Game Film Review Week 6: Auburn v. MS State

I picked this game because I wondered if I made an awful pick of MS State, and that I was wrong about Auburn who might be a better football team than I'm giving them credit for. Here's the truth: Yes, I made a horrible pick to take Mississippi State because they are so much WORSE than I even thought. Auburn is the same team, but they took advantage of the numerous mistakes made by MS State. By the time the half ended it was 35-0, and the game was effectively over. That's why this game shouldn't be used as a reason to believe Auburn has figured something out. They are the same team they've been all year.

AUBURN OFFENSE:

Auburn is primarily running out of a spread option set with 4 receivers, and a running back standing next to the QB in the shotgun. What's interesting to me is that when Sean White plays QB, he's not really a threat to run the ball out of that set, so what you're really looking at is a straight shotgun play action fake more than the true QB running option. Auburn can switch this look slightly by bringing in a TE to play protection on either side, slightly set back off the line. That may look like running protection but Auburn will run or pass out of any set. Their offense is based heavily on confusion.

Confusing Mississippi State wasn't difficult. With the exception of a tip that went for an interception on the very first drive, Auburn scored TDs on 4 of their 6 offensive possessions in the first half. Why? Because Mississippi State couldn't figure out what was coming. You could tell they wanted to stop the run, and they were trying to stack up the box for that. However, when Auburn decided to pass that puts the secondary by itself on certain coverage. And it's made even worse when MS State blew coverage.

Case in point. The Auburn receiver has run by two defenders for MS State, and they are at least 4 yards behind him. It's not like this guy got a head start, the safety bit on a stop and go route, and he ate them both alive. That's the problem, Auburn isn't suddenly doing stuff you never see on tape, and they aren't doing anything a good defense can't cover. But man if you make a mistake they'll beat to death because they are extremely opportunistic. That's their #1 best asset as a team.

That and the running game. Kamryn Pettyway their primary RB had 169 yards in this game, and he did most of it in small chunks. It wasn't like he busted loose for a couple of big play (his biggest was only 29 yards) what he did was 4 yards, 3 yards, 6 yards, 8 yards, 4 yards, over and over and over. He went for 39 carries for 4.3 a carry. That's a ton of running and even tougher when you think about how much tempo that Auburn runs as a team. They are getting to the line and trying to wear you out. Kudos goes to the offensive linemen who can play in that scheme, including standout Tackle #70 Robert Leff. At 6-6 and 299, he was laying people out with run blocks, and providing great protection on the edge. He looks NFL caliber right now, so check for him on Sundays.

AUBURN DEFENSE:

Again, Auburn is a team that will capitalize. They got TWO, not one but TWO sack fumbles in the first half of this game. Why? Because the QB for MS State Nick Fitzgerald is flat awful (disregard his total stats, they came in garbage time in the 2nd half after it was already 35-0). Also the protection for MS State was a joke, and Auburn took advantage. See below.

This is the first strip sack. Note the guy #3 for Auburn turning the edge with a free shot at the QB on his blind side. Also note the LT is LOOKING THE WRONG WAY.  #55 for MS State didn't even get out of his stance for the first part of that play, allowing #3 to blow by him for the sack-fumble. I don't know if he thought it was a different snap count, or he heard a whistle, or he was hearing voices of dead relatives. Either way, it was one of the worst mental errors I've seen this year looking at film. It's one thing to get beat, it's another thing to let a guy go free because you didn't even get out of your stance.

Auburn's defense is bend-don't-break, but against MS State they barely had to bend. They spent the first half of the game playing a nickel set and basically daring MS State to throw the ball, which MS State can't do well. As a result they forced three 3'and'outs, 2 sack fumbles, and a missed FG. Does it even matter that they went to a prevent in the second half and allowed a garbage time 2 TDs? No, it matters not. The game was well in hand at that point, and MS State should be freaking ashamed of their team in this game.

Overally, Auburn will get TONS of love for this game because people likely didn't watch it and just saw the score. The reality is they will face a much better set of teams over the next two weeks in Arkansas (who can score big) and Ole Miss (who can also score big). Look for some crazy shootouts that may or may not have Auburn returning back to earth.