Tigers have backs against the wall
With two losses already in Southeastern Conference play, Auburn has put itself in a tough position as far as the West Division race. Lots of breaks are going to have to fall their way for the No. 21 Tigers (4-2, 1-2 SEC) to get to a second consecutive division title.
But coach Gus Malzahn points out that winning the SEC West “was a long shot last year at this point, too. It was probably a really similar feeling.
“Obviously, we don’t control our own destiny. We’ll need some help, there’s no doubt about that. But there’s still a whole lot to play for. If we can finish like we did last year, there’ll be a lot of good things ahead. There’s a whole lot to play for, and our team understands that.”
The comeback trail starts for the Tigers with a home game against struggling Tennessee (2-3, 0-2 SEC) Saturday afternoon.
Malzahn says the Tigers have their backs against the wall.
“I’m very confident that we’re going to finish this thing,” he said. “Our team is in a good spot mentally for everything that we went through the first half of the season, and I think we’re set up to improve each week.
“We’ve done that the last few seasons. I think we’ll do that again this year.”
If that is to happen, the Tigers are going to have to resurrect a running game that halfway through the season is nowhere close to what they have been used to producing.
The Tigers have been held to fewer than 100 yards rushing in each of the last three weeks, something that has not happened since 1999.
Since rushing for 174 yards in the opener against Washington and 429 yards against overmatched Alabama State, the Tigers have averaged only 110 yards a game on the ground.
Tennessee’s defense, meanwhile, has give up an average of 158 yards a game to opposing rushers for the season and has given up 201 to Florida and 251 to Georgia the last two outings. The Vols had an open date last week.
“I think they’re a hungry team, and I think that they’ve got good systems on both sides of the football,” Malzahn said. “We’re expecting their best.
“But this will be more about us and our approach this week, getting to play another game — a home game in the SEC.”
