Analysis: How Auburn saved its season by finding an offensive identity

Auburn has found its offensive identity, and is becoming one of the most dangerous teams in college football, as evidenced by their decisive 56-3 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

However, the progression to this point was fraught with frustration and rumors of a coaching change.

Against Clemson, Auburn didn’t possess any sort of identity with the ball, as three different quarterbacks attempted passes on the first six offensive plays. That alone should have sounded warning signals that perhaps coach Gus Malzahn was overthinking things. Not surprisingly, Auburn couldn’t generate much offensive momentum, losing 19-13.

Then, two games later, the Tigers couldn’t take advantage of their strong defensive performance in a 29-16 loss to Texas A&M. Rumors surfaced that Malzahn might not be the coach at the end of the season due to the Tigers losing 10 of their last 12 SEC games.

However, what was lost in the undercurrent of coaching rumors and second-guessing was a sense of progression. Auburn’s run game came alive during this difficult moment. First, it ran for 462 yards in a win over Arkansas State, then the Tigers gashed Texas A&M’s stout defensive line for 236 yards on the ground. The foundation was being built, but some ignored it because the scoreboard reflected different results.

To help the team move in a different direction, Malzahn didn’t call plays against LSU. Instead, he gave play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, citing that he didn’t have enough time to carry out his head coaching duties and call plays effectively.

This was no small thing for Gus to do. He built his reputation on his offensive prowess, so to relinquish control symbolized what he was willing sacrifice for the struggling program.

Since that point, the Tigers have built an offensive identity based on brute physicality and an unceasing pursuit of perfection. The results speak for themselves: Auburn is becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the country at the right time.

Against Arkansas, the Tigers dominated the line of scrimmage from the first whistle until the end of the game. On their first play, Eli Stove broke away from Razorback defenders for a 78-yard touchdown run that ignited the team.

From there on, the Tigers employed a relentless rush attack that Arkansas had no answers for. Auburn ran for 543 yards, averaging nine and a half yards a carry. What makes this even more impressive is the Tigers had just 12 pass attempts all game. This means Arkansas knew what was coming and was unable to stop it, illustrating just how dangerous Auburn’s offense is becoming.

Even with the vicious domination of the Razorbacks, Auburn players understand the challenges awaiting them with games against Ole Miss and Alabama on tap and they know they must improve to be able to meet these challenges head on. This mental approach is a testament to the leadership of this team.

"In this league, you got to move on because the next team you play is going to be ready for you," senior offensive lineman Alex Kozan told al.com. "Ole Miss, that’s going to be a tough challenge, especially a night game at their place, so we got to get ready for them.”

Auburn has become one of the most dynamic offenses in the country because it found its identity and uses it to pulverize opponents into the ground. However, given the leadership and approach toward improving after a 56-3 win over Arkansas, it shows the Tigers still can make huge strides.

And for an offense as dynamic as this one, it’s a scary proposition for anyone who plays them.