Up-tempo offenses on display at Kyle Field

By foxsports
Published

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin didn't waste any time this week looking at game film from last year's 63-21 beating of Auburn.

It wouldn't have served a point.

The Tigers the Aggies face Saturday at Kyle Field are a completely different animal than the one A&M throttled last year. They have a new head coach in Gus Malzahn and the best running game in the country.

"They're playing with a lot of energy and a lot of confidence," Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said. I think it's going to be a heck of a game this weekend. Coach Malzahn and his coaching staff have brought a lot of energy and a winning attitude. Schematically they've changed across the board."

The only guarantee Saturday is that each team will try to push the pace offensively.

The seventh-ranked Aggies (5-1, 2-1 in SEC West) are third in the country in total offense and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is coming off a 300-yard passing, 100-yard running effort in A&M's late rally at Mississippi.

Auburn (5-1, 2-1 in SEC West), which cracked the AP poll for the first time since 2011 and sits 24th nationally, does its damage on the ground as it leads the SEC in rushing yards at 287 a game. Tre Mason leads the way but the Tigers liked to share the wealth on the ground. The Tigers rank 28th nationally in total offense at 474 yards a game.

Malzahn said the Tigers have to be careful about going too much up-tempo because he's not sure Auburn can win that way against A&M.

"Our strength and really who we are is really a pace team," he said. "We're at our best when we're playing fast but you've got to see how the game unfolds. You want to give your team its best chance to be successful. We'll pick and choose our times to go fast and see how it unfolds."

Auburn will have quarterback Nick Marshall starting against the Aggies. Marshall missed last weekend's game with a knee injury. He started the first five games for the Tigers.

Malzahn said Marshall's return could give an added boost to the offense.

"I really think it gives us confidence," Malzahn said.