Tuberville says AU must do better vs. S. Florida
AUBURN - Tommy Tuberville's message after reviewing Saturday night's 23-13 victory over Kansas State was simple.
The Tigers' performance was enough to escape with a victory in the first game of his ninth season as Auburn's coach. But things will have to get better in a hurry to meet the challenges that wait down the road, starting with Saturday night's game against South Florida at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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"We can get better," Tuberville said. "If we play like that too many times, we are going to end up on the other side of the scoreboard."
It almost happened on the first night of the 2007 season. Senior quarterback Brandon Cox, who struggled against a blitzing Kansas State defense through most of the game, finally directed a 57-yard drive, throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gabe McKenzie for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:01 left in the game.
"I don't think many quarterbacks could have bounced back after taking a beating like he did and make the plays he made in the fourth quarter," Tuberville said.
But it was defense and kicking, Tuberville said, that made it possible for the Tigers to rally and avoid a disheartening upset. Despite playing the second half without three injured starters, the defense held Kansas State to 27 yards rushing. The Wildcats passed for 289 yards, but threw 58 times to do it. Quarterback Josh Freeman was sacked twice and, according to defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, pressured 26 times.
True freshman kicker Wes Byrum, despite suffering a sprained ankle making a tackle on a kickoff, kicked three field goals. Punter Ryan Shoemaker averaged 42.7 yards. Robert Dunn had a 57-yard punt return.
"Defensively, we played hard, we played aggressively and we played for four quarters," Tuberville said. "That and the kicking game gave us an opportunity to win the game."
On offense, it was struggle from the start. Cox threw two interceptions and was sacked five times, four times in the first half. The running game was stuck in neutral. Kansas State followed the script that gave Auburn's offense fits last season, putting nine defenders in the box to stop the running game and attacking Cox on pass plays.
The offensive line, with true freshman right tackle Lee Ziemba and redshirt freshman right guard Mike Berry in the lineup, struggled to cope
"We just have to block them better," Tuberville said. "It's not any different than what we do to anybody else. We have to do a better job of execution and do some things a little better. We spread them out some last night. They gave us some things we didn't take advantage of. When they stack the box, they give you an opportunity. When they give you those opportunities, you have to make plays. If you can, you throw them into a tailspin. Last night, we couldn't do it."
But Tuberville expressed confidence things will get better.
"We've got a lot of room for improvement," Tuberville said. "We didn't play to near our capabilities."
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