Auburn Must Find Answers After Running Game Collapses Against LSU

The Auburn Tigers struggled to get anything going offensively in their 38-17 loss to LSU on Saturday, and a big reason for that was the team's inability to establish the running game.

After finding success running the football against No. 1 Georgia the week before, Auburn took a major step backward against LSU.

The Tigers finished the contest with just 67 rushing yards, including yards lost on sacks, and quarterback Byrum Brown was held to just 21 yards on the ground.

Now Auburn head coach Alex Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon are looking for ways to get the running game going again.

The Tigers struggled to create running lanes against LSU's defensive front, which made it difficult for the offense to stay ahead of the chains.

Gordon explained that Auburn had opportunities to pick up some big gains with Brown running the football, but the execution wasn't there.

"We had a really good look, and it's one of those plays in the game where we execute better. That one probably turns into an explosive run," Gordon said.

Gordon also credited LSU's defensive line for getting off blocks and making plays at the point of attack.

Despite the struggles, Gordon made it clear that Auburn still plans to utilize Brown's ability to run the football moving forward. They don't really have a choice.

Auburn's inability to pick up consistent yards on the ground put the offense in difficult situations throughout the game.

Golesh explained that Auburn has to find ways to turn short rushing gains into four, five, and six-yard pickups to avoid falling behind the chains.

"We've got to find ways to creatively run the football," Golesh said.

The Tigers also struggled to protect Brown, which hurt their overall rushing numbers.

Auburn allowed seven sacks against LSU, and those lost yards contributed to the team's disappointing rushing total.

But Golesh acknowledged that the running game wasn't good enough regardless of the sacks.

The Tigers won't have an easy opportunity to get things corrected this weekend.

Gordon praised Ole Miss' defensive front during his weekly press conference, noting that the Rebels have plenty of talent and experience.

Auburn has already shown how effective its offense can be when the running game is working.

But the loss to LSU showed how quickly things can fall apart when the Tigers can't establish the run.

And if Auburn wants to pick up another upset on Saturday, finding success on the ground will be a major part of making that happen.