Auburn vs. Texas A&M game day section

GAME DAY

Sept. 17 vs. #17 Texas A&M 6 p.m., ESPN

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 15, 2016

OFFENSE

Lashlee proud of offense’s improvement after season opener Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The difference between Auburn’s offensive production in week one against Clemson and week two against Arkansas State was massive. The quarterbacks didn’t rotate, the running backs ran roughshod, and there were enough passes to go around for 10 different players to record a catch.

All in all, it was exactly what Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was expecting.

“We definitely showed great improvement from 1 to 2, and you’re supposed to do that, from week 1 to week 2,” Lashlee said. “You gotta always be pleased when we don’t punt. We did a lot of really good things. I was pleased with the way our tempo played, getting upwards of 85 to 90 plays was a plus. I think that helped us, especially in the running game. … In general, I think guys played a little harder, were a little more physical, and we made plays.”

Sean White, in his first game as the starter — who led the offense for the majority of the game — efficiently orchestrated the offense against Arkansas State. He got into a rhythm ear-

ly and settled into the traffic-directing quarterback the coaches know he can be. White showed good instincts in the pocket, stepping up and scrambling when he needed to and waiting out the progressions when he didn’t, although he got the most praise on a play was where he didn’t do much with the ball.

When White flipped the ball to Kerryon Johnson, where Johnson spun and weaved his way across the field for Auburn’s first touchdown, White fell down, got up and led the way to block for Johnson, even though he didn’t exactly lay anyone out.

“You’d much rather say ‘Whoa,’ then ‘Sic’ em,’” Lashlee said. “I thought Sean competed very well. I thought he played really hard. I think that play is an example of how he plays the game and how he played last night. To get up off the mat and try to lead the way down there anyways — he was directing traffic more than he was blocking people — but he was there to celebrate there at the end.”

The running game is the cornerstone upon which a Gus Malzahn offense lies, and it was alive and well in the win. The 462 rushing yards is the most Auburn has produced since the

2013 SEC Championship Game, and it could’ve gone for a lot more had they not let off the gas in the final quarter.

The efficiency and widespread delivery of the passing attack is what’s more surprising. Receivers were rotated in and out frequently, and as a result the most snaps anyone played out of the possible 89 was Darius Slayton, who was in for 55 of those. The problem of having too many mouths to feed isn’t a problem Auburn has, though.

“We didn’t have anybody playing 60, 70, 80 snaps,” Lashlee said. “We had a lot of guys playing 20, 25, 35, so it keeps them fresher so when they’re in there they can play harder, and a lot of that was just because we let the young guys play from the receivers to those two running backs."

"What I do know is you've got a lot of unselfish guys being great team players."

With No. 17 Texas A&M up next on the schedule, figuring out how to revert to the well-oiled Auburn offense of old is what the Tigers needed, and they'll have to hope it carries over to their first SEC game of the season as they hope to notch their first home conference win since 2014.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Two young Auburn fans cheer on the Tigers in the 51-14 win against Arkansas State.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Emily Shoffit

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Quarterback: Sean White - 13 John Franklin III - 5 Jeremy Johnson - 6

Left Tackle: Austin Golson - 73 Darius James - 78

Running Back: Kerryon Johnson - 21 Kamryn Pettway - 36

Left Guard: Alex Kozan - 63 Deon Mix - 75 OR Marquel Harrell - 77

H-Back: Chandler Cox - 27 Landon Rice - 44

Center: Xavier Dampeer - 52 Kaleb Kim - 54

Tight End: Jalen Harris - 85 OR Landon Rice - 44

Right Guard: Braden Smith - 71 Mike Horton - 64

Wide Receiver: Marcus Davis - 80 Ryan Davis - 83 Stanton Truitt - 10 OR Will Hastings - 33 Darius Slayton - 81

Right Tackle: Robert Leff - 70 Prince Tega Wanogho - 76

Defensive End: Marlon Davidson - 3 Byron Cowart - 9 OR Paul James III - 10 Defensive Tackle: Montravius Adams - 1 Derrick Brown - 5 OR Devaroe Lawrence - 94 Defensive Tackle: Dontavius Russell - 95 Maurice Swain - 90 OR Andrew Williams - 79

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Will Linebacker: Montavious Atkinson - 48 OR T.J. Neal - 17

Kicker: Daniel Carlson - 38 Ian Shannon - 43

Sam Linebacker: Darrell Williams - 49 Richard McBryde - 51

Punter: Kevin Phillips - 91 Ian Shannon - 43

Field Corner Carlton Davis - 6 John Broussard - 22 Field Safety: Johnathan Ford - 23 Nick Ruffin - 19

Buck: Carl Lawson - 55 Jeff Holland - 4

Boundary Safety: Tray Matthews - 28 Markell Boston - 11

Middle Linebacker: Deshaun Davis - 57 OR Tre’ Williams - 30

Boundary Corner: Javaris Davis - 31 Josh Holsey - 15 Nickel: Jonathan Ford - 23 Josh Holsey - 15

