Tigers expecting air attack from USM
Auburn’s pass defense will be facing a real test when the Tigers host Southern Mississippi Saturday.
The Golden Eagles (2-1) come into the game with the nation’s eighth-most productive pass offense while the 10th-ranked Tigers (3-1) are tied for second in the Southeastern Conference in sacks (13) and third in the conference in interceptions (5) but only eighth in passing yards allowed (211).
The Eagles have thrown for an average of over 353 yards a game with behind quarterback Jack Abraham and wide receiver Quez Watkins. Abraham has completed 72 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Watkins has caught 24 passes for 304 yards and five scores.
“Offensively, they can really throw it,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “I think they’re eighth in the country in passing yards. Their quarterback and receivers, they’re very impressive.”
Auburn’s defense under coordinator Kevin Steele kept Arkansas under control in last week’s 34-3 victory over Arkansas, limiting the Hogs to just 141 yards through the air and recording four sacks and an interception.
“We talked about putting pressure on the quarterback and disrupting the quarterback,” Malzahn said. “I felt like we did that, and I thought Kevin really mixed up his pressures well and presented a lot of different challenges to their offense.
“I thought that was good.”
But offensively, the Tigers struggled getting their ground game together. The Tigers ran for only 91 yards, their fewest in a winning effort under Malzahn and fewest in a victory since the 2011 season opener against Utah State.
Redshirt freshman JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow led all rushers with just 49 yards on 13 runs. Starter Kam Martin managed just 39 on eight runs.
Malzahn lamented the lack of big plays, noting that the Tigers are at their best when ripping off explosive plays in both the run and passing game. Their longest run against Arkansas was 15 yards (Whitlow). Their longest pass play as a 42-yard reception by freshman Anthony Schwartz.
“And we haven’t had near as many as we have liked,” he said, “so we’ve got to figure out how to get that done.”
