Finally healthy
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
DALLAS — Auburn’s injuries on offense have been a season-long source of frustration that left the Tigers looking rather ordinary at times.
Now, as 10th-ranked Auburn prepares for its final game of the season, standout offensive guard Ben Grubbs is excited, because the Tigers are in much better health.
“We haven’t really had a breakout game,” said the 6-foot-3, 314-pound senior from Eclectic, Ala. “I’m anxious to see what we can do come Monday. When we’re healthy, I don’t think anybody can stop us.”
No. 22 Nebraska will give it a shot in Monday’s Cotton Bowl, the first game between the programs since 1982.
Auburn has built a 10-2 record this season despite an offense that ranks 68th nationally in total yards (332.8 per game) and 49th in points (25.4).
The Tigers are averaging 77 fewer yards and almost seven fewer points than last season.
“In the three years I’ve been at Auburn, this year has been the hardest to piece together a group offensively every week,” said Tigers offensive coordinator Al Borges, whose West Coast system resembles Nebraska’s in many ways.
Auburn started the season with a bang, rolling to 484 total yards in a 40-14 win against Washington State.
“We probably played our best game of the year against Washington State, and kind of went downhill from there,” Tigers head coach Tommy Tuberville said Saturday.
Since its most recent game — a 22-15 win Nov. 18 at Alabama — Auburn apparently has had a chance to heal.
“This is as healthy as this offense has been in a long time,” Borges said. “We’re feeling good and practicing better than we have in a long time.”
Auburn likes to attack with a strong running game. But starting tailback Kenny Irons, who led with Southeastern Conference in rushing last season with 1,293 yards, has struggled with injuries most of the season and enters the bowl game with 821 rushing yards.
Tigers quarterback Brandon Cox has been beat up since mid-September. Knee and ankle injuries affected his footwork and therefore his timing in the passing game — a critical element in any West Coast system.
Auburn also incurred injuries in the offensive line and at tight end. In addition, leading receiver Courtney Taylor missed the Alabama game with a hamstring injury, but the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior said he is now full speed.
However, Irons’ return to full-go, or something close to it, might be the key for Auburn against Nebraska, “because so much of what we do depends on how well we run the football,” Borges said.
Auburn ranks 43rd nationally in rushing offense at 155.0 yards per game, down 39 yards from last season.
The 5-11, 205-pound Irons has missed three games this year and had another game in which he had only one carry. He says he has overcome a high ankle sprain and a turf-toe injury that has bothered him basically since the first game.
A native of Dacula, Ga., Irons is a strong inside runner and also capable of turning the corner.
“Full speed, he’s as good as any back in the country,” Borges said. “We want to give him a chance to show what he can do.”
Auburn will play without its second-leading rusher, sophomore Brad Lester (510 yards), who was suspended last month for a violation of team rules. Freshman Ben Tate (369 yards) and senior Tre Smith (107) will pick up the slack.
Of course, Auburn will hope for a big day from the 6-2, 205-pound Cox, who is 18-5 as a starter. This season, he has completed 153 of 250 passes (61.2 percent) for 2,087 yards and 13 touchdowns, with nine interceptions.
Cox operates behind an offensive line that features four senior starters plus 6-9, 320-pound junior left tackle King Dunlap.
“We come off the ball and hit you in the mouth — I guess that’s our West Coast version,” said Taylor, the affable wideout. “We’re very explosive.”
Being healthy should help matters.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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