Auburnfootball was incredible at stopping the run in Week 1's win overBaylor, limitingthe Bearsto 103 total yards and its premier back,Dawson Pendergrass, to just 88 yards. Auburn also allowedBaylorto convert just seven of its 22 third-down plays and forced the Bears to turn the ball over twice.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Despite its 17-16 win over Baylor in Week 1, Auburn must clean up several things on Saturday to be successful. Baylor quarterbackDJ Lagwaythrew for 333 yards last Saturday, and the Bears were 4-of-6 on 4th-down attempts. Those negatives must be corrected, but Auburn produced several positive moments that it could use to its advantage against the Golden Eagles.
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; The Auburn Tigers cheerleaders lead the team through Tiger Walk prior to a game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn (left) and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey (right) watch the team warm up prior to the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles lineman Demarrio Smith (55) closes in on Auburn Tigers running back JaTarvious Whitlow (28) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Anthony Schwartz (5) scores a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Anthony Schwartz (5) celebrates with fullback Chandler Cox (27) after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) throws a pass against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back JaTarvious Whitlow (28) is tackled by Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive back Ty Williams (7) during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Trivenskey Mosley (22) is chased by Auburn Tigers defensive back Smoke Monday (21) and Montavious Atkinson (48) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn yells at an official during the second quarter against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Malik Miller (32) carries as Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive back Delmond Landry (17) closes in during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Darius Slayton (81) makes a catch as Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive back Rachuan Mitchell (21) defends during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers full back Chandler Cox (27) scores a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kam Martin (9) takes the handoff from quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
1/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; The Auburn Tigers cheerleaders lead the team through Tiger Walk prior to a game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
1/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; The Auburn Tigers cheerleaders lead the team through Tiger Walk prior to a game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
2/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn (left) and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey (right) watch the team warm up prior to the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
3/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles lineman Demarrio Smith (55) closes in on Auburn Tigers running back JaTarvious Whitlow (28) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
4/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Anthony Schwartz (5) scores a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
5/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Anthony Schwartz (5) celebrates with fullback Chandler Cox (27) after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
6/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) throws a pass against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
7/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back JaTarvious Whitlow (28) is tackled by Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive back Ty Williams (7) during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
8/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Trivenskey Mosley (22) is chased by Auburn Tigers defensive back Smoke Monday (21) and Montavious Atkinson (48) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
9/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn yells at an official during the second quarter against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
10/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Malik Miller (32) carries as Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive back Delmond Landry (17) closes in during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
11/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Darius Slayton (81) makes a catch as Southern Miss Golden Eagles defensive back Rachuan Mitchell (21) defends during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
12/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers full back Chandler Cox (27) scores a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)
13/13
Photos: Auburn football defeats Southern Miss in 2018
Sep 29, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kam Martin (9) takes the handoff from quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Southern Miss ran for 317 yards in its Week 1 win overAlcorn Statelast Saturday. The good news is that Auburn's defense limited Baylor to just 108 yards in Week 1.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Auburn's defense has a knack for stopping the run, and it must stick to the status quo on Saturday.
The defensive line must keep rolling
Two members of Auburn's defensive front,Chris Murrayand Da'Shawn Womack, were injured in Auburn's season opener last Saturday. Players such asDarrion Smith, Jourdin Crawford, and Mailk Autry took advantage of the injuries by playing quality snaps in the win.
Linebacker Elijah Melendez and safetyEric Winterswere the heroes of last week's game. Both players logged over 10 tackles each. Winters forced a fumble in the 1st quarter and made a goal-line stand with 0:09 left to prevent Baylor from taking a late lead.
Those two, as well as linebackerXavier Atkins, will always play a key role in Auburn's defensive performances. However, who will step up and become another threat? Defensive linemen Cody Sigler andJared Smith, as well as safety Kaleb Harris, are all prime candidates to be a force in Auburn's defense on Saturday.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWireon X (Twitter), and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter@TaylorJones__
