A point of emphasis for Hugh Freeze and the No. 22 Auburn Tigers during the offseason was improving in critical down situations and limiting turnovers.
Dead last in the SEC a season ago with 22 turnovers and ranking 123rd in the nation in red zone efficiency, Auburn has completely flipped the script through the first three weeks of the season.
The Tigers have scored on all nine of their trips to the red zone this season, tying them for first in the nation. Additionally, Auburn has a turnover margin of +2, tying it for 32nd in the country – a vast improvement from the 120th spot it landed in a season ago, which was dead last in the SEC.
“That was vital to our offseason. Our whole focus was being good in the critical downs and red zone, and thus far we have been (improved),” said Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze.
Making life much easier for Freeze and his offensive staff is the fact that Auburn has averaged 7.2 yards per play on first down through three games. As a result, the Tigers have converted 52.3% of their third-down attempts, going 18-for-34. Auburn is also one of four FBS teams to convert on all of its fourth down attempts (5-of-5) with at least five attempts, tying it for first in the nation.
However, Oklahoma represents Auburn’s toughest challenge to date. Led by head coach and defensive mastermind Brent Venables, the Sooners rank fourth in the nation in third-down defense, giving up just seven conversions on 41 attempts. They are tied for first in the country in fourth down defense with zero conversions given up – though they’ve only had one attempt against them thus far.
“Again, we haven’t faced a defense like we’re getting ready to face, and they’re going to make a lot of teams not do so well in some of those situations,” Freeze said. “We’ve got to find a way to be in manageable downs for sure, or it’s not going to be a fun night if you’re trying to do that against that defense. So to this point, we have improved, but now the tests get harder.”
The Sooners are allowing just 181 yards per game, good for fourth in the nation. They’re giving up 97.3 yards per game on the ground and 84.7 yards through the air, allowing just 19 points in the process – 13 of which came from Michigan alone.
“First, I need some Pepto and some Tums because your stomach starts turning because of their first three games they’ve just dominated. Allowed one touchdown and it was really on a bust. They’re physical and they’re fast,” Freeze told "The Dari Nowkhah Show." “So it’s a great challenge. I do think they’re one of the better defenses I’ve seen in the last few years."
Auburn will travel to Norman for the first time in program history on Saturday to open up SEC play. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
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