Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Game Grades, Analysis for Aggies vs. Tigers
With two up-tempo, no-huddle offenses, this game figured to have plenty of points. That wasn't the case, however, but the Texas A&M Aggies found enough offense in a 29-16 win over the Auburn Tigers. Quarterback Trevor Knight was efficient, throwing for 247 yards and one touchdown. He also added 42 rushing yards.
The Aggies led 16-10 at the half, and this game stayed within reach for Auburn until running back Trayveon Williams rattled off an 89-yard score with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter, making it 29-10. It was a balanced attack for Texas A&M, as it passed for 247 yards and rushed for 231 yards.
The game could have actually been worse if not for Auburn's red zone defense. The Aggies were forced to kick five field goals, and Daniel LaCamera connected on all five attempts. Texas A&M should actually feel lucky to get an SEC road win after converting just 2-of-15 of its third-down attempts.
The storyline of the game was the Auburn offense, though. Sean White got the start at quarterback, but after four straight punts to start the second half, head coach Gus Malzahn elected to go with John Franklin III. The Tigers were able to find a little bit of offense on the ground with Franklin in the game, but Malzahn's group passed for only 163 yards in this game.
You can find the complete box score for the game here, courtesy of NCAA.com.
Texas A&M Offense
1 of 6
The Aggies totaled 478 yards of offense, and they did not turn the ball over. Knight's mobility helped keep plays alive, and he made some great throws down the field. The running game was stagnant at times in the first half, but Texas A&M ended with 231 yards on the ground.
However, the Aggies did have some struggles in the red zone. They were unable to punch it in the end zone multiple times and had to settle for five field goals. They were also 2-of-15 on third down. Those are things to improve on moving forward, but overall it was a solid effort from this group.
Grade: B
Auburn Offense
2 of 6
Things are getting ugly in Auburn, and Malzahn's seat is getting hotter with every concerning offensive performance. The Tigers were just 6-of-17 on third down and had only 163 passing yards the entire game. White never got into a rhythm, and the play-calling was predictable with Franklin in the game.
The positive for Auburn was the play of its running backs. Pettway and Johnson combined for 183 yards and two touchdowns, but the lack of a passing attack really hurt this offense. Once Texas A&M loaded up to stop the run, Malzahn and Auburn did not have any answers.
Despite the strong rushing effort, the Tigers still get a low grade here because of the lack of a passing threat. The Tigers took very few shots down the field, and that resulted in Texas A&M being able to load the box to stop the run.
Grade: D
Texas A&M Defense
3 of 6
It wasn't just bad offensive play from Auburn, and we have to give the Aggies defense credit here. Defensive end Myles Garrett was a force up front, and he ended the game with three tackles for loss and two sacks.
This group gave up 399 total yards, but a chunk of those came in the fourth quarter when the game was no longer in doubt. Texas A&M forced Auburn into a lot of third-and-long situations, and the secondary held up well when the Tigers attempted to pass the ball.
Grade: B
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Auburn Defense
4 of 6
The stat lines won't look great for Auburn's defense, but it was this group that kept the Tigers in the game. The defense came up with some big stops in the red zone, but it eventually wore down. After holding Texas A&M to multiple field goals, this group simply got tired in the fourth quarter when it gave up the long touchdown run.
It's hard to fault the defense too much considering the amount of time it spent on the field in the second half, but it certainly could have played better. The Aggies rattled off 478 total yards in this game, and Auburn did not get enough pressure on Knight.
Grade: C+
Texas A&M Coaching
5 of 6
The offensive game plan for Texas A&M improved in the second half, as the Aggies had just 66 rushing yards at halftime. The Aggies were able to get the run game going late in this game, and it helped sealed the win. Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone put Knight in good situations all night, and the Aggies did not turn the ball over.
The offensive play-calling could have improved in the red zone, and that's the only reason the grade isn't an "A." Defensive coordinator John Chavis called a good game, and he had his group ready to play. The Aggies gave up 236 yards on the ground, but it forced Auburn into a lot of third-and-long situations.
Grade: B
Auburn Coaching
6 of 6
There's probably no coach with a hotter seat than Malzahn right now, and he did not do himself any favors on Saturday night. Offensively, the Tigers did very little to stretch the field and that resulted in a lot of three-and-outs. Auburn didn't do enough on first and second down, and it set up a lot of passing situations on third down.
When Franklin III entered the game, it took a while before he threw his first pass. Malzahn's play-calling was very predictable, and it's clear he still doesn't trust his quarterbacks. The offensive staff also didn't have an answer for Garrett, and it led to the star defensive end recording two sacks.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele did a solid job, and it's the only reason why the grade isn't an "F" here.
Grade: D-
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