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What do you get when you pair two teams desperate to turn their respective seasons around? A four-overtime offensive contest that doesn’t end until one team breaks 50 points.
At least, that’s what happened when Auburn played Arkansas Saturday. It was a tough loss for Gus Malzahn and the Tigers since victory was so close at hand so many times. Despite the 54-46 defeat, Auburn showed it is a completely different football team from the one that started the season.
Here’s what we learned about the Tigers on Saturday:
5 TAKEAWAYS
- Sean White has taken control: QB Sean White was given more pass plays and responsibility last week against Kentucky. Now, it’s clear the coaches trust him and White believes in his own ability. The once run-heavy offense is starting to even out; the Tigers ran it 52 times and passed 34 against Arkansas. And there were plenty of moments where White possessed the poise of a veteran quarterback. He stayed in the pocket to make crucial throws despite defenders bearing down on him, and he also was not afraid to make some big throws downfield, giving his receivers a chance to make big plays.
- An offense in rhythm equals third down conversions and scoring drives: Auburn’s offense was slow to start, but with less than seven minutes left in the second quarter it found its tempo, White settled into the game, and the Tigers put together a huge 16-play scoring drive that went 96 yards and took just over six minutes. All told, Auburn had three scoring drives of 75 yards or more. After starting 0-for-5 on third-down conversions, the Tigers went 6-for-6 on their first two scoring drives.
- The offensive line needs to protect White: While it was impressive to watch White take hits from defenders in order to make the play, it happened more often than it should. White also was sacked once and hurried three times. The offensive line is fortunate that White got the ball out quickly on most plays, because the level of protection for their quarterback is not where it needs to be.
- Dropped balls a major problem: The biggest reason behind Auburn’s slow start offensively were the six dropped passes in the first half. Ricardo Louis alone dropped three, along with a potential game-tying touchdown during the final try on fourth-and-9 during the fourth overtime. It was sad watching White make accurate passes that hit receivers right in the hands, only to watch them bounce away uncaught. Auburn could have won the game if those early (and late) catches had been made.
- Auburn’s defense is now the weakest link: The defense allowed Arkansas 457 total yards. After Kris Frost’s interception in the second quarter, it looked for a moment like the defense was pumped up enough to start making constant stops. But the Razorbacks continued to roll all the way to overtime. The Tigers just couldn’t make a stop when it mattered. In the first overtime, Auburn and a third-and-long and fourth-down situation and couldn’t make a play either time. The defense needs to get better for Auburn to turn this season around.
REPORT CARD
Offense: B+ – This could have been Auburn’s best offensive game all season. Dropped balls held the Tigers back from an A.
Defense: C+ – They had an interception and were able to pressure Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen quite a bit. However, the defense was just not strong enough when they needed to be, allowing Arkansas to convert 9 of 16 third downs and 2 of 2 on fourth down.
Special Teams: A – The Tigers special teams did their jobs well on Saturday. Kevin Phillips landed a punt inside the Arkansas 20. Johnathan Ford and Blake Countess did a solid job on kick returns. Finally, Daniel Carlson nailed a crucial 41-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
Coaching: A- – Now that the offensive coaches are no longer afraid to trust Sean White, the offensive playcalling has become much more dynamic to the point where it’s gotten downright creative. Quarterback-turned-wide receiver Jason Smith scored on a 9-yard run from the wildcat, and Jeremy Johnson came back into the game to push the ball 1 yard into the end zone on fourth down.
Overall: B+ – Just as Malzahn stated during the postgame press conference, this young Auburn team is improving. It’s also clear that there is room for still more growth.
GAME PLAN
Right from the start, Auburn’s offense showed that it wanted a two-pronged attack, both on the ground and through the air. While dropped passes stunted progress at first, the offense found its stride and was able to move the ball successfully down the field. Auburn’s defense struggled to wrap up Arkansas running back Alex Collins, and missed tackles continue to prevent the defense from making stops.
GAME BALLS
- QB Sean White: The Auburn quarterback finished 19 of 32 for 254 yards. Even though he was not credited for a touchdown, it was often huge pass plays that moved the chains and put Auburn in scoring position.
- RB Peyton Barber: Barber is the Tigers’ success story of the year, and continues to be a cornerstone in the offense. He carried the ball 37 times against Arkansas for 120 and four touchdowns.
- RB Alex Collins (Arkansas): Credit also needs to be given to the running back from the opposing team, who carried the ball 25 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also caught the ball three times for 39 yards.
INJURY UPDATE
- WR Stanton Truitt went to the locker room before halftime to have his shoulder examined, and did not return. Malzahn did not have any more details on his condition.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
