Alabama vs. Auburn: 5 Things We Learned About the Tigers in Loss to Tide

After another classic Iron Bowl game today, the Auburn Tigers were unable to pull the come-from-behind win this season, and fell to their instate rival Alabama 42-14 in front of a raucous crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

With the Tigers looking ahead toward their bowl-game matchup this postseason, let’s take a quick look at what we learned about the Auburn Tigers from the 76th Iron Bowl today against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Containment of Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb

It was going to be tough for the combination of Dyer and McCalebb to make a big impact in today’s game versus the Crimson Tide, as they were undeniably restricted by the Alabama defense as the game went on this afternoon.

The duo combined for 21 carries for 75 yards today against that stingy Tide defense, as the longest carry was a short 12 run by McCalebb during the game.

Trent Richardson

Unlike last year, Trent Richardson was not to be contained by the Auburn defense in today’s Iron Bowl, as the Heisman candidate banged, shoved and sliced through the Tigers defense as the senior ran for a ridiculous 203 yards.

There were several carries by Richardson that even caught the eye of Gary Danielson and Verne Lundquist in the CBS Sports booth, as he hit the pile and continued to move the drive ahead with the ball until the play was whistled dead by the referees on the sideline.

Auburn Offense

I know the Alabama defense is probably one of the best defenses in the nation this season, but when the Auburn offense can only muster 140 total yards during a four-quarter game, that’s disappointing.

The kickoff return by Onterio McCalebb where the junior running back took the ball to the house on an 83-yard kickoff return to start the second half but by then, the Crimson Tide was already on the way to the blowout of Auburn.

Clint Mosley and Kiehl Frazier

Even though neither of these Auburn quarterbacks have the talent like Cam Newton, the two were nearly totally neutralized as they faced the Crimson Tide defense as the two combined to pass for only 62 yards through the air in the game.

With the cupboard to be replenished with new recruits at Auburn, the play of these two young signal callers will hopefully get some playmakers to return to the plains and make the next Iron Bowl a closer game than the 2011 edition.

Auburn Pass Defense

If you looked at the play of Alabama’s A.J. McCarron today, you would believe the quarterback was a senior veteran as he threw the ball all over the plains, and was explosive and effective during the Iron Bowl today.

McCarron completed 18-of-23 pass attempts against the Tigers today, for 184 yards passing along with three passing touchdowns in the rout of Auburn.