Auburn's defense preparing for 60-minute dogfight against Alabama
AUBURN — As they prepare for Saturday, the Auburn defense knows the Iron Bowl calls for a different mindset.
In the last three weeks, the defense has allowed just 192 rushing yards. Against Western Kentucky, the nation’s 15th-ranked scoring offense, the Tigers pitched a shutout in the second half. Auburn’s defense is playing better, there’s no question.
Senior Derick Hall sees the improvement.
“…That’s been the statistic here the past three weeks here on the defensive side of the ball,” Hall said. “We only plan to continue that this week.”
Interim head coach Carnell Williams sees the difference clear as day.
“Tip my hat to Coach Schmedding and that defense,” Williams said. “I read a stat where the previous three games before I was named interim head coach, Auburn was giving up on defense over 500 yards, and the last three games, they’re giving up like 320 yards. So, 200-something yards difference.”
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Last year’s Iron Bowl featured an incredible performance by Auburn’s defense. Heisman winner Bryce Young and the talented Alabama offense were shutout for three quarters. The Tide didn’t find the endzone until the game-tying touchdown at the end of regulation.
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The Tigers lost in four overtimes, a game they won’t soon forget.
“Last year, we had a great time,” defensive lineman Colby Wooden said. “We were able to mix up some pressures… We slammed it a lot and we just caused a lot of confusion. This year, we’re going to go in there and bet on ourselves…”
Alabama and their 5th-ranked scoring offense in the nation (40 points/game) are a 22-point favor in Saturday’s game. Everyone knows Auburn is the underdog, so for the Tigers, there’s only one thing to do.
“Lay it all on the line,” Hall said.
“We win, we win. We get a bowl game, we don’t. You know, we fight for Auburn. We have nothing to lose… We just go out and put our best foot forward and go out and put ourselves in this position to try to win this football game, being in a dog fight for 60 minutes. That’s what it takes. In the Iron Bowl, score doesn’t matter, record doesn’t matter, none of that matters. It’s about who wants it more that day.”
