Auburn vs. Vanderbilt Game Day Section

GAME DAY

Nov. 5 vs. Vanderbilt 11 a.m., ESPN

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, November 3, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 4 Auburn devoting ‘full attention’ to stingy Vanderbilt defense

Page 9 Depth charts for Auburn and Vanderbilt

Page 6

Page 11 Plainsman Picks

‘Next-man-up’ attitude for Auburn’s receivers proving effective

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ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Aubie and the cheerleaders lead Auburn onto the field before the Ole Miss game.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, November 3, 2016

OFFENSE

Auburn devoting ‘full attention’ to stingy Vanderbilt defense Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Auburn’s hot. The Tigers have reeled off five consecutive wins, and they’ve topped 38 points in each of their last three, each against SEC opponents.

They’ve climbed the rankings, too.

They’re at Nos. 11 and 12 in the AP and Coaches’ Poll, respectively, and Auburn debuted in the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 9 A Vanderbilt team that has mustered just one conference win comes to town this Saturday, and while the Commodores’ record doesn’t jump off the page, Auburn’s not letting themselves look ahead.

“We got our hands full,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “We don’t—hypotheticals in this league, if you look ahead in this league, you get burned. We got our hands full. Our players know that. Our coaches know it. We have not said one word about anything left in the schedule.”

They’ve locked in on Vanderbilt and are determined to not get tripped up by a potential trap game.

Despite the 4-4 record, the Commodores’ defense is underrated, having held conference opponents in Florida and Georgia to 13 and 16 points, respectively.

“They lead the league in turnover margin,” Malzahn said. “They protect the football. They're one of the best in penalties.

They don't beat themselves. They make you earn it.

"They beat Georgia at Georgia. They played Florida down to the very end. A very good football team. They have our full attention.”

Vanderbilt allows a tick over 15 points per game in the SEC, and that’s due in large part to linebacker Zach Cunningham.

Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee recruited Cunningham, both while they were at Arkansas State and after they made the move to Auburn.

Cunningham has recorded 85 combined tackles, which ranks 11th in the country among all defensive players.

He’s a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, which is given to the nation’s most

ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Several Vanderbilt players, led by linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) at the bottom of the pile, swarm a South Carolina ballcarrier.The Commodores’ defense surrenders just over 15 points per game, and Auburn’s offense can’t afford to overlook Vanderbilt if the Tigers want to extend their five-game winning streak.

oustanding defensive player, and the award Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson was also named a semifinalist for.

“I love the way he plays,” Malzahn said. “I mean, Zach Cunningham is one of the better defensive players in our league.

He’s very impressive the way he comes off blocks. He sheds blocks and makes play as good as any linebacker in our league.”

But outside of Cunningham, Vanderbilt’s

playmakers are lacking on defense. It’ll be tough sledding for the Commodores to slow down Auburn’s red-hot rushing attack, and if the Tigers get ahead, the Vanderbilt offense could have trouble keeping up.

In any case, the opportunity to extend Auburn’s winning streak to six games is there, but the motivation might not be at high as it could be with other conference opponents.

There is one part, however, that could

add some extra fuel.

Vanderbilt holds the all-time edge over Auburn, leading the series 21-20 after the Commodores pulled out a 17-13 win in 2012.

“Really? I didn’t know that,” said Josh Holsey. “We have to change that. It’s ok, we’re working hard so we’ll work on it for Saturday and make sure we try to change that around a little bit.”

Thursday, November 3, 2016

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

EAST

WEST SEC

SEC

OVERALL

OVERALL

# 1 Alabama

5-0

8-0

# 11 Florida

4-1

6-1

#4TexasA&M

4-1

7-1

Kentucky

4-2

5-3

# 9 Auburn

4-1

6-2

Tennessee

2-3

5-3

# 13 LSU

3-1

5-2

Georgia

2-4

4-4

Arkansas

1-3

5-3

South Carolina

2-4

4-4

Mississippi State

1-3

3-5

Vanderbilt

1-3

4-4

Ole Miss

1-4

3-5

Missouri

0-4

2-6

Standings

6

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, November 3, 2016

RECEIVERS

‘Next-man-up’ attitude for Auburn’s receivers proving effective Sam Butler

game with five catches, and even tight end Jalen Harris, who hadn’t even had the ball thrown to him in his career to that point, hauled in his first career catch for a touchdown.

“At this point, they’ve all repped with Sean (White),” Lashlee said. “I think that's why we're getting better each week with the efficiency. He’s more confident with where they're going to be and what they’re going to do. He’s giving them opportunities.”

The opportunities might not be as plentiful as they would be in other high-flying airraid offenses, but for Auburn, they’re just as meaningful.

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

There isn’t a superstar in Auburn’s receiving corps.

