Auburn vs. LSU: Report Card Grades for the Tigers Loss vs. LSU

Auburn came into the game with a chance to knock off the No. 1 team in the country. They leave with a lot of questions that need to be answered.

The Tigers were a virtual no-show on both sides of the ball—and special teams for that matter. 

They were dominated from start to finish by possibly the best team in the country but also a team that was playing shorthanded due to some key suspensions. 

While Auburn still holds a 5-3 record with three very winnable games coming up, the 45-10 loss at the hands of LSU may take a while to get over. 

Here are the report card grades for Auburn in the blowout loss to LSU. 

Quarterback

Sophomore Clint Moseley made his first career start for the Tigers and struggled against one of the best defenses in the country.

He finished the game with 145 yards passing and an interception while going 12-of-20.

Moseley looked rattled but showed that he has poise and the talent to be the quarterback of the future for the Tigers.

Kiehl Frazier came in as a change of pace and carried the ball nine times for 31 yards while going 2-of-4 for 16 yards.

Overall grade: C 

Running Back

Running backs Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb are one of the best one-two punches in the country, but they were held in check by the talented front seven of LSU. 

McCalebb only carried the ball three times gaining 32 yards and was hit hard in the head with a helmet-to-helmet blast that caused him to leave the game for a while early in the fourth quarter. He came back and scored the only Auburn touchdown with a late two-yard run with less than three minutes remaining.  

Dyer was stuffed all game. He finished with 12 carries for only 61 yards, 29 of them coming on one late run near the end of the game. 

With Auburn falling behind early, these two never really got a chance to get on track. 

Overall grade: C+

Wide Receiver

With the Tigers and Moseley held in check all game, there was not many passes to be caught for the wide receivers. 

DeAngelo Benton had two catches for 42 yards. Fellow receiver Trovon Reed caught two passes for 26 yards. 

Without leading receiver Emory Blake who missed the game due to injury, Auburn was not left with many other options. 

Second-leading receiver Travante Stallworth was held in check with only two catches for 10 yards. 

Overall grade: D-

Offensive Line

The offensive line struggled mightily to open up holes for the running game and also had their difficulties protecting quarterback Clint Moseley.

Moseley and the Tigers running quarterback Kiehl Frazier were often scrambling for their life because the defensive line of LSU was having their way with Auburn.

They were however able to lead the team down the field for a late garbage touchdown with under three minutes remaining.

Overall grade: D+ 

Defensive Line

LSU was missing running back Spencer Ware, but that did not seem to matter at all, as the Tigers ran all over the Auburn, defense, particularly the defensive line en route to 174 yards on 36 carries on the ground. 

That is good for 4.8 yards per carry and left LSU with many short-yardage situations.

Michael Ford and Kenny HIlliard played nice in the absence of Spencer Ware at running back for LSU, and both averaged over 6.5 yards per carry.

The offensive line of LSU had the defensive line on their heels all game and pushed them down the field throughout.

Overall grade: D 

Linebackers

Not many positives can be taken from the defensive side of the ball for Auburn. 

They were torched for 45 points, and much like the defensive line, the linebacker group was manhandled by LSU throughout the game. 

LSU totaled 393 yards, with a balanced attack through the air and on the ground.

Overall grade: C- 

Secondary

The Auburn secondary was burnt for multiple big plays by LSU receiver Reuben Randle who had a 42-yard touchdown in the second quarter and a 46-yarder four minutes later to put LSU ahead 21-3 at the half. 

LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee passed for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and Jordan Jefferson was 2-of-3 for 54 yards and a touchdown. 

They were unable to force any interceptions or turnovers whatsoever, and while they hung in for most of the first half, the big plays they gave up put the game virtually out of reach by halftime. 

Overall grade: C-

Special Teams

The Auburn special teams was solid for most of the first half, but fell apart in the third quarter. 

LSU began hitting Auburn kickoff returners on kickoffs that seemed to knock them into tomorrow. 

One big hit led to a fumble, and by the end of the third quarter, it seemed more likely that Auburn was going to fumble than get any positive yardage on the kickoffs.

Punter Steven Clark averaged just over 35 yards on seven punts. 

Overall grade: C- 

Coaching and Intangibles

It's safe to say head coach Gene Chizik and the rest of the Auburn coaching staff did not stand much of a chance against the onslaught they ran into in Baton Rouge.

LSU was just the more talented team at nearly every position on the field.

His hands were tied, particularly on offense with the injury to star receiver Emory Blake.

A few more carries for Onterio McCalebb might have helped his cause. 

Overall grade: C-