25 percent. The tight ends caught 12 percent from 2008-2012. The Auburn pass-offense has lived off the perimeter passing game with the occasional deep ball. Some want the tight end more involved in the passing game, but the most critical element for improvement is attacking the "entire" field.
The influx of more speed to the 2018 Auburn offense could be huge. Players like Noah Igbinoghene, Asa Martin, Shaun Shivers and Anthony Schwartz could be a significant boost to the overall team speed of the Auburn offense. Five of Auburn's top-6 play makers from 2017 return in 2018. The Tigers should have plenty of valuable skill players, but the offensive line will be a significant question mark going into next season. Despite having four senior starters on the offensive line in 2017, Auburn was way too inconsistent up front. Auburn cannot afford to work through 2-3 games into the season to settle on their best five up front. Herb Hand's offensive line has struggled early on during the past eight seasons. This is a trend that must stop, especially with the Tigers opening up against Washington away from Jordan-Hare.
Not So Special Teams: {This is nasty....this is shocking...and unacceptable. If I were head coach I'd replace somebody over this shit.}
After going 5-1 in games decided by 7-points or less during the 2013 season, Auburn is 8-7 in close games from 2014-2017. Auburn is 2-4 the last two years, which makes special teams even more vital in close games. During Auburn's ten victories, the Tigers generated a short field, 15.4 percent of the time. During the four losses, the Tigers made a short field just 3.9 percent of the time. Defense and special teams create short fields for the offense. Auburn's lack of forcing turnovers and flipping the field with the kicking game has hurt Auburn in the close games. Rather than being 45-22 under Gus Malzahn, Auburn would be 53-14 had they won the games Auburn lost by 7-points or less.
War Eagle!
- Kevin Steele doesn't often blitz with the intent of forcing the opponent to work for every yard. During the 2017 season, the Auburn defense allowed a play of 30-yards or more every 36.8 snaps, 18th best among Auburn defenses from 1992-2017.
- Of the 4477 yards allowed on defense, 24 percent came from plays of 30-yards or more, which was only 2.7 percent of the plays defended.
- The Auburn defense was No. 44 nationally in big-play ratio allowed.
- From 2009-2015, the Auburn defense had a passing grade during 48.9 percent of their games. Under Kevin Steele, the defense has a passing grade in 70.3 percent of their games.
- Auburn finished No. 14 in total defense and No. 11 in scoring defense. The Tigers were 19th in 3rd down defense, 35th in run-defense and 19th in pass-efficiency defense. These are solid numbers, but Auburn was 43rd in red zone TD percentage, 61st in tackles for loss (ratio) and 85th in forced turnovers (ratio). These numbers must improve to become a more dominating defense.
The defense has performed more consistently under the leadership of Kevin Steele, but they have not been dominant, except for a few occasions. Beginning up front, the opposition has rushed for at least 150-yards during 11 of 27 games, with Auburn posting a 4-7 record. The need to become dominant is not a necessity, but it would certainly help to make a championship run. For now, Steele has brought stability to the defense, holding the opposition to 20 points or less during 66.7 percent of their games. From 2013-2015, it happened only 37.5 percent of the time.
Impact on Offense:
- Auburn slightly increased their impact-play production from 2016, averaging 8.1 per game to the 7.7 from last year. Of the 113 plays of 15-yards or more, 67.3 percent came from the pass-offense.
- The Auburn run-offense generated a 15+ play every 17.4 attempts, 18th best among Auburn offenses from 1992-2017. The 2016 Auburn offense generated a 15+ run-play every 11.7 attempts, 6th best since 1992.
- Auburn's 29.6 yards per impact play was the highest average by an Auburn offense from 1992-2017.
Auburn lacked speed when it came to the running game. During the past two seasons, Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson provided power to the Auburn running game but lacked the speed to make the Auburn running game explosive. The Auburn coaching staff will have to make a strong evaluation of the running back position going into 2018 to decide a "pecking order." Hopefully there will be a more fluid rotation of the top-two running backs.
Big Play Offense:
- The 2017 Auburn offense generated 41 plays of 30-yards or more this season with one every 25 snaps. The big play ratio was 5th best among Auburn offenses from 1987-2017.
- Auburn was No. 22 nationally in generating run plays of 30-yards or more with one every 40 attempts. Auburn's ratio was good, but 11 of their 16 big run plays came from Malik Willis, Eli Stove, and Kam Martin. Kerryon Johnson had only four runs of 30-yards or more in 2017.
- Though Kerryon Johnson was No. 15 nationally in yards per game, he was No. 81 in producing run plays of 20+ yards among the top-100 rushers this season.
The Auburn pass-offense was good in 2017 but not consistent enough to carry the offense when the running game struggled. Auburn finished No. 13 in pass-efficiency, with Jarrett Stidham having the best season by an Auburn quarterback as a sophomore. The majority of Auburn's 2017 pass-offense was within 5-yards of the line of scrimmage and beyond 20-yards of the line of scrimmage. Only 30.9 percentof Auburn's passing yardage came within the 6-19 yards range. Utilizing big body receivers like Nate Craig-Myers and Marquis McClain in the intermediate range would be valuable. Players like Ryan Davis and Will Hastings could cause havoc on crossing routes.
During the past five seasons, Auburn's receivers have accounted for 79 percent of the receptions, and the running backs have accounted for 18 percent. During the previous five seasons (2008-2012), the wide receivers caught 63 percent of the passes, and the running backs caught 25 percent. The tight ends caught 12 percent from 2008-2012. The Auburn pass-offense has lived off the perimeter passing game with the occasional deep ball. Some want the tight end more involved in the passing game, but the most critical element for improvement is attacking the "entire" field.
The influx of more speed to the 2018 Auburn offense could be huge. Players like Noah Igbinoghene, Asa Martin, Shaun Shivers and Anthony Schwartz could be a significant boost to the overall team speed of the Auburn offense. Five of Auburn's top-6 play makers from 2017 return in 2018. The Tigers should have plenty of valuable skill players, but the offensive line will be a significant question mark going into next season. Despite having four senior starters on the offensive line in 2017, Auburn was way too inconsistent up front. Auburn cannot afford to work through 2-3 games into the season to settle on their best five up front. Herb Hand's offensive line has struggled early on during the past eight seasons. This is a trend that must stop, especially with the Tigers opening up against Washington away from Jordan-Hare.
Not So Special Teams: {This is nasty....this is shocking...and unacceptable. If I were head coach I'd replace somebody over this shit.}
- Auburn was 130th in kick-return defense, 109th in punt-return defense and 51st in punt-return offense.
- Auburn was 115th in net-punting and 102nd in punting average.
- Daniel Carlson is perhaps Auburn's best (ever) place-kicker, but he finished 63rd in field goal percentage this season.
- From 2009-2016, Auburn's special teams had a passing grade during 81.9 percent of their games. During the 2017 season, special teams had a passing grade in 64.2 percent of their games.
After going 5-1 in games decided by 7-points or less during the 2013 season, Auburn is 8-7 in close games from 2014-2017. Auburn is 2-4 the last two years, which makes special teams even more vital in close games. During Auburn's ten victories, the Tigers generated a short field, 15.4 percent of the time. During the four losses, the Tigers made a short field just 3.9 percent of the time. Defense and special teams create short fields for the offense. Auburn's lack of forcing turnovers and flipping the field with the kicking game has hurt Auburn in the close games. Rather than being 45-22 under Gus Malzahn, Auburn would be 53-14 had they won the games Auburn lost by 7-points or less.
War Eagle!
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