Tennessee (4-6, 1-5) returned home Saturday to face the (somewhat) surprising Auburn Tigers (9-1, 5-1). However despite playing in the friendly confines of Neyland Stadium, it was the Vols, not the Tigers, left licking their wounds after a 55-23 trouncing.
Despite a somewhat inauspicious start — just six points, and one turnover in the first quarter — the Auburn offense shredded UT’s defense, piling up 55 points and more than 440 rushing yards. The Tigers ran 67 plays and scored 55 points. That’s a point for 90% of their plays. Pretty damned good.
The Tiger’s backfield-duo of QB Nick Marshall and RB Tre Mason combined for 331 yards and five touchdowns, with Marshall repeatedly gashing the defense for a whopping 15 yards per carry. For the second week in a row, the Tigers attempted less than nine passes, yet still managed a passing touchdown.
Auburn ranks second in the NCAA in rushing yards (leads the SEC), fifth in rushing attempts per game, second in touchdowns and eighth in yards per attempt. The ends are impressive, but equally as impressive are the means: the Tigers run maybe a handful of plays of which four or five you see again and again, from different formations maybe.
That’s where the true beauty of Malzahn’s running game lies — the simplicity. Alotta zone-read, some counter and power plays with pulling guards and some isos. A wrinkle play here or there, perhaps. It’s a disguised plainness.
But the catalyst for it all? Tempo. The Tigers scored three touchdowns in three plays or less on offense, all of which occured in less than 38 seconds. Auburn had the ball less than eight minutes in the first half and scored five touchdowns.
Brutal, unrelenting simplicity at a frenetic pace. Let’s take a gander.
Here Auburn is lined up with three WR split out, two near side and one far side. Marshall has Tre Mason in the back field beside him, and FB Jay Prosch (35, circled) lined up as an H-back between himself and the offensive line. Prosch will serve as the lead blocker on this play. Tennessee, anticipating run, has brought safety Brian Randolph (37) down into the box.
At the snap, the RG (62) pulls and seals the far side DE Jordan Williams (54). The LT chips McCullers (98), then moves to the second level where he blocks MLB AJ Johnson (45). Prosch (35) follows through the lane that this combination of blocks created.
The play evolves, and the fake handoff takes OLB Dontavis Sapp (41) out of the play as he pursues the RB to the sideline. This, combined with the line’s blocking and Prosch’s lead block creates a lane for Marshall to run through. In this case, he cuts back to the middle of the field and carries the ball for a huge 62 yard gain. Tre Mason scored on the next play. One touchdown, Two plays, 32 seconds, 75 yards. Emeril says BAM!
It’s important to note that on the previous play, the Tigers ran the zone-read with Marshall handing the ball off for a 10-yard gain.
Again, Auburn shows three-wide, but this time with the H-back Prosch and the RB on the far side. Instead of lining up even with the RB in a shotgun set, Malzahn shows a pistol look with Marshall in the backfield between the RB and the H-back. When the ball is snapped, Marshall fakes the hand off to the RB, drawing the LBs down to the line of scrimmage.
Keep an eye on Tennessee safety LaDarrell McNeil, circled in light blue.
As you see, the LBs are caught up after the play fake, but even worse, LaDarrell McNeil gets sucked up, too. He’s supposed to be the last line of defense, but instead he gets caught on his heels, in terrible position, with all his momentum taking him away from the play. As such, no shot at making the stop. Marshall goes untouched for another score. One touchdown, two plays, 30 seconds, 45 yards.
This looks familiar. Nick Marshall in the backfield, with a RB and the H-back to his right. Watch Auburn’s OL again. The LT and the LG down block Daniel McCullers (98). The RG pulls and seals the edge with a block on Jordan Williams (54).
The fake handoff takes Sapp out of position again, while the RG pulling and the LT down block creates the crease for Marshall. TD Tigers.
All similar plays, from similar packages, for similar results. Simple yet effective.
Additionally, Tennessee’s special teams put together an especially poor performance worth highlighting. The coverage units for UT gave up two touchdowns, allowing 63.5 yards per punt return & nearly 40 yards per kickoff return. That average of 44.85 yards per return set an NCAA record.
Palardy’s first punt of the game. You can see the good release on the near side from the Vols. The release on the far side — not ideal.
The poor release left a cluster of Vols in the middle of the field and exposed the far sideline. Auburn’s Chirs Davis made a couple guys miss and darted upfield for a 42-yard return before Palardy saved the TD by running him out of bounds. Auburn took advantage of the short field and scored two plays later.
Special teams, like defense, require lane discipline. The field is like a freeway. No swerving. You have to stay in your lane as you go downfield to make the tackle. Here the Vols have nine players on the left side of the field, meaning there’s only two players left to account for all that green space on the right side between those black lines. A few missed arm tackles later, and touchdown Corey Grant.
The Vols allowed over 50 points, the better part of 500 yards rushing and two special teams touchdowns at home. They were dominated at the point of attack on defense and all of that is unacceptable. But realistically, this was a bad matchup for Tennessee. Auburn has more talent and more speed; the disparity in both categories is considerable and apparent. Auburn has the talent to fit its scheme, where the Vols are still somewhat trying to fit the square peg in the round hole.
Combine those disadvantages with Tennessee’s historically-tough recent schedule and the blowout loss doesn’t sting quite so bad.
I came into this week planning to spend this space talking about the Tennessee offense. But I’m really just workin’ with what I got. Auburn’s attack was so good, so fast, so efficient that I had to look into it further. The Vols’ special teams got a shout out because, well, two special teams touchdowns had General Neyland doing somersaults in his grave. That can’t happen again.
Tennessee ran the ball really well this week as Raijon Neal flashed an ability to finish runs that he’s lacked his entire career. Furthermore, UT stayed with the run game this week and that’s always encouraging. Palardy was good, again. Dobbs looks comfortable and had a few nice runs. The Vols offense needs him to continue to progress.
The bye week comes with a sigh of relief as Tennessee needs to heal and get it’s mind right. Time to snap and clear, as Butch says. The gauntlet is largely through but danger remains. Losses to Vandy in two-straight seasons would be flat out disgusting. Until next week… GIVE…HIM…SIX!