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Early opponent analysis: Auburn looks to test Ole Miss defense
By Keith Farner
Published:
A week after Ole Miss rebounded from a lackluster performance at Memphis, the Rebels get a shot at an Auburn offense on Saturday that will once again have QB Sean White at the helm.
The Rebels are ranked No. 31 in the country in total defense after they held Texas A&M to 192 yards. White will get another start under center, Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said on his radio show on Monday, in part because he hasn’t turned the ball over.
White has made 92 straight throws without an interception, but also 97 attempts without a touchdown.
In a 23-3 win over Texas A&M, Ole Miss held the Aggies to 134 passing yards, as they completed just 18-of-45 passes, with 58 rushing yards. The Rebels did that without DT Robert Nkemdiche, who was out with a concussion. Quite an improvement after they allowed 384 passing yards and three touchdowns against Memphis.
The loss to Memphis motivated the Rebels and S Trae Elston, who is second in the SEC with four interceptions.
“I think we just put our passion into it,” he told the Clarion-Ledger. “Everybody was excited. We had that chemistry going. Everybody wasn’t holding their head down. Everybody was being positive, not negative. We said, ‘Hey, let’s keep working, let’s keep working, let’s not let them score.’”
Auburn’s leading receiver, Ricardo Lewis, is looking to erase the memory of a dropped pass late in the four-overtime loss against Arkansas. Louis leads the Tigers in catches (32) and receiving yards (426) but only has one touchdown. In fact, WR Melvin Ray is the only Auburn player with more than one TD catch.
“I’m going to come back next week and make Ole Miss pay for it,” Louis told reporters after the Arkansas game. “I’m going to make them feel my pain cause right now, I’m hurt.”
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE AUBURN TIGERS
Best wide receiver: Ricardo Louis, Sr. — Louis put himself in the spotlight with a bulletin board quote after the Arkansas game. But for Auburn to win, his production would need a lift from the three catches for 5 yards he has in his career against Ole Miss.
Best defensive player: LB Cassanova McKinzy, Sr. — Moved to the Buck linebacker — a hybrid safety position — three weeks ago following the injury to Carl Lawson. He has 44 tackles, leads the Tigers with six tackles for a loss including three sacks and seven QB hurries.
Best special teams player: DB Johnathan Ford, Jr. — Auburn hasn’t had much success on special teams — no TDs on punt or kickoff returns — but Ford is the best of the bunch averaging 29.6 yards per kickoff return. Two Ford kickoff returns against San Jose State helped set up touchdowns, which earned him SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
