Game 7 Review: HOG SLAUGHTER

Auburn 56  Arkansas 3.  This game was the biggest beatdown on a ranked team in Auburn history.  Obviously it was a pretty good Saturday on the plains.  My first reaction was "how did that taste Bret?".  Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has gone on and on over the last few years about playing "tough pro-style" football.  He has made a career criticizing the hurry-up-no-huddle and running the majority of your plays from the shotgun formation.  He has run off at the mouth over and over again slighting every team in the conference plus going overboard beating his chest after his few big wins.  My advice to him now is the same as it was then... SHUT UP.  That is pretty much the only thing you need to be doing after your big bad "pro-style" team gives up over 500 YARDS RUSHING (!!!).

It was 543 yards to be exact, only two yards less than the 2013 team in the SEC Championship game against Missouri.  That game was a once-in-a-lifetime performance and to nearly match that is an incredible achievement.  Of course it is hard to say which performance was more impressive, the offense or the defense?  I think I might have to go with the defense.  Arkansas had the leading rusher and leading passer in the conference and the Auburn defense held them to 215 yards total (!!!).  Big bad "I am tougher than you" Arkansas had only 25 yards rushing the entire game!!!  25 YARDS.  Arkansas is no juggernaut but that is still very impressive. 

There is not much reason to break things down into "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" today.  A win like this is pretty much all good although as always I still have a tiny bit of rain to dump on the victory parade.  First though let's start with the most frequent question I hear and that is how did Auburn go to offensively inept to juggernaut?  Well first and foremost is the level of competition.  Auburn played better teams and defenses (at least in LSU's case) earlier in the season.  They have improved, there is no doubt about that but it is definitely a combination of both.

Next, while everyone blathers on about Rhett Lashlee when overall the playcalling has not changed that much I give the most credit on the offensive side of the ball to offensive line coach Herb Hand.  Auburn is dominating because the offensive line is destroying people plus Chandler Cox and even Jalen Harris have improved immensely.  The offensive line is paving the way for this run and after some of their early performances it is pretty amazing to watch.  The next biggest thing is Kamryn Pettway looking like Jerome "The Bus" Bettis.  The sunshine pumpers finally got one thing right, this guy is a beast. 

Auburn's young receiving corps was also on full display last night, mostly running the ball but even so you can see these guys are dripping with talent.  We have already seen a little of Kyle Davis and Darius Slayton and last night we saw Eli Stove and a flash of Nate Craig-Myers.  Stove started the game with a 78 yard touchdown run and a couple more good runs as well.  Craig-Myers had just one catch but looked like a man doing it.  Sophomore Stanton Truitt has become a legitimate running back and had 78 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 8 carries.

The leaders of this team though for the first time in a long time are on defense.  The defensive line led by Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams held their own in the early games against the tough teams and are flat our destroying these lesser teams.  The linebackers are also oozing leadership and making plays.  Tre William's crushing tackle last night reminded me of some of those 80's defenses.  Finally, the veteran secondary continues to hold their own as well with Rudy Ford, Josh Holsey and Tray Matthews among the top six tacklers for this game plus Javaris Davis grabbing another big interception. 

I have been pretty hard on the coaching staff the last few years and still have some major philosophical differences with Gus.  I still have to mention them even after this game but first some accolades for Gus and his boys.  First and foremost, the coaches are doing a good job recruiting.  Auburn has continued to turn out top ten recruiting classes and it is finally starting to show this season.  The talent level is high.  My only concern is that I know Dameyune Craig was a big part of that and is one of the best recruiters in the country.  It sure looks like losing him hurt Florida State, will it hurt Auburn?

Next, the coaches continue to get the team to play hard.  This was true last season and it has continued this season.  There have not been many Tuberville or Chizik-like meltdowns where the team just does not show up.  The first job of a good college coach is getting good players and the second job is developing them and getting them to play hard.  Gus Malzahn and his staff still struggle at times with development in certain spots but they are certainly getting these guys to play hard.  Mississippi State and Arkansas are not titans and Auburn had more talent than both of them but Auburn also out-worked them in every phase of the game.

Auburn has destroyed it's last two conference opponents and will be heavily favored in every remaining game this season but the last one.  The Tigers are surging toward the finish line.  Are there any concerns going forward?  I will continue to think so.  Auburn like 2013 is just not a balanced team and sooner or later that will bite you.  It cost the 2013 team a national championship.  Five hundred yards rushing is an awesome feat but the team would have been better served throwing the ball some.  You cannot just turn a passing game on like a light bulb.  You have to work on it in real game conditions.  Sean White and this young wide receiver corps need all the reps they can get.

Unfortunately this coaching staff regardless of who is calling the plays will not do that.  Gus Malzahn can beat anyone he can run on but sooner or later you will always play someone who can slow down your running attack.  The 2013 team was an exception to the rule although again Gus' refusal to call just a few more play-action passes cost them a national championship.  This team is not near as good as that 2013 team regardless of the last two games.  Now this team has something that team did not have and that is a great defense but the offense still needs to be more balanced to beat better teams, i.e. Bama. 

This team is not going to roll into Tuscaloosa and run over the Tide.  Auburn had to pass to beat the Tide in 2010 and had to get two touchdowns through the air in 2013 as well.  The defense will give Auburn a chance to win every remaining game on the schedule even Bama but I just do not have confidence in a one-dimensional team.  I also think it is a huge mistake not to let John Franklin throw a few passes in game conditions.  What happens if Sean White gets hurt?  Finally you can only run so many jet sweeps and reverses, sooner or later you have to actually throw passes to get these awesome young receivers involved but it does not look like that will happen.

Auburn will continue to throw as little as possible unless they have to and I will just never agree with that philosophy.  You have to be more balanced on offense.  You can still be a run-based team and be more balanced than they have been and are now.  However the Tigers do not really have to worry about that till November 19.  They can win doing what they do now till then so I guess I will just enjoy those games like State and Arkansas.  Ole Miss is next and the Rebels better look out.  They will come limping into the game after two tough unsuccessful road trips to Arkansas and LSU to take on this red-hot Auburn team.  Let's hope the Tigers can keep it going.