Auburn Tigers

Five Things Auburn Football Got Right Against Arkansas State

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Saturday night was just what Auburn football and Gus Malzahn needed, and here are five things they got right.

Auburn football — and head coach Gus Malzahn — needed to bounce back in a major way against Arkansas State last weekend.

Even against an outmatched opponent, a bumpy, plodding victory would not have bode well — not coming off of the way the Clemson game unfolded, and not with two of the biggest games in Malzahn’s career on the immediate horizon.

Fortunately, the Tiger attack looked much smoother — and much more sensible. Needless to say, Saturday night was just what Auburn needed.

Here are five specific things that the Tigers got right against the Red Wolves:

Putting The Quarterback Carousel Out of Commission

Everybody saw the first game. Everybody saw the debacle that was the offensive game-plan for Clemson. Unfortunately for Arkansas State, who needed the gifts that Malzahn gave frequently to the ACC Tigers much more, there would be few of those.

There was no swapping quarterbacks in the middle of a drive that was just starting to build momentum; there were no New Kids on the Block dance moves after snaps to an H-back. Malzahn didn’t try to out-think anybody.

He went with Sean White as his quarterback. Good things proceeded to happen: White completed 17 out of 23 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

More importantly, the offense established a streamlined method of attack without the unnecessary and counter-productive frills; the offense established an identity.

Getting John Franklin III More Action

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Even if White has a firm grip on the Auburn quarterback job — and even if he never loses it — John Franklin III’s speed makes him the most dangerous man on the field when he’s on it.

If he keeps it on the read-option, he can take it to the house at any time — and defenders know it and will likely continue to look to prevent him from keeping the ball.

When they do so, Franklin opens up lanes for his running backs, giving him value even when they try to take him out of the game.

When they don’t? Franklin ran four times for 70 yards and went for 41 on his very first carry.

Getting the ex-Florida State Seminole more game experience, even against a Sun Belt Conference team and even in “garbage time,” will pay dividends down the road.

Franklin will be the difference in at least one game this year, even if he never starts a single one.

Continuing To Stretch The Field With Kyle Davis

The final Auburn wide receiver group bought in by Tiger great Dameyune Craig — who, of course, departed for LSU prior to the season — is its most talented since 2002’s Ben Obomanu, Devin Aromashodu, and Courtney Taylor.

In fact, Nate Craig–Myers, Kyle Davis, Eli Stove, and the expected-to-redshirt Marquis McClain, as a unit, have even more athletic ability and potential.

While it was good seeing Craig–Myers get some action (and a catch), and the same goes for redshirt freshman Darius Slayton (three catches), the key development with the young receivers was Auburn again successfully stretching the field with Davis who made one of the greatest catches Jordan-Hare Stadium has seen.

With an Auburn run game that may be starting to gain some momentum, Davis will single-handedly — pun intended — give defensive coordinators pause about creeping up in the box.

Speaking of the Auburn run game . . .

Unleashing Kamryn Pettway

Kamryn Pettway saw minimal action against Clemson, and there may have been reasons for that, but it’s clear after the Arkansas State game: Pettway is going to be a key part of the Tiger offense this year, and he will hurt teams — literally and figuratively.

I was extremely surprised at how quick Pettway looked for a back of his size, and that it doesn’t take him long to get into gear. He blasted the Red Wolves for 152 yards and averaged a shade over 10 yards per carry.

With Pettway and Kerryon Johnson, Auburn — despite the dismissal of one-time presumed starter Jovon Robinson — looks to boast one of the best tailback combos in the league.

Expect Texas A&M to see — and feel — plenty of Pettway.

Daniel Carlson’s Field-Goal-Attempt-Turned-Touchdown

I know there are some Auburn fans questioning why Malzahn and special teams coordinator Scott Fountain would show future SEC opponents the Tuberville-ian fake field goal, but I liked it.

As good as Daniel Carlson is, if none of his attempts are blocked, he may make 90 percent or more of his kicks. The best way to lessen the odds of a field goal block? Show teams what can happen when they sell out for it.

For a coach who had, over the last few seasons, become seen as more and more conservative, this will cause opposing coaching staffs to think differently — at least on field goal attempts — and allow Carlson to a little more safely do his thing.

Thanks in part to Carlson’s touchdown, but just over the course of the night in general, the single, most important development may have been Malzahn — as opposed to looking cautious and unsure — regaining some of his long lost swagger.

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