Long Snapper: Ike Powell - 69 Zach Wade - 68 OR Clarke Smith - 53 Holder: Tyler Stovall - 29 John Franklin III - 5 Punt Returner: Marcus Davis - 80 Ryan Davis - 83 Kick Returner: Johnathan Ford - 23 AND Kerryon Johnson - 21

TEXAS A&M DEPTH CHART Quarterback: Trevor Knight - 8 Jake Hubenak - 10

Wide Receiver: Damion Ratley - 4 OR Speedy Noil - 2

Defensive End: Daeshon Hall - 10 Qualen Cunningham - 9

Running Back: James White -20 OR Keith Ford - 7 Trayveon Williams - 5

Left Tackle: Avery Gennesy - 65 Koda Martin - 75

Defensive Tackle: Zaycoven Henderson - 92 OR Kingsley Keke - 88

Tight End: Tanner Schorp - 86 OR Kalvin Cline - 89 Wide Receiver: Ricky Seals-Jones - 9 Frank Iheanacho - 15 Wide Receiver: Josh Reynolds - 11 Edward Pope - 18 OR Kemah Siverand - 16 Wide Receiver: Christian Kirk - 2 Boone Niderhoffer - 82

Left Guard: Colton Prater - 76 Brayden Talbert - 69 Center: Erik McCoy - 64 Austin Anderson - 55 Right Guard: Connor Lanfear - 70\ Keaton Sutherland - 78 Right Tackle: Jermaine Eluemunor - 72 Tank Davis - 50

Defensive Tackle: Hardreck Walker - 98 Daylon Mack - 5 Defensive End: Myles Garrett - 15 Jarrett Johnson - 40 Will Linebacker: Shaan Washington - 33 Cullen Gillaspia - 45 Middle Linebacker: Otaro Alaka - 42 Claude George - 31

Sam Linebacker: Richard Moore - 7 Dwaine Thomas - 16 Nickel: Donovan Wilson - 6 Noel Ellis - 4 OR Alex Sezer, Jr. - 17 Cornerback: Nick Harvey - 1 Roney Elam - 27 Strong Safety: Justin Evans - 14 Donovan Wilson - 6 Free Safety: Armani Watts - 23 Larry Pryor - 18 Cornerback: Priest Willis - 24 DeShawn Capers-Smith - 19

Kicker: Daniel LaCamera - 36 Punter: Shane Tripucka - 46 Braden Mann - 34 Long Snapper: Austin Frey - 45 Christian Robertson - 40 Holder: Conner McQueen - 14 Punt Returner: Christian Kirk - 3 Nick Harvey - 1 Kick Returner: Justin Evans - 14 Keith Ford - 7 Trayveon Williams - 5

Thursday, September 15, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 15, 2016

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Holsey, Auburn secondary ready for ‘challenge’ of Texas A&M Nathan Deal SPORTS REPORTER

With two nonconference games wrapped up, Auburn's secondary is looking toward its first SEC opponent, Texas A&M, and the explosive offense it brings to The Plains.

The Aggies come into the contest averaging 49 points and 557 yards per game. Texas A&M defeated No. 16 UCLA in 31-24 overtime in week one and easily beat Prairie View 67-0 last week. This is Texas A&M's first road game of the season.

Auburn's defense has gotten off to a hot start, holding its first two opponents to a combined 33 points. Defensive back Josh Holsey knows the challenge that awaits against the pass-happy Aggies, however.

“We kind of embrace coming into these games where they want to throw the ball and they’ve got good receivers," Holsey said. "It’s just going to be another task for us to step up to.

As a secondary, we know the game kind of depends on us."

Texas A&M is led by graduate transfer quarterback Trevor Knight, who previously played for Oklahoma and famously led the Sooners over Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. In his

Jack Winchester

first two games in College Station, he's gone 43-of-79 for 583 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

“He has a really good grasp of their offensive scheme right now," Holsey said. "It’s going to be a good challenge for our defense. We've just got to get in that film room early and often and stay in there so we kind of know what his tendencies are and what he likes to do.”

Knight has plenty of weapons at his disposal, including receivers Christian Kirk, Josh Reynolds, Ricky Seals-Jones and Speedy Noil. Auburn's pass defense has been strong so far this season, but the Aggies wide receiver corp poses a challenge to the Tigers secondary.

"We can’t let them come in here and toss the ball around for 300 or 400 yards in the air," Holsey said. "It’s another challenge that I think the secondary’s pretty much ready for and coach [Wesley] McGriff is going to get us prepared for.

Those kinds of big, long guys, you’ve just got to practice hard and get your mind and physicality ready to go for Saturday to make sure you’re ready to take away deep balls, because they’re going to come in here and throw the ball a lot.”

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Josh Holsey (15) tackles Clemson QB Deshaun Watson on Sept. 3.

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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