Offense Finally Roaring for Tigers

The Auburn Tigers are suddenly fun to watch again.

A bottom-feeder on offense a year ago, the undefeated Tigers are ranked among the nation's leaders in a number of categories after two weeks. Drum roll, please.

Auburn currently ranks second in the nation in rushing offense (345.5 yards per game) and fourth nationally in total offense (572.5). The Tigers are eighth nationally in first downs (28) and have had at least 27 downs in each of their first two games, while tying for the national lead with 162 plays run from scrimmage. Auburn is also one of just seven teams nationally that has played two games that has not allowed a sack this season, nor have the Tigers thrown an interception.

What gives?

"We are still learning our guys, they are still learning us," said Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who is credited with resuscitating a Tigers offense that ranked 110th in scoring last season. "We don't have everything completely down. We are happy to be 2-0, we're happy to be able to run the football like we have these first two games. But we just have to keep trying to get better."

Better will be impressive to see, at least from a number's standpoint, especially after Malzahn's offense rolled up 589 total yards during Auburn's 49-24 home victory over Mississippi State last Saturday, including 390 on the ground. The 589 yards was the most ever by an Auburn team in an SEC opener and tied for 11th most in any game in school history.

The Tigers, however, are expected to tested by West Virginia Saturday.

The Mountaineers (2-0) limited Liberty and East Carolina to a combined 198 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Saturday's second half shutout of East Carolina was on par with what coordinator Jeff Casteel's defense has done in its last 15 games, dating back to 2008. During that span of games, 181 of the 261 points West Virginia's defense has allowed has come in the first half.

History is also on West Virginia's side, that is if you believe in trends. The last time a Big East team went to the Plains, South Florida won. And, of course, the Mountaineers beat the Tigers last year in Morgantown, W. Va.

Of course, there's a new sheriff on the Plains this season in head coach Gene Chizik. But he's also reminding fans that the Tigers are a work in progress.

"Those were some tough wins for us," Chizik said of opening victories over Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State. "We're not playing perfect, and there's a lot of times that we're not playing very well at all."

OK, but ...

Auburn went over 500 yards of total offense and 300 yards rushing for the second straight game last Saturday, marking Auburn's first back-to-back 500-yard games since 1970 and the first back-to-back 300-yard rushing games since 1985.

The Tigers also had two 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver in one game for the first time in school history, as Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb rushed for 157 and 114 yards, respectively, and Darvin Adamshad 116 yards receiving. Tate and McCalebb both rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight game, marking the first time in Auburn history that the Tigers had two 100-yard rushers in back-to-back games.

The Tigers are the only team in the nation to have two running backs averaging more than 100 yards rushing as Tate ranks seventh nationally (137) and McCalebb ranks ninth (131).

The numbers are dizzying, but Chizik has both feet on the ground. He is the first to say that Auburn's schedule gets tougher, starting against West Virginia in the third of four consecutive home games, and an October stretch that includes three SEC road games -- Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU. Another issue Chizik needs to fix is Auburn's third-down defense, which currently ranks 64th in the nation with opponents converting 35.7 percent of the time.

"I don't want anybody to get ahead of this whole thing," Chizik said.

"It ain't as good as it seems and it ain't as bad as it seems. We're just trying to be realistic and that's really how I feel. To beat West Virginia this week, we're going to have to be better than we were the first two."

Auburn's offense has been under the poised direction of senior quarterback Chris Todd, who is off to a solid start. Todd has completed 27 of his 49 pass attempts for 441 yards, averaging 16.3 yards per completion. He threw for a career high 255 yards and two scores in the season opener against Louisiana Tech, surpassing his previous career high of 250 yards against LSU last season.

It's also easy to overlook an Auburn defense that has excelled despite a rash of injuries.



The Tigers have held each of their first two opponents under 300 yards of total offense, and senior Antonio Coleman was named the SEC's Defensive Lineman of the Week on Monday. Coleman collected his first career interception in the first quarter against the Bulldogs, returning it 20 yards for a touchdown to give Auburn a 14-0 lead. He also had three tackles and a quarterback hurry in the game.

While the Tigers are suddenly fun to watch again, Chizik's naturally pleased with that reaction but he says Auburn's opening victories weren't as easy as they appeared.

"I don't think it's been easy at all," Chizik said following Saturday's game.. "I beg to differ. We've played two very good football teams, and there were times in both games where things were back and forth. I don't know what it looks like on the outside, but that's what it looks like on the inside."