Auburn Football vs. LSU: 5 Keys to Victory

Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn walks on the field prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Here we discuss five keys for Auburn football this weekend as they take on LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night.

Auburn football comes into this LSU game in desperate need of a win.

Before the season even started I don’t think anyone would have been surprised to see Auburn go 1-3 in the first month with the schedule they have. But now that we’re here, I can’t imagine the uproar from Auburn fans if they go 1-3 to start the season.

I think that’s mainly because expectations have been raised rather than lowered as the season has gone on.

After losing by just six points to Clemson and blowing out Arkansas State, many thought Auburn had a chance to contend in the SEC West.

Now after a disappointing loss to Texas A&M, it almost feels like the season is riding on this LSU game.

For Gus Malzahn, his future at Auburn could most certainly hang in the balance based on the outcome of this game. Entering the season I thought he needed eight wins, and that was under the assumption that he won two of these first four games.

A loss to LSU would make it pretty difficult for Gus to reach eight wins this season. At that point I think the powers-to-be could be ready to go in a different direction.

However, there is hope as I think this is a very winnable game for Auburn if they stick to these five keys.

Sep 17, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is defended by Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Lashard Durr (25) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Stop Leonard Fournette

It sounds simple in theory, but Auburn’s best chance at winning this game is stopping LSU running back Leonard Fournette.

He is the best, and only, good thing about the LSU offense.

Last season he rushed for 1,953 yards on 300 carries for an average of 6.5 yards per carry. That was when everyone knew he was going to get the ball. Teams loaded the box to stop him and failed.

Against Auburn alone last year he rushed for 228 yards on 19 carries for a 12 yard average, while scoring 3 touchdowns. He completely embarrassed the Auburn defense last year.

In the two games he’s played in this season he’s rushed for 138 and 147 yards respectively.

He was a little banged up earlier in the season and actually sat out against Jacksonville State. He seemed healthy last week as he ran the ball 28 times

Auburn has done a much better job of tackling this season outside of the Texas A&M game. If Auburn is going to win this game, they have to do a much better job of tackling Fournette.

You know he is going to make some plays, but you have to limit them. His biggest run so far this year was for 31 yards. Last year he had runs of 40, 29 and 71 against Auburn.

When he does break through the line-of-scrimmage, our linebackers and secondary have got to stay in front of him and slow him up until reinforcements arrive.

I don’t think Danny Etling or Brandon Harris can beat Auburn, so if they can stop Leonard Fournette I think we win this game.

Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson (21) runs the ball ahead of quarterback Sean White (13) during the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Let Sean White be Sean White

Sean White is Auburn’s quarterback and we all have to learn to live what that, including Gus Malzahn.

You can’t open up a playbook that doesn’t exist for Sean White. In order for him to be successful you have to call the plays that’s he’s capable of executing.

Against Clemson and during the third quarter against Texas A&M, Gus Malzahn called plays that Sean White can’t run.

I’m tired of seeing these little bubble screens and toss plays. They keep creating negative plays for our offense putting Sean White in third-and-long situations.

White is at his best when he’s throwing the ball 5-to-10 yards downfield and handing the ball off to Kamryn Pettway or Kerryon Johnson up the middle.

I think Gus Malzahn came out with the right game plan against Texas A&M, but he abandoned it too quickly.

I would come out passing with Sean White. Let him get into a rhythm throwing the ball and loosen up the defense.

Once he’s established that he can throw the ball, let Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson run wild.

You aren’t going to get many explosive plays against LSU’s defense, but if you can keep pushing the ball forward you hope they’ll eventually get tired.

If Gus Malzahn allows Sean White and the offense to operate like this, we’ll have plenty of chances for Daniel Carlson to put us on the board.

It’s not the offense we’ve come to hope for from Gus Malzahn, but it’s an offense that can win us this game.

Dec 30, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers place kicker Daniel Carlson (38) kicks a field goal during the game against the Memphis Tigers at the 2015 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Carlson

As we just mentioned, the offense is not going to be very explosive against LSU. So far they’ve given up 16, 13 and 20 points in their first three games.

I don’t see Auburn scoring much more than 20 points in this game, but I do think the winner of this game reaches the low 20’s.

I don’t see the Auburn defense bending much against LSU’s offense either. Auburn football has given up 19, 14 and 29 points this year so far. While LSU’s offense has scored 14, 34 and 23 points in their three games.

Auburn’s defense is as good if not better than Wisconsin’s, which gave up just 14 points against LSU.

With that being said, I think this game will come down to who can make their field goals.

If that’s the case, then you have to think that Auburn has the advantage.

I don’t normally preview special teams because they’re so difficult to predict, but this is a game where special teams will be key.

Auburn football possess one of the best kickers in the nation in Daniel Carlson.

This year he’s a perfect 6-for-6 on his field goal attempts with a long of 53 yards. He’s made three from 30-39 yards, one from 40-49 and one from 50-plus.

Not only that, but 11 of his 12 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks. In a game where offense will be hard to come by and field position will be key, it’s nice to have a kicker like Carlson.

I think he’ll be a key to Auburn winning this game.

Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles calls a play in the 2nd quarter during game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Avoiding The Mad Hatter

LSU head coach Les Miles is often known as The Mad Hatter because of some of his questionable decisions that somehow work out.

Most notably against Auburn in 2007 when instead of kicking a game-winning field goal he decided to throw to the endzone as time expired. Somehow the LSU receiver caught the pass and they won, but no other coach in the country would have made that call.

In 2010 he got Auburn again, but with a trick play this time that saw a double-pass go for a touchdown. Auburn would ultimately win that game though.

When these plays work out for LSU they’re usually huge momentum changing plays that push his team to victory.

However, when these plays don’t work out for LSU it’s like a pie in the face.

Our players and the Auburn football coaching staff have to be on their toes when playing Les Miles, knowing that he’s got something up his sleeve.

If we’ prepared for it and can stop it, then that will shift the momentum in Auburn’s favor on the way to victory.

It’s knowing when Les Miles will make these crazy decisions that is the tricky part. Sometimes he’ll do it early in the game to gain an advantage, or he’ll do it during crunch time just when you think he’ll be conservative.

The Mad Hatter is also not afraid to go for it on fourth down throughout a game. Any time LSU is near the middle of the field, the defense has to be alert.

Auburn has faced Les Miles enough to know these things, so I think we’ll be prepared for The Mad Hatter.

Sep 3, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers linebacker Deshaun Davis (57) and defensive lineman Marlon Davidson (3) react during the first quarter against the Clemson Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line Plays Lights Out

We’ve talked a lot this week about how this game will be a defensive battle. Both Auburn and LSU are playing great defense this season.

LSU has always been known for its defense. This season they’ve given up just 16.3 points per game and 325.7 yards per game.