The Auburn Tigers return to the field this Saturday as they travel to take on the 5-1 Missouri Tigers. Auburn is coming off their first off week and trying to save a season 2-4. Turnovers have been a big issue for Auburn, and if those mistakes were just cut in half this team could be 5-1. With that said, it is a results business and they have not gotten the results needed so far. If they are going to turn around the season, it starts in Columbia, Missouri. What are some keys for an Auburn win over Missouri?
Keys for an Auburn Win Over Missouri
Stopping the Missouri Run Game
Coming into the season, Missouri had the task of replacing their great running back Cody Shrader who rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. This season they are using a two-headed approach with Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll who have combined for 752 yards and seven touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Cook is also a big part of the rushing attack with four rushing touchdowns. Star receiver Luther Burden has two rushing touchdowns on five attempts and 90 yards.
The Missouri running game is ranked sixth in the SEC averaging 187.5 yards per game. In their only loss of the season against Texas A&M, the ground game was limited. In the 41-10 defeat, they only rushed for 68 yards in the game. The Auburn defense so far this season is allowing 124.3 yards per game on the ground. That is ranked 12th in the SEC. The defensive front for Auburn will need to limit the rushing attack to make Missouri one-dimensional.
Get Jarquez Hunter the ball
On the offensive side, Auburn should lean on the run game. Running back Jarquez Hunter is fifth in the SEC with 528 yards. He has reached the endzone three times and has an average of 6.8 yards per carry. A criticism of the offense this season has been the lack of touches for Hunter and the dedication to the run game. The most carries Hunter has had in a game this season was 20 in a 45-19 win over New Mexico. Against Georgia, he only carried the ball 13 times but gained 91 yards and averaged 7.0 yards per attempt.
Behind Hunter is Damari Alston who has rushed for 186 yards on 29 carries this season. He has reached the end zone twice. A key part of the Auburn rushing attack is quarterback Payton Thorne. He is third on the team with 147 yards and has reached the end zone twice as well. Missouri is eighth in the SEC allowing 116.3 yards per game rushing. Going back to their loss to Texas A&M they gave up 236 yards on the ground. It was a big day for Le’Veon Moss who accumulated 138 yards and scored three touchdowns. Auburn could also use their run game to control the clock to keep the Missouri offense off the field.
Quarterback Play
The quarterback play for both teams could determine who comes out on top in the game. It truly is a tale of opposite results for Cook and Thorne. For Cook, he has only turned the ball over once this season for Missouri. He has thrown for 1,351 yards and seven touchdowns. He has been sacked 11 times this season. If Auburn can limit the Missouri run game, Jalen Mcleod and Keldric Faulk can key on getting to Brady. McLeod has three sacks on the year, and Faulk has five. Now, if they cannot create pressure then Cook should be able to find Burden and Theo Wease on the outside against a thin and inexperienced secondary.
On the Auburn side turnovers have been the major issue for the 2-4 start. The one leading the way has been Thorne with six interceptions on the season. Hank Brown also threw three in his lone start against Arkansas. Thorne has done better in the last two games against Oklahoma and Georgia with only one interception. He threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns before the costly pick-six against the Sooners. If Auburn can get Hunter going on the ground that will open up some play-action opportunities for Thone. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith has been a bright spot and is fourth in the SEC with 510 yards. Add in the talented freshmen receivers like Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons, big plays could be possible against the Missouri defense.