Unlike some other teams, Auburn doesn’t have one guy that’s going to command double-teams, or one that will force the high safety to shade over toward him every play just because he’s on the field.

Instead, the Tigers have a war chest full of capable receivers who can step up and contribute at any time should their number get called, and that’s perfect for what they need on offense.

“Obviously, anyone would love to have that one guy everybody knows,” offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. “Right now, there’s nobody for the defense to key on, and it allows a quarterback and really everybody to run the reads and run the progresses. Wherever the read takes it, that guy's got to make the play.”

Take Darius Slayton, for instance. Slayton has been a starter, but he’s sixth in receptions with just nine catches on the year.

He has 168 yards, though, and that includes a crucial 26-yard catch that came with Auburn backed up on its own goal line against Ole Miss.

Slayton hauled in a gorgeous throw in between coverage that required every bit of his 6-foot-2 frame to reel in, and it gave the Tigers some much-needed breathing room and allowed their punishing rushing attack some space to maneuver.

“It’s hard to throw and catch a ball better than that in coverage,” Lashlee said. “He’s just one of those guys. He's very dependable.

“He's been very steady for us. Again, it goes back to one game. I don't think he had any catches last week. This week, he had three or four. They were all impact catches.

He’s doing good.”

Eight different players recorded catches for Auburn against Ole Miss.

Five players had a single reception, and nobody had more than five.

Spreading the wealth is the name of Auburn’s game, and it’s fine with them, as long as the “W” keeps showing up in the win-

Auburn receiving stats through eight games Player

ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Darius Slayton leaps into the air to haul in a pass during Auburn’s win over Ole Miss. Slayton has epitomized the team-first attitude from Aubun’s receivers, who are all ready to contribute when called upon.

loss column.

“As a receiver you want to catch the ball, but we’ve been winning games,” Slayton said. “If we’ve got to run the ball that many times to win the game, then that’s okay, that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Having so many players able to rotate in

and not miss a beat comes in handy in ways other than pure strategy as well.

When Tony Stevens, the senior who is leading Auburn in catches, couldn’t play against Ole Miss, there were plenty of receivers ready to step up.

Freshman Eli Stove led the team that

Rec.

Yds.

TD

Tony Stevens

24

408

3

Kyle Davis

10

221

1

Ryan Davis

22

170

1

Darius Slayton

9

168

0

Marcus Davis

14

133

0

Kerryon Johnson 11

110

0

Stanton Truitt

5

90

1

Eli Stove

8

69

0

Will Hastings

9

68

1

Nate Craig-Myers 3

58

1

Kam Martin

52

0

2

Thursday, November 3, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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Behind enemy bylines Vanderbilt edition Robbie Weinstein, sports editor at the Vanderbilt Hustler, answered a few questions from The Plainsman ahead of Auburn’s matchup with the Commodores this Saturday.

Q) This is Derek Mason's third year at Vanderbilt following the James Franklin era, and he's only been able to provide three conference wins so far. How much longer does he have to turn things around in Nashville?

RW: Vanderbilt's administration really doesn't like to fire coaches, and Mason is a great guy who's well-liked within the athletic department. Losing out would potentially make things interesting in terms of his job status, but he’ll certainly get at least one more year if Vandy can get to a fifth win and the bowl game that would likely come with it. Certainly the results over the past two-plus years haven’t been any good, but athletic director David Williams won’t make a move unless he absolutely has to, no matter how badly fans want Mason out.

Q) Other than the loss to Georgia Tech and the win over Western Kentucky, Vanderbilt's defense has held defenses to some impressively low scores, especially in the SEC. What's been the key for the Commodores, there?

ZIYI LIU / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Zach Cunningham (41) brings down a Florida ballcarrier during the Commodores’ 13-6 loss to the Gators on Oct. 1. Cunningham leads the Vanderbilt defense in combined tackles with 85 ­— the second-closest player, Ryan White, has 54.

RW: The defense is good against traditional offenses that don’t push the pace and don't feature dual-threat quarterbacks. Against up-tempo offenses like WKU’s and an alternative-style offense like Georgia Tech and its triple option, the ‘Dores struggle. The defensive line is good against the run but doesn't have a lot of depth, and slow-paced SEC offenses like Florida and Georgia haven't challenged the linemen's conditioning all that much. Basically, they've had success against predictable teams that want to run right at them and don't feature mobile quarterbacks.

Q) To kind of piggyback off the last question: Even though the defense has held the like of Florida and Kentucky to low scores, the offense hasn't been able to put up enough points to take advantage of the help the defense has given them. What's been the biggest thing holding Vanderbilt back from scoring, especially with Ralph Webb sitting at second in the SEC in rushing?

