'Phenomenal job': Auburn's offense playing with confidence

'Phenomenal job': Auburn's offense playing with confidence'Phenomenal job': Auburn's offense playing with confidence

Oct. 27, 2016

By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's offensive improvement over the last month isn't a complex issue. Indeed, it's quite the opposite.

"We've kind of simplified things and played faster," says offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee

Indeed, Auburn has stuck with the plays that work, like turning around and handing the ball to Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson; and running its hurry-up offense more effectively by substituting less. All of that has put Auburn on top of the SEC in rushing and passing efficiency heading to Saturday's 6:15 p.m. game at Ole Miss.

Lashlee took over the play calling four games back, and the Tigers have responded with four wins and 20 offensive touchdowns over the last three games.

Less has become so much more in Auburn's playbook, and you don't have to look any farther than the Tigers' 56-3 win over Arkansas last Saturday to prove it. Auburn threw it only 12 times after establishing an early lead.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze says he's seen it all before, this offensive style from his friend Gus Malzahn.

"I think it's just getting back to who Gus has always been," Freeze says. "Gus taught Rhett, and Rhett is doing a phenomenal job of calling the game now. They remind me of the Tre Mason days now where they're just so committed to what they do and who they are. I think they've gotten back to their identity, and they're committed to it. It's the same stuff that I've seen from Gus over his years, and now Rhett is just carrying it on."

Lashlee's play-calling seems to be player-friendly.

"We've got to put them in the best position to be successful, but we've got to call the plays and let them go play," Lashlee said. "That's why our tempo has been better. There's been times we've made good plays when the looks weren't ideal, but we're playing fast and our guys have confidence. We're not putting them in as many bad situations."

That isn't to say Auburn isn't creative. The Tigers scored on their first offensive snap against Arkansas on a 78-yard end around by Eli Stove.

But Pettway, now the SEC's leading rusher, has helped simplify the game plan. So has Kerryon Johnson, who was Auburn's leading rusher before hurting his ankle two games back. He's expected to play against Ole Miss as Auburn reinforces what is already the best running offense in the league.

The Tigers commitment is easy to see: Auburn ran it 179 times and passed it 48 times in consecutive wins over Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi State and Arkansas.

Lashlee said Auburn has cut down on substitutions from one play to the next, and that has led to a crisper offense.

"We're able to play faster and we're able to execute at a higher level because things are simpler. A lot of times as coaches we try to make everything perfect. Well, very rarely is it going to show up perfect on game day. That's probably one things that has helped," he said.

Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine