Auburn vs. Ole Miss: Game Grades, Analysis for the Tigers and Rebels
The third-ranked Auburn Tigers staged a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels, 35-31, in an SEC thriller on the road on Saturday.
In a game that featured five lead changes, both programs had obvious strengths and weaknesses, which are reflected in the grades.
| Pass Offense | B | B |
| Run Offense | B+ | A |
| Pass Defense | C | C- |
| Run Defense | B- | B+ |
| Special Teams | A- | A- |
| Coaching | B | B+ |
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Pass Offense: Through the air, Nick Marshall is akin to a roller-coaster ride. He'd laser a wonderful pass, then float one terribly and repeat. He found his target on 15-of-22 attempts for 254 yards and two scores, but Marshall narrowly missed throwing at least two more interceptions. Sammie Coates led the Tigers with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Run Offense: With his legs, however, Marshall is explosive. Overshadowed by Cameron Artis-Payne, who shredded Ole Miss en route to 138 yards and a score, the dual-threat logged a pair of short touchdown runs, and the Tigers managed 5.4 yards per rushing attempt.
"Watch Cameron Artis-Payne & think a more explosive Rashard Mendenhall. He'll be among the older RB prospects in 2015, but he's NFL capable.
— Shane Alexander (@A1GFootball) November 1, 2014"
Pass Defense: Auburn couldn't force Bo Wallace into an interception, but it pressured him to tuck and run instead and also registered four sacks. The defensive backfield had immense trouble containing a trio of Rebels receivers and would've been the unit to blame had the Tigers fallen.
Run Defense: Ultimately, the Rebels failed to muster a consistent attack on the ground. Wallace's long run was actually a product of a disruptive pass rush, so Auburn held Ole Miss to 87 yards and 29 carries otherwise.
Special Teams: Daniel Carlson hit five extra points, and the Tigers netted a serviceable 39.0 yards per punt. Additionally, the longest kick return allowed was just 18 yards.
Coaching: When Auburn fell behind by 10 points, Gus Malzahn refocused on giving Artis-Payne touches and brought the Tigers back. The defense, however, was shredded by the pass, something that must be fixed before Amari Cooper lines up opposite the corners.
| Pass Offense | B+ | A- |
| Run Offense | B- | C |
| Pass Defense | B | B- |
| Run Defense | C- | D |
| Special Teams | A- | A- |
| Coaching | A- | B |
Pass Offense: Overall, it was a solid day for Wallace, who completed 27-of-40 passes for 328 yards, two scores and zero interceptions. Vince Sanders paced the team with 112 receiving yards, and Evan Engram added 109 more and a touchdown. Laquon Treadwell snagged nine passes for 83 yards and one score but may have been lost for the season.
Run Offense: The Rebels played without left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and their ground game was definitely affected by the star's absence. Wide receiver blocking—especially by Treadwell—was outstanding, but losing I'Tavius Mathers to injury hurt.
Pass Defense: Senquez Golson jumped a route and intercepted a pass, but the senior is likely wishing he grabbed two more. Coates reeled in two balls Golson nearly picked, and the 57-yard bomb Auburn's receiver snared was a momentum killer.
Run Defense: Put simply, Auburn tore Ole Miss' front seven apart throughout the night. The Rebels allowed 248 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries, surrendering 12 first downs on the ground.
Special Teams: Gary Wunderlich nailed a 47-yard field goal before halftime and connected on all four extra points. Ole Miss averaged 44.2 yards per punt, and the coverage didn't allow explosive return Quan Bray to break loose.
Coaching: Hugh Freeze had the Rebels in a great position to win. Red-zone fumbles by Wallace and Treadwell were the deciding factors offensively. On the other side of the ball, the Landsharks were exposed.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