RW: Supposedly, the passing game was going to be the most improved part of the team this year. That hasn't happened. Kyle Shurmur is an okay game manager, but he's completed roughly 10 percent of his throws more than 20 yards downfield this year. The receivers aren't particularly fast or physically imposing, and none of the tight ends have proven to be effective at both blocking and functioning as targets for Shurmur. The 'Dores have done a great job at limiting turnovers and are tops in the SEC in that category, but it's hard to move the ball when your passing game can't function against SEC defenses.

Q) What does Vanderbilt need to do to slow down Auburn's rushing attack and give the Commodores a chance to leave with a win?

RW: Star linebacker Zach Cunningham might have to have 20 tackles if Vanderbilt hopes to contain Pettway. A more realistic goal, though, might be to take away Auburn’s passing game. If Vanderbilt can get the Tigers to the point where they're running the ball 70-80 percent of the time, it might be able to stack the box and limit Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. I think Auburn could probably adjust at halftime and find some weaknesses in the Vanderbilt secondary in the second half in this scenario, though. I definitely don't see Vanderbilt winning without a touchdown on defense or special teams.

Q) How do you see this one shaking out?

RW: Auburn opened up as 26.5-point favorites, and I think that’s too high. I think there's a decent chance Vanderbilt keeps this game competitive in the first half, but VU will almost surely get worn down by Auburn's superior talent. Auburn by a score of 34-13 sounds about right to me.

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, November 3, 2016

RUNNING BACKS

Pettway’s performance has been suprising, but not shocking Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The emergence and subsequent ascent of Kamryn Pettway to virtual stardom has been rapid and furious. It’s come as a surprise to many, but not to the one guy who’s helped mold the SEC’s leading rusher into what he is today — his coach. “[Running backs coach] Tim [Horton] told me, maybe it was midway through the spring or after the spring, he said — we call him Bubba, maybe we’re supposed to call him bruiser now, I’m not sure — but he said he’s going to be just fine,” said offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. “He said he’s going to be really good.

“Well, Tim knows what he’s talking about, but (Pettway) really hadn’t done a lot. And I don’t think Tim or any of us knew he’d get on this tear.”

That tear has been otherwordly. In three straight games now, all of which were against SEC opponents, Pettway has eclipsed 150 rushing yards. Mississippi State didn’t have an answer. Arkansas was basically a revolving door, and Pettway tore through Ole Miss like a ravenous werewolf.

ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kamryn Pettway dashes downfield against Arkansas.

His 236 yards were the 10th-most in Auburn history, and his mauling of the Rebels vaulted him to the top of the SEC’s rushing leaderboard. He currently has 933 yards, and

that’s without seeing a single snap against Clemson in the season opener. Unless something drastically changes, Pettway will become Auburn’s eighth consecutive 1,000-yard rusher sometime soon.

“He’s just done a good job of going downhill,” Lashlee said. “He’d be the first to tell you it’s because his guys up front are blocking well for him … We’re obviously really fortunate that he’s running the ball like he is.”

Up next for Pettway and Auburn’s fourth-ranked rushing attack is a Vanderbilt defense that gives up 157.6 rushing yards per game. It’s not as porous as Ole Miss’ defense was, but it’s only one spot below Mississippi State, which Pettway ran over to the tune of 169 yards on 39 blistering carries.

“What they’ve done on defense this year has been really good,” Lashlee said. “There’s not a lot of people scoring a lot of points on them. It’ll be a pretty good challenge for us.

I haven’t watched a ton of them yet just because of where we are in the process.

“I’ll get started with that right after this, but they’re going to be pretty good on defense. That’s what they do.”

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ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rhett Lashlee goes through Tiger Walk. Since Lashlee has assumed playcalling duties, Kamryn Pettway has been on a roll and now sits atop the SEC leaderboard in rushing.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Quarterback: Sean White - 13 John Franklin III - 5 Jeremy Johnson - 6

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Wide Receiver: Darius Slayton - 81 Kyle Davis - 11

Left Tackle: Running Back: Darius James - 78 Kerryon Johnson - 21 OR Austin Golson - 73 Kamryn Pettway - 36 Left Guard: H-Back/Tight End: Alex Kozan - 63 Chandler Cox - 27 Marquel Harrell - 77 Jalen Harris - 85 Center: Wide Receiver: Austin Golson - 73 Ryan Davis - 83 Xavier Dampeer - 52 Eli Stove - 12 Right Guard: Wide Receiver: Braden Smith - 71 Marcus Davis - 80 Mike Horton - 64 Will Hastings - 33 Right Tackle: Wide Receiver: Robert Leff - 70 Tony Stevens - 8 Prince Tega Wanogho - 76 Nate Craig-Myers - 3

Defensive End: Marlon Davidson - 3 Byron Cowart - 9

Sam Linebacker: Darrell Williams - 49 Richard McBryde - 51

Kicker: Daniel Carlson - 38 Ian Shannon - 43

Defensive Tackle: Montravius Adams - 1 Derrick Brown - 5 OR Devaroe Lawrence - 94

