Alex Golesh knows Tennessee, so does Tim Banks, as well as Chas Nimrod.
But familiarity will only take Auburn so far on Saturday inside Neyland Stadium.
The Tigers enter their first SEC road game of the season looking to hand Tennessee a second straight loss. To do it, AL.com’s Peter Rauterkus believes Auburn has to win in some of the same areas that became problems for the Vols in Week Four.
Rauterkus joined Live Ball to take us behind enemy lines and break down Auburn’s path to a win.
1. Auburn has to find its run game; even if that means leaning on Byrum Brown
Auburn wants to run the football. It just hasn’t consistently been able to do it.
That’s the first problem the Tigers have to solve inside Neyland Stadium.
“When you’re going on the road, especially when you’re going on the road in an environment like Neyland, you want to be able to establish the run,” Rauterkus said. “But that’s something Auburn has to prove that they’re able to do.”
The answer may be Brown.
The senior quarterback has been one of Auburn’s most dangerous runners, although much of that production has come when plays break down rather than through designed carries.
Rauterkus believes that could change against Tennessee.
“I’d be curious to see if we see more quarterback run because that’s probably been where they’ve been most effective, most consistent in the running game,” Rauterkus said.
Auburn has already seen what Brown can provide there. He rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries against Southern Miss, then added 60 rushing yards on one fourth-quarter drive against Florida.
Designed quarterback powers and draws could give Golesh another way to stress Tennessee’s defense.
Brown has also hurt defenses when the initial play breaks down. But Rauterkus noted there have been moments when Brown has held onto the football too long while deciding whether to throw or run.
That becomes particularly dangerous against a Tennessee front coming off six sacks against Texas.
“I’ve been really curious to see, do we see more QB power? Do we see more QB draws?” Rauterkus said. “Do we even see more pulls on the read option?”
For Auburn, establishing Brown as a legitimate part of the designed run game could help accomplish two things: create production the Tigers haven’t consistently gotten from their backs and force Tennessee’s pass rush to account for another threat.
2. Auburn’s offensive line has to hold up against Tennessee’s pressure
Auburn’s offensive line enters Saturday facing what Rauterkus considers a significant step up in competition after showing improvement against Vanderbilt.
The Tigers allowed just one sack against the Commodores. But the group has been shuffled throughout the opening month, including competition at left tackle and a change at guard.
“They played well last week, but they’re going to be facing a much tougher test against Tennessee than they did against Vanderbilt,” Rauterkus said.
The more concerning comparison came two weeks earlier when Auburn surrendered seven sacks against Florida.
“I think what they’re going to see against Tennessee is much closer to what they saw against Florida,” Rauterkus said. “It’s going to be a tough task for them.”
And if the Tigers find themselves behind the chains early, Neyland Stadium becomes an even greater factor in Auburn’s first road test.
“You’ve got to both be able to protect, and you’ve got to be able to establish the run,” he said.
For an Auburn offense still trying to establish consistency, that may be its most difficult assignment Saturday.
3. Auburn has to pressure Faizon Brandon with four
If Auburn wants a blueprint for slowing Tennessee’s offense, it doesn’t have to look very far.
The Longhorns sacked Brandon 10 times and consistently disrupted Tennessee without needing to sacrifice numbers in coverage.
Now Auburn gets its opportunity against a Tennessee offensive line that will also be without starting guard Wendell Moe.
“Being able to get pressure without sending extra guys is going to be huge,” Rauterkus said. “Can they get pressure with four?”
Auburn has several players capable of creating negative plays, but its linebackers may be the center of the matchup.
Xavier Atkins is coming off a three-tackle-for-loss performance against Vanderbilt. Auburn has used him as a pass rusher on third down and as a spy against mobile quarterbacks.
Rauterkus called Atkins a potential “weapon” when he’s creating disruption, but pointed to Elijah Melendez as perhaps the more important player for Tennessee to identify.
“The linebackers are the best position group, most talented position group on the team,” Rauterkus said. “Defensively, they’re the ones that make everything go.”
Melendez brings enough size and athleticism to make plays in the backfield and contribute in coverage.
“He’s the guy who makes this defense go,” Rauterkus said. “He’s going to be the most important player, in my opinion, both in the passing game and the rushing game against Tennessee.”
Rauterkus also pointed to Cody Sigler inside and Jared Smith and Da’Shawn Womack off the edge as players Auburn needs to affect Tennessee’s offense.
“If Auburn can do those things,” Rauterkus said, “I think they’ve got a real chance of winning.”
