Auburn may have won 34-3 against Arkansas this past weekend, but one noticeable element was missing from the box score.
Auburn did not reach 100 rushing yards for the first time since the Chick-Fill-A Peach Bowl loss against UCF in 2017 — when its primary back, Kerryon Johnson, was practically playing on one leg. This was the first win for Auburn without 100 rushing yards since 2011's season-opening win against Utah State.
Many would point toward the young Auburn offensive line as a reason for the run game not being successful. Others would point out the snap count and how the offense is getting fewer snaps than usual.
These are both issues that are affecting the Tigers, but at the same time, Auburn has found success on the ground in its three other games.
Auburn's two freshmen running backs, JaTarvious Whitlow and Shaun Shivers, were both able to put up 100-plus yards against Alabama State, then Whitlow rushed for 104 yards against LSU.
However, despite the shortcomings over the weekend, Gus Malzahn has no plans to change the by-committee rushing approach.
“I think so," Malzahn said of continuing to split carries for JaTarvious Whitlow and Kam Martin. "Then see who’s hot and go with it. And then Shivers is a guy that I think you could see get some more carries, too. I think, if we get more volume of plays, you get more touches, and you get more carries and everything, but the last two weeks, our play count has been not what we want.”
Southern Mississippi's rushing defense is 45th in the NCAA, giving up an average of 132 yards per game. Auburn's rushing offense is 47th in the NCAA averaging 199 yards per game.
If Auburn continues at the same pace (Its leading rusher, Whitlow, is averaging 76 yards per game), Malzahn's streak of nine straight 1,000-yard running backs will be broken if the team plays 13 games.
"We take precedent in getting the offense and the running game going," Auburn right tackle Jack Driscoll said. "But as Coach Malzahn and Coach Lindsey say, it’s 11 people, too. It’s not just necessarily the O-line; it’s running backs, receivers, quarterbacks.
"We’re definitely a big part of it, and I think we know we have to improve and we have to be able to run the ball better, especially in this league."
No. 10 Auburn takes on Southern Miss this Saturday at Jordan-Hare at 3 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
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