Field Corner Carlton Davis - 6 Marshall Taylor - 26 OR John Broussard - 22

Punter: Kevin Phillips - 91 Ian Shannon - 43

Field Safety: Nick Ruffin - 19 Stephen Roberts - 14

Long Snapper: Ike Powell - 69 Zach Wade - 68 OR Clarke Smith - 53

Defensive Tackle: Dontavius Russell - 95 Maurice Swain - 90 OR Andrew Williams - 79 Buck: Carl Lawson - 55 Jeff Holland - 4 Middle Linebacker: Deshaun Davis - 57 T.J. Neal - 17

Boundary Safety: Tray Matthews - 28 Markell Boston - 11 Boundary Corner: Josh Holsey - 15 Javaris Davis - 31 Nickel: Jonathan Ford - 23 Daniel Thomas - 24

Will Linebacker: Tre’ Williams - 30 Montavious Atkinson - 48

Holder: Tyler Stovall - 29 John Franklin III - 5 Punt Returner: Marcus Davis - 80 Ryan Davis - 83 Kick Returner: Johnathan Ford - 23 AND Kerryon Johnson - 21

VANDERBILT DEPTH CHART Quarterback: Kyle Shurmur - 14 Wade Freebeck - 12 Running Back: Ralph Webb - 7 Khari Blasingame - 23 Josh Crawford - 22 Fullback: Bailey McElwain - 39 Dallas Rivers - 28 Tight End: Nathan Marcus - 83 Jared Pinkney - 80 Wide Receiver: Trent Sheffield - 10 Caleb Scott - 9 Darrius Sims - 6 Wide Receiver: Kalija Lipscomb - 16 C.J. Duncan - 19 Latevius Rayford - 86

Left Tackle: Will Holden - 74 Devin Cochran - 77 Left Guard: Ean Pfeifer - 57 Delando Cooks - 64 Center: Barrett Gouger - 56 Cole Hardin - 60 Right Guard: Bruno Reagan - 61 Bailey Granier - 75 Right Tackle: Justin Skule - 58 Jared Southers - 71

Defensive Lineman: Jonathan Wynn - 49 Dare Odeyingbo - 34 Defensive Lineman: Adam Butler - 69 Torey Agee - 94 Defensive Lineman: Nifae Lealao - 77 Jay Woods - 74 Nehemiah Mitchell - 44 Outside Linebacker: Oren Burks - 20 Caleb Peart - 9 Josh Smith - 25 Inside Linebacker: Zach Cunningham - 41 Jordan Griffin - 43 Inside Linebacker: Ja’karri Thomas - 40 Emmanuel Smith - 7

Outside Linebacker: Landon Stokes - 99 Charles Wright - 11 Cornerback: Tre Hurdon - 31 Taurean Ferguson - 3 Strong Safety: Ryan White - 14 Andrew Rector - 26 Free Safety: LaDarius Wiley - 13 OR Arnold Tarpley - 2 Cornerback: Torren McGaster - 5 Bryce Lewis - 30 Joejuan Williams - 8

Kicker: Tommy Openshaw - 17 Ryley Guay - 98 Punter: Sam Loy - 19 Reid Nelson - 97 Snapper: Jacob Schultz - 48 Wilson Johnson - 37 Punt Returner: Kalija Lipscomb - 16 Ryan White - 14 Kick Returner: Darrius Sims - 6 C.J. Duncan - 19 Holder: Wilson Johnson - 37 Reid Nelson - 97

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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Emily Shoffit Sports Editor (27-19)

Sam Butler Asst. Sports Editor (31-15)

Nathan Deal

11

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

PLAINSMAN PICKS Georgia vs.

Kentucky (6:30 p.m., SECN)

Missouri vs.

South Carolina (3 p.m., SECN)

Auburn vs.

Vanderbilt (11 a.m., ESPN)

Alabama vs.

LSU (7 p.m., CBS)

Nebraska vs.

Ohio State (7 p.m., ABC)

Florida vs.

Arkansas (2:30 p.m., CBS)

Auburn

Alabama

Ohio State

Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

Auburn

Alabama

Ohio State

Arkansas

Georgia

South Carolina

Auburn

Alabama

Ohio State

Florida

Kentucky

South Carolina

Auburn

Alabama

Ohio State

Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

Auburn

Alabama

Ohio State

Florida

Kentucky

South Carolina

Sports Reporter (33-13)

Jack Winchester Sports Writer (31-15)

Bailey Rogers Sports Writer (31-15)

Will Sahlie

Auburn

Alabama

Ohio State

Arkansas

Georgia

South Carolina

Vanderbilt

Alabama

Ohio State

Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

Sports Writer (34-12)

Carl Ross Guest Picker (9-13)

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